A B C D
Academic Master’s Degrees (usually called Research or Professional Master's Degrees)
These are the broad Master of Arts (M.A.) or Master of Sciences (M.Sc.) degrees, usually awarded in the traditional arts, sciences, and humanities disciplines. M.Sc. degrees are also awarded in technical fields, such as engineering and agriculture. These degrees may lead to your entrance into a doctoral program.
Academic Calendar
The online Calendar is the official Calendar. In the event of any discrepancies between program websites and the online Calendar, the online Calendar will be binding.
Academic Standing
Students are normally in good academic standing if they are making adequate progress toward the completion of degree requirements and maintain a cumulative overall average of 70%.
Active Status
In order to maintain active student status, students must be registered in program.
Advisory Committee
As soon as possible following a student's first registration in a program, an advisory committee, including a research supervisor, should be named. It is the responsibility of the Advisory Committee to assist students in course selection and definition of the research area, to provide support and advice, to evaluate regularly the student's progress by meeting at least once yearly, to take appropriate and timely action in view of this progress, and to keep records of this evaluation and all actions are taken.
Assistantship
Assistantships are available at many grad schools with graduate programs and can be teaching or research centered. Students are paid as teaching, research or student assistants. An RA, SA, TA may be unrelated to your thesis work or be paid from your supervisor's funds to do your thesis resarch. Find more info here.
Candidacy Assessment
Effective May 1, 2024, doctoral students must have a candidacy assessment completed within 24 months from the start of their PhD program to move from a PhD student to a PhD candidate. Find more info here.
Cohort based program
When students start the program with other students at the same time and advance through either part or all of the program together (i.e. those students starting a cohort-based graduate program in 2020 belong to the 2020 cohort group).
College of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (CGPS)
A non-departmentalized college that oversees graduate education and provides services to its programs and students. Grad students at USask are students of CGPS.
Conceptual Frameworks
A conceptual framework is an analytical tool with several variations and contexts. It can be applied in different categories of work where an overall picture is needed. It is used to make conceptual distinctions and organize ideas. Strong conceptual frameworks capture something real and do this in a way that is easy to remember and apply.
Cognate course
Cognate courses are courses from outside a defined discipline that complement and enhances the breadth of knowledge and skills found in the area of study. use it in a sentence, e.g., Students must choose one cognate course and 3 credit units of core coursework.
Core/required course
A course that is a mandatory requirement for the completion of the program according to the program regulations in effect at the time of admission.
Course completion date
The course end date or the date that the student completes the course.
Course extension
The process of lengthening the time allowed for the completion of a course(s) is called an extension.
Credit
The numerical value assigned to the course, normally based upon the number of contact or classroom hours per week and/or workload.
Defense
Generally starts with an oral presentation to a committee of people where you provide a summary of your thesis and the research results you obtained. The examining committee then presents you with questions and you must respond and "defend" your work.
Department
A department is an administrative unit with space and resources. A department also includes budgeted faculty members who offer instruction in a titled, specialized discipline, normally affiliated with a school or college.
Dual Degree
Two degrees cooperatively from two institutions that the student must fulfill the requirements of both institutions, but complete one thesis project. (e.g. a Coutelle Program)
E F G H
Exams
Supplemental and deferred examinations Final Exam and Exemptions of Course Work. Requests for supplemental or deferred examinations must be approved by the course instructor and academic unit.
ETD
Electronic Theses and Dissertations Each master's and PhD student must submit an electronic version of their thesis or dissertation to the ETD site.
ESL
English as a second language program. USask has three English for academic purposes programs.
Fellowship
Fellowships are essentially scholarships or grants that are awarded to doctoral students in grad schools.
GMAT
Acronym for Graduate Management Admission Test, which is a standardized test required for admission to a graduate business school.
Graduate Adviser
Graduate Advisers are nominated by Graduate Chairs. They provide guidance for entering and continuing students concerning the various steps necessary to complete in order to earn their degrees or certificates. Graduate Advisers may sign petitions to add or drop courses (See Head Graduate Adviser).
GRE Acronym for Graduate Record Examination, which is a standardized exam usually required for admission to graduate schools.
I J K L M N
Interdisciplinary
Refers to programs or projects that span more than one discipline. some programs are interdisciplinary such as biomedical engineering.
Internship
Work experience as part of a field of study, which usually takes place over several months. It may be full-time, may require you to move, and you may be paid. An internship may be required for graduation from a graduate program.
Joint Degree
A joint degree is generally a doctoral degree program offered by two higher Ed institutions where the program is unique
O P Q R
Practicum
Work experience or hands-on portion of a class. For instance, clinical psychology students may spend several hours a week seeing clients to fulfill requirements for some classes. A practicum is smaller in scope than an internship and usually only lasts the length of a course which requires it.
Parchment
Official document issued by USask that communicates the nature of the credential and date of conferral.
Plagiarism
Is a breach of academic integrity, which includes use of someone else's work without providing proper attribution and passing it off as your own.
Residency requirement
Refer to the amount of time a student must spend in particular aspects of their program at USask.
S T U V
Terminal Degree
These are also referred to as professional master’s degrees and include degrees with descriptive titles, such as Master of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Master of Social Work (M.S.W.), Master of Education (M.Ed.), or Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.). These are degrees that prepare you for a profession. Any further education at the Ph.D. level isn’t considered necessary to enter your career field.
Theoretical Framework
Theories are developed by researchers to explain phenomena, draw connections, and make predictions. The theoretical framework of a research project explains and evaluates the theories that support your research.
Thesis Proposal
The purpose of a thesis proposal is to demonstrate that your thesis topic and proposed research methods can lead to a successful master's or doctoral thesis. It must be approved by your committee.
Thesis
In a nutshell, a thesis is one huge gigantic research paper! A thesis is almost always required if you’re pursuing a Ph.D., some master’s programs require them as well. Your thesis is an original and significant contribution to research in your field and your shining academic achievement.
Visiting Student (VS)
A non-program student who is taking courses for transfer of credit to another post-secondary institution.
Visiting Research Student (VRS)
An individual who has been admitted to USask for the purpose of engaging in an approved plan of research with a faculty supervisor.
W X Y Z
A required course in a graduate program that carries no credit in the program e.g. GPS 960 (Ethics).