The student’s program of studies, in conjunction with the requirements outlined in the USask Catalogue, will provide a guide for students to follow to complete their programs. Within the first year of a student’s program, the advisory committee will work with the student to develop and approve an individualized program of studies. For non-thesis/dissertation students, the graduate chair or designate will develop the program of studies with the student.

The program of studies must be approved by the graduate chair and entered into the student’s record by the academic unit.

Changes to course requirements or supervisor and advisory committee composition must be kept up to date in the student record by the academic unit.

Undergraduate courses credited towards a graduate program must be at the senior (I.e., 300-400) level and not exceed the following limits:

• Ph.D. – 0 credit units
• Master’s program with ≤ 9 credit units – 0 credit units
• Master’s program with 10 – 15 credit units – 3 credit units
• Master’s program with > 15 credit units – 6 credit units
• PGD – 12 credit units

Exceptions may be considered by CGPS on a case-by-case basis when a rationale is provided by the graduate chair.

The advisory committee or graduate chair will complete a progress report annually with each graduate student.  Any report indicating unsatisfactory progress should be communicated to the graduate chair with a clear plan to address deficiencies and for reassessment in a reasonable timeframe.  A second unsatisfactory progress report may lead to a recommendation that the student be required to discontinue and be referred to CGPS for further action (See Section 15).  Within the first year of study, a plan and timeline for completion must be developed by the student and advisory committee and revisited in each subsequent progress report.

A variety of factors can affect time in program. Both the student and the supervisor and/or graduate chair for course and thesis students share the responsibility for time in program.

Time in program is measured from the beginning of the first term of registration for work which is included in the Program of Studies (for example, if a student transfers from a master’s to Ph.D. program, the time in program begins when registration in the master’s program began). Any periods of approved leave or suspension are excluded from time in program.

Program time limits are four years for master’s and postgraduate diploma (PGD) programs, and six years for doctoral programs unless otherwise stated for the specific program in the University Catalogue. Time limits for the completion of graduate certificates are set by academic units, if applicable.

4.3.1. TIME IN PROGRAM EXTENSIONS

Thesis-, dissertation-, and project-based students who will reach the time limit of the program without completing program requirements should meet with their supervisor to discuss a plan and timeline for completion. Once a plan has been drafted, it should be distributed to the advisory committee, and an advisory committee meeting should be scheduled to discuss, finalize, and approve the plan. The plan must also be approved by the program’s Graduate Chair on behalf of the academic unit.

For unusual circumstances when completion takes longer than one-year, clear and satisfactory progress by the end of each extension period will be necessary to support the application for additional extensions, if applicable.

Course-based students, as well as project-based students who do not have a supervisor and committee, should meet directly with the Graduate Chair to discuss an extension, prepare a plan and timeline to completion, and submit their request.

Topics which should be discussed and documented in the plan and timeline include:

1. Program requirements completed to date (e.g., coursework, exams, fieldwork)
2. Program requirements that remain outstanding (e.g., analysis, writing, defence)
3. Reasons for the delay in completing requirements, actions taken to address them
4. A detailed plan and timeline to completion
   • Indicate plan and time required for each remaining program requirement
   • If time required exceeds one-year timeframe of an extension, include plan for what clear indicators of satisfactory progress will be achieved during the present extension, and what will be achieved during additional extensions, if applicable.
5. Expectations for working together while on extension, such as:
   • How often the supervisor and student will meet
   • How often the advisory committee and student will meet
   • Responsibilities of all parties (i.e., student, advisory committee members) surrounding communication, revisions, and feedback.

Approved plans and timelines must be submitted to the CGPS by a staff or faculty member from the student’s academic unit via the Request for Extension to Time in Graduate Program eForm in the CGPS Service Desk.

If it is a second or third extension request requiring approval by the Dean of the CGPS, the Dean may, at their discretion, request a meeting with parties (e.g., student, supervisor, graduate chair) as part of the review process.

Once the extension has been processed by CGPS (in the case of first extensions approved by the academic unit) or approved by the Dean of the CGPS and processed (in the case of second or third extensions requiring Dean’s approval) the appropriate contacts in the academic unit will be notified via e-mail by the CGPS.

4.4.1. TRANSFER BETWEEN ACADEMIC UNITS

4.4.2. TRANSFER FROM OR INTO POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA

Master's students may transfer into an existing postgraduate diploma at any time during the program with the approval of the graduate chair.

Postgraduate diploma students who were fully qualified as master's students at the time of admission are eligible to transfer into a master's program at any time with the approval of the graduate chair.

Postgraduate diploma students who were not fully qualified as master’s students at the time of admission to the postgraduate diploma are eligible to be recommended for transfer to a master’s program by the graduate chair provided the following condition is met:

• The student has completed at least 9 credit units at the 800-level, and has achieved a minimum average of 70% and no grade below 60% in those 9 credit units. The 9 credit units most recently completed at the 800-level will be considered. Exceptions are subject to the approval of CGPS.

Any recommendation to transfer from a postgraduate diploma to a master’s program shall be forwarded by the academic unit to CGPS.  Maximum amounts of undergraduate course content eligible for credit within a master’s degree shall be applicable to students transferring from a postgraduate diploma to a master’s program.

4.4.3. TRANSFER BETWEEN THESIS, PROJECT, AND COURSE-BASED MASTER'S PROGRAMS

4.4.4. TRANSFER FROM PH.D. PROGRAM TO MASTER'S PROGRAM

Students may transfer from a Ph.D. program to a master’s program with a thesis or a project with the approval of their supervisor, advisory committee, and graduate chair.

Students who have entered a Ph.D. program directly from a bachelor’s degree who do not meet the academic standing required for continuation in the program will be given the opportunity to revert to the master’s degree program in their field, and successful work done towards the Ph.D. degree will be credited towards the master’s degree.

4.4.5. TRANSFER FROM MASTER'S PROGRAM TO PHD PROGRAM

Transfer from a master’s program to a Ph.D. program shall take place after the end of the first year and no later than the end of the second year in the program.

Recommendation for the transfer must be initiated through a formal meeting of the student's advisory committee, which will forward its recommendation through the academic unit to CGPS. The following conditions must be met:

1. The transfer aligns with the student’s motivations and personal and career objectives.
2. The student has completed at least 9 credit units at the 800-level, and has achieved a minimum average of 80% and no grade below 70%. Exceptions are subject to the approval of the dean, CGPS, or designate.
3. There is evidence the student has the requisite writing and oral communication abilities, research skills, and disciplinary knowledge, to be able to satisfy the requirement of a doctoral candidacy assessment, and successfully complete a Ph.D. dissertation.

The adequacy of the project or thesis is decided by an examining committee consisting of the Supervisor, other members of the Advisory Committee and other persons as appropriate. The thesis, project or publishable paper presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree must:

1. Deal in an academically satisfactory way with a definite topic related to the major research field
2. Demonstrate ability on the part of the candidate to do independent study and investigation
3. Be written in good scholarly style and conform to the requirements of a style manual approved by the academic unit
4. Comply in presentation features with specifications of the CGPS. Regulations regarding the preparation, submission, and examination of Master's and Ph.D. theses are published in the Catalogue.

A Ph.D. thesis, based upon original investigation, must demonstrate mature scholarship and critical judgment on the part of the candidate, as well as familiarity with tools and methods of research in the candidate's chosen research field.

Theses may be produced in either the traditional style or the ‘manuscript’ style, which consists of a manuscript, or cohesive series of manuscripts, written in a style suitable for publication in appropriate venues

Issues of copyright must be addressed should one or more of the manuscripts be accepted for publication or already in print.

All Master’s thesis students and Ph.D. students are required to submit their thesis or dissertation in electronic form.

In addition to coursework, examinations and research, a student may be required to complete one or more non-credit safety courses.