Summary of Candidacy Process

Complete 18 units of courses
You are assigned an interim supervisor and may remain with this supervisor or chose another supervisor (and a co-supervisor if required)
Discussions with supervisor about the dissertation research area
Two additional members are chosen by supervisor (and co-supervisor), in consultation with you, to form supervisory committee
The supervisory committee acts as the examining committee for all the following stages of the candidacy process

Submission of research area description and fields of study documents to the supervisory committee
Documents include research area description (2,500 words), identification of two fields of study, and a reading list for each field (35-50 items depending on the nature of the field)
Meeting with supervisory committee regarding research area and fields of study documents
At this meeting the supervisory committee may approve documents or require alterations
Alterations can be delegated to supervisor or another meeting can be arranged with the full supervisory committee
Final submission of any alterations to the area and fields of study documents
If alterations are satisfactory the supervisory committee signs the Fields of Study Approval I form
If the alterations are unsatisfactory you are required to withdraw from the program
You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »

You have four months to read the fields of study lists in preparation for the written fields of study exam
At least three weeks before the written exams, the supervisor solicits questions from the other members of the supervisory committee
The supervisor composes three questions for each of the two field of study areas
You receive fields of study questions for written exam; you have two weeks to submit your answers
You must answer one question in each field (three choices) with an essay of 3,750-5,000 words in length plus references in an appropriate style (e.g. APA, MLA)
Supervisory committee provides assessment of written exam within one week of its submission
You can receive only one fail judgement on each question — two fail assessments on an exam question requires a rewrite in two to six months
Two fail assessments on each exam question means both exams are retaken in two to six months
You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »
With a successful exam, the supervisory committee signs Fields of Study Written Exam Approval II form
A successful written exam allows you to move on to the fields of study oral exam

An oral exam is scheduled within two weeks following a successful written exam
Assessment of the oral exam by the supervisory committee must be unanimous for a pass
The supervisory committee signs the Fields of Study Oral Exam Approval III form
A fail requires you to retake the exam in two to six months
You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »
A successful oral exam allows the study to move on to the dissertation proposal

You work with supervisory committee on their dissertation proposal
When the proposal is satisfactory, a meeting with the supervisory committee is scheduled
Approval by the supervisory committee regarding the proposal must be unanimous
Supervisory committee signs the department’s Dissertation Approval Form
If the proposal is a fail, you can resubmit in two to six months
If the proposal is a fail at the second meeting, you are required to withdraw
You have the right to appeal the committee’s decision to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. See the Faculty of Graduate Studies Calendar »
Completion of dissertation proposal means student has passed candidacy.

For the Department of Communication, Media and Film