Admission Policies
Applications to the GLIER Environmental Science Master's (M.Sc.) program will be subject to the Initial Application Procedures as outlined in the University of Windsor’s Graduate Calendar. Individuals will apply to this program through the GLIER Graduate Program Steering Committee, which will pass admission recommendations to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research for approval.
Admission Requirements
For admission to the GLIER Environmental Science M.Sc. program, applicants must hold an appropriate Honours Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognized university. Students must maintain no less than a B+ average in their final two years of undergraduate, full-time study to be eligible for admission to the GLIER M.Sc. program.
Please note: Interested students must have been in contact with and gained the support of one of the core Faculty members from GLIER for their application and must indicate that Faculty member as a potential supervisor in their Statement of Interest.
Program Requirements
Students admitted to the GLIER Environmental Science M.Sc. program will be instructed on instrumentation to be used in the course of their research and will be expected to generate their own data. Students will also receive appropriate instruction in laboratory and field research safety.
Specific program requirements include:
(a) compliance with regulations outlined in University of Windsor Graduate Calendar;
(b) successful completion of the GLIER Multidisciplinary Graduate Seminar course (this course is taken over the first two semesters and is worth six credits). The course will be graded in accordance with university standards. Following successful completion of this course, all M.Sc. students will be required to continue registering in this course as an audit;
(c) successful completion of the GLIER Environmental Research Proposal course (M.Sc. level). The research proposal will be submitted to and evaluated on a pass,fail basis by the student’s Advisory Committee;
(d) any additional course work mandated by the student’s Advisory Committee to eliminate perceived weaknesses in the student’s background preparation or to increase awareness of other disciplines;
(e) submission for publication of an original research article derived from the thesis to a peer-review journal. Exemption from this requirement is granted only with permission from the Graduate Program Steering Committee;
(f) submission of a Research Progress Report to the Advisory Committee every six months and a meeting with the committee to review progress and problems encountered during the preceding six months and to plan future work;
(g) completion of an original research project reported in a thesis;
(h) defence of the thesis in a public lecture and before to the Advisory Committee.
Grading:The student must maintain minimum grade standards as proscribed by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Any student whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory in course work or research may be required to withdraw from the program.
M.Sc. Advisory Committee
Within one term of the student's registration in the GLIER Graduate Program, a M.Sc. Advisory Committee will be formed and the names submitted to the GPSC. The Advisory Committee will be selected in the manner detailed in the University of Windsor’s Graduate Calendar and shall reflect the multidisciplinary approach adopted by GLIER graduate programs. This committee will be comprised of the student’s GLIER faculty supervisor and two other GLIER faculty members in addition to an examiner external to GLIER. The additional examiner may be external to the university, and, if so, may participate in person (the desired and expected option) or by teleconference call or written review. The student’s GLIER supervisor will chair the committee.
The external advisor must be an Assistant, Associate or Full Professor with expertise in the area being examined and have a proven research record. An experienced supervisor, he/she must be impartial to both the student’s chief advisor and the student. The Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research will select the external advisor on the recommendation of the GLIER Graduate Program Steering Committee.
The committee will approve the student’s plan of study and provide formal and informal feedback on progress. Additional faculty members may be added to the Advisory Committee, as determined by the faculty supervisor. The student’s Advisory Committee must meet every six months and will:
1) review and approve course work no later than six months into the program. Courses in addition to the minimum specified above may be mandated by the Advisory Committee, based on perceived weaknesses in the student’s academic background or academic needs;
2) counsel the student and make decisions regarding a student’s status in the program;
3) discuss the student's research and thesis progress at least six months prior to the anticipated date of the defence; and
4) participate in the final examination of the student’s thesis.
Any student whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory in course work or in progress toward a thesis or defence will be advised of an unsatisfactory review. Remedial actions may be suggested or the student may be requested to withdraw from the program.
Research Progress Report
Every six months from the date of initial registration, the student must submit a Research Progress Report to, and meet with, his/her Advisory Committee. The student must review his/her thesis research plan in a meeting with the Advisory Committee at least six months prior to the anticipated date of the thesis defence.
Research Thesis
A thesis embodying the results of an original investigation in the student's major field is required of all candidates. The student must defend the thesis at an open public lecture and before his/her Advisory Committee.
Examinations
The Advisory Committee will assess the student on the quality of his/her thesis research and defence. Grading will be conducted in accordance with university standards (e.g. pass with minor changes, pass with major revisions, unsatisfactory).
Examination Committee
M.Sc. candidates will defend their thesis in a public lecture and before their Advisory Committee.
Students in the GLIER M.Sc. program will be expected to complete all requirements within 24 months of admission. The student’s Advisory Committee may recommend that students who fail to complete all program requirements in the recommended time may be granted an extension to complete the degree.