PhD Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the department's additional admission requirements stated below.

• PhD students who are admitted without sufficient previous study in a humanities, social science, or a cognate discipline may be required to take additional courses.

• Applicants must submit the following through the online application system; incomplete applications may be subject to processing delays or rejection:

  • A careful response to all Faculty questions in the online admissions application that demonstrates intellectual interests and concerns relevant to the humanities or social sciences, and social justice in education as well as reasons for undertaking a program in the department. Include a statement of preference for one or more faculty members whose research is best matched to the student's research interests.

  • Two letters of reference, preferably from university instructors with whom the applicant has studied or worked.

  • At least one sample of written work that demonstrates engagement with the humanities or social sciences, and social justice in education.

  • Resumé that provides clear and complete information about the applicant's work or field experience related to their proposed studies.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

  • Subject to consultation with a faculty advisor, SJE3905H Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research: Theory and Praxis is recommended. Additional courses may be required, and some students may be required to take other specified courses in research methods and/or theory.

  • At least 2.0 FCEs must be taken within SJE.

  • Students who are registered in an optional collaborative specialization may apply to have their SJE course requirement reduced by 0.5 FCE.

  • Students must consult with their faculty advisor before enrolling in any out-of-department course for which they wish to receive SJE credit.

• Comprehensive examination:

  • Students are encouraged to take, as part of their program requirements, one half course (0.5 FCE) focused on the substantive area on which they will be examined.

  • Students choose one of the following:

    • a major paper (30 to 40 pages); or

    • a substantive course outline (30 to 40 pages) for a topic of interest to the student within the area of social justice education; or

    • a solid draft of a scholarly article.

  • The option selected and the date for the comprehensive exam will be decided by the student and the supervisor. The comprehensive exam should be taken no later than the end of Year 3.

  • A student who fails the comprehensive exam will be permitted one additional attempt to pass. A second failure will result in the recommendation for termination of the student's registration.

  • Comprehensive exams will be graded on a pass or fail basis.

• Students must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination. The thesis must embody the results of original investigation conducted by the student under the direction of an OISE thesis committee. The thesis must constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of the field of study. The student must have an approved thesis topic, supervisor, and an approved thesis committee by the end of Year 3, and must have completed all other program requirements.

• PhD students must register continuously and pay the full-time fee until all degree requirements have been fulfilled.

• Students cannot transfer between the full-time and flexible-time PhD options.

• Students cannot transfer between the EdD program and PhD programs.

Mode of Delivery: In person, Hybrid
Program Length: 4 years full-time
Time Limit: 6 years full-time

 

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

• Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the department's additional admission requirements stated below.

• PhD students who are admitted without sufficient previous study in a humanities, social science, or a cognate discipline may be required to take additional courses.

• Applicants must submit the following through the online application system; incomplete applications may be subject to processing delays or rejection:

  • A careful response to all Faculty questions in the online admissions application that demonstrates intellectual interests and concerns relevant to the humanities or social sciences, and social justice in education as well as reasons for undertaking a program in the department. Include a statement of preference for one or more faculty members whose research is best matched to the student's research interests

  • Two letters of reference, preferably from university instructors with whom the applicant has studied or worked

  • At least one sample of written work that demonstrates engagement with the humanities or social sciences, and social justice in education.

  • Resumé that provides clear and complete information about the applicant's work or field experience related to their proposed studies.

• Applicants must demonstrate that they are currently employed and are active professionals engaged in activities related to their proposed program of study.

Completion Requirements

• Coursework. Students must complete at least 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

  • At least 2.0 FCEs taken in SJE, with the possibility to apply for a reduction of 0.5 FCE in the SJE course requirement if the student is also registered in an optional collaborative specialization.

  • Subject to consultation with a faculty advisor, SJE3905H Interdisciplinary Approaches to Research: Theory and Praxis is recommended.

  • Students must consult with their faculty advisor before enrolling in any out-of-department course for which they wish to receive SJE credit.

• Comprehensive examination:

  • Students are encouraged to take, as part of their program requirements, one half course (0.5 FCE) focused on the substantive area on which they will be examined.

  • Students choose one of the following:

    • a major paper (30 to 40 pages); or

    • a substantive course outline (30 to 40 pages) for a topic of interest to the student within the area of social justice education; or

    • a solid draft of a scholarly article.

  • The option selected and the date for the comprehensive exam will be decided by the student and the supervisor. The comprehensive exam should be taken no later than the end of Year 4.

  • A student who fails the comprehensive exam will be permitted one additional attempt to pass. A second failure will result in the recommendation for termination of the student's registration.

  • Comprehensive exams will be graded on a pass or fail basis.

• Students must submit a thesis and defend it at a Doctoral Final Oral Examination. The thesis must embody the results of original investigation conducted by the student under the direction of an OISE thesis committee. The thesis must constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge of the field of study. The student must have an approved thesis topic, supervisor, and an approved thesis committee by the end of Year 3, and must have completed all other program requirements.

• Students must register continuously until all degree requirements have been fulfilled. Students register full-time during the first four years and may continue as part-time thereafter, with their department's approval.

• Students cannot transfer between the full-time and flexible-time PhD options.

• Students cannot transfer between the EdD and PhD programs.

Mode of Delivery: In person, Hybrid
Program Length: 6 years full-time
Time Limit: 8 years full-time