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Course Requirements

Four Year Stream

Credits Required
During their first year, students are required to complete 6 half-credit courses in which they must achieve an overall average of at least 75% to maintain minimal good standing. Then in the second term of their second year they will take the Prospectus Course.

Distribution Requirement
Students must take six courses, at least one in each of three of the following areas: 

 

 

 

 

For students who lack demonstrable competence in the History of Philosophy, one of these areas must be History of Philosophy.  This will be determined at a meeting with the graduate chair at the beginning of term.

Some courses may be designated as counting for more than one area; in that case students must elect for which it will count.

This requirement will apply for each of the two years of coursework requirement in the Direct Entry stream of the PhD program.

Completion Deadlines
Students must complete all of their required coursework, with the exception of their prospectus course, by the end of Program Year 1.

Prospectus Course
Also see: Prospectus Requirements
The Prospectus Course, normally supervised by the department’s placement officer, is offered in the Winter Term in each academic year. It is graded on a pass/fail basis. To take , students must have a supervisor. In extenuating circumstances, the course instructor may grant permission to take the course without already having a supervisor. The course will begin with a discussion of the format and goals of the prospectus and will often include a review of anonymous sample prospectuses. As the term progresses students will take turns presenting, commenting on, and discussing one another’s prospectus materials. It is incumbent on presenters to make their materials accessible to the entire audience, and on each audience member to comment constructively on the materials.  It is expected that students will have met regularly with their supervisors prior to taking the course and will begin the course in a position where enough preliminary work has been done to allow the student to produce a first draft of a prospectus by a third of the way through the term. Students admitted during the Winter Term will be given the opportunity to present their material after other students to allow them more time to consult with their supervisors. The course will end with a conference at which students will present revised versions of their prospectuses and another student in the course will serve as commentator. Faculty members other than the course supervisor may participate in the course from time to time.

Reading Courses
The equivalent of a half-course may be taken as an independent study or reading course with approval of the Graduate Program Chair. The Graduate Chair must approve the Reading Course. Upon approval, the Graduate Affairs Assistant will then assign a course number and manually register you in the course.

External Courses
Students may receive credit towards their PhD program requirements of one half-course, or, in exceptional circumstances, up to two half-courses taken in disciplines other than philosophy, subject to approval by the Graduate Program Chair.

Grades
The Department expects that students will maintain appreciably better course grades than the minimum 70% average required by SGPS. To be considered in good standing in the 4-year stream, students must earn grades of A in the equivalent of at least 4 of the 6 half-credit courses that they are required to take in addition to the prospectus course. If a student receives less than 70% in any course, the Graduate Affairs Committee reserves the right to withdraw the student from the program.

Selecting Courses
You will be required to consult with the Graduate Chair on your course selections. Typically, a sign-up sheet for meeting times to have courses approved is posted in September. However, the Graduate Program will advise as to the current year’s arrangements for this via email at the start of the academic year.  

Adding/Dropping Courses
Once your course selections have been approved, you must add your courses online via Student Center. Click here to be taken to Western's Office of the Registrar's step by step guide to online course registration. 

Last day to add:	One month from the official beginning of the term in which the course begins
Last day to drop:	Two months from the beginning of the term in which the course begins

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