Master Of Science in Agriculture
Programs Of Full-Time and Part-Time Study
Full-Time, Part-Time, and Other Categories
Course Selection and Enrolment
The Master of Science program with a specialization in agriculture is a
joint program offered by the Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) and
Dalhousie University. Dalhousie University grants the Master of Science degree
in association with NSAC. Graduate students may take graduate courses offered
at NSAC and at Dalhousie University. This provides graduate students in the
M.Sc. program in agriculture with a wide variety of courses from which to
select. Graduate courses offered at NSAC are listed herein. Graduate courses
offered at Dalhousie University are listed in the Dalhousie University Graduate
Studies Calendar 2005/2006, available on the Dalhousie web site at
www.dalgrad.dal.ca.
Students
accepted for enrolment in the M.Sc. program are registered at NSAC and
Dalhousie, and are given a student identification number for each institution
in accordance with the systems in place at each institution. Official
transcripts for all students are produced by Dalhousie University.
For
all academic matters relating to the M.Sc. program, including admission
requirements, degree requirements, examinations, evaluations and theses,
students are deemed to be students of both NSAC and Dalhousie University.
Students are subject to the academic regulations and rules of FGS as outlined
in the Dalhousie University Graduate Studies Calendar 2005/2006. All academic
policies are outlined in the Graduate Program Procedures Manual available from
the Research & Graduate Studies Office. The 2005/2006 edition of this
manual will be available in August.
For all non-academic
matters, including the payment of tuition and other fees, scholarships,
bursaries, research and conference funding, athletics, and non-academic
discipline, students are deemed to be students of NSAC. Graduate students are
referred to the NSAC Community Standards 2005/2006 document
(www.nsac.ns.ca/stuserv/handbooks.htm) for further information on the rules and
regulations governing the College community. This document describes the
regulations/standards that constitute reasonable behaviour and outlines the
process by which breaches of these standards are adjudicated. This document
also contains the alcohol and drug policy, information on appeal processes, and
the NSAC Student Code of Conduct. The College’s Policy for Responsible
Computing also applies to graduate students and can be found in the document
Policy Governing Access to and Use of NSAC Academic Computing
(www.nsac.ns.ca/acs/policies.htm).
All
students must agree to obey all the regulations of NSAC and all academic
regulations of FGS. Additionally, students are advised that this Calendar is
not an all-inclusive set of rules and regulations but represents only a portion
of the rules and regulations that will govern the student’s relationship with
NSAC and Dalhousie University. Other rules and regulations are contained in
additional publications (e.g. Graduate Program Procedures Manual) that are
available to the student from Dalhousie University Registry and Faculty of
Graduate Studies as well as the NSAC Registry and Research & Graduate
Studies Office. Students are also advised that the regulations herein are
subject to change.
Animal Science
(livestock, fur animals, poultry, shellfish and finfish)
• Animal Management Behaviour
• Breeding
• Molecular Genetics
• Nutrition
• Physiology
Environmental Science
• Agricultural
Systems
Management
• Ecology
• Entomology
• Pest Management
• Resource Management
• Wastewater Management
• Weed Science
Plant Science
(fruits, vegetables, grains, forages and specialty crops)
• Cropping Systems
Management
• Plant Breeding
• Molecular Genetics
• Nutrition
• Pathology
• Physiology
Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry
• Food Biochemistry
• Food Product
Development
• Food Safety and
Quality
• Soil Chemistry
• Soil Conservation and
Management
• Soil Fertility
NSAC has unique strengths in the areas of Organic Agriculture; Air,
Water and Soil Quality Management; Fur Animal Research; Aquaculture Production;
Pasture Management; and Agricultural Waste Management. There are also
opportunities for graduate studies in Engineering. Contact us for details.
Admission Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum ‘B’ average or
GPA of 3.0 from a university of recognized standing. For entry into the
Master’s program, candidates must hold a Bachelor’s degree with Honours or the
equivalent of honours standing as granted by Dalhousie University in the area
in which graduate work is to be done or an area that is relevant to the
graduate work. A four-year Bachelor’s degree may be considered as equivalent of
honours if there is significant evidence of independent research capacity (such
as a research project as part of a course) or if the degree is officially
approved as an honours equivalent. In those cases where a candidate has a
three-year degree and an honours program was not available to them, first-class
candidates will be considered for admission into the two-year program or
Qualifying Year (programs are described below).
English
is the standard language of study at NSAC and Dalhousie University. Thus,
candidates whose native language is not English must demonstrate their capacity
to pursue a graduate-level program in English before admission. The standard
test is TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). The minimum acceptable
score for the written TOEFL is 580 and for the computer-based TOEFL is 237. It
is also recommended that potential students taking the non-computer TOEFL test
should also take the Test of Written English (TWE) component. Official TOEFL
reports are to be submitted to NSAC (institution code 0844). The following
other tests will also be accepted with the following minimum scores: MELAB, 90;
IELTS, 7; CanTest, average of 4.5 with no band score lower than 4.0; CAEL, 60
overall, with no band score lower than 50. The TOEFL requirement is waived if
the applicant has completed a degree at an institution where the language of
instruction is English.
There
are some exceptions to this policy. Please contact the Research & Graduate
Studies Office, NSAC, at (902) 893-6502 (e-mail: mlaw@nsac.ns.ca), if you have
any questions regarding the English Language Requirement.
Further information on these tests may be obtained from:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
Education Testing Service
P.O. Box 6151
Princeton, NJ
USA 08541
toefl@ets.org
www.toefl.org
Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB)
English Language Institute
TCF Building
University of Michigan
401 E. Liberty, Ste 350
Ann Arbor, Michigan
USA 48104-2298
melabelium@umich.edu
www.lsa.umich.edu/eli/melab.htm
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate
1 Hills Road
Cambridge, UK
CB12EU
ielts@ucles.org.uk
www.ielts.org
Canadian Test of English for Scholars and Trainees (CanTest)
CanTEST Project Office
Second Language Institute
University of Ottawa
600 King Edward Avenue
Ottawa, ON
K1N 6N5
cantest@uottawa.ca
www.arts.uottawa.ca/ils/eng/cantest_register.html
Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL)
CAEL Assessment Testing Office
School of Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
Carleton University
126 Paterson Hall, 1125 Colonel By Drive
Ottawa, ON
K1S 5B6
cael@carleton.ca
www.carleton.ca/slals/cael.htm
All applications will be reviewed at NSAC based on the academic
qualifications and record of the applicant. Paper copies of applications may be
received from the Research & Graduate Studies Office (RGS), Nova Scotia
Agricultural College, P.O. Box 550, Truro, NS, B2N 5E3 or from the RGS web site
(www.nsac.ca/rgs/graduate/admiss.asp). Completed applications are sent from the
Graduate Coordinator to the head of the department to which the student is
applying. The Department Head receives completed applications, arranges for a
departmental recommendation on admission for each applicant, and assists the
Graduate Coordinator with finding a supervisor and funding support for
acceptable M.Sc. candidates. In the event that a supervisor can be found but
funding support is not available, the Department may recommend that the student
be admitted on a self-funded basis. A recommendation on admission, signed by
the Department Head, will be forwarded to the Graduate Coordinator within two
weeks of receiving the completed application. Recommendations regarding
admission will then be forwarded from NSAC to the Dean of Graduate Studies,
Dalhousie University. At this stage, NSAC will contact applicants to inform
them that a positive recommendation has been made to the Faculty of Graduate
Studies, Dalhousie University (FGS). This does not constitute official
acceptance into the graduate program. Final decisions on all admissions are
made by FGS, and there are no appeals on admission decisions. Official
acceptance is achieved when the recommendation has been approved by FGS and a
formal letter of acceptance is issued by the Dalhousie Registrar’s Office. This
letter is the only official notification that is sent out. All other forms of
communication, including letters from the supervisor or department, do not
constitute official acceptance or rejection. Please note that entry into the
graduate program is very competitive and applicants who meet or exceed the minimum
requirements are not guaranteed admission. Normally, successful applicants have
academic records and qualifications that are well above the minimum required.
Note that supporting
documents included in applications (e.g., transcripts, letters of reference,
etc.) will be verified for authenticity. Applicants submitting fraudulent
documents will have their names published on the listserv of the Association of
Registrars of Universities and Colleges in Canada and may have their acceptance
rescinded.
Dalhousie University
reserves the right to rescind any acceptance of an applicant in the program or
to rescind an offer of admission of an applicant into the program. Such
rescission will be in writing in accordance with Dalhousie University
regulations (see Dalhousie University Graduate Studies Calendar 2005-2006).
Newly-accepted applicants who, for reasons beyond their control, are
unable to take up their position on the date for which they were accepted, may
request a deferral of their start date to a later term. Students may request a
deferral of one, two, or three terms, and no student may receive more than one
deferral. Students wishing to request a deferral should contact the NSAC
Research & Graduate Studies Office as soon as possible. All deferrals are subject
to the agreement of the supervisor who has agreed to supervise the student’s
program of study, the head of the department to which the student has applied,
and the final approval of FGS. Students are advised that funding assistance
provided through a research assistantship (e.g., supervisor’s research grant or
contract) may be rescinded if the student is unable to register on the date for
which they were originally accepted into the program. If a student requests a
deferral after he or she has registered, it is the student’s responsibility to
cancel his or her registration.
Application forms and details may be obtained from:
Research & Graduate
Studies Office
Cumming Hall, Nova
Scotia Agricultural College
PO Box 550, Truro, Nova
Scotia B2N 5E3
Phone (902) 893-6502,
Fax (902) 893-3430
www.nsac.ns.ca
Students who have taken graduate courses before applying for graduate
studies, and who have not used these credits for another degree, should apply
for appropriate graduate credit at the time of admission. FGS does not
guarantee that advanced standing will be granted for courses taken prior to
admission to the graduate program. Under no circumstances will advanced
standing be approved retroactively.
Academic Deadlines
A complete list of academic deadlines for those students enrolled in the
M.Sc. program can be found in the Graduate Program Procedures Manual 2005/2006
(available on the NSAC website at www.nsac.ns.ca/rgs/graduate/policy.asp). The
Graduate Coordinator distributes this manual to all registrants in the M.Sc.
program annually at registration.
Starting Dates
Students may choose to begin their Master of Science in Agriculture
program in the Fall (September 1), Winter (January 1), or Spring (May 1)
session.
Application Deadlines
The final date for the receipt of applications for studies commencing:
September 1 is June 1
(non-Canadian students April 1)
January 1 is November 15
(non-Canadian students August 31)
May 1 is February 28
(non-Canadian students December 31)
*If visa processing is lengthy (such as in the People’s Republic of
China), applicants should apply at least two months before the deadline, e.g.,
by January 31 for September admission.
Applicants who require a student visa and are not funded by NSAC or an
officially recognized funding agency must provide proof of financial ability
with their application. Immigration Canada is increasingly rigorous about
requiring proof of sufficient financial support to complete the program of
study.
Applicants who wish to apply for funding support (e.g., research
assistantship) are strongly encouraged to apply for admission before the stated
deadline and to indicate the need for financial support in their application.
All applicants are automatically considered for financial support. Candidates
should also apply for external awards whenever possible. NSAC reserves the
right to rescind financial support (e.g., research assistantships, entrance
scholarships) after the letter of initial offer, should the applicant be deemed
not to meet admission standards or the academic standards required for
scholarship criteria.
Students with diagnosed
learning disabilities who meet the current admission requirements may follow
the current admission procedures.
Students with diagnosed
learning disabilities who do not meet the current admission requirements or who
otherwise wish to have their learning disability considered may apply for
special consideration as may all other students who have extenuating
circumstances. The following additional documentation must be submitted by
students who wish to apply for special consideration:
• letter(s) of
recommendation from the individual(s) most familiar with the applicant’s
academic performance and/or potential for success in the program;
• a written, oral or electronic
statement from the student—in this brief personal statement, students should
describe their learning disability, how this affected their grades, and the
type of assistance they would require while at NSAC; and
• a current (within three
years) psychological assessment based on standard diagnostic instruments
administered by a registered psychologist documenting the presence of learning
disabilities. If a current report is not possible, NSAC/Dalhousie University
may accept an earlier report along with a current opinion (i.e., within the
past year) expressed in a letter by a registered psychologist (or individual
supervised by a registered psychologist) that the student has a learning
disability. This letter should specify the nature, extent and rationale for
program modifications or accommodations that were deemed appropriate in the
student’s last two years of schooling.
One-Year M.Sc. Program
Ten graduate credits are required. The thesis will count for a maximum
of six credits. The remaining credits (pass grade of ‘B-’ or 70% in each
course) must include AGRI5700 (Communication Skills and Graduate Seminar). The
number of credits awarded for the thesis is intended to make the total number
of credits equal to the number required for the M. Sc. degree (ten), and is not
related to the thesis quality; it is expected that a thesis awarded four
credits is of the same quality as a thesis awarded six credits. The one-year
program involves a program fee requirement of one year, during which a
full-time student is expected to be on campus unless otherwise given permission
to take courses or undertake research somewhere else. The one-year program fee
is followed by continuing fees as required.
Two-Year M.Sc. Program
In addition to the requirements for a one-year M.Sc. program, students
must complete at least five credits related to their thesis work with a grade
of ‘B-’ (70%) or better in each course. These additional credits may be at the
undergraduate or graduate level. The two-year program involves two years of
program fees followed by continuing fees as required.
Graduate Courses
Graduate courses at NSAC are numbered in the 5000 series. No course can
be assigned a graduate number without the recommendation of the Curriculum
Committee and the approval of Faculty Council (NSAC) and the Curriculum
Committee, Faculty of Graduate Studies. The last dates for adding and deleting
classes are published in the schedule of Academic Deadlines, as printed in the
Dalhousie University Graduate Studies Calendar 2005/2006. For withdrawals
within this period, the class and the withdrawal are not recorded on the
academic record. After these dates, the student is responsible for the content
of the class and receives a grade for it. Students may not transfer from full
to part-time status by withdrawing from classes after the deadlines listed in
the schedule of Academic Deadlines.
Advanced Placement
Advanced placement can be given for courses already counted toward a
previous degree. Advanced placement can reduce the overall number of course
requirements when the student’s previous degree and standing are exceptional.
Advanced placement must be approved by the supervisor, the Graduate Coordinator
and FGS, and must be clearly annotated on the student’s Graduate Program Form.
Students should be aware that courses approved for advanced placement will not
appear on their official transcript of the NSAC/Dalhousie M.Sc. program.
Transfer Credit
A transfer credit allows for courses completed outside of the student’s
program, normally at another institution, to be used as part of the student’s
degree requirements. Such courses cannot have been used for credit for another
degree, and cannot exceed 33% of the student’s overall requirements. This total
of 33% would also include any courses taken on Letter of Permission. Transfer
credits should be applied for within the first term following admission and
must be approved by the student’s supervisor, the Graduate Coordinator, and FGS.
An original transcript and course equivalency is required. Approved transfer
credits will appear on the student’s official transcript of the NSAC/Dalhousie
M.Sc. program.
Letters of Permission
The maximum number of courses taken outside of NSAC/Dalhousie University
Master of Science program, combining classes taken by Letters of Permission and
by Transfer Credits, shall normally be confined to 33% of the class
requirements. Courses approved by Dalhousie University (after examination of
course descriptions) can be taken at other universities on Letter of Permission
as part of the graduate degree program provided the course is not available at
NSAC or Dalhousie University. Graduate students enrolled in the M.Sc. program
in agriculture do not need a Letter of Permission to take courses at Dalhousie
University.
Approval of the Letter
of Permission is granted by the Dean of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University.
Graduate students must be registered and have paid appropriate fees before
Letters of Permission will be approved. Full-time and part-time students are
eligible to apply to take a course on a Letter of Permission. Students may not
take classes outside of the NSAC/Dalhousie M.Sc. Program for graduate credit
unless prior approval has been received from FGS. Letters of Permission are not
approved retroactively.
Students must achieve a
‘B-’ (70%) grade or better in order to achieve a pass standing at
NSAC/Dalhousie University. Grades below ‘B-’ received for courses taken on a
Letter of Permission at another institution will be recorded as a failing grade
on the student’s record. The normal regulations governing grading policy apply
to classes taken at other institutions (e.g., a ‘C+’ on a graduate class taken
elsewhere will be deemed an ‘F’ in the student’s program and will render
him/her liable to academic withdrawal). Students who fail a class may not
replace that class on a Letter of Permission, except with special permission of
FGS.
NSAC will normally pay
the tuition, up to a maximum of $, for students who pay a program fee to take
classes on a Letter of Permission if the course is a required course for the
student’s M.Sc. program and the course is not available at NSAC or Dalhousie
University. (Thus, this policy would not apply to students who pay ‘course
fees’.) NSAC will reimburse the student up to a maximum of $ toward the cost
of a course taken on a Letter of Permission provided that the student passes
the course (minimum grade of ‘B-’ or 70%). Students are only reimbursed after
they have taken and passed the course. To be reimbursed, the student must
provide proof of payment for the course and official transcripts showing that
the course was passed.
Ancillary Courses
A student may be directed by his/her supervisor or supervisory committee
to take undergraduate courses which are ancillary in nature to the student’s
specific area of study. Undergraduate courses recommended by a supervisor or
the supervisory committee as advisable additional background to the degree
program, but not specifically required for that program, are termed ancillary
courses and are usually taken in a department other than the one in which the
student is registered. These are taken by the student for credit in order to
make up deficiencies in background or to acquire important skills of an
ancillary nature. The pass grade in ancillary courses taken at NSAC (i.e., NSAC
undergraduate courses) is 60%. Ancillary classes must be listed on the Program
Form but do not count toward the required number of credits for the M.Sc. degree.
Students who take ancillary courses at another institution are responsible for
the tuition fees at the other institution. Undergraduate courses taken at NSAC
will not appear on the student’s official transcript of the M.Sc. program
issued by Dalhousie University and will not be included as part of the
student’s graduate program. The NSAC Registry will record ancillary courses.
Additional Undergraduate and Audit Courses
As part of their regular fees, graduate students may take two
undergraduate NSAC courses for credit and two NSAC courses for audit of their
choice in addition to their 10 required program credits. Approval is required
from the student’s supervisory committee for the additional undergraduate
credit and audit courses.
Students may also take
one audit at Dalhousie University (equivalent to six credit hours) in each year
of residency of their formal program. Audits at Dalhousie University must be
listed on the Program Form and must be relevant to the student’s program of
study. Audits cannot be taken on Letter of Permission and will not be approved
as part of a Qualifying Program.
Independent Study, Directed Readings and Special Topics
Students may not register for more than two independent study, directed
readings or special topics courses in any graduate program.
Passing Grade for Required Courses
Classes may be designated by the candidate’s committee as ‘Required’
(pass mark is ‘B-’) or ‘Ancillary’ (normal undergraduate pass mark unless
otherwise specified). Some graduate courses are cross-listed with senior
undergraduate courses, in which case the requirements for graduate students are
more demanding than those for undergraduates. If a student is permitted to take
an undergraduate course (with an appropriate additional work requirement as
approved by FGS Curriculum Committee) as part of their graduate course work,
the minimum ‘B-’ grade also applies. Note that there is no withdrawal (WD)
grade for graduate students (see grading chart below), except where a student
formally withdraws from the program.
Grading Policy
Graduate students must achieve a minimum, or passing, grade of ‘B-’ in
all classes required as part of their degree program. Any lower grade will be
recorded as a failure. Note that there is no withdrawal (WD) grade for graduate
students (see grading chart below), except where a student formally withdraws
from the program.
Dalhousie University’s FGS uses the following grading scheme:
Letter Grade Numerical (%)
Equivalent
A+ 90–100
A 85–89
A– 80–84
B+ 77–79
B 73–76
B– 70–72
F <70
Academic Transcript
The academic transcript is a reflection of academic progress and
therefore reflects both passes and failures. It cannot be altered after the
fact. Accordingly, it is essential that students be fully aware of the
deadlines for adding and withdrawing from graduate classes. Except for
university purposes, transcripts (both official and unofficial) will be issued
only on the request of the student and, where appropriate, on payment of the
required fee. A student will receive only an unofficial transcript. Upon a
student’s request, official transcripts will be sent to other universities, or
to business organizations. Graduate students are reminded that their official
academic transcript must be requested directly from Dalhousie University.
Official transcripts can be requested through Dalhousie’s on-line system.
Incomplete Courses
A student who fails to complete the required work for a particular class
during the normal period of the class will receive a grade of ‘F’ (Fail).
However, where circumstances warrant it, a grade of ‘INC’ (Incomplete) may be
assigned. Subsequent completion of the work following the end of the class may
result in a change of grade by the class instructor, as long as the work is
completed before the following deadlines:
| Fall term classes | February 1 |
| Winter term classes | June 1 |
| Full academic year classes (e.g., AGRI5700) | June 1 |
| Summer term classes | October 1 |
After these deadlines, an ‘INC’ grade cannot be changed without
permission of FGS.
Where the formal
deadline for completion of work is beyond the INC deadline, the instructor can
request permission from FGS to extend the INC for an approved period of time.
Where illness is
involved, a certificate from the student’s physician will be required. This
certificate should indicate the dates and duration of the illness, when
possible should describe the impact it had on the student’s ability to fulfil
academic requirements, and should include any other information the physician
considers relevant and appropriate. To obtain a medical certificate, students
who miss examinations, tests or the completion of other assignments should
contact their physician at the time they are ill and should submit a medical
certificate to their instructor as soon thereafter as possible. Such
certificates will not normally be accepted after a lapse of more than one week
from the examination or assignment completion date.
For exceptional
circumstances other than illness, appropriate documentation, depending on the
situation, will be required. Requests for alternate arrangements should be made
to the instructor in all cases. The deadlines for changing a grade from ‘ILL’
to a letter grade are the same as those listed above for changing a grade from
INC to a letter grade.
All outstanding grades,
including ‘ILL’ and ‘INC’, must be addressed prior to registration for the next
term. If grades are still outstanding into the next term and no arrangements
have been made, the student may be required to re-register in the class.
In Progress Courses
The grade of In Progress may be used only to report the thesis course,
research project classes, and those designated as “open to independent
completion of study”. Final submission of grades for project and independent
study courses is April 30 for fall term courses and August 31 for winter term
and regular session (AGRI5700, AGRI5710 and AGRI5705) courses.
Academic Standards
When the work of a student becomes unsatisfactory (including
insufficient progress), or a student’s attendance is irregular without
sufficient reason, withdrawal from one or more courses or academic dismissal
from the program may be required.
Failed Courses
A student who fails to obtain the minimum grade (‘B-’) in any course in
any year is automatically withdrawn (academically dismissed) immediately from
the program. However, such a student may apply, in writing, to the NSAC
Graduate Coordinator for reinstatement. Reinstatement to the program after a
failing grade must be supported by the student’s Supervisor, the Graduate
Coordinator, and the head of the department in which the student is registered
at NSAC, and must be approved in writing by FGS. Note that any academic
withdrawal and reinstatement will be recorded on the student’s official
transcript.
Length of Program and Extensions
Graduate students have a maximum period of time within which to complete
all of the requirements for their graduate program.
Usual Time Limits for the completion of degrees are:
One-year M.Sc.,
full-time: 2 years
One-year M.Sc.,
part-time: 4 years
Two-year M.Sc.,
full-time: 3 years
Upper Time Limits for the completion of degrees are:
One-year M.Sc.,
full-time: 4 years
One-year M.Sc.,
part-time: 5 years
Two-year M.Sc.,
full-time: 5 years
Two-year M.Sc.,
part-time: 7 years
Students may apply for extensions beyond the upper time limits. A first
extension of one year may be granted by FGS on the recommendation of the Graduate
Coordinator, along with a satisfactory Progress Report Form completed and
signed by the student and the supervisor. A request for a second extension,
the Final Extension, must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator with a
Report of Progress in the previous year together with a detailed plan and
timetable for completion of the thesis within the following 12-month period.
If supported by the supervisory committee, the Graduate Coordinator will forward
the recommendation to the Dean of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University for
approval. The student is then expected to defend and submit the approved thesis
within that academic year. Further extensions will only be given for one term
to provide for necessary revisions to the thesis following defence. Under
no circumstances can a student be registered in a program for more than 10
years.
Withdrawal From Program
A student who decides to withdraw from the graduate program must
immediately notify, in writing, his/her supervisor and the Graduate
Coordinator. The Graduate Coordinator will notify the NSAC Registrar, the
Dalhousie Registrar, and the Dean of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University.
Refund of fees, if applicable, will be calculated from the date this letter is
received by the Graduate Coordinator. A withdrawal is not official until it has
been approved by FGS and is received in the Dalhousie Registrar’s Office. Under
no circumstances will FGS back-date a withdrawal notice.
Academic Dismissal
A student may be required to withdraw from the program for academic
reasons (e.g., resulting from class failure, failure of ATC examination, or
lack of academic progress), for academic offences such as plagiarism, for
irregularities in the presentation of data, for non-academic reasons (e.g.,
breach of an NSAC or Dalhousie University regulation or Code of Student
Conduct), or for failure to maintain registration status. The student will be
notified by the appropriate body of the reason for the required withdrawal. The
student has the right to appeal the decision to the Graduate Coordinator.
Readmission of Students
A student who is required to withdraw, who voluntarily withdraws, or
whose registration has lapsed may apply for readmission within ten (10) years
of initial registration. Readmission is not automatic because of the
competition for places with incoming students. A student who is academically
withdrawn may not apply for readmission for at least 12 months following the
official date of the withdrawal.
Readmitted Students
Students who fail to register and pay tuition fees for any term before
the degree requirements have been fulfilled are considered to have withdrawn,
and will be required to apply for readmission. Readmitted students (except
those who have been withdrawn for academic reasons) must pay fees for the terms
in which they were not registered, to a maximum of three terms at the current
“continuing fee” rate.
Readmitted students who
were academically withdrawn will not be charged make-up fees for the three
terms immediately following the official date of withdrawal. Make-up fees will
be charged for any term thereafter, to a maximum of three terms, until the
student is registered.
Students who have not
maintained registration are normally required to have a satisfactory thesis in
hand or a timetable for completion, approved by the Graduate Coordinator and
signed by the student and thesis supervisor, before they can be readmitted.
Students may be
readmitted only once during the course of their program. Application for
readmission must meet normal application deadlines, and all outstanding fees
must be paid.
Demonstrating
As part of their graduate training all students must spend at least one
academic term demonstrating in an undergraduate class. It is hoped that graduate
students will participate in a variety of activities through the demonstrating
position, such as preparing teaching materials, giving prelab presentations/instructions,
monitoring student progress, and marking assignments. The demonstrating will
normally occupy six hours per week for the teaching term and will be paid
for by the department at the prevailing rate ($ per term) unless payment is
disallowed by the terms of a scholarship. Department heads, in consultation
with the students’ supervisors, are responsible for ensuring that each graduate
student is assigned at least one demonstrating position during their program.
Although departments must ensure that a position is available for every student
within their department so that this program requirement can be fulfilled,
students may demonstrate in an undergraduate course outside of their academic
department. Students are encouraged to discuss this requirement with their
supervisors and the heads of their departments early in their program. Students
interested in demonstrating in an undergraduate course outside of their academic
department should discuss this possibility with their supervisors, the instructors
of the courses in which they are interested, and the heads of the departments
in which the courses are offered. Students who arrange to complete the demonstrating
requirement in courses outside of their academic department must notify their
supervisors and the heads of their departments. The department in which the
student is registered will not pay for a graduate student to demonstrate in
an undergraduate course that is offered outside his/her academic department.
The demonstrating requirement can be completed in the student’s first or second
year of the program. Students may demonstrate in more than one course only
with permission from their supervisory committee. Students are responsible
for ensuring that the instructor of the course receives, and submits to the
Research & Graduate Studies Office, a Teaching Assistantship Evaluation
Report form. These forms are available from the Graduate Coordinator. The
performance of students as demonstrators will be evaluated by those in charge
of the course. Departments are responsible for ensuring that sufficient demonstrating
positions are available to their graduate students.
Admission to Candidacy (ATC) Examination
A Research Proposal must be prepared by all students as a requirement
for Admission to Candidacy (ATC). The proposal should provide a suitably
documented account of the project that the student wishes to undertake for the
M.Sc. degree. It is recommended that the research proposal be no more than 25
pages (double spaced, including reference list, figures, tables and
appendices). Students are to develop the research proposal in consultation with
their supervisor and supervisory committee members. Students should consult
with their supervisory committee on issues such as the rationale behind the
proposed research, important background literature, resources available,
practical limitations, and the nature of the ATC examination.
Students may find the
NSAC Style Manual to be a useful resource in preparing their research proposal.
The aim of the style manual is to give specific guidance to students who
require a standard format for writing assignments of various types. While
supervisors, scientific journals, and other textbooks will provide a great deal
of help, this manual will provide supplemental information to assist students
in research, note taking, paper planning, and citation forms. The NSAC Style
Manual is available from the NSAC Bookstore and the NSAC web site at
www.nsac.ns.ca/lib/select.html.
It is recommended that
students have all members of their supervisory committee review, comment on,
edit and critique the proposal prior to submitting the proposal for the ATC
examination. It should be submitted, together with a research proposal information
form (ATC Form Part 1, available from the Research & Graduate Studies
Office) and the ATC Planning Form, to the Graduate Coordinator (RGS) who will
schedule the ATC examination. Sufficient additional copies of the research
proposal must be provided to the Graduate Coordinator for distribution to the
Supervisory Committee, External Examiner, and Chair of the exam three weeks
prior to the ATC examination. One additional copy must be submitted to the
Graduate Coordinator for the student’s official file.
Admission to Candidacy
is based on presentation of an acceptable research proposal and successful
defense of this proposal before an examining committee. The examiners will
consider the merit and feasibility of the proposal as well as the student’s knowledge
of methodology, literature and general academic background in areas relevant to
the research.
Each student must pass
an Admission to Candidacy examination early in their program, normally within
the first four to six months in which a student is registered. If the ATC
examination is not completed within the first six months of the student’s
program, the student must submit a request for an extension with a detailed
timeline for the completion of the examination before registration for their
third term of study will be permitted. The request for the extension and
timeline for completion must be approved and supported by the student’s
supervisory committee. Students who do not complete the ATC examination within
their first year of study will not be permitted to register for their second
year of study. Students in a two-year M.Sc. program or part-time program may
elect to delay the candidacy examination for up to one year.
The purpose of the ATC examination is:
i) to evaluate the
student’s competency to pursue graduate studies in the student’s chosen
discipline within the context of the proposed research;
ii) to identify and
address any specific weaknesses in the student’s background relevant to the
proposed research area; and
iii) to assess the merit,
feasibility, and suitability of the proposed research as a graduate-level
thesis.
The ATC Examining Committee will include a Chair, one External Examiner
and the members of the Supervisory Committee. The Chair will normally be the
head of the student’s academic department of study or his/her designate. The
Chair must be a member of the Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie
University. In the event that the Department Head is not available to Chair the
exam and a designate from the department cannot be obtained, the Vice-President
Academic may act as Chair. The External Examiner may be a qualified scholar
from outside NSAC, an Honorary Research Associate or Adjunct Professor of NSAC,
or an NSAC Faculty member. In addition to the Chair and External Examiner, the
ATC Examining Committee will normally consist of three to four examiners.
Larger numbers of examiners are at the discretion of the student and the
supervisor. One committee member may be replaced by an alternate examiner if it
is impossible to have all members present.
The examination begins
with a 15-minute verbal presentation of the proposal by the student,
highlighting the goals and objectives of the research, the research
strategy/methodology, and the impact, significance or benefit of the proposed
research. The Chair, Supervisory Committee members, and External Examiner then
question the student on the proposal and on concepts relevant to the proposal.
The examiners will keep
in mind that the ATC proposal is not a detailed description of how the research
will be conducted. Thus, examiners’ questions will focus on general knowledge
of methodology required for the project and theory relating to it. Examiners
will also keep in mind that the ATC is not a comprehensive examination.
Questions will arise from the scientific content of the work presented but will
not range randomly over the entire field. The student is being examined for
competence by evaluating his/her ability to put together a viable research
project and to defend the rationale and methodology.
The Chair is expected
to intervene on behalf of the student if examiners’ questions are not
consistent with the purpose of the ATC examination.
Decision will be by
consensus and the alternatives are Pass or Fail. The Chair will vote only if
the committee vote is tied. Recommendations and/or conditions may accompany a
Pass outcome. If the student requires further background preparation, the
student may be required to take additional courses as a condition of passing
the ATC examination. Appropriate classes or remedial effort will be assigned
for the following academic year. If the research proposal is not deemed to be
satisfactory, the student may be required to rewrite the research document. The
Graduate Coordinator will verify that these assignments are completed. A
student who fails the ATC examination is required to withdraw from the program.
A failed ATC examination can be appealed to the Graduate Coordinator within
three working days. The student will then be re-examined within two weeks by the
Chair, the student’s Supervisor, and three faculty members not on the original
examining committee.
Thesis
A satisfactory thesis embodying contributions to research must be
presented and successfully defended in a public oral examination.
Supervisor and Supervisory Committee
All thesis students must have a Supervisor (or co-supervisors) and a
Supervisory Committee. The appointment of a supervisor is a prerequisite for
admission into the graduate program.
Students are not
admitted until their research areas have been identified and faculty members
have agreed to supervise them. A faculty member becomes the graduate student’s
supervisor upon signing the Confirmation of Intention to Supervise form. The
student’s supervisory committee is to be in place within the first month of the
student’s initial registration in the program. Students are advised to meet
with their supervisory committees early in their program (i.e., as soon as the
committees are formed).
Supervisor
A thesis supervisor or co-supervisor must be a member of the Faculty of
Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University. Members holding post-retirement
appointments or active in research in retirement cannot normally take on new
students to supervise, but they can co-supervise with a full-time member of
FGS. The supervisor is the person who will be most directly involved in
overseeing the student’s research program. The supervisor must obtain written
approval from the Department Head for each M.Sc. student he/she intends to
supervise. The following potential difficulty should be drawn to the attention
of new students: Some restriction of students’ freedom to follow their own
lines of research may result from dependence upon supervisors’ research grants
for a significant portion of their income. When conflicts of interest arise,
the Graduate Coordinator and the student’s supervisory committee should play a
significant role in overseeing the development of the research and in
protecting the student against the loss of academic freedom.
The supervisor must
meet with the student to select courses before classes commence. If the student
is not on campus by this time, the meeting must take place within one or two
days of arrival.
The responsibilities of the supervisor at the first meeting with a
graduate student are:
• to check whether the
student has registered and to advise on correct registration procedures, if
necessary;
• to help the student
plan course work, and advise on all requirements for the program;
• to determine which
courses are required and whether any should be designated ancillary or audit;
• to ensure that the
student has suitable working space and facilities for research;
• to assign any language
or auxiliary skill requirement;
• to advise students as
to where they can obtain information on matters such as health insurance,
social insurance numbers, housing, and finances.
If a supervisor is not available to assist the student (e.g., the
supervisor takes a one-year sabbatical leave), he/she must arrange an
alternative (interim) supervisor for the student. The name and the expected
duration of tenure of the interim supervisor must be reported to the Graduate
Coordinator in writing.
In addition, each supervisor consents to:
• guide and assist their
graduate students;
• serve on examining committees
for ATC examinations and thesis defences;
• teach in a graduate
module course or graduate course;
• contribute information
to the annual reports of the Graduate Program;
• encourage dissemination
of results and interaction of graduate students with other students and faculty
through research seminars and other means.
The Supervisor and the student are responsible for recommending to the
Graduate Coordinator the names of three suitable potential external examiners
for the ATC examination and the names of three potential external examiners for
the thesis defence.
Supervisors are
responsible for initiating the thesis defence; they are also responsible for
making arrangements for travel and accommodations and for hosting external
examiners, if necessary. Supervisors are responsible for all costs associated
with the thesis defence (e.g., travel costs of external examiners).
Co-supervision
Four types of co-supervision are recognized:
(i) where a co-supervisor
is added because the other supervisor does not have an appropriate academic
qualification (e.g., does not have a Ph.D. or equivalent);
(ii) where a student wishes
to draw equally upon the expertise of two supervisors from different
disciplines;
(iii) where a new faculty
member is introduced to the standards of the department by providing an
opportunity to work with an experienced supervisor; and
(iv) where required to
conform to Dalhousie University Faculty of Graduate Studies’ practice regarding
external supervisors or supervisors not from the student’s department of
program. An Adjunct faculty member may be the academic supervisor of a student
provided the student also has an internal advisor to handle the administrative
details. This is usually done to support the student within the program rather
than for reasons of academic need.
Students are advised to meet with their co-supervisors, together, early
in their program to clarify the roles, responsibilities and expectations of
each co-supervisor and to devise a communication strategy with each
co-supervisor (e.g., in some instances, students with co-supervisors will be
expected to work closely with only one of the co-supervisors on the thesis
research project while in others a student may be expected to meet with both
co-supervisors regularly regarding the thesis research).
Supervisory Committee
A Supervisory Committee is recommended by the supervisor in consultation
with the student, and should complement the expertise available to the student
in completing his/her research program. This committee is responsible for
guiding the graduate student through the program. It consists of the Supervisor
and other persons with expertise or interests relevant to the student’s field
of study. Its composition must be reported to the Graduate Coordinator within
the student’s first academic term of study or when the student applies for
admission to candidacy, whichever occurs first. All supervisory committees
are approved by FGS.
The supervisory committee consists of the supervisor and at least two
others. Supervisory committee members may be chosen from outside NSAC; however:
• where the supervisor is
not a full-time faculty member of NSAC, a co-supervisor from NSAC must be
appointed. This person is responsible to NSAC for the student’s progress;
• the majority of
committee members must be members of FGS and full-time faculty of NSAC.
Additional members of the non-university/college community (such as practising
professionals) may be appointed to the supervisory committee where their
particular expertise makes it appropriate. The appointment of a non-member of
FGS, including any non-regular appointments, requires permission from the Dean
or Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, Dalhousie University, for the individual
to become a formal member of the supervisory committee. Non-members of FGS must
be approved as External Scholars by the Dean of Graduate Studies. Supervisors
should contact the Graduate Coordinator for more information on the approval
process.
Although the Admission to Candidacy (ATC) examination is the first
official meeting of the supervisory committee, supervisory committees are
strongly recommended to meet before the ATC examination. It is recommended that
the supervisory committee meet with the student before the ATC examination to
discuss the student’s program (e.g., courses) and proposed research project.
Supervisory committees
are to meet at least twice a year during the thesis research period and more
often in the writing stages of the student’s program. Normally the agreement of
all committee members is required before a thesis is brought forward for
examination.
Supervisory committees are responsible for reviewing the student’s
Annual Progress Report and assisting the student in completing the Annual
Progress Report form, which is received and reviewed by the Graduate
Coordinator prior to being submitted to FGS.
Supervisors should
encourage students to consult other members of their supervisory committee,
either individually or as a group, whenever it is useful. Students have the
right to call a committee meeting at any time. The committee should also have
opportunities to critique the work in progress and make alternative suggestions
before it appears in thesis form. Students and supervisors are therefore
encouraged to call the committee together to discuss research progress more
often than the statutory twice per year described above. (Note: at least one
meeting per academic term is recommended.)
Supervisory Committee Member’s Responsibilities
Each member of a supervisory committee is responsible for:
• providing guidance to
allow for the student’s intellectual growth to become a competent contributor
to a field of knowledge. In this context, the supervisory committee must
provide constructive criticism and provocative discussion of the student’s
ideas as the program develops. The committee should ensure that the student is
exposed to a wider range of expertise and ideas than can be provided by the
advisor alone.
• being reasonably
accessible to the student for consultation and discussion of the student’s
academic progress and research problems, and directing the student, as
appropriate, to consult with experts outside the committee.
• ensuring that a
“program of study” is established with the student’s involvement and that it is
formally approved by the committee, the student, and the Office of Research
& Graduate Studies.
• as far as possible,
identifying current and anticipated problems that may arise in the student’s
program and helping to alleviate them.
• Meeting regularly to
review the student’s progress and constructively advance the student’s
research. The frequency of meetings will vary according to the stage and nature
of the student’s program.
• confirming and
approving annual progress reports to the Office of Research & Graduate
Studies and Dalhousie University Faculty of Graduate Studies. Ensuring that
progress reports include concerns or document when the progress being made is
unsatisfactory.
• informing the student
of the approximate time it will take for submitted written material to be
returned with comments, with a normal maximum duration of two weeks.
• reading and commenting
on drafts of written material and indicating whether or not a major paper is
complete or a thesis ready for submission to the final examination committee.
• conforming to the basic
principles of academic integrity and professionalism in the development of a
mature and objective relationship with the student.
• respecting and
conforming to the scholarly integrity and conflict of interest guidelines of
NSAC and FGS.
It is the student’s responsibility to register on the day(s) specified
for graduate student registration. Students must register for each term (Fall,
Winter and Summer). Registration is the process by which the student officially
establishes with NSAC (through the Research & Graduate Studies Office)
courses to be taken in the M.Sc. program and status (full-time, part-time), and
pays the appropriate academic fees. Both aspects of the process (course
registration/status and fee payment) must be completed before a student can be
said to be registered.
Graduate students may
take graduate courses offered at NSAC and at Dalhousie University. This
provides graduate students in the M.Sc. program in Agriculture with a wide
variety of courses from which to select. Graduate courses offered at NSAC are
listed in the NSAC 2005/2006 Calendar, available from the NSAC Registrar or
NSAC Research & Graduate Studies Office, and are listed on the NSAC web
site (www.nsac.ns.ca/rgs/graduate/course.htm). Graduate courses offered at
Dalhousie University are listed in the Dalhousie University Graduate Studies
Calendar 2005/2006 and are available on the Dalhousie web site at
www.dalgrad.dal.ca.
Students must register
for each term (Fall, Winter and Summer) at both Dalhousie University (carried
out via the web at www.dal.ca/online) and NSAC (carried out via NSAC’s Datatel
Web Registration System at www.nsac.ns.ca/reg/register.htm). Students are
reminded that they must keep their mailing address up to date.
To register, all graduate students in their first year of study must do
the following during their first three academic terms:
(i) Meet with the Graduate
Coordinator for a student interview/ registration appointment to complete the
relevant forms that indicate the student’s presence on campus and intention to
study for a graduate degree during the ensuing year. At the student interview,
the student will be required to (1) identify his/her supervisor and proposed
supervisory committee members, and (2) provide a list of courses, approved by
the student’s supervisor or committee as necessary to complete the student’s
M.Sc. requirements. Thus, students must meet with their supervisors prior to
their registration appointment. The Graduate Coordinator will assist the
student with on-line registration procedures at NSAC and Dalhousie University
and with the formal completion of the Program Approval form. The completed
forms will be submitted by the Graduate Coordinator to the NSAC Registrar and
the Dalhousie Dean of Graduate Studies. Any change in courses after the
interview must be approved by the Supervisor and the Graduate Coordinator.
(ii) Arrange for medical
insurance coverage. NSAC does not offer or provide medical insurance for
students. International students must have health insurance and are to apply
for health insurance immediately upon their arrival in Canada through the NSAC
Student Services Office. Fees for health insurance are billed directly to each
international student’s account at NSAC, and must be paid on the student’s
arrival. International students must show proof of medical insurance prior to
registration. Canadian students are not mandated to show proof of medical
insurance prior to registration; however, they are responsible for ensuring that
they have adequate medical insurance that meets their needs.
(iii) Arrange for payment of
fees through Financial Services, 2nd Floor, Cumming Hall.
(iv) Obtain a student ID
card from NSAC Student Services, Dairy Building.
Graduate students in their second year of the program and beyond will
receive a registration package by mail. This package will contain:
• deadline dates by which
registration must be completed;
• procedures to be
followed to register at NSAC via the on-line registration system;
• procedures to be
followed to register at Dalhousie University via the on-line registration
system;
• procedures for the
payment of tuition fees; and
• specific information on
procedures to follow to change academic status, program requirements, etc.
Continuing students who require an extension to their program or have an
outstanding Progress Report will not be permitted to register until the
extension or progress report has been officially approved by the Faculty of
Graduate Studies.
Late registration is
permitted until the last day for adding courses. All students must register on
or before the deadline for each term. Students who do not register on or before
the last day to register must apply in writing to the Graduate Coordinator for
permission to register. Late fees are waived only in extenuating circumstances
and at the discretion of the Vice-President Administration. Registration after
the final deadline is normally only permitted in unavoidable circumstances such
as illness or required absence for research at the beginning of the next
academic year (in September).
Any student who fails
to register and pay tuition fees by the approved deadlines may neither submit a
thesis nor obtain any services from NSAC or Dalhousie University during that
semester. Continuing students who fail to register by the final deadline will
be automatically withdrawn from their program and will have to apply for
readmission by the next available admission date.
An individual program
of study must be approved for every graduate student. The program of study for
each graduate student must be approved by the Graduate Coordinator and
submitted for final approval to FGS. The Graduate Coordinator will enter the
proposed program (with the total number of credits required, the names and
numbers of courses required (including ancillary courses), and any other
requirements and conditions) on the Program Form. The student, the supervisor,
and the Graduate Coordinator must sign this form prior to submission to FGS.
The signed form is to be submitted to FGS within the first term of the
student’s program of study. Once approved, the Program Form constitutes an
agreed contract between the student and NSAC/Dalhousie University for the
requirements to complete the M.Sc. program. Any changes to the approved Program
Form must be agreed to by the supervisor, Graduate Coordinator and FGS by
submission of a Program Update form. It is the obligation of the supervisor to
inform all supervisory committee members of both the content of the original Program
Form and any changes made to the original Program Form.
Concurrent Registration
A student may, with the permission of the Dean of Graduate Studies,
register for two concurrent degrees, either at Dalhousie or one at Dalhousie
and one elsewhere, for a maximum of twelve months, usually the first academic
year of the graduate program. This does not apply to an NSAC/Dalhousie student
finishing his/her M.Sc. degree who has been accepted into a Ph.D. program. In
that case, the student must first complete the Master’s degree and then
register in the Ph.D. program in January, May or September as applicable and
approved by the department. If the student fails to complete the Master’s
degree for a particular entry point, the onus is on the department to defer the
admission to the next available start date.
Leave of Absence
Students who need to take leave from their program of study because of
illness or a serious problem outside the student’s control may apply in writing
through the Graduate Coordinator for a Leave of Absence. If NSAC recommends to
FGS that the Leave of Absence be granted, and if FGS is also satisfied that the
need is justified, such leave will be granted. An official Leave of Absence
does not count toward time in the program. Students may not hold stipends or
scholarships during a Leave of Absence. During a leave of absence, a student
cannot study elsewhere for credit at NSAC or Dalhousie University. Leaves of
Absence will not be approved retroactively.
Leaves of Absence can
be granted for the following periods: September to December; January to April;
and May to August. Students may apply for successive term leaves up to a
maximum of three terms (one year).
Applications for Leave
of Absence (limited to a total of three terms during an individual’s program)
must be made by August 12 for a leave commencing September 1, December 9 for a
leave commencing January 1, and April 15 for a leave commencing May 1.
A Leave of Absence not
only frees the student from the necessity of paying tuition fees, it also
releases NSAC and Dalhousie University from the obligation to provide the
student with services. These include consultations with professors, library and
computer privileges, health services, and other student services.
Suspension of Studies
Unexpected emergencies that arise during the term cannot be accommodated
by a Leave of Absence. Such cases can be accommodated through a suspension of
program but no fee rebate is possible. A student must apply in writing to FGS
for a suspension of program stating the reasons and the length of time
requested, and it must be supported by the NSAC Graduate Coordinator. A
suspension relieves the student from responsibilities for completing classwork
and other program requirements, but it does contribute to time in the program
(i.e., the clock does not stop ticking). Normally, a suspension of studies
shall be for no longer than one term. Disposition of courses registered for
during a term of suspension of studies must be agreed upon by NSAC, and
approved by FGS.
Parental Leave
Parental leave will be granted, without prejudice to academic standing,
at the time of pregnancy, birth or adoption. A parent may request up to three
terms of leave, which must be completed within twelve months of the date of
birth or custody. Where both parents are graduate students seeking parental
leave, the total number of terms may not exceed four. While on parental leave,
students do not register or pay fees to NSAC. Any refund of fees will be
governed by university regulations. Parental leave not only frees the student
from the necessity of paying fees, it also releases Dalhousie University and
NSAC from the obligation to provide the student with services. These include
consultations with professors, library and computer privileges, health
services, and other student services. It is recommended that students planning
to take parental leave not only give adequate notice to their supervisor but
also discuss issues such as future plans and progress, stipend support, and
research deadlines. Only under well-documented extenuating circumstances will
retroactive approval be given for parental leave.
Identification Cards
Full-time and part-time students will receive both NSAC and Dalhousie ID
numbers. Students will receive NSAC ID cards that will entitle them to Novanet
library services. The Novanet consortium comprises nine postsecondary
institutions: Dalhousie, SMU, MSVU, St FX, UCCB, Kings, NSCC, NSCAD and NSAC.
Students will have borrowing privileges at all of the above-listed institutions.
Contact the NSAC MacRae Library for more information. Please note that because
students are registered at Dalhousie University and are also given a Dalhousie
ID number, NSAC graduate students can access the proxy server at Dalhousie
University that allows access to the Dalhousie Library databases and electronic
journals. Students will need their Dalhousie ID number to access their grades,
and to update their personal information on Dalhousie’s on-line access system
at www.dal.ca/online.
Notification of Address
Correspondence from Dalhousie University and NSAC will be sent to the
most recent address on file at these institutions. Students will be held
responsible for complying with all notifications sent from either institution.
Non-receipt of material because of failure to report a change of address will
not excuse students from program responsibilities.
All students must
report their local address while attending the M.Sc. program to the Research
& Graduate Studies Office, on registration or as soon as possible
thereafter, and subsequent changes must be reported promptly. Changes of
address must be reported to the Graduate Coordinator and a Change of Address
form must be completed. The Graduate Coordinator will notify the NSAC Registry
and Financial Services of the change in address.
Students are also
required to ensure that Dalhousie University has their current mailing address,
by updating their address on Dalhousie’s on-line system
(www.dal.ca/online—select “Update Address(es) and Phone(s)” from the Personal
Information menu and add a new address, select the type to add and click the
“Insert” button). Students will need their Dalhousie ID number and a password
to enter the system.
E-mail
E-mail is an authorized means of communication for academic and
administrative purposes within Dalhousie University and NSAC. All students will
be assigned an official e-mail address by both Dalhousie University and NSAC.
Both the Dalhousie University and NSAC e-mail addresses will remain in effect
while the student remains a student. These e-mail addresses will be used for
communication with students regarding all academic and administrative matters.
Any redirection of e-mail will be at the student’s own risk. Each student is
expected to check both his or her official NSAC and Dalhousie University e-mail
addresses frequently in order to stay current with program communications.
Change of Name
Students who change their name while attending the M.Sc. program must
provide proof of name change (e.g., marriage or divorce certificates, official
name change form, etc.). Students are to contact the Research & Graduate
Studies Office for additional information.
A full-time student is a student who has been approved by NSAC and FGS
as working full-time on a graduate degree. A student may register full-time and
hold a job simultaneously only if the job involves no more than 16 hours’ work
per week, including the hours worked as a teaching assistant.
A
part-time student is a student who has been approved by NSAC and FGS as working
part-time on a graduate degree. A part-time graduate student cannot carry more
than 8 credit hours per term.
A
continuing student is one who has completed the program fee and residency
requirements but has not yet finished all the degree requirements (usually the
thesis). The student is required to pay a continuing fee on a per-term basis.
A
qualifying student is a person with a Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent who
meets normal admission standards and in whom NSAC has expressed an interest as
a potential graduate student, but who is without sufficient academic background
in a particular discipline to be enrolled directly into the Master’s program.
For example, a Qualifying Year may be used for a student to take an Honours
equivalency certificate, or to take a year of senior undergraduate courses in
an area of deficiency in their undergraduate degree. Only in exceptional
circumstances may a student be admitted to a Qualifying Year to upgrade a below-standard
undergraduate degree or academic record.
Qualifying
students can be full-time or part-time. Because it is a prerequisite, a
qualifying program cannot be used to reduce the length of a subsequent regular
graduate program. Qualifying students are not eligible for scholarship or
bursary support, and must apply for admission to the graduate program in the
usual way toward the end of the qualifying period. They must pass all classes
with no grades below ‘B-’ and an average of at least ‘B’, and fulfill any other
requirements in order to be considered for admission.
Special
students are those students who are permitted to take a graduate class outside
the Master’s program. Such students, although they have not been admitted to
the Master’s program, may normally take a maximum of two full-credit classes
with the permission of the class instructor and the Graduate Coordinator.
Because all graduate classes must be taught at a consistent standard to
graduate level students, non-program students must have records which meet the
minimum entrance requirements for the graduate program (hence they must be
approved by FGS, as admissible to the graduate program). Students are
ineligible to apply for Special Student status in a class if they have been
rejected from the program on account of academic standing, or have been
withdrawn from the program. Students trying to qualify for entry to a graduate
program must follow a different route: either a Qualifying Year program, if
eligible, or a program of study as a Special Student in an undergraduate
faculty. Classes completed as a Special Student may not be used for credits
toward the formal graduate program unless approval has been granted by FGS at
the time of admission.
A letter confirming a
student’s registration and/or scholarship or stipend status can be produced on
request. Students should contact the NSAC Research & Graduate Studies
Office for information on this service.
Graduate students pay “program fees” for fixed periods, either as
full-time or part-time students, followed by “continuing fees” until all
program requirements have been completed. The current fee schedule is available
each year in July. It can be obtained from the NSAC Research & Graduate
Studies Office or the NSAC web site at www.nsac.ns.ca/rgs/graduate/index.htm.
Program Fees for Full-Time Students
Full-time graduate students pay program fees for a specific number of
years depending on the program, after which they pay continuing fees until all
the program requirements are completed. The one-year M.Sc. program involves a
program fee requirement of one year (i.e., students admitted to the one-year
program are required to pay three consecutive terms of full-time program fees).
The two-year M.Sc. program involves a program fee requirement for the first two
years of study. If students have to continue beyond the program fee requirement
period to complete their degree, additional (continuing fees) are required.
Program Fees for Part-Time Students
Part-time graduate students pay the same program fees as full-time
students, spread over three part-time years of study for every full-time year.
If a part-time student completes the requirements for the degree before the
full program fees have been paid, the balance of those fees must be paid prior
to graduation.
In other words, a
part-time student entering the one-year M.Sc. program will pay 9 consecutive
terms of part-time fees, and a part-time student in the two-year program will
pay 18 consecutive terms of part-time fees. Students who complete their
part-time programs in less time will still be required to pay part-time program
fees for the outstanding terms before they are approved for graduation.
Continuing Fees
Students who have completed the required program fee period and have
paid all their fees, but are still short of completing their program, must pay
a continuing fee until all the academic requirements of the program have been
completed. Students are assessed continuing fees on a per-term fee basis.
Usually, continuing fees are paid by students who are in the process of
completing their thesis.
Graduate students must
maintain continuous registration until their program requirements are complete,
unless they are granted a formal Leave of Absence. Payment of fees is required
for students to maintain their status in the program.
Procedures for Payment of Fees
Students will be billed in September for the Fall term; January for the
Winter term; and May for the Summer term. Payment in full is due on the last
day for registration (as published in the Graduate Program Procedures Manual)
in each of the Fall, Winter and Summer terms. Fees not paid by the last day for
registration will be subject to interest charges, and the student’s
registration may be cancelled. In exceptional circumstances, graduate students
may arrange with the Graduate Coordinator to pay tuition fees on a monthly
basis. The first payment of a monthly payment plan is payable upon
registration. NSAC has the right to deduct tuition fees directly from a
student’s stipend, NSERC PGS, IPS, or Canada Graduate Scholarship award (or any
other outside scholarship paid to NSAC to administer on behalf of the funding
agency) should the student’s account go into arrears or not be paid by the last
day of registration.
Graduate students may
not submit their approved thesis to Dalhousie University for binding nor will
they be granted their degree or official transcripts until outstanding fees are
paid in full. Any late fees and interest charges that apply to undergraduate
students also apply to graduate students.
Students
who have outstanding balances and who have not received permission to register
from the Vice President Administration are not permitted to register for a
further term. Students with outstanding account balances are required to meet
with the Vice President Administration to sign an Outstanding Fee Form
detailing in what manner the fees are to be paid and from which sources the
funds are expected to arrive.
Selecting a Program
Students should meet with their supervisors before classes begin and
design a complete program of suitable courses for each year of study. It is the
student’s responsibility to arrange this meeting. In selecting appropriate
courses, the student must bear in mind the following:
• All graduate students
must enroll for Thesis Research (AGRI9000) every semester even though they may
expect to make little progress in that semester.
• Students in the
one-year M.Sc. program are strongly encouraged to take all course work during
their first year. However, if necessary, courses may be spread over more than
one academic year.
• Graduate credit is
obtained only for graduate courses, which are denoted by a 5000 number or
above.
NSAC offers numerous entrance scholarships and research assistantships
to eligible graduate students. All applicants to the Master of Science program
are automatically considered for scholarship eligibility. The availability of
research assistantships varies annually and from one area of research to
another. Many research assistantships are posted on the Research & Graduate
Studies web site at www.nsac.ns.ca/rgs/graduate/index.htm. We encourage you to
check the site regularly for opportunities in an area of research that may be
of interest to you.
Several Differential
Fee Waivers are awarded to international students annually. All international
applicants are automatically considered. Differential Fee Waivers are awarded
on the basis of academic merit and financial need.
The M.Sc. program requires
that students assist in the teaching of at least one undergraduate course. Not
only do students gain teaching experience but they are also reimbursed
financially in the form of a Teaching Assistantship.
Stipends (Research Assistantships)
All graduate student stipends will be classified as scholarships
regardless of their source. Graduate students are to be informed of the rate of
the stipend prior to registration. Once a stipend rate is selected, that rate
normally remains in effect for the duration of the stipend payment (usually 24
months). However, the rate of the stipend may be renegotiated if there is any
change in the student’s official academic status (e.g. change from full-time to
part-time status) or if the student receives a major scholarship (e.g. NSERC
PGS A, NSERC IPS, etc.). NSERC scholarship holders are expected to adhere to
NSERC’s Award Holders Guidelines (www.nserc.ca). NSERC expects award holders to
devote the majority of their time to the expeditious completion of their degree
program. As a guideline in this context, NSERC strongly suggests that award
holders limit the number of hours of employment per 12-month period to 450.
Award holders may not accept remuneration or supplements paid from other NSERC
grants, whether paid as a scholarship or salary. Part-time NSERC PGS holders
are not permitted to be employed during tenure of the award without NSERC's
prior authorization.
Stipend payments are
managed by and distributed from the Research & Graduate Studies Office.
Students receiving stipend support will receive stipend cheques on a monthly
basis, at the beginning of each month. For these students, the first cheque
will be issued 30 days following initial registration (i.e., if the program
start date is Sept. 1, the first stipend cheque will be issued on October 1,
etc.). Graduate students funded under national scholarships (e.g., Canada
Graduate Scholarships, NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships (PGS), NSERC Industrial
Postgraduate Scholarships (IPS), etc.) will also receive their scholarships on
a monthly basis at the beginning of each month. NSAC has the right to deduct
tuition fees directly from the student’s scholarship should the student’s
account go into arrears. Students with questions regarding their stipend
payments are encouraged to contact Marie Law at the Research & Graduate
Studies Office (mlaw@nsac.ns.ca; 893-6502).
Stipends
and scholarships are considered taxable income, and must be reported on annual
income tax returns. Students will receive the forms necessary to complete their
income tax returns (T4 and/or T4A slips, and tuition credit receipts) from NSAC
Financial Services annually. For tax purposes, stipends are considered
scholarships rather than payment for work, and income tax is not withheld. It
is advised that students set aside a portion of their income to pay income
taxes that may be owing.
Research Costs
A student’s supervisor is responsible for costs directly associated with
research for the thesis, but all costs associated with writing and presenting
the thesis are the student’s responsibility.
Self-support
On the few occasions when a student is accepted to the M.Sc. program
with no financial support, NSAC requires that the student submit a letter
waiving any responsibility on the part of NSAC for financial support for the
duration of the given program. However, this does not negate the possibility
that support funding may subsequently be procured during or after the initial
year.
Conference Grants
Students planning to present their research at a scientific meeting may
apply to the Graduate Coordinator for a grant towards their expenses. Application
forms are available from the Graduate Coordinator. A student may expect only
one conference grant (up to a total of $) during the course of the M.Sc. Program,
subject to the approval of the Graduate Coordinator, as financing permits.
Receipts for expenses are required.
Ethical Review
Research Involving the Use of Animals
Research involving the use of animals must be approved by the NSAC’s
Animal Care & Use Committee (ACUC). The two key functions of this committee
are:
• to ensure that NSAC is
in compliance with the Canadian Council on Animal Care (CCAC) with respect to
standards and guidelines for the use of animals in research, teaching and
testing; and
• to monitor the numbers
of animals used in research, teaching and testing according to purpose and
level of invasiveness. This latter information is compiled with information
from other institutions across the country by CCAC to provide accurate reports
on the use of animals in research, teaching and testing.
Graduate students wishing to work with animals must refer to the
materials provided by the CCAC and consult with members of the ACUC as they
design their experiments or field studies, and as they prepare for teaching
laboratories. The CCAC “Guide to the care and use of experimental animals”,
“Guidelines on choosing an appropriate end-point in experiments using animals
for research, teaching and testing”, and several other documents are available
in the library, and personal copies can be made available to interested
individuals. The CCAC web site (www.ccac.ca) provides more details on their
mission, policies and available guidelines. Graduate students who will be
working with animals are required to take the module entitled “Experimental
Animal User Training”. This module will be offered in October 2005 and January
2006. A description of this module can be obtained from the NSAC Research &
Graduate Studies Office.
Approval by the ACUC is
required for all animal use, on or off campus, in which NSAC faculty, staff or
students are involved. Any teaching, research or testing use of animals
requires an Animal Care & Use Protocol, signed by an authorized
representative of the ACUC, prior to assignment of animals to the project. This
is true even if the procedures are non-invasive (for example, behavioural
observations) or similar to routine management of the animals. All staff have
the right to refuse to participate in animal use procedures not approved by
ACUC. In addition, noncompliance with CCAC guidelines can result in withdrawal
of funding across the campus by the national granting agencies.
Electronic copies of
the Protocol forms (separate forms exist for teaching, research and renewals/extensions)
are available from the Department of Plant and Animal Sciences (893-7998)
For further information, contact:
Dr. Jim Duston
Chair, Animal Care
& Use Committee
Department of Plant and
Animal Sciences
893-8639
jduston@nsac.ns.ca
Research Involving Human Subjects
All thesis research involving human subjects must be approved by the
NSAC Research Ethics Board (REB). Projects which might typically arise at NSAC
and which would require REB review are questionnaires, surveys, or interviews
of individuals, where the human being is the subject of the investigation and
personal opinions and practices are documented. Graduate students are to submit
their proposals to the Graduate Coordinator who will, in turn, forward it to
the REB Chair. The REB will meet regularly. The schedule of REB meetings is
available at the Research & Graduate Studies Office. All proposals being
submitted to the REB must be received at least 7 working days before the REB
meeting in which they are reviewed. Meeting this deadline does not guarantee
the review of the proposal at the next REB meeting; the REB is, however,
committed to efficiently reviewing proposals. Students should allow six to
eight weeks for processing. A copy of the NSAC letter of ethics approval will
be forwarded to Ms. Lindley, Office of Research Services (Room 337, Arts and
Administration Building, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3H 4H6) to put in
the student’s official file at Dalhousie University. Complete details on the
NSAC’s REB Policy and Process can be found on the Research & Graduate
Studies Office website at www.nsac.ns.ca/rgs/research/ethics.htm. For further
information contact the Research & Graduate Studies Office, Cumming Hall,
NSAC (893-6360 or 893-6502) or Lauranne Sanderson, Chair, Research Ethics
Board, Department of Business and Social Sciences, Humanities House
(lsanderson@nsac.ns.ca).
Research Involving Biohazards
Researchers, graduate students and instructors using or proposing to use
biohazards must obtain certification from the NSAC Biosafety Officer that the
laboratory procedures being employed comply with the safety precautions
necessary for the level of containment required for the organisms used. The
NSAC Biosafety Officer is Dr. Glenn Stratton, Department of Environmental
Sciences (gstratton@nsac.ns.ca). Approval to acquire, purchase, and use
biohazards at NSAC must be obtained from Dr. Stratton. Applications for an
internal permit for the acquisition and use of biohazard materials may also be
obtained from Dr. Stratton. These new regulations apply to all infectious
agents of plants and animals (bacteria, prions, viroids, fungi, viruses,
parasites), recombinant DNA, cell lines, microbial toxins, and transgenic
plants and animals ordered for either research or teaching purposes, regardless
of their perceived pathogenicity. For additional information on biohazards,
risk groups of pathogens, and containment level requirements, please refer to
the Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines on Health Canada’s Office of Laboratory Security
website at www.hc-sc.gc.ca/pphb-dgspsp/ols-bsl/index.html. Further information
on NSAC policies and procedures for working with biohazards can be obtained
from Dr. Stratton.
Research Involving Radioactive Materials
Researchers, graduate students, and instructors using or proposing to
use radioactive materials must obtain permission and approval from the NSAC
Radiation Safety Officer. The NSAC Radiation Safety Officer is Dr. Robin
Robinson, Department of Environmental Sciences (rrobinson@nsac.ns.ca); the
Assistant Radiation Safety Officer is Anne Swan, Department of Environmental
Sciences (aswan@nsac.ns.ca). The following forms are available from the
Radiation Safety Office:
• Application for
Internal Permit for Acquisition and use of Radioactive Materials
• Application for
Internal Permit for use of Radioisotope Using Animals
All researchers, graduate students, and staff using radioactivity must
provide proof of completion of a radiation use and safety training program to
the NSAC Radiation Safety Office. For information on the radiation use and
safety training program offered at NSAC please contact Anne Swan.
Preparation of the Thesis
An acceptable thesis will describe in clear and concise language a
contribution to knowledge of sufficient value to merit publication. It must be
prepared according to instructions published by the Faculty of Graduate Studies
and conform to Dalhousie University’s requirements for thesis. The FGS
Regulations for the Submission of Theses is available from the NSAC Research
& Graduate Studies Office and from the FGS website. All thesis students
must obtain a copy of these regulations, and students are responsible for
ensuring that their thesis complies with all aspects of these regulations.
Failure to do so may cause delays in completion, and may even result in the
cancellation of a scheduled defence. Students and supervisors are referred to
the CBE Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Publishers as a possible resource
for guidelines of thesis style.
The thesis must be written
by the student, but advice and constructive criticism from members of the
supervisory committee should be sought during its preparation. Students are
also encouraged to present a synopsis for discussion and conditional approval
before beginning to write, but formal approval by the supervisory committee is
not mandatory. Responsibility for the document presented rests with the
student. The examining committee, in judging the thesis, is concerned primarily
with the quality of the work and evidence of research contributions to
knowledge. Students are encouraged to publish the results of their work at any
stage of their graduate program but must avoid conflict of copyright or
contractual agreement. Students who have concerns regarding conflict of copyright
or contractual agreement are urged to discuss these issues with their
supervisor or to contact the NSAC Research & Graduate Studies Office for
further information.
Thesis Originality and Editing
A thesis must present the student’s own work, and all students are
advised to read the university’s regulations on plagiarism (including
self-plagiarism). Dalhousie University’s regulations on plagiarism can be found
in the FGS Policy on Integrity in Scholarly Activity (available from Dalhousie
University).
All students are
expected to write their theses (and indeed, all their papers) in excellent
English. While editorial correcting occurs as part of the supervisory process
(as sections of the thesis are read and commented upon by supervisory committee
members), faculty are not expected to have to make excessive correction to the
standard of English. A committee member may refuse to read materials if they
are not of an adequate standard of writing and expression for a graduate-level
program. Supervisors should identify English problems early on and ensure that
the student takes corrective measures, such as attendance at writing workshops.
Requirements to improve a student’s standard of English can be made compulsory
if the student’s language deficiencies are problematic to the progress and
success of the research.
Just as the academic
content of the thesis must reflect the student’s own work, so must the standard
of writing and expression. While students are encouraged to make use of
standard spelling and grammatical checkers within their word processing
software and have individuals proofread their papers and draft manuscripts, the
use of "professional" editorial services (other than strict
proofreading and formatting) is prohibited. The use of editorial services which
provide substantive rewriting and/or improvement of the written English within
a thesis is a form of academic fraud (similar to plagiarism) because it
presents a standard of work that has not been achieved by the student and is
therefore giving a false impression of the quality of the student’s work. If
the use of any professional services is contemplated, students must consult
with their supervisor and Graduate Coordinator before taking any action. The
Graduate Coordinator will contact the FGS office for advice if needed.
Submission of Thesis for Examination: M.Sc. Thesis
All students must refer to the schedule of Academic Deadlines in the
Dalhousie University Graduate Studies Calender 2005/2006 for submission
deadlines and registration deadlines. Students must be registered for the term
in which they present their approved unbound theses to FGS, Dalhousie
University, and for the term in which they have their defence. Students will
not be permitted to submit their theses or proceed to defence until they have
appropriately registered and all fees have been paid. Deadlines for the
submission of fully completed and approved theses (following examination and
revision) are final in all cases. Failure to meet the deadlines will result in
additional registration fees being applied. It is the responsibility of the
student to ensure that all regulations have been met. Failure to comply with
the regulations can result in delay in graduation.
Students must submit a
completed Thesis Defense Planning form, signed Supervisor Thesis Defense
Signature form, and sufficient copies of the M.Sc. thesis for each member of
the examining committee (including the supervisor, supervisory committee
members, external examiner, chair, and graduate coordinator) to the Graduate Coordinator
before the date of the thesis defense is finalized. The thesis must be complete
and suitable for printing, if accepted. The defense date is set for a minimum
of three weeks following the receipt of the thesis and accompanying
documentation at the Research & Graduate Studies Office. (The Thesis
Defense Guidelines document is available at the Research & Graduate Studies
Office.) Graduate students are encouraged to meet with the Graduate Coordinator
six weeks prior to their intended defense date to discuss preparations required
for the defense and to obtain the necessary forms (Thesis Defense Planning form
and Supervisor Thesis Defense Signature form).
Thesis Defence
Appointment of Examiners
The Thesis Examining Committee is usually the Supervisory Committee, an
External Examiner and the Department Head, who chairs the examination. The
external examiner is recommended by the student’s supervisor in consultation
with the student. In selecting the external examiner, the following priority
should be used: (a) qualified scholars outside of NSAC (e.g., member of a
graduate faculty of another university), (b) Honorary Research Associates and
Adjunct Professors of NSAC, (c) NSAC Faculty from a department other than that
with which the student is most closely associated, (d) NSAC Faculty from the
department with which the student is most closely associated, but not on the
student’s supervisory committee. The external examiner must not have been
involved with the supervision or direction of the thesis, and must be in a
position to render an objective and impartial assessment of the quality of the
work. The external examiner may be a non-faculty member (such as a practising
professional who does not hold an Adjunct appointment with a university) when
it is deemed that they have the appropriate professional and academic
qualifications and expertise to assess a graduate thesis. In all cases, the
external examiner must be approved by the Vice President Academic, NSAC. The
external examiner does not necessarily attend the defence but may instead
submit a written report and questions prior to the examination.
The main role of the
Chair is to ensure that the procedures are carried out in an appropriate
manner, to record the examiners’ written comments and the results of the
examination for inclusion in the student’s file, and to inform the NSAC
Research & Graduate Studies Office of the outcome.
Supervisors, in
consultation with their students, are responsible for completing the Thesis
Defence Planning form (available from the Research & Graduate Studies
Office). The Thesis Defence Planning Form must be submitted to the Graduate
Coordinator at least four weeks prior to the intended defence date. The Thesis
Defence Planning form serves to:
• notify the Graduate
Coordinator when the student is ready to defend;
• provide administration
with the names of three potential External Examiners; and
• provide the Graduate
Coordinator with all relevant information regarding the proposed date of the
defence, and the availability of supervisory committee members.
Examination Format
The thesis shall be defended orally before the Thesis Examining
Committee and any other interested persons who choose to attend. A public
announcement of the examination shall normally be posted at least two weeks
before the event. A defence consists of a 10- to 20-minute survey by the
candidate of the scope of the problem and main achievements in the research.
This is followed by questions and comments from the external examiner and the
student’s response. After the members of the Thesis Examining Committee and the
audience have questioned the candidate, the Thesis Examining Committee
deliberates in camera, basing the decision on both the quality of the thesis
and the candidate’s ability to defend it.
Examination Results
The outcome is decided by consensus of members of the Thesis Examining
Committee present. Theses are either approved or not approved. The categories
are:
• Approved as submitted
• Approved upon specific
corrections being made. A clear timetable for completion of the revisions must
be presented to the student, normally with a maximum of one month to complete
the revisions. The supervisor is usually asked to monitor the required changes.
Usually at least two members of the Examining Committee read the revised thesis
to provide final approval.
• Rejected but with
permission to re-submit a revised thesis for re-examination. A clear timetable
for completion must be presented, normally with a maximum of one year to
resubmit. Major revisions may be on grounds of form as well as content. When
resubmitted, the thesis will be re-read by an examining committee, containing
at least two members from the original Thesis Examining Committee. The thesis
shall be sent to an external examiner who may be the original external examiner
if the Chair of the examination considers this desirable. The revised thesis
shall be defended in the usual way.
• Rejected outright. The
rejection may be on grounds of form as well as content. The candidate or
supervisor may appeal this decision to the Chair of the examination in writing
within five working days of the decision. If the Chair deems the evidence to be
sufficiently strong, the Chair of the examination shall initiate the procedure
for a re-examination. No more than one appeal may be entertained and the
examination Chair’s decision shall be final.
In all cases, all members of the Examining Committee must submit written
examination reports, dated and signed, which shall become part of the
candidate’s file. The Chair’s written report shall summarize the outcome of the
examination process, the final decision, and any conditions attached. In the
case of an outright failure or failure with a right to submit by a specific
date, the Graduate Coordinator must send a written notification of failure to
FGS.
Presentation of Thesis for Graduation
Deadlines
Students are responsible for presenting to FGS one copy of the corrected
and approved thesis for a formal check at least one week before the deadline
date for submission of approved theses to FGS (the deadline date is published
annually in the Dalhousie University Graduate Studies Calendar and the NSAC
Graduate Program Procedures Manual). Following a format approval by the FGS,
students are responsible for presenting to the FGS six unbound copies of the
corrected and approved thesis. Only good quality photocopies or printed copies
will be accepted. In addition, each student is to present a corrected and
approved copy of the thesis to the Research & Graduate Studies Office.
Binding and Distribution
NSAC students must submit six copies (original plus five copies) of the
approved unbound thesis to FGS. The Dalhousie Faculty of Graduate Studies will
arrange for binding of the six copies of the thesis and its subsequent
distribution as follows:
• one copy to the author
• one copy to the
student’s supervisor
• one copy to the
student’s department
• one copy to the NSAC
Library
• one copy to the
Dalhousie University Library
• one copy to the
National Library of Canada
The Dalhousie University Library arranges for the production of a
microform copy to be retained in the National Library, Ottawa, and listed in
Dissertation Abstracts International or Masters Abstracts International. The
National Library can then circulate such copy according to the International
Inter-Library Loan Code, with full copyright protection; it also guarantees a
permanent record of the thesis. The Dalhousie University Library retains one
bound copy in the University Archives.
At the time of submitting
the unbound, approved thesis (original and five copies) to the FGS office,
the student will present a cheque for $* payable to the Faculty of Graduate
Studies Office, Dalhousie University. This sum will cover the cost of binding.
The cost of binding each additional copy of the thesis is $*. An additional
charge will be made (where appropriate) to cover mailing costs.
*Binding cost is
subject to change without notice.
Graduate students have the option of attending convocation ceremonies at
either NSAC or Dalhousie University. Convocation ceremonies are held at NSAC in
May and at Dalhousie University in May and October. Students must fulfill all
requirements including the payment of all fees prior to graduation.
Applications to graduate are available at the Research & Graduate Studies
Office and must be submitted to the Graduate Coordinator by July 1 to graduate
in October and by November 15 to graduate the following May.
Any graduating student
who is unable to appear at convocation is expected to notify the Graduate
Coordinator in writing prior to April 15 for Spring convocation (or October 1
for Fall convocation at Dalhousie University). Students whose accounts are
delinquent on April 15 will not receive their degree parchment or their
transcripts. For October graduation the date is September 1.
When a student has
fulfilled all the requirements for the degree (including payment of all program
fee requirements and any continuing fees) in advance of the official graduation
date, a letter to that effect can be obtained from the Faculty of Graduate
Studies Office, Dalhousie University. The Confirmation Letter Request form is
located on the FGS website under "Forms and Documents of Students".
Graduate Courses
Graduate courses are intended for students registered in the M.Sc.
program and may be taken by undergraduate students only under exceptional
circumstances.
Required Regular Courses
These courses are restricted to graduate students.
AGRI5700: Communication Skills and Graduate Seminar
AGRI9000: Graduate Thesis
Recommended Regular Courses
Where an undergraduate student wishes to take one of these graduate
courses, the following signatures are required for approval: the instructor(s),
the relevant Department Head(s), and the Graduate Coordinator.
AGRI5710: Module Course
AGRI5720: Applied Statistics and Experimental Design for Agriculture
(The prerequisite for this course is AGRI5630 or STAT4000.)
Other Regular Courses
Where an undergraduate student wishes to take one of these graduate
courses, signatures of the following are required for approval: the
instructor(s), the relevant Department Head(s), and the Graduate Coordinator.
AGRI5270: Economic Entomology
AGRI5350: Animal Research Methods
AGRI5360: Protein Nutrition
AGRI5380: Quantitative Genetics
AGRI5390: Molecular Genetic Analysis of Populations
AGRI5440: Organic Environmental Analysis
AGRI5520: Plant Breeding Methods
AGRI5530: Nitrogen in Crop Production
AGRI5560: Advanced Crop Physiology
AGRI5705: Module Course II
AGRI5740: Advanced Studies in Food Chemistry
Special Topics Courses
Special Topics courses may be taken by undergraduate students only under
exceptional circumstances. The following signatures are required for approval:
the instructor(s), the relevant Department Head(s), and the Graduate
Coordinator.
AGRI5210: Special Topics in Environmental Microbiology
AGRI5220: Special Topics in Weed Science
AGRI5240: Special Topics in Environmental Impact
AGRI5260: Special Topics in Plant Pathology
AGRI5310: Special Topics in Applied Ethology
AGRI5320: Special Topics in Animal Nutrition
AGRI5340: Special Topics in Animal Physiology
AGRI5370: Special Topics in Animal Breeding and Genetics
AGRI5410: Special Topics in Soil Fertility
AGRI5430: Special Topics in Environmental Analysis
AGRI5460: Special Topics in Soil and Water Management
AGRI5470: Special Topics in Analytical Instrumentation for Researchers
AGRI5510: Special Topics in Plant Breeding
AGRI5540: Special Topics in Crop Physiology
AGRI5570: Special Topics in Agricultural Biotechnology
AGRI5610: Special Topics in Animal Product Technology
Cross-referenced Courses
Cross-references with undergraduate courses are shown in brackets ( ).
AGRI5250: Soil Microbiology (MICR4000)
AGRI5450: Environmental Soil Chemistry (SOIL4000)
AGRI5620: Ruminant Digestive Physiology and Metabolism (NUTR4000)
AGRI5630: Intermediate Statistical Methods (STAT4000)
AGRI5210 (AG521): Special Topics in Environmental
Microbiology
Instructor: Prof. Stratton
This course will allow students to study a particular topic in the field
of environmental microbiology in more depth than would be practical in a
general course. The student will choose a topic in consultation with the
instructor. An in-depth literature search will be required, and the material
gathered will be discussed in weekly tutorial sessions. Laboratory work will be
conducted when required and if appropriate to the topic chosen. Topics for
study can be of either a theoretical or applied nature, with the needs of the
student being a primary factor in finalizing the topic.
Fall semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5220 (AG522): Special Topics in Weed Science
Instructor: Prof. Sampson
Topics might include: evolution of weeds, impact of weeds on human
history, weed ecology and physiology, crop/weed interactions, herbicide
chemistry, physiological and biochemical behaviour of herbicides in plants,
environmental fate of herbicides, mycoherbicides, and biorationals. Two term
projects and a research critique will be required.
Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5240 (AG524): Special Topics in Environmental
Impact
Instructor: Prof. Stratton
This course will allow students to study a particular topic in the field
of environmental impact or environmental toxicology in more depth than would be
practical in a general course. The student will choose a topic for study in
consultation with the instructor. An in-depth literature search will be
required, and the material gathered will be discussed in weekly tutorial
sessions. Laboratory work will be conducted when required and if appropriate to
the topic chosen. Topics for study should be related to the student’s area of
research or interests.
Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5250 (AG525): Soil Microbiology cross-referenced
as MICR4000
Instructor: Prof. Stratton
This course is designed to provide an intensive study of the
microbiology of soils and will emphasize nutrient cycling and biodegradation.
Topics covered include the relationships between the abiotic and biotic
components of soils, the microbial biochemistry of the carbon, nitrogen,
sulphur, phosphorus, and selected micronutrient cycles, heavy metal cycling,
and the microbial degradation of industrial wastes and pesticides. The
laboratory classes will concentrate on techniques to monitor the microbial
biomass in soil and the microbial components of nutrient cycles. These include
new advances in bacterial taxonomy and identification and the use of gas
chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography in quantitating
nutrient cycling. In addition to a major term paper, a comprehensive laboratory
report on the entire term’s lab work, and a single take-home examination,
graduate students will be required to:
• modify the term paper
into a critical review of some aspect of soil microbiology (chosen in
consultation with the instructor); the review must be current and in depth; it
must be written in manuscript format and will be graded accordingly;
• perform
additional laboratory exercises not assigned to undergraduate students; use
more replicates; perform a full statistical analysis of data; provide a report
in manuscript format;
• give
a seminar to the class on their term paper topic.
Fall semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2006/2007.
AGRI5260 (AG526): Special Topics in Plant Pathology
Instructors: Profs. Gray and Singh
This course will be custom-designed to meet the specific needs of
graduate students specializing in the area of plant pathology who need further
specific knowledge and/or skills.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5270 (AG527): Economic Entomology
Instructor: Prof. Le Blanc
Insect pest management in agriculture with emphasis on a selection of
non-chemical approaches to insect control, e.g., natural, mechanical, physical,
cultural, biological, biochemical, and/or legal control. According to the
student’s interest, a section on chemical control can be included. This course
is consistently in accord with the theory and principles of integrated pest
management (IPM) and consequently, the term assignments will incorporate the
study of sampling techniques and monitoring methods of insect pests and related
beneficial arthropods. Attendance at certain relevant seminars may be required
and directed readings may be assigned.
A
case history of a major agricultural insect pest will be prepared to satisfy
the course requirement. The material will be submitted in term paper format and
also delivered in an oral presentation. The case history will include the life
cycle, host plants, pest status, damage, losses, control measures, research
needs, and IPM programs pertinent to the particular species.
Winter semester – 2 lecs and 1 tutorial per week.
AGRI5310 (AG531): Special Topics in Applied Ethology
Instructor: Prof. Tennessen
Course content will vary. Topics covered will be chosen so as to meet
the requirements of individual graduate students. Aspects could include the assessment
of farm animal welfare, foraging behaviour, environmental enrichment, social
dynamics of livestock, and early rearing environment and the effect on later
behaviour.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5320 (AG532): Special Topics in Animal Nutrition
Instructors: Profs. Anderson and Fredeen
The course is designed to provide an opportunity to study specific
aspects of animal nutrition. Aspects could include study of a particular
nutrient, a process in nutrition, a nutritional state, or nutrient metabolism
of a specific species with focus on the research method. Students are advised
to consult with their supervisors to determine the specific scope of the topic
to be studied.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5340 (AG534): Special Topics in Animal Physiology
Instructor: Prof. MacLaren
This course is for students with a major interest in animal physiology.
The course will consist of discussions, term papers, and presentations.
Students will be expected to nominate topics for consideration and to prepare
major reviews and class presentations of selected topics.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5350 (AG535): Animal Research Methods
Instructors: Dept. of Plant and Animal Sciences Faculty
This course is designed for students who are, or expect to be, working
in Animal Science, or who have an interest in the methodology and ethics of
animal research. The course will include consideration of some of the common or
promising laboratory and field methods associated with domestic animal
research, ethics of animal research, and the analysis, interpretation, and
reporting of results. Students will be expected to participate in exercises, to
contribute to discussions, and to present reviews on various aspects.
Fall semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5360 (AG536): Protein Nutrition
Instructor: Prof. Anderson
A study of the sources, availability, and metabolism of protein and
amino acids for the domestic animal. Subjects addressed include sources of
protein, factors affecting digestibility of protein, digestion and absorption
of protein and nitrogen, urea recycling, individual amino acid metabolism,
excretion of nitrogenous wastes in birds and mammals, and protein and amino
acid requirements of animals.
Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2006/2007.
AGRI5370 (AG537): Special Topics in Animal Breeding
and Genetics
Instructors: Dept. of Plant and Animal Sciences Faculty
Provides students with an opportunity to pursue more detailed studies in
Animal Breeding/Genetics. Topics will be decided on by the student in
consultation with faculty members for the purpose of meeting the student’s
specific needs as defined by the thesis research. Delivery will be a
combination of directed reading and tutorial discussions.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5380 (AG538): Quantitative Genetics
Instructor: Prof. Patterson
An introduction to quantitative genetics theory and to statistical
techniques used in domestic animal improvement. Computing and statistical
techniques will be demonstrated and presented, and relevant literature will be
surveyed. Reference will be made throughout to performance recording programs
used in Canada and throughout the world.
Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5390 (AG539): Molecular Genetic Analysis of
Populations
Instructor: Prof. Farid
This course is designed to give graduate students some understanding of
the theoretical aspects of population and molecular genetics. Various DNA
fingerprinting techniques, such as minisatellites, microsatellites, RAPD-PCR,
FRLP-PCR and SSCP-PCR, and their applications in population genetic studies will
be discussed. Students will acquire hands-on experience with some of these
techniques. Analysis of molecular data to estimate intrapopulation populations
(heterozygosity, Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium) and interpopulation parameters
(test of heterogeneity of allele frequency distributions, genetic distances,
phylogenetic analysis, bootstrapping, F-statistics) will be covered.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5410 (AG541): Special Topics in Soil Fertility
Instructor: Prof. Percival
The course is designed to provide an opportunity to study specific
aspects of soil fertility. Topics may include the influence of soil biological,
chemical, and physical properties and processes on nutrient absorption and
plant growth, with emphasis on essential plant nutrients in the soil and
methods for evaluation, as well as the use of inorganic and organic amendments.
Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5430 (AG543): Special Topics in Environmental
Analysis
Instructor: Prof. Hoyle
Students may apply to undertake either a specially designed course in
environmental analysis, or to undertake additional work further to Organic
Environmental Analysis. This may be facilitated with written consent from the
instructor who then assumes personal responsibility for supervising the work.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5440 (AG544): Organic Environmental Analysis
Instructor: Prof. Hoyle
This course has limited enrolment.
The course will involve the study of the analytical chemical techniques
used in the analysis of environmental samples obtained from the atmosphere,
hydrosphere, and lithosphere. Included in this study will be the sampling
methods used for air, water, soil, food, and wastes, and modelling of
environmental contamination. In addition, government regulations, hazard
assessment, and public awareness of these issues will be discussed. In addition
to successfully completing examinations, graduate students will be required to:
• write a major paper on
an important topical issue;
• present that paper as a
seminar before departmental faculty, staff, and students; and
• write a research
proposal prior to starting the laboratory project.
Fall semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2006/2007.
AGRI5450 (AG545): Environmental Soil Chemistry
cross-referenced as SOIL4000
Instructor: TBA
The course is designed to provide an opportunity to study specific
aspects of environmental soil chemistry. Topics may include the chemical
composition of soils with special attention to soil biochemistry and soil
organic matter with an emphasis on organic matter–clay interactions, soil
organic N, P and S, and soil enzymology. Graduate students will be expected to
participate in lecture/discussion sessions and complete required reading
assignments. In addition, graduate students will be required to complete
research papers and present their findings at in-class seminars.
Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2006/2007.
AGRI5460 (AG546): Special Topics in Soil and Water
Management
Instructors: Profs. Havard, Madani, and Gordon
This course will discuss the state-of-the-art soil and water management
practices in either humid or arid regions, depending on the specific needs of
the graduate students. Topics may include: fundamentals of soil and water
properties; drainage and water table control; management of farm irrigation and
draining systems; salinity control; irrigation water requirements; drainage
requirements for humid and arid regions; soil conservation; and computer
modelling of irrigation and drainage systems. Guest speakers will be invited to
share their experiences with the students.
Fall or winter semester – to be arranged with the instructors.
AGRI5470 (AG547): Special Topics in Analytical Instrumentation
for Researchers
Instructors: Profs. Crowe, Hoyle, and Stratton
This course is designed to meet the needs of graduate students who are
using analytical instruments in their research. The course will provide the
graduate student with specific theoretical knowledge and the necessary
practical skills required to properly use these instruments. The student will
select either one of the following areas for detailed consideration, or two to
three of the following areas for a more general coverage: gas chromatography,
liquid chromatography, atomic analysis, DNA or protein electrophoresis,
infrared or fluorometric analysis, NMR, mass spectrophotometry, and microscopy.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructors.
AGRI5510 (AG551): Special Topics in Plant Breeding
Instructors: Dept. of Plant and Animal Sciences Faculty
This course is designed to meet the specific needs of graduate students
specializing in the area of Plant Breeding who need further specific knowledge
and/or skills.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5520 (AG552): Plant Breeding Methods
Instructors: Dept. of Plant and Animal Sciences Faculty
Genetic and statistical principles underlying modern plant breeding
methods are introduced. Those principles will be reinforced through the use of
computer models. Cultivar development techniques for self- and cross-pollinated
species are examined in detail. Applications of tissue culture, genetic
engineering, and marker-facilitated selection are discussed. This course is
open to students who have had introductory courses in genetics, plant breeding,
statistics, and molecular biology.
Fall semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5530 (AG553): Nitrogen in Crop Production
Instructor: Prof. Martin
Students will study the transformations of N in air, soil, water, and
plants, and consider crop requirements for N. Topics include the chemistry of
N, the N cycle, N transformations in soil, N metabolism in plants, N transport
in plants, N-fixation, N losses in agricultural systems, and an evaluation of N
fertilizer in these systems.
Fall semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2006/2007.
AGRI5540 (AG554): Special Topics in Crop Physiology
(A)
Instructors: Profs. Caldwell, Asiedu, Goodyear, and41 Martin
This course is designed to meet the specific needs of graduate students
specializing in the area of Crop Physiology who need further specific knowledge
and/or skills.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructors.
AGRI5560 (AG556): Advanced Crop Physiology
Instructor: Prof. Caldwell
Physiological processes relevant to crop plant development and
production of harvestable yield will be examined.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2005/2006.
AGRI5570 (AG557): Special Topics in Agricultural
Biotechnology
Instructor: Prof. MacLaren
This course is designed to meet the specific needs of graduate students
specializing in the area of Agricultural Biotechnology who need further
specific knowledge and/or skills.
Fall or Winter semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5580 (AG558): Plant Biotechnology I
Instructor: Prof. Wang-Pruski
This course has limited enrolment.
Theoretical bases of plant tissue culture, overview of the organization
and operation of a tissue culture laboratory and tissue culture techniques and
their application to nuclear seed potato production, multiplication of
horticultural crops and landscape plant material, production of secondary
metabolites, germplasm development and plant breeding and conservation of
genetic resources. Outline of the techniques of manipulation of plant genome
will also be a part of this course. Students must complete an assigned project.
Winter semester – 2 lecs and 4 labs per week.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2005/2006.
AGRI5610 (AG561): Special Topics in Animal Product
Technology
Instructors: Dept. of Plant and Animal Sciences Faculty
This course will review areas important in the technology of foods
derived from animals (meat, fish, eggs, milk). Such areas could include
chemistry (lipid oxidation, Maillard reactions), physics (changes caused by
freezing, sol-gel conversion, colour) and microbiology (spoilage, pathogenic
organisms, modified-atmosphere packaging, HACCP). Each student will be expected
to present a review of a particular topic.
Fall semester – to be arranged with the instructor.
AGRI5620 (AG562): Ruminant Digestive Physiology
and Metabolism
cross-referenced as NUTR4000
Instructor: Prof. Fredeen
Prerequisites: NUTR3000, CHEM3006
This course is designed to provide an intensive study of food intake and
digestion, and nutrient absorption and metabolism, in the ruminant animal. The
course details current knowledge and focuses on aspects of future research
interest. Students are expected to contribute to discussions and present
reviews to the class on various aspects of the subject.
Fall semester – 3 lecs and 2 labs per week.
Offered in alternate years; next offered in 2006/2007.
AGRI5630 (AG563): Intermediate Statistical Methods
cross-referenced as STAT4000
Instructor: Prof. Astatkie
Prerequisite: STAT3000, or permission of the instructor
Analysis of single-factor experiments, randomized blocks, latin squares,
and factorial and two-level fractional factorial designs.
Fall semester – 3 lecs and 1 computer lab per week.
AGRI5700 (AG570): Communication Skills and Graduate
Seminar
Instructors: TBA
Through practical assignment, students will be able to test and develop
their communication skills. Topics will include review, criticism, and writing
of journal papers, grant applications, posters, seminars, lectures, and
interviews. This course is required for students enrolled in the M.Sc. in
Agriculture program.
Fall and Winter semesters – 1 lec per week.
AGRI5705 (AG573): Module Course II
Coordinator: Prof. Caldwell
Prerequisite: AGRI5710
This course normally consists of three modules. Each module consists of
one month of lectures or assignments dealing with a topic in the lecturer’s
area of expertise. Research interests of incoming students are taken into
account each year when module topics are solicited. Students should not apply
to take a module unless they have at least a second-year undergraduate
background in the focus area. A formal evaluation is made at the end of each
module.
Fall/Winter semester: Students registering for the module course in
September must complete three modules between September and April (8 months).
Winter/Summer semester: Students registering for the module course in
January must complete three modules between January and August (8 months).
AGRI5710 (AG571): Module Course I
Coordinator: Prof. Caldwell
This course normally consists of three modules. Each module consists of
one month of lectures or assignments dealing with a topic in the lecturer’s
area of expertise. Research interests of incoming students are taken into account
each year when module topics are solicited. Students should not apply to take a
module unless they have at least a second-year undergraduate background in the
focus area. A formal evaluation is made at the end of each module.
Fall/Winter semester: Students registering for the module course in
September must complete three modules between September and April (8 months).
Winter/Summer semester: Students registering for the module course in
January must complete three modules between January and August (8 months).
AGRI5720 (AG572): Applied Statistics and Experimental
Design
Instructor: Prof. Astatkie
Prerequisite: STAT4000, or equivalent
This course is designed to provide practical skills in statistical
methods and experimental designs, and an appreciation of situations when more
complex models and methods are required. Topics include linear and nonlinear
regression, split-plot designs, repeated measures, and response surface
methods. Students will be expected to successfully complete practical exercises
and a project involving real experimental problems and data sets. Students will
also be expected to acquire proficiency in at least one advanced statistical
software package.
Winter semester – 3 lecs per week.
AGRI5740 (AG574): Advanced Studies in Food Chemistry
Instructor: Prof. Crowe
Prerequisite: one undergraduate food science course or equivalent
This course is designed to allow graduate students to explore in detail
various aspects of the chemical nature of agri-food products. This may include
but is not limited to a study of naturally occurring components (functional
foods and nutraceuticals), nutritional changes during value-added processing
and product formulation. The exact focus of the course will depend on the
expressed interest of students in the course.
Fall or Winter semester, to be arranged with the instructor – 1 lec and
1 discussion per week.
AGRI9000 (AG900): Graduate Thesis
Students register for this course when they are engaged in research work
for credit towards the M.Sc. in Agriculture degree.
Fall and Winter – for duration of program.