Doctorate (PhD) - School of Canadian Studies

The PhD Program began in 2001 and is the only full interdisciplinary doctoral program in Canadian Studies in Canada. The School’s faculty specialize in and interconnect Heritage Conservation, Indigenous Studies, critical settler studies, nation–branding, the representation and performance of identity, and related fields of inquiry.

The program requires a combination of course work, comprehensive examinations, and a thesis.

The objective of the program is to produce researchers, teachers, and communicators who are engaged in constructive analysis of critical issues in our society. The program allows students with an interest in Canada to do advanced graduate work beyond the parameters of a single discipline and undertake research for their dissertations using a variety of theoretical and methodological approaches. The program is founded on the premise that many complex problems and issues cannot be understood satisfactorily from the vantage point of a single discipline and that a more comprehensive understanding of Canada can be achieved through integrated and systematic interdisciplinary scholarship.

For further information on the PhD program, please contact: Richard Nimijean, Graduate Supervisor Richard.Nimijean@carleton.ca

Admissions

Please note that admission to the PhD program is currently paused. The School is not accepting new applications at this time.

The requirement for admission into the PhD program is a master’s degree (or equivalent), with at least an A- average (10.0 G.P.A.) in Canadian Studies or one of the disciplines represented in the School. Applicants should note, however, that meeting the admission requirement does not guarantee admission to the program. In addition to transcripts and letters of reference, application packages will include a statement of interest outlining the applicant’s proposed area of doctoral research and a representative academic writing sample.

We recommend applicants contact appropriate faculty members in advance of applying to discuss the specifics of the program, their application, and the potential for supervision.

PhD Application Deadline

Please note that no new applications are being accepted at this time.

Applicants wishing to be considered for admission to the joint PhD program must submit completed applications to the School by February 1.

Collaborative PhD with a Specialization in Political Economy

The School of Canadian Studies and the Institute of Political Economy offer a Collaborative Program in Political Economy at the PhD level. For further details, see the Institute of Political Economy’s Collaborative PhD with a Specialization in Political Economy section of this Calendar.

Requirements

Doctoral candidates must successfully complete 10.0 credits. Candidates with deficiencies in certain areas may be admitted to the PhD program, but normally will be required to complete additional work. The specific requirements are as follows:

1.0 credit for successful completion of CDNS 6900, the mandatory core seminar;
1.0 credit for successful completion of two courses or tutorials (or the equivalent) drawn from the graduate list offered by the School, below; a GPA of 9.0 or better must be obtained in these courses for students to be allowed to proceed to the comprehensive examinations;
1.0 credit for successful completion of two 0.5-credit written comprehensive examinations. Students will be examined in two areas of research;
Satisfactory demonstration of an understanding of a language other than English. Although French is the preferred second language, students may be permitted to substitute an Indigenous language or another language if it is demonstrably relevant to their research interests;
A public defence, in English, of a written thesis proposal. Following the completion of their comprehensives, students will be expected to defend a proposal of the research and analysis they plan to undertake in completing their PhD thesis. The thesis proposal defence should normally occur within six months after completion of a student’s comprehensive examinations. The thesis committee will be composed of three faculty members, always including one from each university;
A 7.0-credit thesis, which must be successfully defended in English at an oral examination.

For more information, see the School’s PhD Program Guidelines posted under Graduate Resources in the Canadian Studies section of this website.

Funding

You may be offered a funding package as part of your offer of admission to the program. Admissions funding packages can include scholarship funding and employment opportunities. Unlike other types of funding, you do not apply independently of your application to the program for an admission funding package or any of its constituent elements. Rather, any applications received by the annual February 1^stdeadline are automatically considered for an admissions funding offer. Admissions funding packages may include the following elements: Departmental Scholarships, Domestic Entrance Scholarships, Endowment Awards, Teaching Assistantships, and Research Assistantships. For more information, see the SCS PhD Program Guidelines posted under Graduate Resources in the Canadian Studies section of this website.

In addition to admissions funding packages, the following awards are available to students enrolled in the program:

SCS Donor-Funded Awards

Davidson Dunton Memorial Student Assistance Fund
The fund was established in 1987 by relatives, colleagues and friends of the late Davidson Dunton, Carleton’s fourth and longest serving president and a director of the School of Canadian Studies. This fund is available on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Canadian Studies to graduate students within the School of Canadian Studies who are experiencing financial difficulty relating to the reproduction of their thesis/research papers, conference attendance or with other approved special needs.

Lois Gonyer Bursary
The Bursary is awarded annually on application on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Canadian Studies to a Canadian Studies graduate student whose program is threatened because of financial need. It was established in 1988 by friends and colleagues of Lois Gonyer and funded by them and by the School graduates in recognition of her 27 years of service as an administrator in the School of Canadian Studies.

William and Margaret Roxburgh Memorial Award
This award was established in 1981 by Gwenda and Ross Roxburgh, and is open to all graduate students in the School of Canadian Studies. The amount of $150 is provided annually to assist students in carrying out research projects. Application is made to the director of the School of Canadian Studies; recipients will be chosen from a list of candidates recommended by the director.

Walter Baker Fellowship
In honour of the distinguished contribution of the late Walter Baker to Canadian politics, parliamentary life, and public administration, and his long-standing dedication and service to the Ottawa community, Minto Construction Ltd. has established the Walter Baker Fellowship. It is awarded annually to an outstanding student entering the School of Canadian Studies M.A. program. Application is not required; the recipient will be chosen by the graduate awards committee from a list of candidates recommended by the Director of the School of Canadian Studies.

Colonel William B. Sutherland Bursary
Awarded annually on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Canadian Studies, to a Canadian Studies graduate student who demonstrates the need for financial assistance in order to excel in their studies. Preference is given to students enrolled in the Cultural Studies or Aboriginal Studies and the North program areas. Endowed in 2000 by the Sutherland family in tribute to the passion for the pursuit of knowledge that Colonel Sutherland has exemplified in all aspects of life. The award is intended to provide support for students who share this spirit.

Natalie Luckyj Prize in Canadian Studies
This award, valued at $100, is presented annually to a graduate student enrolled in the first year of the Master of Arts program in the School of Canadian Studies. Application is not required. The recipient will be chosen by the Director of the School of Canadian Studies.

Robert McDougall Scholarship
Established in 2001 by friends, colleagues and former students in honour of Dr.Robert McDougall, Founding Director of the Institute of Canadian Studies, whose willingness to take risks and look to the future made a significant contribution to the intellectual and cultural history of Canada. This scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding graduate student in the School of Canadian Studies. The recipient will be selected each year by the Dean of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research on the recommendation of the Director of the School of Canadian Studies.

Carleton Donor-Funded Awards

For more information on university-wide awards, please follow this link.

Graduate Student Travel /Research Bursary

Please use this link for information on this bursary.

Please note that students must submit their completed application to the Program Administrator in Canadian Studies.

Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program

Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)

SSHRC

https://gradstudents.carleton.ca/awards-and-funding/external-awards/sshrc/

Students considering applying to the program can submit applications to OGS and SSHRC in the academic year prior to commencing the program.

For more information, see the SCS PhD Program Guidelines and other Resources in the Canadian Studies – Graduate section of this website.