PhD In Program

The program requirements for the Ph.D. in International Affairs are a minimum of 5.0 credits comprised of the following:

• Elective courses in declared field (1.5 credits)
• Economic course in declared field (0.5 credit)
• A comprehensive examination in the declared field of study (0.5 credit)
• Compulsory research methods and policy analysis courses (1.5 credits)
• Prospectus Seminar and public defence of a research prospectus (1.0 credits)
• Dissertation (0 credit)

Plus: Successful completion of the second language proficiency requirement.

Note: Students without strong economics or international relations training in previous degrees will be required to do additional ECON or IR courses in the School, which will be considered extra to the degree.

First Year: required field and economics courses, along with a corresponding comprehensive field examination.

• Required field courses (3) (1.5 credit);
• ECON course in declared field, as offered by the School (0.5 credit);
• INAF 6700 (0.5 credit) – Doctoral Field Comprehensive Seminar

Second Year: required method and policy analysis courses

• INAF 6001 (0.5 credit);
• INAF 6002(0.5 credit);
• INAF 6003 (0.5 credit);
• INAF 6906 (0.5 credits) – prospectus seminar.
• Language courses (if required) to fulfill the School’s language requirement.

Note: Students without strong economics or international relations training in previous degrees will be required to do additional ECON or IR courses in the School within the first two years, which will be considered extra to the degree.

Third Year: prospectus preparatory seminar and prospectus defence

• INAF6907 (0.5 credit) – Continuous enrollment in the prospectus seminar, until successful defence of the prospectus;
• Any remaining required course credits;
• INAF6909 (0 credit) – Enrollment in the Ph.D. thesis, once the research prospectus is successfully defended;

Fourth/Fifth (if required) Years: dissertation development

• INAF6909 (0 credit) Continuous enrollment in the Ph.D. thesis (including summer terms)
• Completion and successful defence of the doctoral thesis

In-Program Second Language Proficiency Test

All students must provide proof of second language proficiency prior to the completion of their program. Students with no prior knowledge in a second language are encouraged to contact the Language Advisor (Cristina Trevisan) during their first term to discuss their options for completing the language requirement. All students must begin their language training no later than the first semester of their second year in the program.

Language proficiency can be demonstrated by one of the following options:

Option 1 – Provide Documentation Confirming Proficiency

Provide documentation that demonstrates the student has achieved at minimum a B1 level or better according to the Council of Europe (Common European Framework of Reference) designations of proficiency in a second language.

Examples of sufficient documentation: undergraduate transcripts, high-school diplomas, accredited language school certificates, documents pertaining to research in a foreign language, letters of reference from employers, official testing results obtained at other institutions or language schools, letters of language proficiency provided by faculty members.

Successful students will be encouraged to continue to improve their proficiency in their designated language, or acquire proficiency in another language.

Note: Students must achieve a grade of B- or better in their language courses.

Option 2 – Complete Intermediate Level Course

Successful completion of an intermediate level course in a language other than the student’s mother tongue and accepted by NPSIA.

At Carleton University, the following courses will satisfy the NPSIA language requirement (please note: students may be required to complete any necessary beginner language courses, as determined by the School of Linguistics and Language Studies, prior to completing any of the final courses noted below):

*Students must achieve a grade of B- or better in their language courses.

Option 3 – Test With a Language Instructor

Students who have knowledge of a second language, but do not have documentation can speak to the language advisor about their options. If a test with a Carleton University professor or contract instructor is available, the cost of the test is $65 + HST. If the test is completed off campus, the fees can vary, depending on the organization. This fee must be paid for by the student in advance of the test. Due to COVID-19, these tests are temporarily limited and will take place online. If you have already booked a test, please complete the online payment form here.

Option 4 – Complete Rosetta Stone Online Program

Complete the online language training program, Rosetta Stone. The program is a once per year licence (registration in the fall of each academic year) and is available in the following languages: French, Spanish and German. Approx. cost is $230.- per license (+ HST). To fulfill the NPSIA language requirement, students must complete level B1 in the language training program, in accordance to the Council of Europe (Common European Framework of Reference) designations.

The Rosetta Stone program offers two learning paths: Foundations, for beginners (A1-A2) and Fluency Builder, for intermediate/advanced learners (B1-B2-C1). There is an initial compulsory placement test, which will determine the path, and four achievement tests.

Important: Once a student starting in Foundations meets the requirements for B1, they MUST send an email to the Language Advisor, who will then allow the student to access the next level (i.e. Fluency Builder, and complete the required B1 level). If a student starts at B1 level, they must access Fluency Builder in order to successfully complete the program requirements for NPSIA.

Due to COVID-19, all Rosetta Stone tests will be taking place online and not in person. At the beginning of each academic year, an email will be sent out with sign-up information, deadlines and details on how to use the program. If you have already signed up for the program, please complete the online payment form here.

For more information regarding the Modern Languages Unit at the School of Linguistics & Language Studies, please see: http://www.carleton.ca/slals/modern-languages/.

Ph.D. students must be registered full time for the duration of their program. Students are expected to successfully complete the field comprehensive examination (0.5 credit) by the end of the first year, the required 4.0 credits of coursework by the end of their second year, and defend their research prospectus (0.5 credit) no later than the end of the third year.

A student whose performance on the field comprehensive examination is not deemed satisfactory will be allowed to repeat the examination once, and the second attempt must take place in the following academic term. A student whose research prospectus defense is not deemed satisfactory will be required to repeat the research prospectus defense in the next academic term, and no later than the end of the Fall term of the fourth year. Students who have not successfully completed the comprehensive examination and/or prospectus defence within the specified time will be subject to removal from the program.

Students may only register in INAF 6909 following successful defense of the research prospectus, are expected to demonstrate evidence of research progress annually, and will be required to present their work at the NPSIA Research Seminar Series or show equivalent research activity.