Essential information about the PhD in Sociology program.

PhD Thesis (THD 9999)

A doctoral thesis must make a significant contribution to knowledge in a field of study, embody the results of original investigation and analysis, and be of such quality as to merit publication. The doctoral thesis is usually about 250–300 pages. Students are usually expected to complete their programs within four years. The writing of the thesis must conform to the rules of methodology established by the academic unit. If the thesis consists of a series of published articles, it must conform to university and academic unit guidelines for such theses. It is important that the manuscript be of good quality in order to permit its reproduction.

Thesis by articles

Students have the option of submitting a traditional thesis or a thesis by articles. The conditions for theses by articles are:

The plan to write a thesis by articles must be approved by the supervisor and by the Program Coordinator. The request must be submitted in writing no less than six months prior to the final submission of the thesis.
The articles replace the chapters of a traditional thesis. The thesis by articles must include all of the information normally found in a traditional thesis, namely a unifying sociological problem or question, a detailed presentation of methods, discussion and analysis of findings, a general conclusion that articulates the sociological impact of the whole thesis.
The articles must have been written for publication in peer-reviewed scholarly journals. At a minimum, the articles must have been submitted to eligible journals at the moment of submission.
To be included in the thesis, articles must represent original work, have been written in the course of the student’s doctoral program, and not have been accepted for publication prior to approval of the research proposal (SOC 9930).
The thesis must comprise of at least 3 articles.
Of these, the student must be the sole author of at least two articles, and the first author of each article written collaboratively.
The articles in the thesis are to be evaluated by the Thesis Committee in the same manner as other parts of the thesis, regardless of their publication status. The Committee may require modification even if the articles have been accepted or already appear in print.

Thesis

Before beginning your thesis, please read all instructions on the Submission and Evaluation site, taking into account the important academic dates and deadlines. Prior to submitting the thesis, students must have completed all of the program’s requirements and have submitted the list of examiners.

Thesis Proposal (SOC 9930)

The thesis proposal must demonstrate:

The ability to clearly articulate a research program, including a theoretical orientation, a research questions, and an appropriate methodological plan;
A knowledge of the relevant scholarly literature;
An awareness of the scope and limitations of the project, both conceptually and methodologically;
A plan for moving from the proposal stage to final submission of the thesis.

If relevant, the proposal must also contain a plan and timetable for gaining the approval of the Research Ethics Committee of the University of Ottawa.

The thesis proposal must be approved by the thesis committee. A student whose proposal is not accepted on the first submission may be allowed to submit it a second time. A student whose proposal is rejected a second time must withdraw from the program.

Make-up of doctoral committees

Structure of doctoral committees with directors, internal/external members, according to academic stages.

Comprehensive Exam Committee

Supervisor + Co-supervisor (if applicable) + 2 other professors of the school + (1 member external of the school (optional)

*All committee members must be members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Thesis Proposal Committee

Supervisor + Co-supervisor (if applicable) + 2 other professors of the school + 1 professor external of the school

*All committee members must be members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

Thesis Committee

Supervisor + Co-supervisor (if applicable) + 2 other professors of the school + 1 professor external of the school + 1 final evaluator external to the university

*The external evaluator must be approved by the Graduate office of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the time of the submission of the thesis. Neither the student nor any member of the committee may communicate with the external evaluator prior to submission of his or her final report.

Objectives

The purpose of the comprehensive examinations is to test the candidate’s capacity to deepen and broaden their understanding of the theoretical and empirical debates in the scholarly fields of interest to the candidate. It is not the place to present their proposed research.

The exam questions may have different dimensions (theoretical, epistemological, methodological, empirical or field specific) depending on each candidate's particular contexts, research interests and the needs identified by the committee members. The comprehensive examinations require a) a response to the two questions formulated by the committee b) a synthesis of the relevant literature necessary to respond each of the questions c) an account of the development of the field of knowledge and the key debates that have structured it.

The format permits the exam to be tailored to the specific research context of individual candidates. It remains, however, an exam that assesses a candidate’s capacity to answer the comprehensive exam questions according to a relevant bibliography.

The objectives of the two exam options are essentially the same, i.e., to test the candidate’s capacity to produce answers that synthesize and map the fields of knowledge targeted by the committee’s questions. However, the relationship to the proposed bibliographies differ. In Option 1, where the writing is undertaken over a period of five and a-half months, the candidate draws heavily on the bibliography proposed by the committee but can amend as necessary. In option 2, written over a four-day period, following an equivalent reading period to Option 1, the candidate is limited to the works included in the bibliography proposed by the committee.

Comprehensive Examinations (SOC 9910)

The information provided here applies only to students who began the PhD program after May 1, 2012. For the older rules and regulations, please contact the Program Coordinator.

The Comprehensive Examination (SOC 9910) is comprised of two separate questions, each requiring a written answer, and one oral defence of both answers. The two questions must be grounded in two distinct sub-disciplines of sociology.
The exam committee is comprised of: Supervisor + 2 other professors of the school (if applicable + co-supervisor)
Students have the right to choose between two options (see next). The choice must be made at the beginning of the process in consultation with the committee. There is no form to complete at this point, but the student’s choice will be noted by the supervisor and is considered final.
Option 1: The student receives the two reading lists and the two questions at the same time, on May 1 at the latest. The reading lists are considered to be suggestive, and students are free to go beyond them in answering the questions. Each answer is expected to be between 12,000-15,000 words long, double-spaced.
Option 2: The student receives the two reading lists on May 1 at the latest. Students are expected to prepare for the exam without advance knowledge of the questions. The reading lists are considered fixed, and students are not expected to read beyond them. The questions are communicated at the beginning of the exam period (see below), and the answers must be submitted within 96 hours (4 days). Each answer is expected to be between 6,000 and 8,000 words, double-spaced.
The exam is graded S/NS (satisfactory or unsatisfactory); and the grade is determined after the oral defence.
Students are required to complete the exam before the end of their sixth session of enrollment. At the end of the sixth session, a grade of NS will be assigned. Students who began the program on a January date, or who were required to take extra courses as a condition of their admittance, must complete the exam before the end of their eighth session.
For Option 1: Answers may only be handed on November 1. In cases where these date fall on a weekend, the submission date will be the following Monday.
For Option 2: There are only one window each year for taking the exam, during the week of November 1.
Barring exceptional circumstances, the oral defence must take place at most one month following submission of answers.
The exam committee is chaired by the supervisor, who identifies the relevant sub-disciplines in consultation with the student. The supervisor is responsible for organizing the communication of the reading lists and questions to the student, and for scheduling the oral defence.
The exam committee collaborates in compiling the reading lists and determining the questions posed to the student. It is recommended that the student participate in compiling the reading lists but not the questions. Final authority rests with the committee.
In contrast with the thesis proposal, the supervisor does not read or approve the student’s answers prior to submission. The answers are accepted as is and forwarded to oral defence. The exam committee does not formally meet between submission and defence. However, students are free to discuss the evolution of their thinking with members of the committee prior to submission. Students who have chosen Option 2 are barred from communicating with their supervisor or members of the committee during the 96 hours of the exam.
A typical oral defence is approximately 2 hours in length.
Each member of the committee may vote on the final grade (including the supervisor).
In case of failure of the comprehensive examination, there is a possibility of one re-take if the student does not have another failure in the program. Two failures in the program, either for course, comprehensive examination or the thesis proposal, lead to the withdrawal of the program.
Normally, both answers are handed in to the committee at the same time, with one oral defence. For students who have chosen Option 1, the Program Coordinator will consider requests to submit and orally defend one answer at a time. This is only to be done in exceptional circumstances (medical leave, parental leave, or other temporary disruption of studies). This possibility is not open to students electing Option 2.
The student is responsible for sending the answers to his/her supervisor, committee members and the School Secretariat by email. A member who wishes to obtain a paper copy must inform the student at the time of the submission.

** For more information about the comprehensive examination, contact the Program Coordinator.

PhD in Sociology

Year	September/December	January/April	May/August
1	SOC 8510 Séminaire avancé de doctorat SOC 7XXX elective course* Selection of a thesis supervisor	SOC 8511 Séminaire avancé de recherche sociologique SOC 7XXX elective course* Formation of the Thesis Committee	SOC 9910 Comprehensive Exam**
2	SOC 9910 Comprehensive Exam**	SOC 9930 PhD Thesis Proposal***	Defence of the PhD Thesis Proposal
3 and 4	THD 9999 PhD Thesis and defence	THD 9999 PhD Thesis and defence	THD 9999 PhD Thesis and defence

*One elective course at the graduate level (3 units) from another program may count as part of the coursework for the PhD program, subject to the approval of the supervisor of graduate studies in sociology, and after consultation with the department responsible for the course.

**All seminars should normally be successful before starting the Comprehensive examination.

***The mandatory seminars (SOC 8510/SOC 8511) and the Comprehensive examination must be completed before the registration to the thesis proposal.

These guidelines outline the format that students and supervisors should follow when preparing the dissertation research proposal for the doctoral program in sociology. The proposal consists of 25 to 40 pages (excluding the bibliography, the timetable, and the methodological tools –questionnaire, interview grid, etc.). The document should be formatted as follows: 1.5-line spacing, title page, numbered pages, 12-point font, 1-inch margins. Please refer to the APA or Chicago-style manuals for reference presentation and general presentation rules.

The components of the proposal are presented below. Explanatory approaches in sociology, however, can exist on a continuum ranging from an inductive and iterative approach to a strict hypothetico-deductive logic. Consequently, though all proposals will have the components listed below, their order of appearance can vary.

Objective(s), question(s), key arguments and/or hypotheses and their relevance: Indicate the principal objective(s) that guide your research proposal: what is the social, theoretical and empirical relevance of your proposed research? Formulate the specific research question (s) that you will try to answer with your study. State the central conceptual ideas, explanatory strategies, or hypotheses that structure your proposed research, providing a general indication of the direction you propose to follow. Establish the scope of the proposed research: how will your research help to produce original knowledge? And especially how will it contribute to the advancement of knowledge / knowledge in sociology theoretically and empirically?
Literature Review and Statement of the Problem (Problematization): Introduce the topic proposed for your dissertation.
If you are proposing empirical research, identify your empirical question and discuss how it is covered and discussed in the sociological and other pertinent literatures. Take stock of the relevant literature on the subject and describe the main questions, disputes or debates they raise: survey what is known about your subject and identify what merits further research. Specify the research problem that your dissertation seeks to address and explain its relevance (lacuna in our empirical knowledge, insufficient current understanding of the subject, etc.). This section should convincingly present the "what" and "why" of the topic of your dissertation.
If you are proposing theoretical research, introduce the problem, and discuss how it is covered and discussed in the sociological and other pertinent literatures. Examine the most salient and significant theoretical contribution to the problem under study; describe the main questions or debates it raises: explain the current state of the field(s) in which your problem is embedded and account for its (their) development. Specify the research problem that your dissertation seeks to address and identify its contemporary relevance (lack of theoretical knowledge, lack of current understanding of the subject, new social perspectives and insights, unexplored interpretative repertoires, etc.). This section should convincingly present the "what" and "why" of dissertation topic.
Framework or theoretical context: Identify the concepts or the theoretical framework(s) relevant to your proposed research – traditions or lineages, debates, theoretical and conceptual strategies, and key concepts from previous research in sociology (and in other areas where appropriate). Your goal is not only to explain the theoretical tools you intend to mobilize, but also to identify the traditions, or lineages, and concepts fueling your inquiry, explaining why and how you position yourself epistemologically and conceptually. A theoretical framework is not a catalogue of concepts; it is a hierarchical network of well-defined conceptual relations that are assumed to have explanatory power. For some authors, the framework or the theoretical context is part of the literature review and statement of the problem (the problematization), especially in the proposals following an inductive approach.
Methodological framework: Present the methodological strategy that you plan to use to meet the objective (s) of your study - approach, method (s), type (s) and data sources, spatial and temporal dimensions, and ethical issues. Show clearly how this methodological strategy will allow you to gather and analyze the data required to test, broadly understood, your central explanatory strategy and answer your research question (s). Explain how it is aligned with your theoretical framework. Show its feasibility in terms of temporal, economic limits and access to information. If applicable, discuss methodological concerns relevant to your study (ethics, power, otherness, etc.). In a theoretical dissertation, explain how your explanatory approach provides evidence for your arguments.
Preliminary plan of the dissertation: Propose the title of the dissertation, chapters titles and a brief overview of the proposed content for each chapter.
Dissertation Production Schedule: This timeline should include all the necessary steps in your research process (from ethical approval to completion of the dissertation through data collection, processing and analysis, and the writing of chapters).
Bibliography: Include bibliographic references from all sources cited in the research proposal.

If a dissertation research proposal is not successful, i.e., receives a grade of non-satisfactory, candidates are entitled to a second attempt if and only if they do not already have a failing grade in the program. Two failing grades in the program, either for a course, the comprehensive examination or the dissertation research proposal, leads to withdrawal from the program.

Students are responsible for sending their dissertation research proposal to their supervisor, committee members and the School by email. Committee members who wish to obtain a paper copy must inform the students at the time of submission.

Students must submit their dissertation research proposal before the end of their eighth session after registration. After the end of the eighth session, an NS (non-satisfactory) will be given, i.e., a failing grade. In cases where students have started the program in January, or a qualifying program has been completed, the deadline is the end of the tenth session after registration. Any waivers or exceptions must be approved by the Director of the Graduate Studies. The above information applies to students who started the program after September 1, 2019.

Regular progress of a doctoral student; Roles and tasks of the student, supervisor, the committee and the school

Term	The Student	The Supervisor	The Committee	The School/the Secretariat
1^st	Contact the supervisor Confirm supervision Discuss and sign the supervision agreement	Meet the student Confirm supervision Discuss and sign the supervision agreement	N/A	Supervision agreement form Submission of the supervision agreement
2^nd	Meeting with supervisor to discuss the composition of the comprehensive exam committee; and the framework for questions and reading lists	Meeting with student to discuss the composition of the comprehensive exam committee; and the framework for questions and reading lists	Confirm participation	N/A
3^rd	Respond to comprehensive examination questions	Provide comprehensive examination questions to student, committee members and the secretariat	Contribute to the development of the comprehensive exam questions	File the comprehensive examination questions, and the names of committee members
4^th	Complete the comprehensive examination; Submit the responses to the committee members and the secretariat	Read the comprehensive exam questions Organize the oral defence generally 4 weeks following the submission of the answers. Sign the oral defence form	Read the comprehensive exam questions Participate in the oral defence Sign the oral defence form	File comprehensive exam responses File the Comprehensive Exam Oral Defence form
5^th	Begin the dissertation research proposal	Discuss the dissertation research proposal	N/A	N/A
6^th	Complete the dissertation research proposal Submit the dissertation research proposal to the supervisor for approval; Following the supervisor's approval, the proposal is submitted to the secretariat and submitted to the committee Oral defence of the dissertation research proposal	Accept the dissertation research proposal for oral defence by singing the requisite form Organize and participate in the oral defence Once completed, sign the Oral Defence form	Read the dissertation research proposal Participate in the oral defence, not more than four weeks after submission Once completed, sign the Oral Defence form	File the dissertation research proposal File the Dissertation Research Proposal Oral Defence form
7-12	Research and write the dissertation, regular meetings with supervisor to monitor progress and to discuss submission date Submission of the dissertation Discuss potential external examiners with supervisor Oral defence of the dissertation Submission of the final version of the dissertation	Supervision of the research and the writing of the dissertations, regular meetings with the student to monitor progress and to discuss submission date Accept the dissertation for examination Confirm external examiner With the assistance of the secretariat, organize the oral defence Once the oral examination is completed, sign the examination form Supervise post-defence revisions Accept the final version of the dissertation	Confirm participation in the committee Read the dissertation, submit comments before the oral defence of the dissertation by the prescribed deadline (4 weeks) Participate in the oral examination of the dissertation Once the oral examination is completed, sign the examination form	File signed forms Assist in the organization of the oral defence of the dissertation

Supervision agreement between student and supervisor

For the comprehensive exam (provided by the supervisor to the student on May 1^st at the very latest)

As early as the beginning of the 2^nd term (January), at least one or two meetings must be held between the student and the supervisor to discuss the comprehensive examination topics;
By March 1, the student and supervisor must agree on the framework for the comprehensive exam questions;
By March 15, the student must submit a draft reading list to the supervisor;
By April 1, the supervisor must prepare the questions and reading lists, and forward them to the committee members for their input, suggestions, and feedback.
By April 15, committee members must provide their feedback and suggestions to the supervisor;
By May 1, the supervisor must forward the questions and reading lists to the student;
There is no formal meeting scheduled between the student and the members of the examination committee (including the supervisor) after the examination questions have been submitted. However, there is nothing to prevent students from discussing the progress of their work and asking for clarification. The submission of drafts/answers for comment is not permitted.
Students must forward their responses to their supervisor, committee members and the School Secretariat by email by November 1 at the latest.
The supervisor organizes the oral defence of the comprehensive examinations.

The research proposal:

Depending on the student's needs and learning style, regular meetings should be scheduled. It is the supervisor's responsibility to ensure that these meetings take place.
The supervisor and the student are both responsible for responding to each other’s emails (and other forms of communication) in a timely manner.
The supervisor is responsible for identifying and proposing a calendar of meetings in consultation with the student.

The student is responsible for keeping the supervisor regularly informed of both progress and emerging difficulties or obstacles.

The student should send drafts at appropriate intervals, in accordance the discussed timeline of progress. The supervisor must provide comments within a reasonable time frame (normally about four (4) weeks); if the supervisor requires more time, the student should be informed as soon as possible.
Before accepting the research proposal for defence, the supervisor is responsible for confirming their satisfaction by signing the form to this effect. The signature indicates a reasonable expectation on the part of the supervisor that the committee will also find the project satisfactory during the oral defence. Student should be aware that the supervisors will refuse to allow a project to proceed if they are not satisfied with it.
The supervisor understands that the proposal is not the supervisor’s but the student's proposal. A proposal should not be approved or refused because it does or does not correspond to what the supervisor would do. Its evaluation must be based on the fulfillment of criteria found in the document "Guidelines for the preparation of a dissertation research proposal.”
The supervisor organizes the oral defence with the help of the secretariat.

Researching and writing the dissertation:

Depending on the student's needs and learning style, regular meetings should be scheduled. It is the supervisor's responsibility to ensure that these meetings take place.
The supervisor and the student must agree on the ''internal external'', a 4^th committee member from outside the unit.
The supervisor is responsible for responding to emails (and other forms of communication) in a timely manner.
The supervisor is responsible for identifying and proposing a calendar of meetings in consultation with the student. The student is responsible for keeping the supervisor regularly informed of both progress and emerging difficulties or obstacles.
The student should send drafts at appropriate intervals, in accordance with the discussed timeline of progress. The supervisor must provide comments within a reasonable time frame (normally about four (4) weeks); if the supervisor requires more time, the student should be informed as soon as possible.
Before accepting that the dissertation proceed to oral defence, supervisor is responsible for confirming their satisfaction by signing the form to this effect. This includes a reasonable expectation on the part of the supervisor that the committee will also find the dissertation satisfactory for defence. The student should be aware that the supervisor will refuse to allow a dissertation, with which they are not satisfied, to go forward.
The supervisor understands that the dissertation is not the supervisor’s but the student's dissertation. A dissertation should not be approved or refused because it does or does not correspond to what the supervisor would do. Its evaluation must be based on the attainment of the objectives defined in the dissertation proposal, considering the normal affordances associated with researching and writing a dissertation.
The supervisor organizes the defence, with the support of the secretariat.

Signatures

We hereby affirm that we have discussed the above issues, challenges and commitments, and will work in good faith to respect them.

Student name:
Student signature :

Supervisor name:
Supervisor signature :

Date:

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Essential information about the PhD in Sociology program.

General information and program requirements

Program information

PhD Thesis (THD 9999)

Thesis by articles

Thesis

Thesis Proposal (SOC 9930)

Make-up of doctoral committees

Comprehensive Exam Committee

Thesis Proposal Committee

Thesis Committee

Objectives

Comprehensive Examinations (SOC 9910)

PhD in Sociology

Regular progress of a doctoral student; Roles and tasks of the student, supervisor, the committee and the school

Supervision agreement between student and supervisor

For the comprehensive exam (provided by the supervisor to the student on May 1^st at the very latest)

The research proposal:

Researching and writing the dissertation:

Signatures

Essential information about the PhD in Sociology program.

General information and program requirements

Program information

PhD Thesis (THD 9999)

Thesis by articles

Thesis

Thesis Proposal (SOC 9930)

Make-up of doctoral committees

Comprehensive Exam Committee

Thesis Proposal Committee

Thesis Committee

Objectives

Comprehensive Examinations (SOC 9910)

PhD in Sociology

Regular progress of a doctoral student; Roles and tasks of the student, supervisor, the committee and the school

Supervision agreement between student and supervisor

For the comprehensive exam (provided by the supervisor to the student on May 1st at the very latest)

The research proposal:

Researching and writing the dissertation:

Signatures

For the comprehensive exam (provided by the supervisor to the student on May 1^st at the very latest)