1. Organization of the School of Graduate Studies
Divisions
Graduate Education Council
Graduate Units
School of Graduate Studies Centres and Institutes
Graduate Programs
Graduate Faculty
The School of Graduate Studies (SGS) is responsible for the oversight of all graduate programs in the University of Toronto and for developing and implementing appropriate regulations and operating procedures for admissions, programs of study, and completion of degree requirements.
According to its constitution (PDF), the School of Graduate Studies includes a council and is organized into four divisions. Each of the departments, centres, and institutes (referred to generally as graduate units) belongs to one of the divisions.
1.1 The Divisions
Division I – Humanities
Division II – Social Sciences
Division III – Physical Sciences
Division IV – Life Sciences
1.2 Graduate Education Council
The Graduate Education Council is an academic advisory and regulatory body. It exercises powers and duties, subject to the approval of Governing Council, as required, under the provisions of the University of Toronto Act. The Graduate Education Council consists of 35 elected members and numerous ex-officio members. Each division elects five faculty members and three graduate students to the council; a senior representative of the Graduate Students’ Union is a voting member. There are three administrative staff seats. The Graduate Education Council is chaired by the Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice-Provost, Graduate Education.
The Graduate Education Council is primarily responsible for determining policies and regulations affecting the administration and operation of graduate studies, determining general admission and program requirements for all graduate programs, and for advising Governing Council on initiatives in graduate studies. The Graduate Education Council is concerned with the quality of graduate education across the university.
1.3 Graduate Units
Graduate units (including departments, centres, and institutes) offer degree programs and courses and conduct research. A number of graduate diploma programs are also offered.
Each graduate student is enrolled in one of the graduate departments/centres/institutes that offer graduate study. Interdisciplinary studies may be undertaken within collaborative programs, but a student must first register in a graduate unit (informally known as “home” unit). The graduate unit is responsible for ensuring that each student is admitted and enrolled in an appropriate program of studies and is responsible for thesis/research supervision in conformity with the policies and procedures of the School of Graduate Studies.
The Coordinator of Graduate Studies is responsible for the administration of graduate affairs within the unit, as delegated by the unit’s chair or director.
1.4 School of Graduate Studies Centres and Institutes
Historically, a substantial number of centres and institutes with interdisciplinary foci were administered within the School of Graduate Studies. All these administrative units have been relocated to other Faculties, such as Arts and Science, Medicine, or the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE). Search for centres and institutes on the University of Toronto website using the A–Z index, accessible from the University of Toronto homepage.
1.5 Graduate Programs
Graduate programs are listed alphabetically in the Graduate Programs section of this calendar. They are also described on the University of Toronto website at www.gradschool.utoronto.ca.
1.5.1 Degree Programs
A diverse range of both research-oriented and professional degree programs are offered at both the master’s and doctoral levels.
1.5.2 Collaborative Programs
The School of Graduate Studies currently offers approximately 40 graduate collaborative programs. Collaborative programs emerge from cooperation between two or more graduate units and their graduate programs. The collective experience of the participating graduate programs provides the student with a broader base from which to explore a novel interdisciplinary area or some special development in a particular discipline.
The student must be admitted to, and enrol in, one of the collaborating graduate units (known as a “home” unit) and must fulfill all the requirements of the degree program in the home unit and any additional requirements of the collaborative program. Each collaborative program is designed to allow a focus in the area of specialty. On successful completion of the program, the student receives a transcript notation indicating completion of the collaborative program, in addition to the degree.
1.5.3 Combined Programs
The University of Toronto offers a number of combined programs involving two existing degree programs in different disciplines. The combination may comprise two graduate programs or a graduate and an undergraduate program. In most cases, the combination involves at least one professionally oriented program.
1.5.4 Diploma Programs
A limited number of graduate diploma programs are offered.
1.5.5 Conjoint Programs
The University of Toronto and the Toronto School of Theology offer a limited number of graduate conjoint programs.
1.5.6 Joint Programs
The University of Toronto participates in several joint degree programs involving partnership between two or more graduate units or universities.
1.6 Graduate Faculty
Responsibility for directing all elements of graduate teaching and supervision rests with members of the graduate faculty.
Graduate faculty membership is initiated by the chair/director of the graduate unit. With the approval of the School of Graduate Studies, the chair confirms graduate membership to the faculty member. Membership is offered in the following categories:
Full members may act as the sole or major supervisor of a doctoral or master’s thesis; as a member of thesis committees; serve as chair or voting member of a final oral examination committee, where such examinations are required by SGS, and perform all associated duties; assume responsibility for the setting and marking of comprehensive (general) examinations; teach, set, and mark examinations for a graduate course; and give such other graduate direction as may be required.
Associate members may be permitted to undertake all the duties of a full member but shall not serve as a sole or major supervisor, whether formally or otherwise, of a doctoral student nor act as the chair of a final doctoral oral examination.
Associate (restricted) members may be permitted to undertake the duties available to an associate member, but only as specified in writing at the time that the graduate membership is offered.
Members emeriti may perform all duties of a full member, but may only take on new supervision with the approval of the graduate chair or director.
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