Legislative History:
Approved by Senate: May 28, 1998
Approval Authority: Senate
Signature: Harriet Lewis
"Graduate Diploma" is the term normally applied to a program of studies at a graduate level, requiring admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (but which is not itself a graduate degree), the minimum requirement for which is a baccalaureate or equivalent and eligibility for admission to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The graduate diploma is normally awarded in a specific area, topic or skill, and may be of a disciplinary or interdisciplinary character.
1. The graduate diploma is awarded to students who satisfy the specified requirements at a specified minimum standard. The minimum requirements for the graduate diploma will normally be the equivalent of two full graduate courses.
2. There are four types of graduate diplomas:
i. Type 1 Graduate Diploma:
This graduate diploma is awarded when a Candidate admitted to a Master's program leaves the program after completing a predetermined proportion of the requirements (for example, 50% of the course requirements). Students are not admitted directly to these graduate diploma programs.
ii. Type 2 Graduate Diploma:
This is a graduate diploma that is offered in conjunction with a Master's (or Doctoral) degree, registration for which requires that the Candidate be already admitted to the Master's (or Doctoral) program. Candidates for this graduate diploma must first be admitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies as Candidates for a Master's or Ph.D. degree in an existing Graduate Program. They will normally register for the graduate diploma after their program of studies for the Master's or Ph.D. degree has been clearly defined. Courses taken in fulfilment of degree requirements may count towards the graduate diploma, but some part of the graduate diploma requirements shall be additional to degree requirements. All the requirements for the degree as well as for the graduate diploma must be fulfilled before the graduate diploma is awarded. Normally, the graduate diploma will be awarded at the convocation at which the degree is awarded. However, students may be permitted by Graduate Diploma Coordinators to complete requirements in one additional term following the award of the degree, and receive the graduate diploma at the next convocation.
Graduate Diploma Coordinators will inform the Faculty of Graduate Studies of all those enrolled and of any subsequent withdrawals. Graduate Diploma Coordinators must notify the Registrar's Office, either prior to the award of the degree or in the term following the award of the degree, of all those students who expect to receive the diploma. The Registrar must also be informed of any subsequent withdrawals.
iii. Type 3 Graduate Diploma:
This is a stand-alone graduate diploma program to which students are admitted directly, which is not additional to a Master's or Doctoral degree, and is usually offered by an academic unit that does not offer other graduate degree programs.
iv. Type 4 Graduate Diploma:
This is a sub-specialization within an existing program. These programs are stand-alone, direct-entry graduate diplomas (i.e., not additional to the Master's or Ph.D. program) developed by a unit already offering a Master's (and sometimes a Ph.D.) program, to suit the needs of a particular clientele or market.
3. Proposals for a graduate diploma program should include a statement on the academic rationale for the diploma, and a detailed outline of its administrative organization, curricular and other requirements, available resources, and any additional resources which may be required. Proposals will be submitted through the FGS Academic Planning & Policy Committee to the Council of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and through Senate CCAS and Senate APPC to Senate.
4. Graduate diploma programs will be subject to appraisal by the Ontario Council of Graduate Studies and regular review by the Academic Planning & Policy Committee of the Faculty of Graduate Studies. The results of the review will be reported to the Faculty Council, to Senate CCAS and to Senate APPC. Normally, the initial review will take place three years after the diploma is approved, and subsequently at five year intervals.