Q. How are graduate studies different from undergraduate studies?
A. As a graduate student, you will find that you are on your own most of the time. You will study and work hard on your research project or thesis. You may also be required to do an internship.
It will also be up to you to broaden your vision and build networks by talking to faculty members and fellow students, and by attending seminars and conferences.
Q. How do graduate courses different from undergraduate courses?
A. Graduate courses at UNB start one week after the undergraduate courses and follow more flexible timetables. Courses are not listed in the official timetable in the same way as undergraduate courses; the first week of an academic term is normally used to set up the timetable. The course instructor usually holds an initial meeting to brief potential students on course requirements and to set up a timetable.
Q. Who is the DoGS?
A. The Director of Graduate Studies (DoGS) is responsible for the general direction and administration of the graduate program of the Faculty and is supported by a staff.
Q. Can I change supervisors?
A. If your current supervisor’s area of expertise does not match your research interests, you may contact the DoGS to discuss your options.
Q. What is the Supervisory Committee?
A. The academic experience is greatly enhanced if faculty members other than your direct supervisor are readily and formally available for consultation and discussion. To provide this element of supervision, a thesis supervisory committee is put in place for all graduate students by the end of the first year of their programs. The committee consists of the supervisor and at least two graduate faculty members. The supervisory committee will meet with you at least once per term to assess your progress and to provide advice on future work.
This committee is in addition to your University Examining Committee.
Q. What is an Examining Board?
A. The examining board will read and evaluate your thesis after the supervisory committee has approved it. Once the examining board approves your thesis, it will go to oral examination, or the defence. At the defence, the examining board asks questions and engages you in discussion. In a closed meeting following the defence, the examining board will make recommendations on what revisions (if any) need to be made before you can submit your thesis for fulfillment of your degree. The examining board consists of a supervisor(s), a Kinesiology faculty member, and an external member (University).
Q. How can I find a research topic and carry it out?
A. Generally, a research topic is developed between you and your supervisor, with the help of the supervisory committee, if necessary. A good topic is
- Interesting to you, your supervisor and your peers in the discipline
- Appropriate for your degree
- Focused – it is a topic that you can state in one sentence
- Intellectually challenging
We expect you to carry out your research independently, as it your contribution to the academic world. However, it is important that you communicate with your supervisor. It may be necessary to modify your initial objectives, for example. If so, you and your supervisor will need to agree on the modifications.
Knowing when to wrap things up could be difficult, and it is often a judgment call made jointly by you and your supervisor. In general, a project stops when you have met the objectives set out in your proposal. Regular briefing sessions with your supervisor during the course of the project can help make this decision easier.
