MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine University of Alberta 2013-2014 Academic Year Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science i
TABLE OF CONTENTS History and Purpose. 1 Definition of Rehabilitation Science.. 1 Admission to the Program Requirements... 1 Deadlines.. 1 Procedures.... 2 Duration of the MSc Program... 2 Financial Assistance... 2 GRA Awards... 3 MScRS Program Required Courses... 3 Optional Courses... 4 Plan of Study... 4 Fields of Specialization... 4 Ethics and Scientific Integrity Training... 4 Supervisor... 4 Supervision Eligibility..... 4 Supervisory Committee... 5 Fast-Tracking... 6 Examinations Related to the MSc Thesis MSc Thesis Prospectus Examination 6 Final Masters Examination. 6 Final Masters Examining Committee 6 Final Masters Examination Schedule and Procedures 6 Final Masters Examination Outcome 6 Intellectual Property. 8 Program Administration. 8 Appendix A (Timelines for Students and Supervisors) 10 Appendix B (Plan of Study Form)..... 13 Appendix C (Summary of Annual Meeting Form). 15 Appendix D (Guidelines for Oral Examinations). 17 Appendix E (Preliminary Acceptance of Thesis Form). 22 Appendix F (Ethics and Scientific Integrity Training Form).. 24 Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science i
MSc PROGRAM IN REHABILITATION SCIENCE Policies and Procedures HISTORY AND PURPOSE The MSc program was approved by the university and the Government of Alberta in the spring 2006. This program is designed to train future scientists and culminates in a research-oriented degree. It is especially well suited to students planning to pursue a PhD in Rehabilitation Science. The name, MSc in Rehabilitation Science, emphasizes the complementary nature of the relationship between the proposed program and the PhD in Rehabilitation Science. DEFINITION OF REHABILITATION SCIENCE Rehabilitation Science encompasses the systematic study of psychosocial, communication, neurological and musculoskeletal disorders in humans of all ages. Rehabilitation Science includes a specialized, interdisciplinary body of knowledge that supports the rehabilitation professions in their efforts to: (1) develop, restore and maintain skill and function; (2) prevent dysfunction; (3) facilitate adaptation to disorder so that skill and function are maximized as individuals interact with their environments; (4) understand normal development and the evolution of dysfunction; (5) optimize clinical service delivery; and (6) understand administrative, educational and professional issues. ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAM Requirements An eligible applicant must meet all the requirements of the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, as well as the following expectations: 1. possess a bachelor s degree or equivalent or a previous graduate degree in a rehabilitation discipline or related field from a recognized post-secondary institution; 2. have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on the University of Alberta 4-point grading system or an equivalent standing from another recognized institution during the last two years of full-time study; 3. take and submit scores for the verbal, quantitative and analytical subsections of the Graduate Records Examination. 4. take and submit scores for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and achieve a score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based), or 88 (IBT) with a score of 20 or better on each skill area, or they will have taken the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) and achieved a score of 85 or better, or they will have taken the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and achieved a minimum overall band score of 6.5 with at least 5 on each test band; 5. submit three references from individuals who are knowledgeable about the applicant s academic and research potential and capabilities; 6. submit a current curriculum vitae; 7. submit a formal written summary (1-2 pages) of personal, professional, and research objectives during their MSc program. Deadlines The Faculty follows the deadline procedures outlined in the Graduate Program Manual of the FGSR 2013. Normally, applicants from Canadian universities may apply at any time. Applicants from universities in most other countries should allow at least four months for the processing of their applications from the time their files are complete to a potential admission date. Some applications will require even longer processing times. Thus, for September admissions, the Graduate Programs Committee must be in receipt of a complete application file no later than 01 May of the same year. For January admissions, files must be complete no later than 01 September of the preceding year. This allows the Committee to process an application in time to meet FGSR deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to make contacts and enquiries well in advance of an application deadline, because the number of well-qualified applicants that can be admitted is limited. Furthermore, applicants cannot be admitted unless a supervisor has been identified. Finally, opportunities for funding are greater when applications are received 6-8 months prior to the desired admission date. Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 1
Procedures Persons inquiring about the MSc program will be provided with some combination of the following (as per the procedures recommended by the FGSR in the Graduate Program Manual 2013): 1. Email advising application procedures for FGSR s web application for graduate admission ; 2. Communication from the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research in Rehabilitation Medicine (Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee) welcoming the inquiry, acknowledging the referral source (if any) and requesting the return of appropriate documentation listed below. An application to the MSc Program will be considered complete and ready for consideration, when it includes the following: 1. FGSR Web-based Application for Graduate Admission. 2. Official copies of transcripts (with official translations where applicable) from all post-secondary institutions attended by the applicant. 3. Three letters of reference from persons who are knowledgeable about the applicant s academic and research potential and capabilities. 4. The applicant s current curriculum vitae. 5. An official score for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB), if applicable, taken within two years of application to the MSc Program. 6. Official scores for the verbal, quantitative and analytical subtests of the Graduate Records Examination (GRE), taken within five years of application to the MSc program. 7. A formal, written summary (1-2 typewritten pages) of the applicant s personal, professional, and research objectives for the MSc program. 8. A formal declaration from applicants from the People s Republic of China that they are eligible to study in Canada (by means of the form, Pre-admission certification for applicants applying from the People s Republic of China. ) The Associate Dean (or designate) will screen each application to ensure that it is complete and that the applicant meets the minimum requirements for consideration by the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. If a supervisor has not been identified already, the Associate Dean will then refer the file to members of the Faculty who might be appropriate supervisors for the applicant. If a supervisor cannot be identified, an applicant will not be considered further or recommended for admission. The final decision regarding suitability/acceptability of the applicant for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science lies with the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. The final decision regarding admission of an acceptable applicant to the MSc Program lies with the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. Applicants deemed acceptable by the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee will be recommended for admission to the FGSR. This is accomplished by completion of the Recommendation of the Department portion of the Application for Graduate Admission. Duration of the MSc Program The maximum period of time permitted to complete the requirements for an MSc degree is four years. This period is calculated from the start of the term in which a student first registers in a specific masters program (University of Alberta Calendar, section 193.14; Graduate Program Manual, 2013). This four-year limit does not mean that students must allow or will require four years to complete the master s degree. Although it need not take four years to complete the program, students and their supervisors should make every effort to finish within this time period. Extensions beyond the four year maximum need to be approved by the Office of the Associate Dean and are only granted in exceptional circumstances. Extensions are NOT routinely approved. Financial Assistance Students who are accepted into the MSc program in Rehabilitation Science will be encouraged to apply, with the help of their prospective supervisors, for studentships or fellowships from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC), the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), Alberta Innovates-Health Solutions, and the Government of Alberta. In addition, the Faculty may nominate eligible, newly admitted master s students for University of Alberta Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 2
Scholarships. Some special scholarships also may be applied for. All of these awards have strict deadlines. Most of those awarded by the University of Alberta must be applied for by 01 February; those awarded by external granting agencies have different, individual deadlines. The office of the Associate Dean receives current information about awards that are available and will advise students of awards available within the University of Alberta and from the major external granting agencies cited above. A limited number of Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA) are available to support master s students temporarily, while they apply for external funding. GRA Awards Financial assistance will not necessarily be available to students in the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science. Applicants to the Rehabilitation Science masters program should secure adequate funding before they commence their studies. Once admitted, students are strongly encouraged to work closely with their supervisors to apply for scholarships and other awards (internally and externally) before applying to the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine for a Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA). Normally GRAs will be awarded only to masters students in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Students from other Faculties who are working closely with an academic staff member in Rehabilitation Medicine will be eligible for GRAs only on the condition that the Rehabilitation Medicine GRA is a supplement to one of equal or greater value from their home faculty. Priority will be given to Rehabilitation Medicine students who are: (a) registered full-time, (b) making satisfactory progress toward their degree, (c) not holding any major internal or external awards, and (d) desire and can manage an additional work assignment designed to complement their program of study. MSc PROGRAM Timelines and associated requirements for a student s progression through the master s program are summarized in Appendix A. Students will be required to complete at least 5 half courses (5 x *3 = *15) plus thesis or the equivalent at the graduate-level and successfully propose, implement, and report their master s thesis research according to Faculty standards. Required courses All students must take the following 3 courses: 1. REHAB 500 Conducting Rehabilitation Research, Preparation of a plan to conduct research including writing a proposal. Students will discuss critically various aspects, such as the selection of the problem, the review of the literature, the research hypothesis, the collection and analysis of the data, and the significance of the research. 2. REHAB 512 Issues in Rehabilitation Science, This course will provide an orientation to the theoretical base and application of Rehabilitation Science. 3. and at least one graduate level course in statistics or research design. Elective courses will be different for each student and will be determined by individual students in consultation with their supervisors and based in part on the student s research interests. Each student and his/her supervisor(s) will develop a plan of study for the student s entire program and submit that plan of study for approval by the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. Extraordinary circumstances may occasionally warrant that a student substitute another course for one of the two required courses within the Faculty (REHAB 500 & 512). Such circumstances include, but may not be limited to; (1) situations when a required course must be cancelled because of inadequate enrolment or absence of an instructor (due to illness or sabbatical), (2) situations in which a history of incompatibility between a student and a staff member makes it inappropriate for a student to enroll in a course taught by that staff member, or (3) situations in which the timetables of the required courses are such that a student s progress through the program is inhibited excessively. In cases where substitution of a required course appears to be warranted in a student s plan of study, a formal request from the student and supervisor must be submitted in writing to the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. That request should include identification of appropriate alternative coursework (in the Faculty or elsewhere on campus), explicit evidence that the substitution is an appropriate equivalent (e.g., course outlines, letters from instructors, etc.) and an academically sound rationale for the substitution in the student s program. Normally only one required-course substitution will be allowed in a student s MSc program, and a Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 3
request for substitution should be filed well in advance of the term in which the student wishes to take an equivalent substitute. This will ensure that there is sufficient time for the MSc program to consider the request and for the student to make appropriate registration plans, if the request is approved. Optional Courses Normally, students will elect to take from 2-4, three credit weight graduate-level courses that pertain to an area of specialization determined by each student s background, needs and interests. The program of study will be designed by the student and the Supervisory Committee. The Rehab Science Graduate Programs Committee must receive notice of all such programs of study. Choices for optional courses normally should be made within the first year of study. Subsequent, reasonable revisions to the optional coursework on a student s plan of study are allowable. Plan of Study The plan of study for a student s masters program includes a listing of the required and elective coursework to be taken by the student. The Plan of Study form in Appendix B may be copied and used for this purpose or can be accessed on the Faculty s network (H:\All Departments\GRADFORM\PLNSTUDY.FRM). Normally, the plan of study should be submitted by the student s Supervisor to the Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee within the first year of the student s masters program. Such changes also should be documented on the Summary of Annual Meeting report between the master s student and the Supervisory Committee (Appendix C). Field of Specializations Five fields of specializations are available in the MSc in Rehab Science program: Aging, Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Speech-Language Pathology. Students who enter the program without a clinical practice credential in one of the above areas will have no designation under Field of Specialization. Specialization in Aging: The specialization in Aging is tailored to the needs of students who are interested in leadership, management or research positions with an aging-related focus in Rehabilitation Science. For more information on the structure of the Aging Specialization, please visit our website at http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/rehabmed/mscrsagingspecialization.cfm or contact the Centre on Aging at aging@ualberta.ca or visit their website at www.ualberta.ca/aging. Ethics and Scientific Integrity Training Graduate students at the University of Alberta are required to obtain at least 8 hours of training in academic integrity and ethics. This can be accomplished by taking the FGSR WebCT course, participating in the ethics and scientific integrity day experience organized by the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry or through participating in any of several other on-line and live tutorials. See Appendix F in this manual for more details. Supervisor All graduate students are required to have a Supervisor. A Supervisor is appointed at the time the student is accepted into the MSc Program. It is the policy of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine not to accept a student for master s studies unless an appropriate and willing supervisor has been identified. If the applicant has not identified a potential supervisor in the statement of goals for the MSc program, and a potential supervisor has not been identified from among those providing letters of support for the student s admission, the applicant s file will be circulated among those eligible to supervise master s students within the Faculty to identify an interested supervisor. A potential supervisor who is willing to serve in that capacity and who is acceptable to the applicant must be identified before an applicant is recommended to the FGSR for admission by the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. Supervision Eligibility It is important that academic staff members possess the expertise necessary to supervise the work of their masters students. They must also be a tenure-track or tenured professor to supervise an MSc student. In deciding who would make an appropriate supervisor for a particular applicant, a match between the students and staff member s research interests will be of primary importance. The Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee members will familiarize themselves with the student s research interests as described in the student s formal Statement of Research Interests and Goals and compare those interests with the potential supervisor s known expertise. Evidence of supervisory expertise may include, but not be limited to, scholarly presentations, publications, and research awards in the same area or a very closely related area to that described by the student as Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 4
the preferred research focus. Academic staff members should not accept more master s students than they can adequately supervise. Normally, staff members in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine will supervise no more than four thesis graduate students at one time. At that time of the student s application for admission, the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee will consider factors such as the prospective supervisor s ratio of doctoral to master s students, the estimated time to completion for students already working with the supervisor, and the number of students being co-supervised in deciding whether to assign more than four graduate students to a particular supervisor. Extenuating circumstances such as teaching commitments and co-supervisory arrangements also will be considered. Supervisory Committee A master s students program is directed by a Supervisory Committee of at least three full-time staff members, including the Supervisor who chairs the Committee. In some cases, a co-supervisor also will be appointed. At least two other full-time, tenure-track faculty members will be appointed to serve as members of the Supervisory Committee within the first 12 months of the student s program. Normally, at least one of these committee members will be external to the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. The FGSR makes every effort to be flexible with the criteria for service on supervisory committees so that students may have the advantage of an optimal combination of expertise among the committee members. The Graduate Program Manual (2013) provides detailed information about who may serve, and in what capacity. It also provides information on the University s graduate student supervision agreement with the University of Calgary. Special forms for the purpose of invoking this agreement are available in the office of the Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research in Rehabilitation Medicine. As soon as the Supervisory Committee s membership is finalized, an Approval of Supervisor/ Supervisory Committee form must be completed by the Supervisor and then signed and sent to the FGSR by the Office of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research. This form is available electronically from FGSR s website at http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/degreesuperv/supervappoint.htm. Supervisors are encouraged to access the electronic version, fill it out and send it to the Office of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research for filing and forwarding to FGSR. If the membership of the Supervisory Committee needs to be revised, this form should be resubmitted and identified as a revision. Conditions under which the Supervisory Committee may need to be revised include (but may not be limited to) instances when a member goes on leave and chooses to be replaced, when a committee member leaves the University, when a student and supervisor cease to be sufficiently compatible to work effectively together, or when the student s research focus changes during the course of the masters program such that original members of the Supervisory Committee are no longer interested in or appropriate for continued service in that capacity. The Supervisor and the Supervisory Committee shall provide direction to the MSc student at all stages of the program including the supervision/examination of the MSc thesis. The Supervisory Committee shall have a formal meeting with the student at least once a year. A summary of this annual review session and the expectations generated from it for the student for the coming year should be prepared by the Supervisor, signed by the Supervisor, the members of the Supervisory Committee and the student, and copies sent to the student, the members of the Supervisory committee and the Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee for the student s file. A special form to facilitate this record-keeping for supervisors can be found in Appendix C. Information documented should include a status report on the student s progress in program coursework, the student s eligibility for required examinations and the plan established for any that are pending, and estimated dates for completion of work in progress. Fast-Tracking Graduate students in the MSc in Rehabilitation Science program in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine may apply to enter the PhD in Rehabilitation Science program. Eligibility to apply for admission to the PhD program will include the following: (a) at least one term of full-time attendance in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine MSc program with a GPA of 3.8 or higher, (b) evidence of research potential (e.g., peer reviewed presentations and publications), (c) a well developed doctoral research plan, (d) an appropriate supervisor, (e) an appropriately constituted supervisory committee, and (f) written endorsement of the supervisory committee. Fast-Tracking from Course-Based Professional Master s degree to PhD Students in the MScOT, MScPT and MScSLP programs who are interested in 'fast-tracking' from their professional MSc degree program to the PhD program should consult with their department supervisors regarding the requirements. Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 5
EXAMINATIONS RELATED TO THE MSC THESIS MSc Thesis Prospectus Examination It is strongly recommended by the Rehab Science Graduate Programs Committee that a formal examination be scheduled to consider the Candidate s MSc thesis proposal. The committee convened to consider the thesis prospectus should include at least the members of the student s Supervisory Committee. The thesis proposal must be submitted to the committee at least three weeks prior to a Prospectus Examination. The formal thesis proposal must include literature review, rationale, experimental questions and proposed methods, and pilot data where appropriate. The student will be asked to summarize and defend the prospectus to the Examining Committee after which there will be opportunities for questions, challenges and thorough discussion of the proposed research plan. A consensus among those present must be reached about any changes to be made to the proposal on the basis of this meeting. This consensus and an itemization of the changes to be made should be documented in writing by the Supervisor(s). Where applicable, a formal version of the thesis prospectus, revised on the basis of the Prospectus Examination, is then prepared by the student and approved by the Supervisor for submission to the pertinent ethical review committee. If problems arise during the ethical review process, appropriate revisions should be made to the thesis proposal by the student in consultation with the members of the Supervisory Committee and the ethical review committee of record. Final Masters Examination The Final Masters Examination will be conducted according to the regulations specified by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR Graduate Program Manual, 2013). The FGSR also stipulates that each unit is responsible for establishing detailed examination procedures; those for the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine are provided below and in Appendix D. The Final Masters Examination is an oral exercise, based largely on the master s thesis. The examination is arranged by the Supervisor or the Chair of the Examining Committee, not by the student, and must conform to FGSR regulations (Graduate Program Manual 2013). (See also Appendix D) Before a date for the Final Masters Examination is determined all members of the Supervisory Committee must declare in writing to the Supervisor either that the thesis is of adequate substance to warrant that the student proceed to the final examination or that the thesis is unsatisfactory and the student should not be allowed to proceed to the final oral examination. The form, Preliminary Acceptance of Thesis must be used for this purpose and is available from the Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. (See also Appendix E) The preliminary acceptance forms must be received from all members of the Supervisory Committee by the Chair of the MSc Program before preparations for the Final Thesis Exam can proceed. Final Masters Examining Committee The Final Thesis Examination Committee will consist of the members of the Supervisory Committee (usually 3) who are normally full-time. One member shall be from another department. Final Masters Examination Schedule and Procedures Once the Supervisor and the Chair of the Final Masters Examination Committee have confirmed the membership of the Final Masters Examination Committee, the Notice and Approval of Master s Final Oral Examining Committee form must be sent to the FGSR. This form is sent by the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and must be received by the FGSR at least three weeks prior to the Final Masters Examination date. In addition, members of the Final Masters Examination Committee must be informed of the date, time and place of the examination, and they should receive a copy of the thesis at least three weeks in advance of the examination. Normally, the final oral examination for the MSc in Rehabilitation Science will be open to the public and will be advertised accordingly prior to the date of the examination. If the final oral exam is not open to the public a subsequent public presentation is required. That process is described below. Final Masters Examination Outcome The adjudication criteria for the Final Masters Examination are as follows: Thesis approved. The members of the examining committee are satisfied with the student s performance on the Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 6
examination and agree to accept the thesis. All members of the examining committee sign the signature page immediately. [The Chair of the Final Masters Examining Committee does not sign the Thesis unless that person is one of the examiners.] Thesis approved with minor revisions. All members of the examining committee sign the signature page immediately except for the Supervisor. The Chair of the Final Masters Examination Committee and the thesis Supervisor, in consultation with the assembled members of the Examining Committee must: (1) identify specifically the revisions/editorial changes/amendments required, (2) agree on who will be responsible for determining that the revisions have been completed satisfactorily, and (3) specify when revisions should be completed. Normally, students will be expected to complete these revisions within 30 days of the Final Masters Examination. The Chair of the Final Masters Examination Committee must provide the student and the Supervisor with this information in a formal memo, a copy of which also goes to each member of the examining committee and to the student s file in the MSc Program. Adjournment of final examination. The examining committee s dissatisfaction with the student s performance, the thesis, or both is substantial enough to adjourn the Final Masters Examination without declaring that the student has passed and without obtaining any signatures on the thesis. This may occur if, for example, the student was ill-prepared for the examination or major revisions or more experimentation are required to substantiate the thesis. The members of the examining committee must: (1) identify the concern/deficit/unsatisfactory component(s) that prompted the decision for adjournment; (2) agree on how they are to be addressed; (3) specify who will provide special assistance to the student, and to what extent, for achieving the necessary changes/improvements; and (4) decide who will be responsible for determining when the conditions of concern have been improved satisfactorily enough to reschedule the Final Masters Examination. The Chair of the Final Masters Examination Committee must provide the student and the Supervisor with this information in a formal memo, a copy of which also goes to each member of the examining committee, to the student s file in the MSc Program and to the Associate Dean of the FGSR. The date for reconvening the Final Examination and a final decision of the Examination Committee must occur within six months of the date of the original Final Examination. This time line must be kept in mind by members of the Final Examination Committee when electing an adjournment, so that their recommendations to the student can be achieved reasonably within six months. Rejection of thesis. The examining committee s concerns about the thesis, the student s performance on the Final Masters Examination, or both, are serious enough to reject the thesis and question the student s suitability for continuation in the MSc Program. It is the responsibility of the Chair of the examining committee to inform the student, the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee, the Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine and the Associate Dean of FGSR of the reason(s) for the examination failure decision. It is also the responsibility of the Chair of the Final Masters Examining Committee to make recommendations, on behalf of the Supervisor and the examining committee, about whether the student should continue in the program. Immediately after the Final Masters Examination, it is the responsibility of the Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee to advise the FGSR of the examining committee s decision by means of the form, Report of Completion of Final Oral Examination, using the decision classifications, acceptance of thesis, acceptance of thesis subject to revisions, examination adjourned, or thesis rejected. A memorandum of explanation from the Chair of the Examining Committee and/or the Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee must accompany this form when the decision of the examining committee is to adjourn or reject. Normally, if the student successfully completes the Final Masters Examination (i.e., the thesis is approved or approved subject to minor revisions) the student should make the appropriate revisions within 30 days of the Final Masters Examination as per the recommendations of the examining committee. When the revisions are deemed complete and satisfactory by the responsible examiners, the student must submit the approved thesis to the FGSR office within six months of the date of the Final Masters Examination. Students can now submit their thesis either electronically or paper submission. Please visit the FGSR website for information: http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/degreesuperv/thesis/ethesisvspaper.htm. If students choose to submit paper copies of the thesis they should refer to the FGSR website, for current information about thesis format, paper quality, reproduction standards, etc. during the preparation of the final copies of the thesis. For paper copies Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 7
of the thesis, a masters student must submit three unbound copies of the thesis to the FGSR for approval before the deadlines set in the Academic Schedule of the current University Calendar. Students also are strongly advised to submit a draft copy of the thesis to the FGSR for inspection of the format prior to duplicating. The FGSR has assigned the following title to the degree in this program: Master of Science in Rehabilitation Science, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. This should appear on the title page of the master s thesis and will be so designated on the diploma. Students also must ensure that they are registered in THESIS in their last registration prior to convocation. If the thesis is not submitted to the FGSR and the student is not registered appropriately within the six-month time limit following the Final Masters Examination, the student will be considered to have withdrawn from the program. Under these circumstances, the candidate must apply and be re-admitted to the FGSR before the thesis can be accepted. In cases where the Final Thesis Examination is adjourned or postponed, the six-month time limit for submission of the thesis to the FGSR will take effect from the date of completion of the examination at which the thesis is approved, with or without revisions. Within six months of successful completion of a non-public final master s examination, the student will be expected to make a formal presentation of the thesis research at a public seminar sponsored by the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine. Normally, this presentation will be made in Corbett Hall. The arrangements for this seminar, including the necessary advertisements, refreshments and audiovisual aids, will be made by the Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee and the Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies and Research, in consultation with the new recipient of the master s degree. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY The university has developed guidelines for supervisors and graduate students regarding ownership of intellectual property. These can be found on the university website at: http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/degreesuperv/ip.htm. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION The MSc program is administered by the Dean of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine (through the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research) and the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. Administrative assistance for operation of the program is provided by the Faculty s Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies and Research. Composition of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee is as follows: Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research who will serve as Chair Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies and Research who will record the minutes of meetings and provide necessary administrative support One tenure track faculty member from each department Director of the Rehabilitation Research Centre (RRC) Terms of Appointment: Members from each department will serve 3-year terms; appointment starts will be staggered. The RRC member will serve for the duration of his/her appointment. The Associate Dean will serve for the duration of his/her appointment. Procedures: The committee will meet at least once each term or at the call of the chair. A quorum shall be 3 voting members (exclusive of the chair). The terms of reference will be reviewed annually. Voting: The Associate Dean for Graduate Studies and Research will vote only in the case of a tie. The Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies and Research will not vote. Responsibilities: Members of the committee will review applicants files, rate/rank, and make recommendations for all admissions to the PhD and MSc programs in Rehabilitation Science. Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 8
The committee will recommend to FGSR changes in admission procedures, policies, initiatives, and standards pertinent to the PhD and MSc programs in Rehabilitation Science. The committee will review, rate/rank and recommend PhD and MSc student applicants for scholarships and awards as necessary. The Chair will provide two reports annually to Faculty Council. The Chair will receive individual plans of study formulated by the students and their Supervisory Committees; The committee will monitor each student s progress through the MSc and PhD programs by means of records of satisfactory/unsatisfactory performance on the following milestones: o all required and elective coursework, o an in-lieu-of master s thesis project, if required, o the Candidacy Examination, and o the Final Doctoral Examination; The committee will monitor the quality of the graduate programs by self-study and participation in External Reviews mandated by FGSR and the Ministry of Advanced Education and Career Development and undertake appropriate revisions; The committee will develop policies and procedures for graduate program administration; and The Chair will work with the Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies & Research to maintain files for the following: o FGSR forms associated with application to and progress through the MSc and PhD Programs, o scholarships and awards for which graduate students are eligible, o FGSR policies and procedures, o inquiries and applications to the MSc and PhD programs, o MSc and PhD students enrolled in the program, and o MSc and PhD program administration. Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 9
APPENDIX A Timelines for Students and Supervisors in the MSc in Rehabilitation Science Program See also the FGSR Graduate Program Manual (2013) http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/gpm.aspx Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 10
Time Lines for Students and Supervisors In the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science (*Forms available from the Associate Dean s Office, Graduate Studies & Research, Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine) Dates Action *Forms/Other Correspondence 01 May for September admissions 01 September for January admissions 01 June for September admissions 01 October for January admissions At acceptance Within one year of admission Annually for duration of student s program Final stages of thesis research No less than 3 weeks prior to Final Masters Examination Deadline for applications from non-canadian applicants Deadline for applications from Canadian applicants Identification of potential supervisor(s) Decision on applications Student meets with Supervisor(s) to begin to discuss program Approval of Supervisory Committee Submission of plan of study Supervisory Committee must meet with student at least once per year to review student s progress Completion of MSc thesis. All Supervisory Committee members must declare in writing to the Supervisor that the thesis is adequate to proceed to the final oral exam. Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee recommends examining committee members to FGSR. The supervisor notifies examiners of the date of the examination. The student supplies a copy of the thesis to all examination committee members Application package -web application information -brochure -full application package -cover letter Recommendation to FGSR including identification of Supervisor(s). MSc Scholarship nominations can accompany recommendation for admission (if applicable). Letter of acceptance from FGSR. Send registration materials to student, make arrangements for funding (if pertinent) Approval of Supervisor/ Supervisory Committee to FGSR Plan of study form to Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee (Appendix B) A written summary of the session and expectations for the coming year should be prepared by the Supervisor and a copy sent to student, other members of Supervisory Committee and to Chair of Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee for student s file. See Appendix C Preliminary Acceptance of Thesis to Supervisor/student s file (Appendix E) Notice and Approval of Masters Final Oral Examining Committee to FGSR Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 11
Dates Action *Forms/Other Correspondence Immediately after Final Masters Examination Within 30 days of the Final Masters Examination Within 6 months following successful Final Masters Examination FGSR is advised of outcome of final examination Revised thesis is submitted to Supervisor and/or Supervisory Committee Student submits thesis to FGSR either electronically or hard copy. http://www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca/degreesuperv/thesis/step4su bmit.aspx If final oral was not a public presentation, student makes formal presentation of thesis research at a public seminar sponsored by the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine All Committee members but Supervisor sign the signature pages if the outcome is Thesis approved or Thesis approved with minor revisions Report of Completion of Final Oral Examination to FGSR - as per conditions of outcome Signature(s) of all remaining members of the Final Masters Examination Committee obtained on signature page of thesis Advertisements for thesis presentation, room booking, refreshment reservations, etc. Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 12
APPENDIX B Plan of Study for the MSc in Rehabilitation Science Program This form should be completed by the Supervisor in consultation with the Student and submitted to the Chair of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee for the first time no later than the start of the second year of the masters program. When revisions to the Plan of Study are required, they should be indicated on this form by the Supervisor in consultation with the Student and submitted to the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies & Research as soon as possible. This form may be copied and filled-in manually, or you can request a copy from the Office of the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Research. Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 13
PLAN OF STUDY FOR THE MSC PROGRAM IN REHABILITATION SCIENCE Student s name: ID# Program start date: Masters program supervisor(s): Focus for Plan of Study: Focus for master s thesis: YEAR 1 1 st term coursework Revision 2 nd Term coursework Revision YEAR 2 1 st term coursework Revision 2 nd Term coursework Revision YEAR 3 1 st term coursework Revision 2 nd Term coursework Revision Plan for Thesis Proposal Defence: Completion of Training in Academic Integrity and Ethics Yes Supervisor s signature Date submitted: Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 14
APPENDIX C Summary of Annual Meeting MSc Student and Supervisory Committee Copies of this form should be made by the Supervisor as required for each year of the student s masters program. Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 15
Summary of Annual Meeting MSc Student and Supervisory Committee Name of Student: Date of Meeting: MM/DD/YY Time frame covered by meeting: Members of the supervisory committee: (must be completed within first year) Please see attached FGSR checklist for rules on committee composition. Supervisor(s) Member Member Member Status report on student s progress (for coursework, check courses completed as of this meeting date). Required Courses: Rehab 500 Rehab 512 Graduate Level Stats Course (ie. EDPY 500) Elective Courses: (minimum of 2) 1. 2. 3. Anticipated Thesis Proposal Examination Date: MM/DD/YY Successfully completed: Anticipated Ethics Date: MM/DD/YY Successfully completed: Anticipated Final Oral Examination Date: MM/DD/YY Successfully completed: Proposed Program Completion Date: MM/DD/YY Student Support: Current source (including amount) of funding: Date that above funds end: Anticipated future funding: Comments (included performance on course work & thesis project): Please attach additional page, if necessary. Signatures: Student Supervisor(s) Committee Member Committee Member Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 16
APPENDIX D GUIDELINES FOR ORAL EXAMINATIONS Proposal Defence and Final Master s Examination See also the FGSR Graduate Program Manual (2013) The Examining Committee Chair must be a member of the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine other than the student s supervisor. Normally, the Chair of the Examining Committee will be the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research in the Faculty, or another member of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee. It is also possible for a member of the Examining Committee to serve as Chair. If the Chair is not one of the Examining Committee members, he or she does not vote on the outcome of the examination, and does not sign the thesis at the conclusion of a successful defense, but the Chair may participate in the questioning. If the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies and Research or a member of the Rehabilitation Science Graduate Programs Committee is not available to chair an Examining Committee, it is the responsibility of the Associate Dean to select an alternate to serve as the Chair in consultation with the Supervisory Committee. If the Supervisory Committee prefers a Chairperson other than someone among those mentioned here, the supervisor should contact the Associate Dean, Graduate Studies & Research at least one month before the proposed date of the examination to select an alternate Chair. If refreshments are to be served during an examination, their procurement, preparation, service, and removal will be the responsibility of the Administrative Assistant for Graduate Studies and Research in the Faculty of Rehabilitation Medicine, not the student or the supervisor(s). PRELIMINARY ACTIVITIES Prospectus defense: At least six months prior to the Masters Final Oral Examination, the supervisor(s) should organize a preliminary oral examination of the student s knowledge of the area of research and the research plan. Normally the thesis proposal will be the focus for this examination by the full committee. Masters Final Oral Examination: At least three months prior to commencement of preparations for the Final Masters Examination, all members of the Supervisory Committee must declare that the thesis is of adequate substance to proceed to a defense. When Preliminary Acceptance of Thesis forms (see p. 23) have been received from all members of the Supervisory Committee by the student s supervisor, the supervisor should forward them to the Chair of the Graduate Programs Committee and proceed to assemble the members of the Masters Final Oral Examination Committee and target a tentative date for the final oral examination. The Associate Dean and the Administrative Assistant will then be responsible for contacting the Examining Committee members, scheduling the examination, booking the necessary room(s), informing the FGSR of the examination at least three weeks in advance ( Notice and Approval of Masters Final Oral Examining Committee ), confirming the date/time/room with the Committee members and the student, and arranging for any audio-visual, computer or other materials or refreshments required for the examination. The supervisor(s) should advise the Associate Dean of the following details pertinent to the preparations for the Final Doctoral Examination: (1) names, ranks and department affiliations of the Final Examination Committee at the University of Alberta; (2) the identity of the Examining Committee Chair (the Associate Dean, a member of the PhD Program Committee, a member of the Examining Committee other than the Supervisor, or another); and (3) the approximate date for the examination (in consideration of the student s preparation time, the academic calendar, etc.) and the format agreed upon. Well in advance of the Masters Oral Final Examination, the supervisor, the Committee Chair, or both should brief the student on the nature of oral examinations and on the procedures that likely will be followed. At least one week before the oral examination, the student and the supervisor should discuss the nature of the comments to be presented by the supervisor about the student s background and any brief remarks to be made by the student prior to the commencement of questions. The student and supervisor should confer about the nature and content of the students summary of the thesis prior to questions from the examining committee. In addition, prior to the examination it would be appropriate for the student to prepare a copy of his or her curriculum vitae for distribution to the Examining Committee. The curriculum vitae should include information about the student s educational history, presentations and publications, a list of graduate courses that the student has completed Policies and Procedures for the MSc Program in Rehabilitation Science 17