Program Structure

The program is structured in two phases:

Phase 1

In the first two years, students will take courses in a wide range of areas exposing them to the breadth and depth of theory and methods. Rather than having comprehensive examinations, the Great Lakes FPM tests students on their ability to apply the knowledge and skills acquired by requiring them to work on two research papers at the end of the first and second years respectively and defending their work in front of the entire faculty. This will give the students a head start in having a steady pipeline of research by the time they graduate.

Phase 2

Upon successful defense of the second-year research paper, students are formally admitted into candidacy for the award of the FPM. They will begin work on their dissertation on a topic that is novel and makes a contribution to the field. Working closely with their faculty advisors and committee, students will develop their idea into a formal proposal that will be defended in Year 4 of the program, and upon receiving a go-ahead, they will complete their dissertation and defend it before the committee in Year 5 whence they graduate from the program.