Why study this program?
The Department of Human Ecology offers a PhD in Human Ecology, and master’s degrees in Textiles and Clothing, Material Culture, Family Ecology and Practice, and Aging. Students come from a variety of academic backgrounds and upon graduation have taken employment in a wide range of careers in social service agencies, museums and cultural agencies, government, research and teaching.
Entrance Requirements
For the PhD program the Department’s minimum admission requirements are a thesis-based master’s degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4- point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework.
Applicants who have the equivalent of an honor’s baccalaureate degree in a related field from a recognized institution, and who present a minimum admission GPA of 3.7 on a 4 point scale, or its equivalent, may also be considered for admission to the doctoral program. Applicants also will be required to provide evidence of research potential as demonstrated by previous scholarly work.
For the MSc or MA degrees the Department’s minimum admission requirements are a four-year bachelor’s degree with an admission GPA of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale from the University of Alberta, or an equivalent qualification and standing from a recognized institution. The admission GPA will be calculated on the last 60 units of graded coursework completed, or on the equivalent of the last two years of full-time graded coursework. An applicant proceeding from either a three-year program in a related field, or a four-year program in a different field, may be admitted as a qualifying student.
Where applicable, applicants must provide proof of English Language Proficiency (see English Language Requirement). Any one of the following is acceptable:
- a minimum TOEFL score of 92 (Internet-based) or equivalent.
- a minimum IELTS overall band score of 6.5.
Applicants to all programs are also required to submit
- Curriculum Vitae
- Statement of Goals and Objectives Form, available under Admission Process on the Department Website
- three letters of reference from individuals knowledgeable about their academic and research capabilities
- PhD applicants must also submit a writing sample
In addition, all graduate students must have a faculty member agree to supervise their program before admission is approved. See Admission Process on the Department website for further information.
The application deadline is February 1 for Fall term (September) admissions.
Students are required to complete a minimum of 20 units in coursework beyond the master’s program core requirements, and a thesis.
Thesis
- Registration in 900-level THES. All doctoral students are required to make a minimum of two research presentations, at least one of which must be oral. All doctoral students also shall be required to conduct dissertation research and pass a written comprehensive examination, an oral candidacy examination, and a doctoral dissertation defence.
Ethics Requirement
Students must meet the GPS Ethics and Academic Citizenship Training Requirement through the completion of INT D 710 (for both master’s and doctoral students) and INT D 720 (for doctoral students) by the end of the first term of registration in their degree program.
Professional Development Requirement
Students are required to complete the GPS Professional Development Requirement. See the Department Graduate Program Manual for further information.
Comprehensive Exam
The comprehensive exam takes place after completion of course work and before the candidacy exam, normally within the first two years of the program if the student had the expected basic competencies on admission. Normally the oral candidacy exam will occur within six months of the written comprehensive exam. See the Department Graduate Program Manual for further information.
Candidacy Exam
The Department’s policy is that the candidacy exam will take place after the proposal has been submitted to the student’s committee but before beginning the research itself. See the Department Graduate Program Manual for further information.
Academic Standing Requirement
Students are required to maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.3 with no grade less than B-throughout the course of their program.
Failure to maintain the required academic standing will normally result in a recommendation by the Associate Chair – Graduate Program to GPS that the student be placed on academic probation or required to withdraw.
Courses
Graduate courses can be found in Course Listings, under the subject heading Human Ecology (HECOL).
A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are available for well-qualified students.
For general information, please visit the Tuition and Fees page on the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research site.The Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research administers over $29 million each year in scholarships, awards, and financial support for graduate students, as well as financial and loan advising. Additional scholarships are also available for specific faculties and programs.
Please refer to the detailed program information or email grad.ales@ualberta.ca.
General inquiriesPlease check out some of our most frequently asked questions (FAQS) to see if your question has been answered, or contact the Faculty of Graduate & Postdoctoral Studies (GPS) during our office hours.
Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR)
Killam Centre for Advanced Studies
2-29 Triffo Hall
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E1