Thesis

1. Full-time students should register to the MA thesis proposal (FEM 6997) at the beginning of the Winter term of their first year of studies and start work on their proposal with their supervisor. Students must re-register for each session until the thesis proposal has been successfully defended. The completed proposal should be submitted for evaluation between April and the end of August of the first year of registration[1]. For information about the format of the thesis proposal, please consult the document entitled « Guidelines for the preparation of the thesis proposal – MA in Feminist and Gender Studies ». The student can consult with the members of their thesis committee during the preparation of the thesis proposal, but not after it has been submitted to IFGS for evaluation.

2. When the supervisors deem the thesis proposal ready for defense, they give their approval by signing the « Thesis proposal approval form » available from the IFGS secretariat. Students then bring the signed form to the IFGS secretariat and send an electronic copy of their thesis proposal to the IFGS academic assistant at [email protected].
3. The IFGS academic assistant submits the thesis proposal and the « Thesis proposal evaluation form » to the other members of the thesis committee for evaluation. The other members of the thesis committee have a maximum of three (3) weeks to evaluate the thesis proposal and send by email their evaluation form (including their written comments) to the IFGS academic assistant (if submitted in person, FSS 11002). When all the evaluations have been submitted to IFGS, the academic assistant will send copies of the comments to the supervisor and to the student. The supervisor and student should receive the evaluations prior to the student’s thesis proposal defense so that the student has the opportunity to take the comments of the thesis committee members into consideration.
4. While the thesis proposal is being evaluated, the academic assistant will contact the examiners, the supervisor and the student to determine a date and time for the thesis proposal defense and reserve a room for the defense.  Before the defense, the supervisor obtains from the IFGS secretariat the « Thesis Proposal Defense form ».
5. Only the student and the members of the thesis committee may be present at the thesis proposal defense. The supervisor presides over the thesis proposal defense. The other members of the thesis committee constitute the jury. The defense typically unfolds as follows:
   • The student briefly presents their thesis proposal;
   • The student answers the questions posed by the members of the jury;
   • The student is asked to leave the room so that the jury may deliberate in their absence.
     
     VERDICTS:

     1. If the members of the jury are satisfied with the thesis proposal as a whole – even if the latter could benefit from minor changes, the thesis proposal is accepted. After deliberating, the members of the jury come to an agreement regarding the comments and suggestions that the student should address in further thesis work.

     2. If only one member of the jury finds the thesis proposal unsatisfactory, the thesis proposal is accepted, but the examiner must explain their objections and the members of the jury must come to an agreement that clearly identifies the concerns that the student must address in a satisfactory manner in further thesis work.
     3. If any two members of the jury find that the thesis proposal does not meet the requirements of the program, a new version of the thesis proposal must be submitted within a reasonable time limit and undergo a second defense to the satisfaction of the members of the jury.
   • Once the members of the jury have reached a decision regarding the verdict and the comments, suggestions or concerns that the student will have to address in further thesis work, the supervisor and members of the jury sign the « Thesis Proposal Defense form », indicating that the defense has occurred, the date and the decision of the jury.
6. The student is called back into the room; the president of the defense then communicates to the student the result of the jury’s deliberations, and the defense is over.
7. After the defense, the supervisor hands in the signed form to the IFGS secretariat and the academic assistant submits the form to the Operations Coordinator who then enters in the system the student’s grade for the course FEM 6997 (verdicts A or B = graded “S” for Satisfactory; verdict C = graded “NS” for Non Satisfactory).
8. A Non Satisfactory (NS) grade on the second attempt will result in the student withdrawing from the MA program.

[1]  Part-time students should determine appropriate deadlines with their supervisor.

1. Students must register for the PhD Thesis Proposal (FEM9997) at the beginning of the session in which they start preparing for it. Students must re-register for each session until the thesis proposal has been successfully defended. Students have up to six months after having completed the comprehensive examination to prepare and submit their PhD thesis proposal. For information about the format of the thesis proposal, please consult the document entitled « Guidelines for the preparation of the thesis proposal – PhD in Feminist and Gender Studies ». Students can consult with the members of the thesis committee during the preparation of the thesis proposal, but not after it has been submitted to the IFGS secretariat for evaluation.When the supervisors deem the thesis proposal ready for defense, they give their approval by signing the « Thesis proposal approval form » available from the IFGS secretariat. Students then bring the signed form to the IFGS secretariat and send an electronic copy of their thesis proposal to the IFGS academic assistant at [email protected].

2. The IFGS academic assistant submits the thesis proposal and the « Thesis proposal evaluation form » to the other members of the thesis committee for evaluation. The other members of the thesis committee have a maximum of four (4) weeks to evaluate the thesis proposal and send by email their evaluation form (including their written comments) to the IFGS academic assistant at [email protected] (if submitted in person, FSS11002). When all the evaluations have been submitted to IFGS, the academic assistant will send copies of the comments to the supervisor and to the student. The supervisor and student should receive the evaluations prior to the student’s thesis proposal defense so that the student has the opportunity to take the comments of the thesis committee members into consideration.

3. While the thesis proposal is being evaluated, the academic assistant will contact the examiners, the supervisor and the student to determine a date and time for the thesis proposal defense and reserve a room for the defense.  Before the defense, the supervisor obtains from the IFGS secretariat the « Thesis Proposal Defence form ».

1. Only the student and the members of the thesis committee may be present at the thesis proposal defense. The supervisor presides over the thesis proposal defense. The other members of the thesis committee constitute the jury. The defense typically unfolds as follows:

• The student briefly presents their thesis proposal;
• The student answers the questions posed by the members of the jury;
• The student is asked to leave the room so that the jury may deliberate in their absence

VERDICTS:

A) If the members of the jury are satisfied with the thesis proposal as a whole – even if the latter could benefit from minor changes, the thesis proposal is accepted. After deliberating, the members of the jury come to an agreement regarding the comments and suggestions that the student should address in further thesis work.

B) If only one member of the jury finds the thesis proposal unsatisfactory, the thesis proposal is accepted, but the examiner must explain their objections and the members of the jury must come to an agreement that clearly identifies the concerns that the student must address in a satisfactory manner in further thesis work.

C) If any two members of the jury find that the thesis proposal does not meet the requirements of the program, a new version of the thesis proposal must be submitted within a reasonable time limit and undergo a second defense to the satisfaction of the members of the jury.

- Once the members of the jury have reached a decision regarding the verdict and the   comments, suggestions or concerns that the student will have to address in further thesis work, the supervisor and members of the jury sign the « Thesis Proposal Defence form », indicating that the defense has occurred, the date and the decision of the jury.

1. The student is called back into the room; the president of the defense then communicates to the student the result of the jury’s deliberations, and the defense is over.

1. After the defense, the supervisor hands in the signed form to the IFGS secretariat and the academic assistant submits the form to the Operations Coordinator who then enters in the system the student’s grade for the course FEM6997 (verdicts A or B = graded “S” for Satisfactory; verdict C = graded “NS” for Non Satisfactory).

1. A Non Satisfactory (NS) grade on the second attempt will result in the student withdrawing from the program.

The thesis or major research paper must be on a topic related to women, gender, feminism or sexualities. The thesis or major research paper must demonstrate knowledge of feminist scholarship in the field or fields appropriate to the topic, and of feminist methodologies where applicable.

A master's thesis generally consists of approximately 100 pages. The MA thesis must show that the student is able to work in a scholarly manner and is acquainted with the principal works published on the subject of the thesis. As much as possible, it should be an original contribution.

Before submitting a thesis, a candidate must have completed all other requirements of her/his/their program. A candidate must also make sure that permissions to reproduce copyright material (such as photos, images) have been obtained.

The names of two internal examiners are first proposed by the thesis supervisor to the Associate Director for her/his/their approval. The thesis supervisor shall not count as one of the examiners and shall not have the right to vote. A copy of the form entitled Nomination of Thesis Examiners should be submitted to the IFGS secretariat one month prior to the submission of the MA thesis. The IFGS secretariat will verify that the names of the internal examiners are professors with supervisory rights and then the form is sent to the FGPS for their final approval.

General information regarding the submission and defense of the thesis (uOttawa Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies)

The major research paper should be between 50 and 60 pages in length, and should not exceed 75 pages, including notes, bibliography and appendices. The MA major research paper must constitute a contribution to knowledge in feminist studies.

Before submitting a major research paper to the IFGS secretariat, a candidate must have completed all other requirements of her/his/their program.

IMPORTANT: The deadline for students submitting major research papers in any given session is by the first day of the last month of that session (i.e. the 1^st of December, the 1^st of April, or the 1^st of August). This means that the MRP supervisor must have given her/his/their approval for the submission of the MRP to be evaluated by the second reader by the dates mentioned above.

A second reader, selected by the MRP supervisor and approved by the Associate Director upon recommendation by the supervisor, must be chosen prior to the submission of the MRP. The supervisor completes the Nomination of the MRP Second Reader form, and submits the form to the IFGS secretariat.

To submit the major research paper for evaluation, the student must provide the Operations Coordinator with  an electronic copy of the MRP paper, accompanied by the Statement of MRP Supervisor form signed by the MRP supervisor, certifying that she/he/they has read the paper and finds it acceptable for submission to the second reader.

The Operations Coordinator records the date of receipt of the major research paper on the Statement of MRP Supervisor form and forwards the major research paper and a Report of the MRP Reader form to the second reader for evaluation. The Operations Coordinator indicates the date by which the report should be completed (normally within three to four weeks of submission).

It is very important that every step of this process be centralized at the IFGS’ office in order to follow up in a timely fashion.

When the comments and the Report of the MRP Second Reader form are received from the second reader, the Operations Coordinator forwards them to the student and supervisor. The student makes the revisions requested by the second reader and resubmits the revised final copy of her MRP to her/his/their supervisor for final approval. The supervisor reads the MRP one more time.  If the MRP is accepted, the supervisor completes and signs the Final Official Submission of the MRP form and sends it to the Operations Coordinator. The Operations Coordinator, after obtaining the approval of the Associate Director, enters the final grade into the system. The major research paper is graded “S/NS” (Satisfactory/Not satisfactory).

Major Research Papers are now being submitted to the University of Ottawa Library by the IFGS secretariat. Students will be asked to prepare a cover page for their MRP similar to a thesis cover page and send a final electronic copy of their MRP to the Operations Coordinator, as well as their agreement to have the MRP submitted to the Library.  The IFGS secretariat will then send the MRP to the Library. Once a major research paper is deposited in the University Library, it becomes a public document, although copyright remains with the student.

Guidelines for the Submission of a Thesis or Major Research Paper Proposal in Feminist and Gender Studies

Theses/major research papers in the collaborative program in Feminist and Gender Studies (WS) are not merely theses including women as “subjects.” They are about women/gender and are written from a feminist perspective. Feminist perspectives can range from the demonstration of the existence of inequalities between men and women to analyses centered on gender norms, gender relations or patriarchal structures, to the promotion of agendas for change (etc.). IFGS theses/major research papers proposals demonstrate knowledge of feminist scholarship in the field or fields appropriate to the question and specific feminist methodologies when applicable. They also use gender inclusive language where appropriate. In addition, WS theses/major research proposals may focus on women’s experiences. They may be written from a woman’s point of view, and they may emphasize gender as a significant social category worthy of extensive analysis. When they rely on human research participants, they generally favour a collaborative approach between the researcher and the participants. Theses/major research papers in WS acknowledge that various social, economic, legal and cultural factors (for example: race, class, sexuality, etc.) limit generalization.

1. The approval, by the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies (IFGS), of a student’s thesis or MRP project is a mandatory requirement of the specialization in Feminist and Gender Studies in the Collaborative Program. All students should submit the thesis/major research paper proposal upon completion of the equivalent of two terms of full-time registration -- this even in the case that the primary unit does not require a proposal. The thesis/major research paper proposal must be submitted between the months of April and December after the first two terms of enrolment (having first registered in September of the first year). Students must have successfully completed the two compulsory FEM courses (FEM 5103 and FEM 5300) before the submission of the thesis or major research paper proposal.

2. Students are encouraged to submit the same proposal to both disciplines when possible (that is, when the length of the proposal to be submitted to the primary unit corresponds to the length required by the IFGS Graduate Studies Committee AND conditional to the proposal’s content representing adequately both discipline).

3. The proposal must be submitted to the IFGS before data collection or writing of the thesis or MRP. Otherwise, the IFGS reserves the right to refuse to evaluate the student's project.

4. The proposals submitted to WS for evaluation will typically be no less than 10 and no greater than 15 double-spaced and typed pages (without the bibliography). If the primary unit does not provide the student with guidelines for the preparation of a proposal, the student is expected to conform to the Suggested guidelines for the submission of a thesis or major research proposal in Feminist and Gender Studies (on the next page).

5. Once students’ proposals are ready for evaluation, students must fill out the Feminist and Gender Studies thesis or major research paper proposal form and obtain the approval of their supervisor before submitting their proposal to Feminist and Gender Studies. The supervisor’s signature ensures that s/he has read the proposal to be submitted to WS and authorizes the student to submit. Students must also obtain the signature from the Graduate Studies Director of their primary unit on that form. Once the proposal form is received by the IFGS Operations Coordinator, students may then submit by email to [email protected] their thesis or major research paper proposal to the IFGS Graduate Studies Committee for comments and evaluation (grade: S/NS). Candidates whose project has been judged non-satisfactory will have to revise their project at the satisfaction of the IFGS-GSC or forfeit the specialization in Feminist and Gender Studies.

Guidelines approved by the Graduate Studies Committee on April 20, 2010, revised June 17, 2011 ; revised 20149.

Suggested guidelines for the preparation of a Feminist and Gender Studies thesis/Major Research Paper proposal

The following are intended as suggested guidelines to help students in their preparation of the thesis/major research paper proposal for the Collaborative Program in Feminist and Gender Studies at the Master’s level. It is understood that the structure and content of the proposal may vary between disciplinary domains and traditions.

1. The topic/the problem: Briefly present the topic of your proposed research. Describe the current state of the literature on the topic and the main points or issues it raises. Specify the research problem that your research wants to address (gap in our knowledge, weaknesses in current understanding(s) of the topic, etc.).

2. Objective(s), Question(s), Thesis/Argument, and Relevance: State the main or general objective(s) of your research and formulate the more specific research question(s) your research attempts to answer. Specify your thesis/working argument. Comment on the scope and relevance of your proposed research to scholarship in Feminist and Gender Studies (and any other possible applications of your work).  

3. Theoretical framework: Articulate the theoretical framework -- theoretical traditions, debates, propositions, and/or key concepts from feminist scholarship, as well as from other scholarship(s) when appropriate -- that will enable you to examine your topic and will help you work towards answering your research question(s).

4. Methodological framework: Present the methodological strategy (approach, method(s), type(s) and sources of information sought, spatial and temporal scope of your research) you plan to use to answer your research question(s) and meet your research objectives). Address any general methodological concerns raised in feminist scholarship that are of particular relevance to your research (for instance: issues of access/availability, ethical issues, power issues, risks of othering, etc.)

5. Provide a provisional outline of the organization of the thesis: Chapter titles and brief overview of the proposed contents.

6. Research timetable of the thesis: It should include all the necessary steps of your research process (from ethics approval to data collection to chapter writing and completing the thesis).

7. Bibliography: Include a bibliography of all the sources cited in the proposal.

Approved by the Feminist and Gender Studies Graduate Committee on April 1^st, 2005 and by the Executive Committee of the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studieson May 2^nd, 2005 and revised on May 14, 2009 ; revised 20149.

PhD IN Feminist and Gender Studies

Guidelines for the preparation of the Feminist and Gender Studies thesis proposal

The following is the format for students and supervisors in their preparation of the thesis proposal for the Doctoral Program in Feminist and Gender Studies. The length of the proposal is 25 to 30 typed pages (bibliography not included). Presentation: double-spaced, title page, pages numbered, Font 12, one inch margins. Please refer to the APA or MLA manuals of style for the presentation of references and general rules regarding the presentation of manuscripts.

I. The topic/the problem: Present the topic of your proposed research. Describe the current state of the literature on the topic and the main points, issues or debates it raises. Specify the research problem that your research wants to address (gap in our knowledge, weaknesses in current understanding(s) of the topic, etc.). This section should convincingly present the nature of the topic and the reasons why it was chosen.

II. Objective(s), Question(s), Thesis/Argument, and Relevance: State the main or general objective(s) of your research and formulate the more specific research question(s) your research attempts to answer. Identify your thesis/working argument. Establish the scope and relevance of your proposed research. Answer how your thesis will produce original knowledge and how it will contribute to the advancement of knowledge in Feminist and Gender Studies from a theoretical and/or empirical point of view.

III. Theoretical framework: Articulate the theoretical framework that is relevant to your proposed research by highlighting various theoretical traditions, approaches, debates, propositions and concepts from feminist scholarship as well as from other bodies of scholarship where appropriate). The point here is not only to present your theoretical framework in a detailed manner, but also to establish where and how you locate your work in relation to the bodies of scholarship upon which you intend to draw.

IV. Methodological framework:  Present the methodological strategy (approach, method(s), type(s) and sources of information sought, spatial and temporal scope of your research) you plan to use to answer your research question(s) and meet your research objectives). Clearly show how this methodological strategy will enable you to assemble and analyze the information needed for supporting your thesis/ argument and to answer your research question(s). Where appropriate, address feminist methodological concerns relevant to your study (ethics, power relations, othering, etc.)

V. Provisional outline of the organization of the thesis: Proposed title of thesis, chapter titles and a brief overview of the proposed contents for each chapter.

VI. Research timetable of the thesis: It should include all the necessary steps of your research process (from ethics approval to data collection to chapter writing and completing the thesis).

VII. Bibliography: Include a bibliography of all the sources cited in the proposal.

The following is the format for students and supervisors in their preparation of the thesis proposal for the Master’s Program in Feminist and Gender Studies. Remember that the length of the proposal is generally 20-25 double-spaced and typed pages.

1. The topic/the problem: Briefly present the topic of your proposed research. Describe the current state of the literature on the topic and the main points or issues it raises. Specify the research problem that your research wants to address (gap in our knowledge, weaknesses in current understanding(s) of the topic, etc.).

2. Objective(s), Question(s), Thesis/Argument, and Relevance: State the main or general objective(s) of your research and formulate the more specific research question(s) your research attempts to answer. Specify your thesis/working argument. Comment on the scope and relevance of your proposed research to scholarship in Feminist and Gender Studies (and any other possible applications of your work).
3. Theoretical framework: Articulate the theoretical framework -- theoretical traditions, debates, propositions, and/or key concepts from feminist scholarship, as well as from other scholarship(s) when appropriate -- that will enable you to examine your topic and will help you work towards answering your research question(s).
4. Methodological framework: Present the methodological strategy (approach, method(s), type(s) and sources of information sought, spatial and temporal scope of your research) you plan to use to answer your research question(s) and meet your research objectives). Address any general methodological concerns raised in feminist scholarship that are of particular relevance to your research (for instance: issues of access/availability, ethical issues, power issues, risks of othering, etc.)
5. Provide a provisional outline of the organization of the thesis: Chapter titles and brief overview of the proposed contents.
6. Research timetable of the thesis: It should include all the necessary steps of your research process (from ethics approval to data collection to chapter writing and completing the thesis).
7. Bibliography: Include a bibliography of all the sources cited in the proposal.

Supervisors of MA Thesis

MA students should have identified their research supervisor by the end of November of their first year of study. In choosing their thesis supervisor, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the professional credentials (research interests, publications and courses taught) from the pool of 120+ professors who have agreed to supervise in the MA and PhD programs of the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies. View the list of potential supervisors and links to their personal webpage.

Registration of thesis topic and/or Appointment of research/thesis supervisor to be completed via uoZone.

MA students should have identified their research supervisor by the end of November of their first year of study. In choosing their major research paper supervisor, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the professional credentials (research interests, publications and courses taught) from the pool of 120+ professors who have agreed to supervise in the MA and PhD programs of the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies. View the list of potential supervisors and links to their personal webpage.

Please complete the form Appointment of a major research paper (MRP) supervisor. (form available at the Institute’s secretariat)

The supervisory committee for students at the MA (with thesis) is comprised of the thesis supervisor (and co-supervisor if applicable), selected from the list of professors pre-approved for supervising feminist theses. The supervisory committee is also comprised of two other members, of which at least one must be selected from the list of professors pre-approved for supervising feminist theses.

Composition of the PhD supervisory thesis committee*

The PhD supervisory committee for students is comprised of the thesis supervisor (and co-supervisor if applicable), selected from the list of professors pre-approved for supervising feminist theses. The PhD supervisory committee is also comprised of three other members, of which at least one must be selected from the list of professors pre-approved for supervising feminist theses.

Thesis Jury Committee*

The Thesis Jury Committee is comprised of the thesis supervisor (and co-supervisor if applicable) and three members of the committee and one external examiner** outside of the university.

*All committee members must be members of the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.

**The external examiner is chosen by the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies after the final submission of the thesis. Neither the student nor any member of the committee may communicate with the external examiner prior to submission of his or her final report to the FGPS.

Graduate Studies Committee (IFGS-GSC)

The Graduate Studies Committee of the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies supervises the graduate programs (PhD, MA, Collaborative MA). The IFGS-GSC elaborates policy pertaining to the PhD and MA programs. It reviews the thesis or major research paper proposals of students registered in its Collaborative Master’s program. It approves requests for leaves of absence or extensions, and makes sure that all university regulations are observed. Any questions, concerns or problems can be addressed to the Operations Coordinator of the Institute or to the Associate Director/Graduate Studies Coordinator.

Collaborative Program in Feminist and Gender Studies at the Master’s level

Policy for Supervisors and Examiners/Readers of a Feminist and Gender Studies Thesis or Major Research Paper

Academic excellence and the upholding of academic standards are the goals of both primary units and the Institute of Feminist and Gender Studies (IFGS). Ensuring appropriate rigor in the primary discipline is the responsibility of the primary unit.

For its part, the IFGS is responsible for ensuring that Feminist and Gender Studies content, methodology, and rigor are upheld in the Collaborative Program through mandatory courses in Feminist and Gender Studies, qualified supervision in women’s or feminist studies, and evaluation of the thesis/major research paper proposal.

Regarding the supervision and evaluation of theses or major research papers in the Collaborative Master’s Program in Feminist and Gender Studies:

1. The thesis supervisor or co-supervisor must possess Feminist and Gender Studies and/or feminist expertise.
2. In the case of a thesis, at least one of the examiners of the thesis jury must possess such expertise and will act as the Feminist and Gender Studies representative. That is, s/he will have the responsibility to ensure that Feminist and Gender Studies content, methodology, and rigor are upheld in the evaluation of the thesis.
3. In the case of a major research paper, the supervisor should, ideally, possess Feminist and Gender Studies and/or feminist expertise. If not, one of the readers must possess such expertise.
4. If s/he has the required expertise, the major research paper supervisor will act as the Feminist and Gender Studies representative for the evaluation of the major research paper; if not, the reader possessing such expertise will play that role.