44.3 Arctic and Subarctic Futures

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The PhD in Arctic and Subarctic Futures provides students with opportunities to pursue graduate learning in an interdisciplinary program that emphasizes place-based, on the land experience, Indigenous pedagogies and research methods, and that focuses on the needs and priorities of the North. The program aims to make a strong contribution to understanding and addressing the most pressing needs and priorities of the North, and to training a network of students and learners who will contribute to Northern social, cultural, and economic growth, development, and prosperity.

Students must conduct research that meets the needs and priorities in Labrador and throughout the North, and works in partnership with Northern and Indigenous governments, organizations, communities, and leaders.

The program is designed to be modular and flexible, and is administered and coordinated by the decanal executive assistant, with responsibilities for academic program coordination, acting as a program liaison with the School of Graduate Studies in St. John’s, and under the supervision of the Dean of the School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies. Additional administrative support will be provided by the Senior Administrative Officer, and the Administrative Support Specialists at the Labrador Campus. The Dean of the School of Arctic and Subarctic Studies will oversee the overall administration and functioning of the programming.

44.3.1 Qualifications for Admission

To be considered for admission to the PhD program, applicants should have a Master’s Degree with an overall average of at least 80% or its equivalent from a recognized university. In exceptional circumstances, students can enter directly into the PhD program with the completion of an undergraduate degree and demonstration of strong research background and potential.

44.3.2 Program of Study

Students in the PhD route will normally complete:

SASS 6000: Learning Labrador
SASS 6001: People, Place, and Identity
SASS 6002: Indigenous and Northern-Led Theories and Methodologies
SASS 6003: Developing Research Partnerships in Arctic and Subarctic Contexts

Students can substitute up to 3 credit hours from other SASS graduate courses (e.g. SASS 6004 and SASS 6005) or another department with program coordinator approval. If a student has come through the Master’s options in Arctic and Subarctic Futures, all required courses will be waived unless the student did not complete SASS 6003: Developing Research Partnerships in Arctic and Subarctic Studies, in which case this course will be required course work. Depending on the student background and proposed research, students may also be required by their Supervisor and Supervisory Committee to take additional courses.

Students will be assigned a supervisor upon entry. A supervisory committee shall be appointed for each candidate in accordance with General Regulations, PhD and PsyD Candidates. Students shall participate in a comprehensive examination process, in accordance with General Regulations, Ph.D. and Psy.D. Comprehensive Examination. The Comprehensive Examination will consist of a written component and an oral component. The examination will be normally scheduled upon completion of all course work, and by the end of semester four (no later than semester 6). Students must submit a thesis, examined and defended in accordance with General Regulations, Evaluation of PhD and PsyD Theses. The duration of the program is normally 4 years full time, with part-time study options available.

44.3.3 Evaluation

Students for the PhD in Arctic and Subarctic Futures must obtain a grade of ‘B’ or better in all program courses.

44.3.4 Courses

SASS 6000: Learning Labrador
SASS 6001: People, Place, and Identity
SASS 6002: Indigenous and Northern-Led Theories and Methodologies
SASS 6003: Developing Research Partnerships in Arctic and Subarctic Contexts
SASS 6004: Arctic and Subarctic Indigenous Legal Traditions and Advocacy
SASS 6005: Systems for Health and Wellness in the Circumpolar North

The information on this site has been extracted from the Official 2023-2024 University Calendar. While every reasonable effort has been made to duplicate the information contained in the official University Calendar, if there are differences, the official Memorial University of Newfoundland Calendar will be considered the final and accurate authority.