Media Studies doctoral students typically take the same elective courses as Master's students, although instructors are likely to have different expectations and assignments for the two groups. Doctoral students are also encouraged to arrange reading courses with faculty members whose research interests are particularly close to their own.
Capping of Media Studies Elective Courses
Enrolment in Media Studies electives will be capped at 12 students. At their discretion, instructors may accept more students, provided they advise the Office of the Associate Dean in a timely manner. Enrolment priority for electives will be determined by the following principles:
- Direct relevance of the course to the student's submitted research statement or thesis/dissertation topic. Students wishing to claim priority on this basis must submit an abstract of their research statement or thesis proposal with their course selection form.
- Length of time in the program.
- Random draw.
These are the sole criteria which will be used to determine priority in course selection. The process will be administered by the Office of the Associate Dean.
Courses in Other FIMS Programs
After consultation with their advisors, Media Studies graduate students may take courses from other graduate programs within FIMS (MLIS, PhD in LIS, MAJ) as electives, with permission of the course instructor.
Courses in Other Programs at Western
Students who have particular academic needs or interests may wish to consider appropriate courses other Faculties or departments, such as Computer Science, Education, English, History, Sociology, Political Science, Theory and Criticism. Since FIMS is not able to supply the names and titles of all such courses, it is up to the student in consultation with his/her advisor to determine if suitable courses exist elsewhere.
Updated 09/09/2008