Graduate Students
Welcome Graduate Students!
The Collaborative Specialization offered through the Department of Earth Sciences is Canada’s first and only graduate program in Planetary Science and Exploration. Established in 2008, and currently hosting more than 35 Masters and Doctoral candidates, this program already ranks among the top five worldwide in terms of number of students, many of whom are major scholarship recipients. As of January 2021, over 130 students have participated in the program and have been offered a wealth of planetary science graduate courses unparalleled at any other Canadian institution.
Collaborative Specialization Students
Completion Requirements:
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Masters |
PhD |
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In addition to the thesis and additional courses that may be required by the graduate program of the home department, all Master’s students in the Collaborative Specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration are required to participate in the following courses and activities: |
In addition to the thesis, comprehensive exam, and additional courses that may be required by the graduate program of the home department, all Doctoral students in the Collaborative Specialization in Planetary Science and Exploration will be required to participate in the following courses and activities: |
| Planetary Science Short Course, PLANETSC 9603. This intensive, week-long course provides incoming students with the background they need to place their specific research project in the wider Planetary Science field. | Planetary Science Short Course, PLANETSC 9603 (if not taken previously). This intensive, week-long course provides incoming students with the background they need to place their specific research project in the wider Planetary Science field. |
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Participation in the Planetary Science Seminar for the first 2 years of enrolment in the Planetary Science program. The Seminar is a milestone (pass/fail based on attendance) and runs weekly during the fall term of each year.
Note: If a student completes the MSc program in Planetary Science at Western and then returns to complete a PhD (or, if they upgrade from the MSc program to the PhD program), they will not be required to participate in the seminar course a second time, provided they participated for 2 years already. |
Participation in the Planetary Science Seminar for the first 2 years of enrolment in the Planetary Science program. The Seminar is a milestone (pass/fail based on attendance) and runs weekly during the fall term of each year. Note: For current 3rd and 4th year PhD students, the Planetary Science Seminar will become optional for their final year(s), provided they attended the seminar in the first 2 years of their program. |
| Presentation of research, either orally or as a poster, at the designated presentation session during Space Day. This will be attended by members of the student’s advisory committee and will constitute one part of an advisory committee meeting. | Presentation of research, either orally or as a poster, at the designated presentation session during Space Day. This will be attended by members of the student’s advisory committee and will constitute one part of an advisory committee meeting. |
| Attendance at the Western Space Research Forum, and MSc and PhD defence lectures of fellow students. | Attendance at the Western Space Research Forum, and MSc and PhD defence lectures of fellow students. |
| Research thesis undertaken according to regulations in the home program, but the research topic must be within the core Research Themes of Western Space. |
Research thesis undertaken according to regulations in the home program, but the research topic must be within the core Research Themes of Western Space. |
| One additional half-course in Planetary Science (PLANETSC) at the 9000-level or higher. This may be taken in addition to the requirements in the home department OR as a single substitution of the requirements of the home department at the discretion of the advisory committee and the departmental graduate program. |
General Info and Important updates
Check in often for the latest updates from Western Space just for Grad Students!
Courses
The course schedule is subject to addition/change.Full course catalogue and descriptions. Please visit the Physics and Astronomy and Earth Sciences websites to view courses offered directly through those departments.
