ABOUT THE PROGRAM
The Individualized Program (INDI) exists to promote innovative and creative approaches to issues that are outside the normal boundaries of investigation. Students engage in individualized research initiatives supported by an integrated program of study drawing on the various resources available at the University either within a Faculty or across Faculties.
Application requirements
The deadline for applications is February 1 for Fall entry and October 1 for Winter entry. Entry to the program requires:
- a clearly formulated program of study, research proposal and the identification of a proposed supervisory committee as part of the application;
- a letter of intent from prospective supervisors and committee members;
- a detail of the financial support and office or studio space provided to prospective students from faculty members;
- please see the full list of application documents required at INDI application checklist.
INDI considers the merit of the student’s proposal and grades as well as the level of support given by the committee. Students whose supervisors do not provide funding or space are less likely to be accepted. Only outstanding applicants will be considered for the Individualized Program (INDI).
If you are a doctoral applicant interested in pursuing a degree in the areas of Interdisciplinary Studies in Society and Culture, then you should apply to the PhD in Humanities Program.
Program requirements
Candidates admitted to an INDI are required to conform to School of Graduate Studies’ regulations for graduate students.
Most cases
Students applying to the INDI must propose a program involving multidisciplinary scholarship on problems that are not normally within the exclusive province of disciplines represented by departments in this University. For these students, the proposed supervisory committee must involve faculty from at least two different departments.
Limited number of cases
Students may be admitted who propose programs within a single discipline not offering an existing graduate program and involving faculty from only one department/unit.
Candidates for the PhD
Candidates for the PhD must have completed a master’s degree or its equivalent with high academic standing in a relevant disciplinary area. Doctoral candidates are required to complete a minimum of 90 credits apportioned as follows:
- Coursework: 18 credits; **
- INDI 885 Doctoral Comprehensive Examination (3 credits);
- INDI 887 Doctoral Thesis Proposal (3 credits); and
- INDI 890 Doctoral Research and Thesis (66 credits).
The minimum period of residence is 24 months of full-time study, or its equivalent in part-time study.
Candidates for the master’s
Candidates for the master’s must have completed a bachelor’s degree with high academic standing in a relevant disciplinary area or its equivalent. Master’s candidates are required to complete a minimum of 45 credits apportioned as follows:
- Coursework: 18 credits; **
- INDI 687 Master’s Thesis Proposal (3 credits); and
- INDI 690 Master’s Research and Thesis (24 credits).
The minimum period of residence is 12 months of full-time study, or its equivalent in part-time study.
** Candidates are normally required to take a minimum of 6 credits in regularly scheduled graduate courses, plus one 3-credit research methodology seminar in their first or second year. The latter seminar explores methodological issues relevant to the principal area of the student’s research. It is chosen in consultation with the student’s Principal Supervisor. Please note that special permission from the departments in question (Chair or Graduate Program Director and Instructor) is necessary in order to have access to these courses.
Comprehensive examination
At the doctoral level, students are required to write an examination testing their basic knowledge of the relevant areas of each component discipline comprising their program of study. The comprehensive examination takes place after students have completed the required 18 course credits. For most students, the format will involve three written examination questions. Students who are involved in a research-creation project may include a practice-based component as one of their examination questions. The student and supervisory committee, comprised of three faculty members, meet prior to the comprehensive exam to determine the format of the exam and the evaluation mechanism, as well as to approve a reading list of approximately 20 titles per question. The student has three days or 72-hours to complete the examination (responses are typically 1600-2400 words per question). The student submits the completed exam within the given timeframe to the INDI Coordinator. The student's supervisory committee evaluates the examination, and the principal supervisor submits the evaluations along with the pass/fail grade to the INDI Coordinator. Students who fail their comprehensive exam will be given one opportunity to rewrite the exam. Following the exam, the student meets with the supervisory committee to discuss the results of the exam and plans for the thesis proposal.
For additional information, please refer to our guidelines.
Thesis
An INDI thesis represents a unique contribution to scholarship undertaken while the student is enrolled in the program. The master’s and doctoral theses in cognate areas will normally provide an appropriate guide to the format and scope of INDI thesis requirements.
In the case of a nontraditional thesis - such as one involving a creative production - the requirement of scholarly contribution still applies. Thus, while a thesis may present a creative work as its central focus, it should nevertheless provide a scholarly discussion placing that work in the context of related ideas and works. As in the case of traditional theses, the nontraditional thesis is submitted to an oral examination where it is exposed to scholarly criticism and where the student is given an opportunity to defend it.
The thesis defence at the doctoral level must provide for the inclusion of one external examiner and one internal-external examiner. At the master’s level the thesis defence will include the student’s principal supervisor and at least two other committee members, one of whom may be an external examiner.
Supervisory committee
The approved supervisors will constitute the student’s supervisory committee. One member of the committee is designated Principal Supervisor and chair of the committee.
- For the master’s degree two committee members must be tenured or tenure track faculty members at Concordia University.
- For the doctoral degree three must be tenured or tenure track faculty members at Concordia University.
Where to start?
There are many ways to explore faculty research interests!
Find committee members by their Faculty or School affiliation: