Department of

Sociology

Graduate

Orientation 2019-20

Who We Are

- Department Chair – Professor Matthew Lange

- Graduate Program Director - Professor Jason Carmichael

- Manager, Student Affairs, Arts Administrative Service

Centre 2 - Franca Cianci

- Graduate Program Coordinator - Olga Harmazy

- Student Affairs Support Staff located in Leacock 712

Upcoming Events

– AGSEM TA – Monday, September 16, 12:00 pm – 4:45 pm (New TA’s are eligible for a maximum of 3 hours of paid training. Registration and location coming soon . To register go to: https://www.mcgill.ca/skillsets/channels/event/agsem-teaching-assistant-training-299999

– Advising is done directly with your supervisor, ensure that you contact him/her before the end of add/drop period which is Tues Sept 17th.

– PGSS – Discover McGill Graduate & Postdoctoral Orientation and Welcome Event- Thursday, August 29 – @ 3:00 pm Thomson Houseto register go to: https://pgss.mcgill.ca/en/event/846

– Department Welcome Party – Wednesday, September 12th - 4:00-6:30 pm - Thomson House (Ballroom)

Registration Dates for Students

– All students must have already confirmed their registration for both Fall and Winter terms.

– Fall Term Classes begin Tuesday, September 3, 2019

– Last day to register for registration confirmation without $125 late fee - August 15, 2019

– Add/drop deadline Fall Term 2019 – Tuesday, September 17, 2019

– Course withdrawal (with refund) Tues Sept 24, 2019, (NO refund) Tues Oct 29, 2019

– Winter Term Classes begin- Monday, January 6, 2020

– Add/Drop deadline Winter term – Tuesday, January 21, 2020

– Course withdrawal Winter Term 2020

(with refund) Tues Jan 28, 2020, (NO refund) Tues March 10, 2020

https://www.mcgill.ca/importantdates/key-dates

Proof of Citizenship

New students who are Canadian citizens/Permanent

Residents/Quebec Residents must submit proof in order

to qualify for assessment of fees at the Quebec or Non-

Quebec Canadian rate. If you have not done so, please

visit the following website

www.mcgill.ca/legaldocuments which will prompt you

for information and indicate which documents you need

to submit to Enrolment Services.

Health Insurance

– Mandatory

– Apply for a Quebec Medicare card. There is

normally a three month waiting period - you

must be covered, in the interim, by another

insurance policy. This coverage can be purchased

through the PGSS office: http://pgss.mcgill.ca/.

Academic Integrity

Tutorial/Holds

– Mandatory otherwise a hold will be on your record until

you complete the tutorial

– To be completed on MINERVA

– Other reasons you could have a hold put on your record

Enrolment Services has not yet received one or more of your final

transcripts - do not send these documents to the department

Unpaid tuition or outstanding Library fees

Fee Information

Fees visible on Account Summary by Term

Payment Due Date

Fall Term

New Students Early August August 31 , 2019

Winter Term

Returning Students Early December January 8, 2020

Summer Term (MA’s only)

Returning Students End of March April 28, 2020

http://www.mcgill.ca/student-accounts/your-account/deadlines-and penalties

REGISTRATION

MA students MUST register for: SOCI 603 Ma bibliographic Methods 1 (Fall term)

SOCI 604 MA Bibliographic Methods 2 (Winter term)SOCI 625 D1/D2 Professional Development Seminar https://www.mcgill.ca/sociology/grad/ma

PhD students MUST register for:

SOCI 703 Bibliographic Methods 3 (fall term)

Soci 704 Bibliographic Methods 4 (Winter term)

SOCI 625 D1/D2 Professional Development Seminarhttps://www.mcgill.ca/sociology/grad/phd

McGill e-Mail

– All students are required to have and use their McGill e-mail address. E-

mail is one of the official means of communication between McGill

University and its students. As with all official University communications,

it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that time-critical e-mail is

accessed, read, and acted upon in a timely fashion. If a student chooses

to forward University e-mail to another e-mail mailbox, it is the student’s

responsibility to ensure that the alternate account is viable.

– It is a violation of any user of official McGill e-mail addresses to

impersonate the University officer, a member of the faculty, staff or

student body, in line with the McGill University “Code of Computer User

Conduct” and relevant federal and provincial legislation. More

information about policy on e-mail communication with students can be

found at:

https://www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/files/secretariat/e-mail-communications-with-students-policy-on_3.pdf

Teaching Assistantships

– Students receive the bulk of their funding from TAships, RAships and Fellowships.

– Your funding sources can change each year you are in the program.

– Most students have already been assigned for Fall Term and all student must apply for Winter Term TA ships allocated for that term as part of funding package (this will be posted no later than Oct 15)

– If additional postings become available, they will be posted in the next couple of weeks

– If allocated a TA ship for Fall, fill out TA workload form with instructor and return via email to Joanne Terrasi (giovanna.terrasi@mcgill.ca)

– Payments are received every second Thursday with 1st payment around third week in September

– For more information, please contact Franca Cianci franca.cianci@mcgill.ca

TA Workload

– TA positions

– Full position – 180 per term (extends through the end of exam period)

– Half TA position – 90 hours (extends through exam period)

– Keep track of hours

– Meet Prof at beginning of the term to fill-out workload form

– Ask a lot of questions of Prof.

– You want me to lead conferences – DO I determine content or do you supply content? There is a huge difference in time commitment?

– Must I attend lectures? Usually, yes.

– Grading – If I grade essays or papers how detailed must I comment on the grading. Note that detailed comments take much, much longer than simply putting a grade at the end of a paper.

– Office Hours-

– Mid-term Review – Let the instructor know how many hours you have used. If adjustments are needed, they can be made here.

TA ships – Personal

Relationships with Students

– Teaching staff (including TAs) are not permitted to have

personal or intimate relationships with students in their

classes.

– For more information see:

– https://www.mcgill.ca/secretariat/files/secretariat/guid

elinesonrelationships-final-e.pdf

RA ships/Funding

– Research Assistantships

- students may or may not have come in with an RAship as

part of your funding package (most of you did not)

- you must seek out RAships with faculty members

especially if you have no external funding

Fellowship Opportunities

– SSHRC: Available to Canadian Residents

– Ph.D.: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/CGSD-BESCD_eng.aspMA: http://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/Students-Etudiants/PG-CS/CGSM-BESCM_eng.asp

– Trudeau: Available to non-Canadians as well: https://www.mcgill.ca/gps/funding/students/trudeau

– http://www.trudeaufoundation.ca/en/programs/scholarships/become-scholar

– Focuses on 4 themes: Human rights, citizenship, environment, Canada and the world

– Tell me if you think you fit this and want to apply

– Vanier: Available to non-Canadians as well

– https://www.mcgill.ca/gps/funding/students/vanier

– https://mcgill.ca/gps/funding/fac-staff/awards/vanier Large focus on leadership experience

– Tell me if you think you fit this and want to apply for next year; process already in progress this year

Funding Opportunities

Continued

– FRQSC: Deadline: TBA (apply directly to agency)

http://www.frqsc.gouv.qc.ca/accueil

– PBEEE: Quebec fellowship for international Ph.D.s, application in summer term

– Application Process: All of these go through the Dept (except FRQSC – students apply directly to agency)

– Other Fellowships - student applies to dept., dept. selects some to send on to next level, etc

Tips for Applications

– SOCI 580 will help you prepare a fellowship application.

– Ask your advisors to read and for feedback

– Be specific about methods and data sources

– Follow instructions

– Make an effort to present and publish your work

– Make sure you have something—even minor things for the

research accomplishments sections

Fellowships and Awardshttps://www.mcgill.ca/gps/funding/fac-staff/awards

Award Deadline for Student Applications to be Sent to GPS (and/or updated on GPS-FAD) from Unit

Dissertation Awards varies (early Fall & Winter)

Harmonized Master's CGS(NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

February 15, 2020

NSERC USRA TBA

PBEEE (Québec Merit Fellowships) Deadlines vary - More than one important date, see

departmental deadline

Harmonized Doctoral CGS(NSERC, SSHRC, CIHR)

October 15

Trudeau Foundation Scholarships TBA

Vanier September 26, 2019

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship August 5, 2019

Avoiding Burn-out

– How much is too much?

– Your academic success and progress should take

precedence over RA and TA positions.

– You should not work more than 20 hours per

week, combined (RA and TA positions) during

the normal academic term. The rest should be

your courses/research.

– Try to negotiate when you do work to reduce

workload when your own courses are intense.

MA Non-Thesis Programs Course and Thesis Topic Requirements

Coursework

MA Non-Thesis Programs

Course and Thesis Topic Requirements (cont’d)

*Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Program Director must substitute another substantive seminar in its place.

**Students may take a course in a related field, with the approval of the Graduate Program Director.

Course Sequencing Examples – Registration MA Non-Thesis

MA Non-Thesis (Sociology) 45 Credits total

Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term Credits

SOCI 504 – Quantitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 600 – Qualitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 699 – Research Paper 4 12

SOCI 580 – Research Design 3 Complementary Course #2 3

SOCI 625/D1 – Prof. Development 0 SOCI 625/D2 – Prof. Development 0

Complementary Course # 1 3 Complementary Course #3 3

SOCI 652 – Sociological Theory 3 SOCI 604 – Bibliographic Methods 2 3

SOCI 603 – Bibliographic Methods 1 3 SOCI 697 – Research Paper 2 3

SOCI 696 – Research Paper 1 3

Total Credits 18 15 12

MA Non-Thesis (Gender)

Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term Credits

SOCI 504 – Quantitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 600 – Qualitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 699 – Research Paper 4 12

SOCI 580 – Research Design 3 Complementary Course #1– gender related

3

SOCI 625/D1 – Prof. Development 0 SOCI 625/D2 – Prof. Development 0

WMST 601 – Feminist Theory 3 WMST 602 – Feminist Research 3

SOCI 652 – Sociological Theory 3 SOCI 604 – Bibliographic Methods 2 3

SOCI 603 – Bibliographic Methods 1 3 SOCI 697 – Research Paper 2 3

SOCI 696 – Research Paper 1 3

Total Credits 18 15 12

Registration cont’d MA Non-Thesis would be:

MA Non-Thesis (Population Dynamics)

Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term Credits

SOCI 504 – Quantitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 600 – Qualitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 699 – Research Paper 4 12

SOCI 580 – Research Design 3 Complementary Course #1 –Population Dynamics related

3

SOCI 625/D1 – Prof. Development 0 SOCI 625/D2 – Prof. Development 0

SOCI 545 – Soc of Population 3 SOCI 626 – Demographic Methods 3

SOCI 652 – Sociological Theory 3 SOCI 604 – Bibliographic Methods 2 3

SOCI 603 – Bibliographic Methods 1 3 SOCI 697 – Research Paper 2 3

SOCI 696 – Research Paper 1 3

Total Credits 18 15 12

MA Non-Thesis (Medical Sociology)Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term Credits

SOCI 504 – Quantitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 600 – Qualitative Methods 1 3 SOCI 699 – Research Paper 4 12

SOCI 580 – Research Design 3 Complementary Course #2 –Med/Health related

3

SOCI 625/D1 – Prof. Development 0 SOCI 625/D2 – Prof. Development 0

Complementary Course # 1 (Med/Health related)

3 Complementary Course #3 (Med/Health related)

3

SOCI 652 – Sociological Theory 3 SOCI 604 – Bibliographic Methods 2 3

SOCI 603 – Bibliographic Methods 1 3 SOCI 697 – Research Paper 2 3

SOCI 696 – Research Paper 1 3

Total Credits 18 15 12

PhD Course Requirements

PhD Course SequenceSequence assumes entry at PhD 2 and 2 of the 4 prerequisites taken. Prerequisites are:

SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1, SOCI 580: Social Research Design and Practice

SOCI 600: Qualitative Research Methods 1, SOCI 652: Current Sociological TheoryPhD (Sociology – Quantitative Stream) – PhD 2

Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term Credits

Prerequisite # 1 3 Prerequisite # 2 3 SOCI 700 – Area Exam #1 0

SOCI 625/D1 – Prof. Development 0 SOCI 625/D2 – Prof. Development 0

Complementary Course # 1 3 SOCI 620 – Quantitative Methods 2 3

Complementary Course # 2 3 Complementary Course #3 3

SOCI 703 – Bibliographic Methods 3 3

Total Credits 9 12

PhD (Sociology - Quantitative Stream) – PhD 3Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term CreditsAdvanced Quantitative Course # 2 (SOCI 621/622/623)

3 SOCI 704 – Bibliographic Methods 4 3 SOCI 701 – Area Exam # 2 0

Complementary Course #4 3

Total Credits 6 3

PhD Qualitative Stream

PhD (Sociology - Qualitative Stream) – PhD 3

Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term Credits

Complementary Course #3 3 SOCI 704 – Bibliographic Methods 4 3 SOCI 701 – Area Exam # 2 0

Complementary Course #4 3

Total Credits

PhD (Sociology – Qualitative Stream) – PhD 2

Fall Term Credits Winter Term Credits Summer Term Credits

Prerequisite # 1 3 Prerequisite # 2 3 SOCI 700 – Area Exam #1 0

SOCI 625/D1 – Prof. Development 0 SOCI 625/D2 – Prof. Development 0

Complementary Course # 1 3 SOCI 620 – Quantitative Methods 2 3

Complementary Course # 2 3 SOCI 703 – Bibliographic Methods 3 3

SOCI 601 – Qualitative Methods 2 3

Total Credits

How to Pick Complementary

Courses?

– Related to research interests

– Preparation for area exam

– Fits in your schedule

– For help, you can discuss this with your supervisor.

How to pick a supervisor

– You are all assigned a a temporary supervisor.

– In nearly all cases, MA students will stay with the supervisor they are assigned to work with.

– For PhDs, the temporary supervisor is NOT a commitment. You may choose another supervisor and they may suggest that another professor may be better suited to supervise you.

– You should aim to have a permanent supervisor after your first year in the program.

– You will need to have 2-3 people on a dissertation committee by the end of you second year. A form must be submitted to GPC indicating this committee.

Satisfactory progress

It is mandatory that all graduate students fill in the Progress Tracking form held in October

of each registration year.

MA students (Non-thesis) – typically, completion of coursework and research paper happens

by the end of August (the year after admission). If you choose, you may take an extra term or

even two if you want to slow-down the coursework and research paper. Discuss this with

GPD.

Phd students

1) all coursework and Area Exams must be completed by the end of PhD 3 (in August)

2) 2) dissertation proposal defense must be completed by the end of Phd 4 (in August)

All progress tracking and requirements are documented in MyProgress online. Refer to this

often.

https://www.mcgill.ca/gps/myprogress

-students not maintaining satisfactory progress may be placed on academic probations.

Writing Courses

While writing courses are not required for the MA or Phd,

they are strongly recommended. The university writing

center offers a number of courses geared toward graduate

students. See https://www.mcgill.ca/graphos/courses

All of us can improve our writing (unless you write like William

Faulkner or similar masters of language). For a number of reasons,

graduate courses are not particularly good at helping with this.

Dedicated writing courses are better suited for this purpose. Take

them while you are at McGill.

PhD Students should be aware that strong writing is a

fundamental part of area exam evaluations (on par with

substantive knowledge).

Writing Center Courses Offered

Resources

– Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies - http://www.mcgill.ca/gps/

– International Student Service -

http://www.mcgill.ca/internationalstudents/

– New Student Information - http://www.mcgill.ca/gradwelcome/

– Student Forms (add/remove concentration, late course add/drop, add

undergrad course, etc)

http://www.mcgill.ca/students/records/forms

– Ma & PhD Programs - https://www.mcgill.ca/anthropology/graduate

Last updated: August 29, 2019