Doctor of Philosophy
Program Description
Admission to the PhD program is highly selective and competitive. Acceptance is based on a combination of grades, references, academic and professional accomplishments, areas of interest, and a sample of written work. The IHPST website contains detailed instructions for completing admission applications. Applications must be accompanied by transcripts, a statement of interest, letters of reference, a curriculum vitae, and a writing sample. The application deadline is January 15 of every year.
Applicants must be admitted via one of the following routes: 1) following completion of a master's degree in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology or 2) direct entry following completion of an appropriate bachelor's degree.
With the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies, some applicants may be admitted to a flexible-time PhD option. This option will benefit mature students who remain active in their professional careers during the PhD, such as physicians, engineers, educators, and IT professionals. The option will enable them to engage in supervised research in the history and/or philosophy of their profession.
Applicants who wish to take one or more of the courses offered by IHPST as non-degree students should apply for admission as Special Students. The application procedures are the same as for those of the MA program, but the deadline for applications is May 1.
PhD Program
Minimum Admission Requirements
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Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPST's additional admission requirements stated below.
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A University of Toronto master's degree in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology or its equivalent from a recognized university with an average grade of at least an A– in the applicant's program and with no individual grade less than B+. While the majority of accepted students exceed this standard, the very broad scope of the field and the variety of fruitful approaches to it also imply that many different backgrounds are appropriate. Accordingly, grades are only one criterion used to judge applicants.
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Applications must be accompanied by a 300- to 500-word statement of interest indicating the applicant's areas of interest in history and/or philosophy of science and technology at the graduate level. A writing sample of no more than 3,000 (not to exceed 20 pages) words is required.
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Applicants whose primary language is not English and who are not graduates of a university whose language of instruction is English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Written English (TWE) with the following minimum scores:
Program Requirements
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Students admitted on the basis of a master's degree must:
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Complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs); a student whose MA degree does not exhibit sufficient breadth is required to take additional courses.
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Make course choices consistent with a commitment to either:
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Arrange the balance of their curriculum in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and faculty instructors.
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Submit a proposal for an advanced research paper (required for HPS1100Y+) by end of Year 1 for students who enter with a master's degree.
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Students are responsible for ensuring that they have an appropriate supervisor. All supervision arrangements are reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies who assists in the search for a supervisor, if necessary. Proper supervision is a prerequisite for continuation in the program.
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Maintain a cumulative average of at least A– with no individual grade less than B+. In addition, all students should receive at least an A– on the HPS1100Y+ Advanced Research Paper. Students falling below these standards may be recommended for termination from the program.
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Pass a qualifying examination by May 30 of Year 2 in areas related to the field of expected research. Examination is conducted by the student's specialist committee, normally three faculty members.
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Pass a research requirement by August 31 of Year 3 as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee. This may be satisfied through:
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reading knowledge of a language(s) other than English if needed to carry out the research and writing of the dissertation;
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familiarity with research methods that are required to successfully complete the writing of the dissertation not typical of IHPST (for example, randomized control trials, cohort studies, mathematical modelling); or
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IHPST coursework.
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Submit a thesis proposal approved by the student's thesis supervisory committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Program Length
4 years
Time Limit
6 years
+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.
PhD Program (Direct-Entry)
Minimum Admission Requirements
-
Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPST's additional admission requirements stated below.
-
An appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university, with an average grade of at least a B+ in the applicant's overall program and of at least an A– in the applicant's final two years of study.
-
Applications must be accompanied by a 300- to 500-word statement of interest indicating the applicant's areas of interest in history and/or philosophy of science and technology at the graduate level. A writing sample is required.
-
Applicants whose primary language is not English and who are not graduates of a university whose language of instruction is English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Written English (TWE) with the following minimum scores:
Program Requirements
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Students admitted on the basis of a bachelor's degree (direct-entry) must:
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Complete 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in total; of these, students must complete all of the MA program requirements including language proficiency, normally in Year 1.
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Complete all required courses by the end of Year 2. The exception is HPS1100Y+, which should be completed at the end of Year 3.
-
Make course choices consistent with a commitment to either:
-
Arrange the balance of their curriculum in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and faculty instructors.
-
Submit a proposal for an advanced research paper (required for HPS1100Y+), by end of Year 2.
-
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have an appropriate supervisor. All supervision arrangements are reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies who assists in the search for a supervisor, if necessary. Proper supervision is a prerequisite for continuation in the program.
-
Maintain a cumulative average of at least A– with no individual grade less than B+. In addition, all students should receive at least an A– on the HPS1100Y+ Advanced Research Paper. Students falling below these standards may be recommended for termination from the program.
-
Pass a qualifying examination by May 30 of Year 3 in areas related to the field of expected research. Examination is conducted by the student's specialist committee, normally three faculty members.
-
Pass a research requirement by August 31 of Year 4 as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee. This may be satisfied through:
-
reading knowledge of a language(s) other than English if needed to carry out the research and writing of the dissertation;
-
familiarity with research methods that are required to successfully complete the writing of the dissertation not typical of IHPST (for example, randomized control trials, cohort studies, mathematical modelling); or
-
IHPST coursework.
-
Submit a thesis proposal approved by the student's thesis supervisory committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Program Length
5 years
Time Limit
7 years
+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.
PhD Program (Flexible-Time)
Minimum Admission Requirements
-
Applicants to the flexible-time PhD option are accepted under the same admission requirements as applicants to the full-time PhD option.
-
Students will be admitted on the basis of a master's degree in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology; admission based on a bachelor's degree is not available.
-
Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy IHPST's additional admission requirements stated below.
-
A University of Toronto master's degree in History and Philosophy of Science and Technology or its equivalent from a recognized university with an average grade of at least an A– in the applicant's program and with no individual grade less than B+. While the majority of accepted students exceed this standard, the very broad scope of the field and the variety of fruitful approaches to it also imply that many different backgrounds are appropriate. Accordingly, grades are only one criterion used to judge applicants.
-
Applications must be accompanied by a 300- to 500-word statement of interest indicating the applicant's areas of interest in history and/or philosophy of science and technology at the graduate level. A writing sample is required.
-
Applicants whose primary language is not English and who are not graduates of a university whose language of instruction is English must submit results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and Test of Written English (TWE) with the following minimum scores:
Program Requirements
-
Program requirements for the flexible-time option are identical to those for the full-time PhD program, except that the program of study will relate to the student's work and vice versa.
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Students in the flexible-time option are required to register full-time for the first four years of the program. Thereafter, they may register part-time.
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Transfers between the full-time PhD program and the flexible-time PhD option are not permitted.
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Students in the flexible-time option must satisfy the SGS General Regulations and Degree Regulations in the SGS Calendar, including good academic standing, supervision, and candidacy regulations.
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The student will develop a thesis proposal, which must be approved by the student's thesis supervisory committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
-
Students admitted on the basis of a master's degree must:
-
Complete 3.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs); a student whose MA degree does not exhibit sufficient breadth is required to take additional courses.
-
Make course choices consistent with a commitment to either:
-
Arrange the balance of their curriculum in consultation with the Director of Graduate Studies and faculty instructors.
-
Submit a proposal for an advanced research paper (required for HPS1100Y+), by the end of Year 1.
-
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have an appropriate supervisor. All supervision arrangements are reviewed and approved by the Director of Graduate Studies who assists in the search for a supervisor, if necessary. Proper supervision is a prerequisite for continuation in the program.
-
Maintain a cumulative average of at least A– with no individual grade less than B+. In addition, all students should receive at least an A– on the HPS1100Y+ Advanced Research Paper. Students falling below these standards may be recommended for termination from the program.
-
Pass a qualifying examination by May 30 of Year 2 in areas related to the field of expected research. Examination is conducted by the student's specialist committee, normally three faculty members.
-
Pass a research requirement by August 31 of Year 3 as determined by the Director of Graduate Studies in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee. This may be satisfied through:
-
reading knowledge of a language(s) other than English if needed to carry out the research and writing of the dissertation;
-
familiarity with research methods that are required to successfully complete the writing of the dissertation not typical of IHPST (for example, randomized control trials, cohort studies, mathematical modelling); or
-
IHPST coursework.
-
Submit a thesis proposal approved by the student's thesis supervisory committee and the Director of Graduate Studies.
Program Length
6 years
Time Limit
8 years
+ Extended course. For academic reasons, coursework is extended into session following academic session in which course is offered.
