Thesis

Graduate

The following words which appear throughout the calendar are defined here to help clarify understanding of the provisions contained in the calendar. Academic Year: The 8-month period from September to April (i.e., the Fall and Winter terms). Admissions Office: The office responsible for responding to inquiries on the university’s programs and admission requirements. The admissions office determines acceptances to university programs and provides information on admissions procedures. Antirequisite(s): Courses that are considered so similar in content that a student may not receive credit for more than one of them. Asynchronous Learning: Instruction is available for students to access at a time that works best for them. Audit Student: Any person permitted to attend a lecture-type course but who may not write papers or examinations, have access to equipment, technology, or supplies, or receive course credit. No record is kept of audits. Graduate students are not permitted to audit courses. Online courses may not be audited. Continuing Fee: The fee charged to graduate students to maintain enrolment in a graduate program. This does not apply to MEd students. Continuing Graduate Student: Any person who, subsequent to completing the maximum one or two years of a residency requirement, or its equivalent, registers annually to maintain eligibility to complete degree requirements, or any part-time graduate student who in a twelve-month September to August period takes no graduate level courses other than the thesis, but registers in order to maintain eligibility to complete degree requirements. Continuous-Intake Online Learning: Courses delivered fully online as self-paced, asynchronous learning with a flexible enrolment and completion date. Co-operative Education (Co-op): An academic program that formally integrates academic studies with discipline-specific, paid work experience. Corequisite(s): A course which must be taken concurrently with another course. Course: Unit of academic instruction for which 0-9h of credit is awarded. Credit Hour: The standard unit by which the course work offered by universities is normally measured. One credit hour (1h) is assigned to a class that meets fifty minutes per week in class instruction, exclusive of laboratory, tutorial, and examination requirements, over a period of one term, or for equivalent class hours at during the Summer. Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA): The GPA calculated on all courses. CGPA is included on the official transcript. Department: A division of a faculty under the direction of a head. Each department offers one or more major programs of study. Dismissed Student: Any person required to withdraw from studies for lack of sufficient academic performance. The words "academic dismissal" appear on the official transcripts of such students. Exchange Student: Any student attending Acadia University through a formal agreement of exchange with another educational institution. Faculty: A grouping of associated subject areas under the direction of a dean. There are four faculties at Acadia: Arts, Pure and Applied Science, Professional Studies, and Theology. Full-time Undergraduate Student: 1) Any person registered for at least 9 credit hours (9h) of instruction in either the fall term or the winter term is a full-time student for that term. 2) Any person registered for a total of 18 credit hours (18h) of instruction in the fall and winter terms may be defined as full-time for the period September-April. 3) Any person registered for 6 credit hours (6h) of instruction over a six-week period during Summer is a full-time student for that period. Please Note: courses taken online normally will not count towards the calculation of full-time status. Full-time Graduate Student: Any graduate student in the first or second year of a program of studies leading to a master’s degree, or in the first, second or third year of a doctorate, and who makes a demand upon the university's resources by enrolling in courses or engaging in research requiring supervision. Graduated Student: Any person who has completed a program of study and received a degree, diploma, or certificate. The word "graduated" appears on the official transcripts of such students. Hybrid Learning: A required combination of online (synchronous or asynchronous) and in-person instruction. All students in a hybrid program are expected to undergo the same combination of online and in-person activities. Hyflex Learning: Instruction is available simultaneously online (synchronous and/or asynchronous) and in-person. Students can decide which modality to use to access the program components and can make that decision on an ongoing basis. Independent Student: Any person permitted to take courses for credit, but who is not enrolled in any degree or certificate program. In-Person Learning: All instruction takes place in an in-person setting. International Student: Any person who has entered Canada on a study permit for the purpose of attending this or another educational institution. Summer: May to August Major: A formally recognized area of concentration for which students must complete specific courses. Minor: A secondary area of concentration. All BA (except Theatre and Music) and BSc students must have a minor. Part-time Graduate Student: Any person registered for graduate courses that form a part of the course requirements of a graduate degree program but who does not fulfill the definition of a full-time graduate student. Part-time Undergraduate Student: Any student registered in undergraduate courses who does not meet definition of a full-time student. Prerequisite(s): A course which must be completed before registering in an advanced-level course in the same or related discipline. Registered Student: Any person admitted to a university program, or accepted as an independent student who has enrolled in a course, or for thesis research, by completing registration accurately and at the required time, who has had it approved as necessary, and by the Registrar, and who has paid the required fees to OneStop. Registrar’s Office: The office responsible for overseeing the academic life of all students currently taking classes at the university. The Registrar records courses and grades on transcripts, guides students, schedules exams and classes and generally provides information on academic procedures and regulations. Returning Student: Any person who has registered for courses in the previous twelve-month period, and who has neither graduated nor been dismissed. In the latter cases, students must have applied for re-admission and been accepted. Scheduled Online Learning: Courses delivered fully online with a defined start and end date; may include synchronous and asynchronous components. School: A division within a faculty which offers a professional program led by a director. Seminar: A course, usually at the advanced level, where classes are normally small and where the focus is generally on independent research shared with other students through the presentation of papers. Session: Refers to the combined fall and winter terms. Standing Grade Point Average (SGPA): The GPA calculated in the Spring each year to assign a student’s official academic standing. Academic standing will be assessed in the Spring for all students that have completed 18h or more since the last assessment. SGPA does not appear on the official transcript. Synchronous Learning: Instruction takes place in real-time and requires student presence. Term: The approved period within which courses are scheduled to begin and end, and subsequent to which grade reports and transcripts are issued. Terms include the Fall (September – December), Winter (January – April), Summer (May – August), and online open-entry. Term Grade Point Average (TGPA): The GPA calculated in a particular term. Terms include the Fall term (Sept-Dec.), Winter term (Jan-Apr.), and Summer term (May-Aug). TGPA is included on the official transcript. Tutorial: Instruction given to students individually or in small groups. Transcript: A document prepared by the Registrar’s Office recording a student’s entire official academic history including courses taken and grades assigned. Visiting Student: Any person permitted to take courses for transfer of credit to another college or university. Academic Success and Support Program (ASSP) The Academic Success and Support Program enables students on academic probation to return to Acadia and develop the skills required to be successful. The ASSP requires students to attend classes, as well as to work with advisors and other support staff in order to improve their academic standing. For more information on ASSP, contact student.support@acadiau.ca. Acadia Athletics Acadia Athletics Complex, 550 Main St acadiaathletics.ca Acadia University is a member of U Sports and Atlantic University Sport (AUS). Acadia's varsity teams compete annually for regional and national championships in women’s and men’s basketball, men’s football, men’s hockey, women’s and men’s soccer, women’s volleyball, women’s cross-country, women’s rugby and women’s and men’s swimming. The University is proud of its strong athletic tradition, with a number of conference and national championships to its credit. Varsity and club sports, recreation, intramurals and fitness activities utilize the university’s athletic facilities which include: a gymnasium, an artificial multi-purpose field with a surrounding eight lane rubberized track and lighting; an arena with an Olympic-sized ice surface; a 25m swimming pool; six natural grass practice fields, indoor walking track with rubberized surface and a fitness centre. Acadia’s athletic program dates back to 1875 and has gained national and international recognition as a competitive and successful athletic program. Acadia Counselling Centre Student Health Centre (Dennis House, West Entrance) Phone: 902-585-1246 counselling@acadiau.ca Hours during the school year are 8:30am-4:30pm Monday-Friday and 8:30am-4pm during the summer months. The Acadia Counselling Centre is currently offering Single Session Therapy appointments and Resource Navigation sessions. The Counselling Centre provides confidential counselling services that can help students who are feeling worried, anxious or depressed, having relationship problems, addiction or academic concerns, or have experienced sexual violence. For more information on booking appointments and what to expect, visit https://www2.acadiau.ca/student-life/health-wellness/mental- health/counselling-sessions.html Acadia Students’ Union Willet House and 6 Park Street theasu.ca Acadia Students’ Union is a not-for-profit, student-governed organization dedicated to serving its members through effective representation and communication. The ASU was established in 1967 and works to offer innovative and quality services while providing a variety of opportunities which enhance the overall University experience of the students of Acadia. Acadia Students’ Union believes in, and upholds, the values of integrity, excellence, and respect, while recognizing the importance of fun, community spirit, and the tradition upon which the Union was founded. The ASU Students’ Centre, in which the ASU operates, focuses primarily on serving the needs of the student community by providing opportunities for non-academic activities and promoting an environment which features other services designed to complement and enhance student life. All students also have the right to access the services of the Vice-President Academic & External of the ASU for any matter concerning their academics. Acadia Students’ Union Health, Dental and Medical Plan Coverage for Students OneStop, Beveridge Arts Centre ASUsupports.ca Acadia Students’ Union (ASU) provides Medical, Health, and Dental Coverage to all students at Acadia University. The ASU has worked hard on behalf of its members to provide comprehensive benefits at affordable, student-friendly prices. For complete details regarding benefits visit ASUsupports.ca All Canadian students are automatically assigned the ASU Health & Dental Plan Fees. All international students are automatically assigned the ASU International Medical and Dental Plan Fees. Please see the Fees section for more information. All benefit plan fees are automatically added to the student's account. For students beginning their studies in the Fall the coverage will run from September 1 to August 31. Students beginning their studies in the Winter Term will have coverage from January 1 to August 31. Students who have comparable coverage and do not want the ASU provided benefit plans may submit an opt-out request. All opt-out requests are made online by visiting https://studentvip.ca/ and must be submitted during the allowed opt-out period. The opt-out period for the Fall term is August 16, 2026 to September 15, 2026. The opt-out period for the Winter term is December 16, 2026 to January 15, 2027. There are no exceptions to these deadlines. Accessible Learning Services Rooms 106, 110, 139, Fountain Commons https://www2.acadiau.ca/student-life/accessiblelearning.html Accessible Learning Services works with students, staff, and faculty to facilitate academic accommodations and services for students with disabilities (permanent and temporary). Accommodations are based on the recommendations that are provided in students’ documentation. Accessible Learning Services also provides supports including academic skill development workshops for students, referrals to on-and-off campus resources, employment-readiness skill development and work placements, and educational awareness training. For more information about Accessible Learning Services’ registration process and support services, please contact accessible.learning@acadiau.ca, or visit https://www2.acadiau.ca/student-life/accessiblelearning.html. Alumni Relations Alumni Hall, 512 Main St Phone: 902-585-1459 alumni.office@acadiau.ca; alumni.acadiau.ca Instagram: @acadia_alumni Facebook: Acadia University Alumni https://www.facebook.com/acadiaalumni X (Twitter): @acadia_alumni It is the University’s wish for alumni of Acadia to continue to possess the same sense of commitment to the University and each other that they experienced while they were members of the student body. Working closely with the Board of Directors of the Alumni Association, the Alumni Relations Office, part of Acadia’s Office of External Relations, engages alumni in the life of the university by coordinating annual class reunions; developing and supporting regional programming activities; offering a variety of virtual program options and communicating about life on campus and the lives of alumni via electronic communication, mailings, and the Acadia Bulletin (our alumni magazine). Alumni Relations also organizes special events during the year such as the Alumni Dinner, Homecoming, and the Annual Alumni Golf Tournament. Being considered alumni of the university means that an individual has graduated from Acadia or has completed at least two years and left the university in good standing. Alumni should remember to let us know where they are as they move about the world in their careers and lives so that the Alumni Relations Office can share information about what we are doing and where we will be. Bookstore and The Lumber Yard Acadia Bookstore: Wheelock Hall, 44 Highland Ave Phone: 902-585-1201; Fax: 902-585-1064; 0921mgr@follett.com; acadiashop.ca Hours: Mon to Fri 9am–5pm The Lumber Yard: Acadia Athletics Complex, 550 Main St Phone: 902-585-1903; Fax: 902-585-1064 Hours: Tues to Fri 12pm–4pm (and open during most Varsity games) The goal of the Bookstore and The Lumber Yard is to provide essential books and supplies at the lowest possible prices. An online book order service is available as well as “Books on Beds” delivery to students in residence. A full special book order service is provided along with an extensive stock of Acadia-branded merchandise, souvenirs, and computer software. Text buybacks are held every day during normal business hours. Students withdrawing from courses will be permitted to return texts for refund or exchanges for a period not exceeding 7 days from the opening of each semester or 2 days from the date of purchase. In order to obtain full refund, books must be in perfect, unmarked condition. The student must also provide proof of the course withdrawal and the cash register receipt. Career and Experiential Learning career.services@acadiau.ca; Hours: Mon to Fri 8:30am - 4:30pm Career and Experiential Learning provides support to Acadia students and alumni to help launch and advance their careers through a variety of resources such as resume and cover letter consultations, workshops, online job postings, and employer recruitment and networking events. The Career and Experiential Learning Coordinators also administer the Co-operative Education Program. Office of the Vice-Provost, Curriculum and Planning The Office of the Vice-Provost, Curriculum and Planning advances teaching excellence, curriculum innovation, experiential learning, and extended learning as partners with Faculty and academic leaders across the university. The services within this portfolio span educational development, online and flexible learning design, academic technology (including Moodle), career and experiential education, curriculum development, and quality assurance. Chaplaincy University Chaplain, Reverend Dr. Marjorie Lewis Manning Memorial Chapel Phone: 902-585-1203 Cell: 902-599-2436 chapel.acadiau.ca Email: marjorie.lewis@acadiau.ca https://chapel.acadiau.ca/Home.html https://www.facebook.com/manningmemorialchapel/ https://www.instagram.com/manningmemorialchapel/?hl=en The Chaplaincy is provided by the University to enable the academic community to address the spiritual questions and needs which arise. There is a full-time University Chaplain, with an office on campus in the Manning Memorial Chapel. The Chaplain is available for consultation and support for all students. Daily Prayer, weekly Prayer Meeting, weekly Bible Study and Sunday evening Worship Services are held during term. These are Christian and ecumenical in orientation and Services include music led by the Chapel Choir. Guest musicians sometimes participate in Chapel worship and other programs. The Chaplain is also available to facilitate arrangements for students from other faith traditions to organize worship and special celebrations. In addition, special observances, social and recreational activities are conducted within the Chaplaincy Program. Six student Chapel Assistants are employed to assist in this Program and participate in leading the worship and other activities. Local clergy participate in special worship services and, on occasion, serve as guest preachers on Sunday evening. Academic Exchange Program OneStop, Beveridge Arts Centre Phone: 902-585-1300; Email: globallearning@acadiau.ca Acadia University's Global Learning Program facilitates the bilateral academic exchange of full-time students between Acadia and our partner institutions. Our formal partnership agreements offer students the opportunity to study abroad at a partner institution for one (1) or two (2) academic semesters during their undergraduate degree. Acadia Student Eligibility Requirements: • Successful completion of 45 credit hours (45h) prior to applying for exchange. • A CGPA of 2.50 or better. Students are required to study full-time abroad at their host institution. Acadia students can transfer up to 15h per exchange semester towards their academic program, providing all attempted courses are completed successfully. Visit ExchangeProgram.acadiau.ca to learn more. Healthy Campus Programming The Department of Athletics ensures a year-round continuum of programs. Student growth occurs through participation in programming which ranges from self-directed recreational activities and Intramurals to high performance fitness, competitive sport, and leadership opportunities. Students enjoy a variety of options for self-directed fitness and recreation opportunities. The campus provides open space that can be used for free-time activities, such as soccer, touch football, and Ultimate. The campus has ready access to outdoor walking, jogging, and hiking trails for personal physical activity. Indoor activities include ice activities such as figure-skating, shinny, and broomball; court sports include basketball, volleyball, Frisbee and indoor soccer. Students may also use the fitness centre and courts. All of these activities can be done individually or as a group. Library Services Vaughan Memorial Library, 50 Acadia St library.acadiau.ca The Vaughan Memorial Library is a place to study, research, do homework, and de-stress. It’s home to six floors of print and multimedia resources, extensive digital resources, group and individual study spaces, gender-neutral restrooms, printers, scanners, and more. Our most important resource is our people! The dedicated team of librarians, archivists, staff, and student assistants work together to provide the resources and services that students, faculty, staff, and community members need. We are always happy to help, and we'd love to hear from you! Ask us anything. Use of library spaces, equipment, and services is guided by university policies that apply to the entire campus. Visit our website for up-to-date hours and to find out the librarian for your subjects. https://library.acadiau.ca/home.html Follow us on social media* to find out about stressbusters like free snacks, yoga, and therapy dogs on site: https://www.instagram.com/acadialibrary/ https://twitter.com/acadialibrary https://www.facebook.com/AcadiaUniversityLibrary/ https://www.pinterest.ca/AcadiaULib/ OneStop Beveridge Arts Centre – 1st floor onestop@acadiau.ca OneStop is a service model designed to be a single, reliable, and welcoming "front door" for our students. OneStop will reduce the need to visit multiple offices and providing a warm, information-rich starting point for student support. The initial version of OneStop will bring together front-facing functions from the Registrar’s Office, Student Accounts, Financial Aid, Technology Support, and Admissions. Open Acadia https://openacadia.acadiau.ca Open Acadia provides innovative, inclusive, and accessible learning opportunities for Acadia students and the wider community. The unit facilitates online, continuous-intake courses providing students with flexible options to work towards their degree. Educational opportunities are also offered to youth, professionals, and seniors. Programs are delivered using pedagogical methods that match the preferences of diverse student groups, either on-campus, off-campus, or online. Registrar’s Office 1st Floor, University Hall, 15 University Avenue Phone: 902-585-1222; Fax: 902-585-1081 registrar.acadiau.ca The Registrar’s Office helps students with academic and non-academic questions concerning registration, transcripts, degree audits, prerequisites, verifications of enrolment, convocation, important dates, courses, exams, and academic regulations, etc. We’re here to assist you on your journey and to keep you on your path. We’ll do our best to answer your questions or put you in touch with someone who can. Residence Life 1st Floor Eaton House Phone: 902-585-1417 residencelife@acadiau.ca; residencelife.acadiau.ca Residence Life staff are committed to ensuring the comfort and safety of all students living in residence. Residence Life is here to provide students with a safe and secure, comfortable, and enjoyable living environment that promotes social inclusiveness, responsibility, self-governance and accountability, academic achievement, community development, and personal fulfillment. Acadia’s residences offer a variety of room choices, including double rooms, single rooms, and single rooms in shared suites. Our eleven residences range from small and quaint historic buildings to large modern ones. Various living environments are offered to meet the needs of our students, including quiet sections, substance free, women only, and upper year sections. The Residence Life department is also offering Themed Communities for the 2026-27 academic year. Themed Communities are interest-based environments that connect diverse yet likeminded people from across all academic programs with one shared interest. Being part of these communities enhances one's first year experience through connecting oneself with others that share these common social identities as well as engaging with faculty and professional staff through personable and leadership enhancing programming opportunities tailored to the community you reside in! Applications to be part of the Themed Community of your choosing will be available during the residence application period. Student staff, consisting of Resident Assistants (RAs) and Senior Resident Assistants (SRAs), live in residence and act as a resource to all in-house students. The student staff are supported by our team of Residence Life Coordinators and other members of the Student Services professional staff. Residence Life offers various programs to promote academic success, community building, diversity, health and wellness skills, and community service throughout the school year. Residence Life is committed to providing an inclusive community for students with diverse needs. Accommodations are available for students with specific accessibility requirements. These include single rooms, private washrooms, emotional support and service animals, and mobility equipment. For more information about accessibility accommodations, please contact Acadia's Accessible Learning team at accessible.learning@acadiau.ca. Special accommodations may also be available for students with non-medical needs such as trans and gender diverse students. Please contact residencelife@acadiau.ca for more information. Safety and Security 1st Floor, University Hall, 15 University Avenue Phone: 902-585-1103 security@acadiau.ca; security.acadiau.ca The Department of Safety and Security provides security services and communication 24 hours a day throughout the calendar year. We work in cooperation with the students, faculty, and staff of Acadia University, and the community of Wolfville, to provide a safe and secure environment in which to live, study, work, and relax on the Acadia University campus. In addition to standard security responsibilities for buildings and property, our services also include the Safe Walk service; student campus patrol; parking services; lost and found; production, issuance, and control of identification cards for students, faculty and staff; a nightly local shuttle service; medical shuttle service, locksmith/access control; incident investigations; event security; and emergency planning. The Department of Safety and Security employs approximately fifty students on a part-time basis throughout the year. The Department of Safety and Security is also responsible for Occupational Health and Safety for the Acadia University campus. Security staff are versed in hazard identification and incident investigation. The department also employs an Occupational Health and Safety Coordinator. Scholarships and Financial Aid Willet House Phone: 902-585-1031, 902-585-1543; Fax: 902-585-1086 financial.aid@acadiau.ca; https://www2.acadiau.ca/student-services/scholarships-financial-aid.html The Scholarships and Financial Aid Office administers the university undergraduate awards which include scholarships, prizes, awards, and the university bursary program. Acadia University also participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan (Direct Loan) Program for American students. Student Health Services Dennis House, West Door Phone: 902-585-1238 Your health and well-being are a top priority of Acadia University, and the Health Services Centre team is here to support those needs. Our physicians are available to all Acadia University students for health/medical care and can function as your family doctor while you are away from home. Students can book either phone or in-person appointments. Valid provincial health cards or the Acadia Health Insurance (ASU health insurance) card are required to avoid a fee being collected for each visit. No other insurance will be accepted. Technology Services 1st Floor, University Hall, 15 University Avenue Phone: 902-585-4357 (HELP); 888-609-3330 (toll free) Live Chat (ts-chat.acadiau.ca); helpdesk@acadiau.ca hub.acadiau.ca; ts.acadiau.ca Status Portal (acadiau.status.page) Technical support is provided to students, faculty, and staff, through the Technology Services Desk. You can contact us in several different ways: online using the HUB Service Portal, via Live Chat, by phone, or with in-person visits. Please see the Technology Service Portal at hub.acadiau.ca for further information. The Technology Service Desk assists with academic application software, laptop problems, printing, and accessing the WiFi and other Acadia network resources. Specialized equipment for academic purposes is available for use, including document scanning, digital video and still cameras, and various adapters and accessories.