PhD program

CSPT program requirements

In general, CSPT students must meet the core graduating requirements of their own department, as well as specific requirements of the CSPT program:

(a) 1.5 units of CSPT 601

(b) 1.5 units of either CSPT 600 or CSPT 690

Note: With permission of the CSPT director, credit may be granted for a graduate theory seminar taught by a CSPT faculty member in a department different from the student's own.

(c) Completion of a candidacy exam set by the CSPT program as one of the comprehensive exams.

(d) Written dissertation that meets the requirements of both the home department and CSPT program with the topic in the field of CSPT.

Composition of Supervisory Committee
CSPT students are required to have a CSPT Faculty as (Co-)Supervisor and at least two CSPT Faculty in their Supervisory Committee. At least one CSPT Faculty in the student’s Supervisory Committee must be from outside the student’s home department.

Note: The topic of the student’s thesis must be within the field of cultural, social, and political thought.

CSPT Candidacy Exam

Please contact soscassist@uvic.ca for infomation. 

The New Candidacy Exam (2024)

As of September 2024, the CSPT Doctoral Candidacy Exam will consist of two (2) mandatory Categories (or parts). For both Categories, the student and their (Co-)Supervisor will identify two problématiques (or two sets of related problématiques) from the list of problématiques. A problématique not on the list may be proposed with the permission of the CSPT Director. From the sources they find appropriate in relation to their selected problématiques, the student and their (Co-)Supervisor will construct two Reading Lists (20 books or equivalent in each). The bibliographies for these lists may be drawn from the former CSPT Reading List, but such is for guidance only and not compulsory. Having both “contemporary” and “foundational” texts is encouraged. For more information, see the CSPT Doctoral Candidacy Exams Procedures document (September 2024).

  

The Candidacy Exam (pre-2015)

The PhD students in CSPT Program who are pre-2015 entry have the option of choosing the old (2013) Candidacy Exam Procedure or the new (2015) one. Students are encouraged to study the candidacy exam procedure as well as the master reading list.  

Individual department requirements

PhD students with the CSPT option must complete 31.5 units of graduate credit, including a 20-unit dissertation. Doctoral students choosing the CSPT option must meet the core requirements of Anthropology and of the CSPT program.

(a)   A CSPT PhD student must complete 7.5 units of course work including ANTH 600 (1.5 units);
(b)  one of ANTH 690C, 690D, 690E, 690F or 690G (1.5 units);
(c)   one of ANTH 611, 651, 671 or 685 (1.5 units);
(d)  Students must complete CSPT 601 (1.5 units);
(e)  and 1.5 units of either CSPT 600 or CSPT 690 as their Breadth of Knowledge requirement;
(f)   Students in the CSPT program must also complete ANTH 612 graduate colloquium;
(g)  In addition, one topic area in the ANTH candidacy exam process is replaced by the CSPT candidacy exam, which is set by the CSPT program.
(h)  Students must write a dissertation that meets the requirements of both the Department of Anthropology and the CSPT program. The topic must be within the field of CSPT. At least two members of the supervisory committee must be affiliated with the CSPT program.

 

At least one CSPT faculty member on the student's supervisory committee must be from outside the student's home department.