PhD — Fall Enrolment & Registration Guide

PhD-Level Courses (Internal — INF3XXXH)

Doctoral students may add Faculty of Information (internal) PhD-Level (e.g. INF3XXX) courses directly using ACORN. To add / enrol in these courses, go to “Enrol & Manage” in ACORN. More details below under Courses and Timetables.

Reading / Research Courses (Internal — INF3015H)

Students are allowed to take up to 2 Faculty of Information (internal) reading courses (Course Code: INF3015H + individual title) in partial fulfilment of this requirement.

• • Provide your Research Advisor with a brief justification for creating the reading course.
  • Work with your Research Advisor to identify and confirm an appropriate instructor for the proposed reading course.
  • You and the instructor will then complete the Reading / Research Course Form (PDF) and prepare:
    • A syllabus that includes a course description, course learning outcomes, a paragraph connecting them to program learning outcomes (match the learning outcomes to the iSchool’s PhD leaning outcomes)
    • A reading list/deliverables
    • A note regarding whether ethics approval is needed.
      • See the Faculty’s policy on Defining Student Learning Outcomes in Course Syllabi (PDF)
  • Obtain your Research Advisor’s signature.
  • Submit the Reading/Research course form and syllabus to Student Services.
  • The PhD Director gives final approval for the course and Student Services contacts the student to confirm enrolment in the reading course.
  • See Example of INF3015H Reading Course Syllabus

PhD-Level Courses (External — University of Toronto)

Students may take a maximum of 4 half-credit course (2.0 FCEs) in other departments/faculties/programs at the University of Toronto. Within this maximum, students may enrol in up to 2 half-credit courses (1.0 FCE) outside the University of Toronto. Elective courses require the approval of the student’s Research Advisor, the course instructor, and the PhD Director.

• • Provide your Research Advisor with a justification for the choice of elective.
  • If your Research Advisor approves your choice of elective, the student then approaches the course instructor to request permission to take that course.
  • If the instructor gives that permission, complete an Add / Drop Form (PDF), and attach to it the justification for taking the course, the course description/syllabus (which clearly states that the course is PhD level) and submit these to the instructor and Research Advisor for their signatures.
  • Submit the Add / Drop Form and syllabus to Student Services.
  • The PhD Director gives final approval for the course and Student Services contacts the student to confirm enrolment in the external course.

PhD-Level Courses (External — Other Institutions)

Within the allowable 4 half-credit (2.0 FCEs) external courses, students may enrol in 2 half-credit course outside the University of Toronto (1.0 FCEs).

• • Provide your Research Advisor with a justification for the choice of elective.
  • If your Research Advisor approves your choice of elective, the student then approaches the course instructor to request permission to take that course.
  • If the instructor gives that permission, locate and complete the appropriate SGS Exchange Form (see under Exchanges & Agreements, this replaces the Add/Drop form) and attach to it the justification for taking the course, the course description/syllabus (which clearly states that the course is PhD level) and submit these to the instructor and Research Advisor for their signatures.
  • Submit the Exchange Form and syllabus to Student Services.
  • The PhD Director gives final approval for the course and the School of Graduate Studies contacts the student to confirm enrolment in the external course.

Master’s-Level Courses (Any)

• • Provide your Research Advisor with a justification for the choice of elective and how the course aligns with Faculty of Information’s PhD learning outcomes.
  • If your Research Advisor approves your of elective, the student then approaches the course instructor to request permission to take that course, and obtain their written agreement that the work assigned to the student will be consistent with that of a doctoral level course (e.g., a longer, more in-depth paper, a more sophistical theoretical treatment).
  • If the instructor gives that permission, complete an Add / Drop Form (PDF), and attach to it the justification for taking the course, the course description/syllabus, and confirmation of doctoral level work, and submit these to the instructor and Research Advisor for their signatures.
  • Submit the Add / Drop form and supporting information to Student Services.
  • The PhD Director gives final approval for the course and Student Services contacts the student to confirm enrolment in the external course.
  • As an example, please view this document: Confirmation of Doctoral-Level Work (PDF).