Office of Admission, Registrar and Student Services
admission@ustpaul.ca
Telephone: 613-236-1393
1-800 637-6859
Quick Links
Back Return to list of programs of study Back Return to list of archived programs of study

Archive 2015 - 2016 > Graduate studies > Canon Law

Canon Law

PDFDownload the program description (PDF)


  • Program requirements
Shadows

The civil Doctorate in Canon Law (PhD) is a research degree which consists of six credits of course work, a comprehensive examination, a thesis proposal and the writing and defense of a doctoral thesis. Three of the credits are compulsory. The other three credits may either be taken in another graduate course in canon law offered by Saint Paul University or, with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, the credits can come from a graduate course offered elsewhere in a field related to the student’s research. No equivalencies are granted. Course work, the comprehensive examination and the thesis proposal, must be completed within the first four sessions of registration in the doctoral program. Any exceptions need approval from the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law.

 

Courses

Compulsory Courses
DCA8981 LECTURE DE SOURCES CANONIQUES LATINES / READINGS IN LATIN CANONICAL SOURCES (3cr.)
DCA9997 PROJET DE THÈSE DE DOCTORAT / PhD THESIS PROPOSAL
DCA9998 EXAMEN DE SYNTHÈSE DE DOCTORAT / PhD COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION
DCA9999 THÈSE DE DOCTORAT / PhD THESIS

 

Elective Courses (3 cr.)
Students can select their elective course either from among the graduate courses offered by the Faculty of Canon Law, or from another faculty or university, with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law.

 

Comprehensive Examination
Before the thesis is submitted, the student must pass a comprehensive examination on ten topics approved by the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law; the list of topics will have been prepared by the student in consultation with the dissertation supervisor. A student who fails this comprehensive examination is permitted to repeat it once. A second failure leads to withdrawal from the program.

 

Thesis Proposal
Within the first four sessions of doctoral studies, the student must submit a thesis proposal in writing (DCA 9997). This proposal will be examined by a special committee established and chaired by the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law. The final approval of the thesis proposal, and the appointment of the supervisor, are the responsibility of the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law.

 

Thesis
The student must write, submit, and successfully defend a dissertation of at least 200 pages in length. This dissertation must constitute a significant contribution to knowledge, embody the results of original research and analysis, and be of such quality as to merit publication.

Duration of the Program

The normal duration of the program is four years. The maximum time allowed for fulfilling all requirements, including the submission of the final copy of the thesis, is within six years from the time of initial registration in the doctoral program, whether or not a leave of absence has been taken during that time. 

Residence

Students must register full-time for a minimum of six sessions, normally at the beginning of the program.

Minimum Standards

If a student fails a compulsory course, it must be repeated. If a student fails an elective course, it may be repeated or, with the approval of the Dean of the Faculty of Canon Law, it may be replaced by another course.
The passing grade in all courses is C+. Students who fail two courses (equivalent to 6 credits), the thesis proposal, the comprehensive exam, the thesis, or whose progress is deemed unsatisfactory must withdraw from the program.