Graduate Programs
Graduate student A. Golob catches her supervisor, Prof. Sawicki, practicing his golf swing at Mauna Keya Observatory in Hawaii.
Important links
Application forms for graduate school (Click here)
Current Saint Mary's University Graduate Calendar (Click here)
Forms for graduate students (e.g., applications for travel funds) (Click here)
Graduate Student Handbook (Click here)
Astronomy Graduate Student Handbook (2023 Astronomy Handbook )
Ph.D. Qualifier Exam Guidelines (Click here )
For general information about graduate programs at SMU see Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR).
Contents
- Introduction
- Research and Facilities
- Master of Science (Astronomy)
- Doctor of Philosophy (Astronomy) Click here
- Financial Support
- Application Information/Procedure
Saint Mary's has offered degree programs leading to the M.Sc. (Astronomy) since 1974, and to the Ph.D. (Astronomy) since 2003. It is the major centre for astronomical and astrophysical research in Atlantic Canada.
The University has operated the Burke-Gaffney Observatory since 1972. It contains a semi-automated, 40-cm, reflecting telescope equipped for photometric, spectroscopic, and visual observations, and is used for public observing and undergraduate research projects. In addition, Saint Mary's faculty have access to several major international observatories in which Canada has a share.
The University is a founding member of ACEnet (http://www.ace-net.ca/), a CFI-funded network of supercomputing and high-power visualization facilities shared by four Atlantic Canada universities. The Department also operates a number of mid-sized SMP machines and Beowulf cluster. This infrastructure is linked directly to Canada's highest-speed Internet network using fiber-optic gateways.
Astronomy and Physics faculty have an established record of research funding from federal sources (e.g. NSERC, CFI) for the support of graduate students and research infrastructure. The Patrick Power Library has access to all major journals in astronomy and physics, conference proceedings, and related texts.
Overview
The Master Program is two years in duration.
Before starting the second year of study and subject to Departmental approval, a student may opt to transfer to the Ph.D. program without formally completing their M.Sc. degree. In this case, the student does not take the M.Sc. thesis course, and no M.Sc. degree is conferred. At the start of the second year, the student enters the first year of the Ph.D. program.
Admission requirements
A B.Sc. (Hons) or equivalent in Astronomy, Physics, or a related field, with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (B) or better is normally required for admission into the program.
Program Requirements
Students take thirty-six (36) credit hours, eighteen (18) credit hours per year for full-time students. For credit towards the degree, a student must attain a course grade of B- (2.67 GP) or better. A student must attain a GPA, excluding Graduate Seminar I, Research Project I, and Research Project II courses, of at least 3.00 (B) in the first year of coursework to continue into the second year of study. A student's GPA over all courses satisfying the degree requirements must be at least 3.00 (B) to be eligible for graduation.
Thesis Option
Note: Students must register in Program Continuation (FGSR9000) in every term that they are a full-time student.
Students take ASTR 5900 (Graduate Seminar I, three (3) credit hours) during their first year and ASTR 6900 (Graduate Seminar II, three (3) credit hours) during their second year. Students complete ASTR 5980 (Research Project I, three (3) credit hours) and ASTR 5981 (Research Project II, three (3) credit hours) normally by the end of the first year. They may be taken together in the same semester. Students must take ASTR 6990 (Thesis, six (6) credit hours) in their second year. Students must take at least four (twelve (12) credit hours) of the six core courses listed below, and two other courses, (six(6) credit hours) drawn from the ASTR courses numbered 5000 and above (but excluding the Research Project, Graduate Seminar and Thesis courses). Graduate-level courses in related disciplines, subject to University regulations on transfer credits for off-campus courses and approval of the graduate coordinator and the student's supervisor, may be taken in substitution for the two other courses.
Currently, the Core Courses are:
5500.1(.2) Galactic Astronomy
5510.1(.2) Extragalactic Astronomy
5600.1(.2) Cosmology
5610.1(.2) High-energy Astrophysics
5617.1(.2) Stellar Astrophysics
5620.1(.2) Astrophysics Data Analytics
The thesis is prepared under the supervision of a faculty supervisor and consists of original research performed by the student on a topic chosen and defined by the student and faculty supervisor. When complete, the student defends their thesis in front of a Thesis Defense Committee normally scheduled near the end of the second year of study. The M.Sc. defense consists of a brief presentation by the student to the academic community followed by an in-camera oral examination with the Thesis Defense Committee.
Doctor of Philosophy (Astronomy)
Overview
The Ph.D. program is a four-year program that includes dissertation research.
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission into the astronomy Ph.D. program are normally required to have an M.Sc., or equivalent in Astronomy, Physics, or related field. Students, who do not yet have an M.Sc. degree, are required to enter the astronomy M.Sc. program first and then reapply for admission to the Ph.D. program when they have completed their M.Sc. degree. Optionally, before starting the second year of study and subject to Departmental approval, students may transfer to the Ph.D. program without formally completing their M.Sc. degree. In this case, the student does not take the M.Sc. thesis course, and no M.Sc. degree is conferred. At the start of the second year, the student enters the first year of the Ph.D. program.
Program Requirements
Students take a total of twenty-four (24) credit hours of courses. Students must take six core courses (18 credit hours) and two courses (6 credit hours) drawn from ASTR courses numbered 5000 and above (excluding Research Projects, Graduate Seminars, and thesis courses), or graduate-level courses in astronomy or related disciplines, subject to University regulations on transfer credits for off-campus courses and approval of the student's supervisor.
All ASTR courses taken by students toward the M.Sc. degree at Saint Mary's (excluding Research Projects, Graduate Seminars, and thesis courses) count towards Ph.D. course requirements. Students who have completed M.Sc. programs elsewhere may transfer courses taken at their former institution, subject to University regulations on transfer credits for off-campus courses and approval of the student's supervisor.
Under special circumstances, upon approval by the graduate coordinator and the student's supervisor, a non-core course may be substituted for a core course. Students wishing to take and receive credit for more than twenty-four (24) credit hours of graduate courses must obtain prior approval from the graduate coordinator and their supervisor.
Students also attend the Graduate Seminar courses (taken by M.Sc. students as ASTR 5900 and 6900) every year they are enrolled in the program. The Graduate Seminar courses are normally led by senior Ph.D. students.
For credit towards the degree, a student must attain a course grade of B- (2.67 GP) or better. A student's GPA over all courses satisfying degree requirements must be at least 3.00 (B) to be eligible for graduation.
Students are required to pass a comprehensive exam and a dissertation proposal defense exam. Students are given a maximum of two attempts to pass each examination. Students who complete the M.Sc. program at Saint Mary's University before commencing the Ph.D. program are encouraged to take the comprehensive exam and the dissertation proposal defense exam before commencing the Ph.D. during the second year of their M.Sc. program. Both exams must be completed by the end of the second year of the Ph.D. program.
The purpose of the defense of the dissertation proposal is to ensure the student is ready to commence the dissertation phase of their Ph.D. program. The student should demonstrate a clear understanding of a credible proposal for original research and have sufficient knowledge of the background material to begin the research. The student must submit a written dissertation proposal (normally not to exceed ten pages, single-sided, double-spaced) and present it to their Exam Committee at least three weeks prior to the defense of the dissertation proposal exam. Committee approval of the proposal is required before a student is permitted to pursue their dissertation research.
The purpose of the comprehensive exam is to determine if the student has an acceptable level of understanding of general astronomy, physics, and astrophysics at the undergraduate astronomy majors level and a graduate-level understanding of fields related to the proposed thesis research.
Once a student enters the dissertation phase of their research, they are required to meet with their Supervisory Committee at least once a year to have their progress assessed.
Students enroll in AST 8990 the first year after approval of their dissertation proposal and in FGSR 9000 every year thereafter.
When the dissertation is complete, students defend their dissertation before their Dissertation Defense Committee, near the end of the student's program of study.
Full-time M.Sc. (thesis option) and Ph.D. students receive an annual stipend sufficient to meet the cost of living and tuition for one person in Halifax, provided they continue to meet the program requirements. Sources of funding include fellowships from federally funded faculty grants, University Graduate Fellowships, teaching assistantships, and named graduate scholarships. The latter include the Father Burke-Gaffney Memorial Scholarship (established by the Saint Mary's University Alumni Association in memory of the Jesuit priest who brought astronomy to the University), the John Despard deBlois Scholarship (established by Marcia Watts deBlois in memory of her husband, an NRC photographer, and avid amateur astronomer), and the Reuben and Helen Hornstein Bursary (established in 1982 by Reuben Hornstein, a former meteorologist in Halifax and an honorary degree recipient of Saint Mary's). Students are encouraged to apply for external fellowships and awards (e.g., NSERC, ACEnet, etc.) and those who are successful can expect financial support significantly higher than the normal minimum level.
We welcome applications at any time of the year. The highest priority for fall admission will be given to applications received by February 1 of the preceding winter. Applications may be obtained here, or by contacting the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research (FGSR) directly. Prospective students who are in doubt about their qualifications should contact the graduate coordinator: astrogc@smu.ca
Students may apply for full-time or part-time status. Full-time status is conferred in writing by the Department Chair to the FGSR at the beginning of each academic year upon students who spend a minimum of 40 hours per week on their studies (see the definition of Full Time Student in the overview of the FGSR). Under special circumstances and subject to department approval, new or existing students may enroll in the program on a part-time basis. Admission and degree requirements for part-time students are the same as for full-time students, but part-time students are not guaranteed full financial support.
