Doctor of Arts / Social Sciences
Doctor of Social Sciences
The Doctor of Arts and the Doctor of Social Sciences are professional doctorate degrees which will allow candidates to pursue a higher degree of rigorous scholarship as well as advance their professional practice. In that sense, these degrees will be distinct from the more purely research approach associated with the undertaking of a PhD. The nature of the units of study required in the coursework component will vary from discipline to discipline, reflecting different career and professional skills required in each.
1 Course codes
|
Code |
Course title |
|---|---|
|
DB003 |
Doctor of Arts |
|
DB004 |
Doctor of Social Sciences |
2 Admission to candidature
(b)
hold (in a relevant field of study), or has fulfilled the requirements for a Bachelor degree with First or Second Class Honours from the University of Sydney; or
(d)
a Bachelor degree from the University of Sydney together with a substantial portfolio of published/professional work (for example, books, films, TV programs, creative work, government reports etc); or
(e)
an undergraduate degree deemed to be equivalent together with a substantial portfolio of published/professional work (for example, books, films, TV programs, creative work, government reports etc); or
(g)
a master degree by coursework from the University of Sydney with merit; or a postgraduate degree deemed to be equivalent; and
(h)
the applicant has a minimum of three years recent, full-time employment or professional experience in a relevant field.
(i) an outline of the proposed program of advanced coursework and research (not less than 1000 words) including the general area of the proposed thesis and whether it falls within the Humanities or Social Sciences;
(ii) evidence of at least three years recent full-time experience in a professional area of work as the Dean shall consider appropriate for postgraduate study at this level; and
(j)
An applicant for admission to part-time candidature, in addition to the above, shall also submit with the application a written undertaking that the applicant will:
(i) have sufficient time available to complete the requirements for the degree in accordance with Senate Resolutions, and within the maximum time period prescribed in Senate Resolutions;
(ii) be able to attend the University at such time and on such occasions for the purposes of consultation and participation in prescribed activities as may be required by the coordinator of the relevant department or on the recommendation of the Dean (through the Associate Dean Research/Coursework).
3 Probationary acceptance
(1)
A candidate may be accepted on a probationary basis for a period not exceeding two semesters and upon completion of this probationary period, the Dean shall review the candidate's work and shall either confirm the candidate's status or terminate the candidature.
(2)
In the case of a candidate accepted on a probationary basis, the candidature shall be deemed to have commenced from the date of such acceptance.
4 Availability
(3)
In considering an applicant for admission to candidature, the Dean may take account of the quota and will select in preference applicants who are most meritorious in terms of the eligibility for admission criteria.
5 Degree requirements
0.
In order to complete the requirements for the degree, a candidate shall complete an approved course of advanced study and research as follows:
(a)
one core unit plus 4 elective postgraduate units of study as prescribed by the Faculty, comprising a total of 30 credit points; and
(b)
a thesis of 50,000 words in length investigating an appropriate topic approved by their supervisor, the relevant postgraduate coordinator and the Faculty.
6 Units of study
(a)
A candidate shall complete the following units of study (normally with a Distinction or above average):
(i) WMST6902 Arguing the Point - The aim of this course is to provide candidates with an understanding of the value and purpose of graduate research in general and what constitutes an acceptable thesis within the Faculty of Arts. Assessment requirement: at least 8000 words.
(ii) Four units of study from the existing MA offerings of the appropriate discipline- In these units, candidates will submit assessment as required in the master's program (normally 4000 words).
(2)
The Dean may permit a candidate to include within the required 30 credit points of units of study up to a maximum of 12 credit points for postgraduate units of study offered by another faculty in the University or by another tertiary institution, having demonstrated a high level of competency (normally Distinction level or above) in the completed graduate coursework for which credit transfer is required.
(3)
Normally only credit transfer will be granted for previously completed units of study which can be demonstrated as contributing to the candidate's total program of study in the Doctor of Arts or Doctor of Social Sciences degree.
7 The thesis
(1)
On completing the postgraduate units of study, a candidate shall undertake research to produce a research thesis of approximately 50,000 words.
(2)
The candidate shall state, throughout the thesis and specifically in chapter or foot notes, the sources from which information is derived, the extent to which use has been made of the work of others, and the portion of work the candidate claims as original.
(4)
A candidate may also submit in support of the candidature any publication of which the candidate is the sole or joint author. In such a case the candidate must produce evidence to identify satisfactorily the sections of the work for which the candidate is responsible.
(5)
A candidate may not present as the thesis any work that has been presented for a degree or diploma at this or another university, but the candidate will not be precluded from incorporating such in the thesis, provided that, in presenting the thesis, the candidate indicates the part of the work which has been so incorporated.
(7)
A candidate shall submit to the relevant department four copies of the thesis and four copies of a summary of about 300 words in length.
(8)
The copies of the thesis submitted for examination will be either printed copies or, where prior approval has been obtained from the relevant head of department, in the form of CDs, as provided in the Resolutions of the Academic Board relating to the Form of the Thesis for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
(9)
The thesis shall be accompanied by a certificate from the supervisor stating whether, in the supervisor's opinion, the form of presentation of the thesis is satisfactory.
(10)
When the degree has been awarded, a hard copy of the thesis printed on archival paper and incorporating any required emendations and revisions shall be lodged in the University Library, except as provided in section 18 below.
8 Length of candidature
(a)
a full-time candidate shall complete the degree requirements no earlier than the end of the sixth semester of candidature and no later than the end of the eighth semester of candidature; and
(b)
a part-time candidate shall complete the degree requirements no earlier than the end of the sixth semester of candidature and no later than the sixteenth semester of candidature.
(3)
Where a candidate is granted credit for previous studies in accordance with section 10 below, the candidate's minimum and maximum length of candidature may be adjusted accordingly.
(4)
Where a candidate is granted a period of suspension of candidature, this period will not count as part of the time limits prescribed in sub-section 8 (2).
(5)
Where a candidate is granted permission to change from full-to part-time candidature, or the reverse, the minimum and maximum lengths of candidature will be amended pro-rata.
9 Credit transfer
(a)
A candidate who, at the date of admission to candidature, has completed postgraduate coursework (whether a degree for that work has been awarded or not) may apply for credit transfer towards the degree.
(b)
On the recommendation of the relevant head of department, the Dean may grant a candidate credit for previous studies provided that:
(i) the coursework for which credit is sought is deemed by the Dean to have been completed with a high level of competency (normally at a Distinction level or above) and to be relevant to the candidate's total program of study; and
(ii) no more than 12 credit points shall normally be so credited, unless the units of study for which credit is sought were completed in an embedded program at this University, in which case there shall be no restriction on the amount of credit that may be granted.
(a)
A candidate who, at the date of admission to candidature, has completed not less than one semester as a candidate for a degree of master in the Faculty of Arts or in another faculty in the University of Sydney, may be permitted by the Dean to transfer credit for the whole or any part of that candidature towards the DArts or DSocSci degree, provided that:
(i) the period of candidature for the degree of master for which credit is sought shall have been in a program of full-time or part-time advanced study directly related to the candidate's proposed course of advanced study and research for the DArts of DSocSci degree; and
(b)
A candidate who, at the date of admission to candidature, has completed not less than one semester as a candidate for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Sydney may be permitted by the Dean to transfer credit for the whole or any part of that candidature towards the DArts or DSocSci degree, provided that:
(i) the period of candidature for the PhD degree for which credit is sought shall have been in a program directly related to the candidate's proposed course of advanced study and research for the DArts or DSocSci degree; and
(3)
A candidate who, at the date of admission has completed not less than one semester as a candidate for a higher degree in another university or institution may be credited for the whole or any part of that period of candidature towards the DArts or DSocSci degree, provided that:
(a)
the period of candidature for the higher degree for which credit is sought shall have been in a program of full-time or part-time advanced study and research directly related to the candidate's proposed course of advanced study and research for the DArts or DSocSci degree;
(b)
the candidate shall have abandoned candidature for the higher degree of the other university of institution concerned for which credit is sought; and
10 Control of candidature
(1)
Each candidate shall pursue his or her course of advanced study and research wholly under the control of the University.
(2)
Where a candidate is employed by an institution other than the University, the Dean may require a statement from that employer acknowledging that the candidature will be under the control of the University.
11 Location of candidature
(1)
Subject to the approval of the supervisor, relevant head of department and the Dean, a candidate shall pursue the program of advanced study and research:
(c)
within research institutions or other institutions considered by the Dean to provide adequate facilities for that candidature; or
(2)
A candidate shall be regarded as engaging in work within the University if he or she is undertaking approved distance and/or off-campus study, this being a mode of study in which the student would not be in regular physical attendance on a designated campus of the University.
(3)
A candidate must, however, be able to attend the University at such times and on such occasions for the purposes of consultation and participation in prescribed academic and educational activities, as may be required by the relevant head of department.
(4)
Except in respect of a candidate undertaking approved distance and/or off-campus study, a candidate pursuing candidature outside Australia must also complete a cumulative minimum period of two semesters candidature within the University.
12 Supervision
(a)
The Dean, on the recommendation of the relevant head of department, shall appoint a suitably qualified supervisor for each candidate to take primary responsibility for the conduct of the candidature.
(b)
The Dean, on the recommendation of the relevant head of department, shall normally appoint one or more associate supervisors for each candidate to assist in the supervision of that candidature.
(iv) or such other member of the staff of the University as may be considered appropriate in a particular case by the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board.
13 Progress
(a)
At the end of each year of candidature, each candidate shall complete and submit an annual progress report form to provide evidence of progress to the satisfaction of the supervisor, the relevant head of department and the Dean.
(b)
The supervisor shall comment on the candidate's report, and the form will then be referred back to the candidate who shall sign the report to indicate that he or she has sighted the supervisor's comments.
(c)
The form shall then be referred to the head of the relevant department, who, on the basis of the evidence provided, shall recommend that the conditions of candidature to apply for the following year. The head may require the candidate to provide further evidence of progress at the end of one semester or such other period as the head considers appropriate.
(a)
In addition to the requirement for submission of an annual progress report, at the end of the first year of candidature each candidate's progress will be reviewed at an interview to be organised by the relevant department.
(b)
The review shall include an assessment of the research project including the resources being made available, the candidate's progress and the supervisory arrangements. If both the supervisor and the relevant head of department participate in the review, another member of staff - usually the departmental postgraduate co-ordinator - shall normally also participate in the review. There shall also be a segment where the candidate has the opportunity to discuss in confidence his or her progress in absence of the supervisor.
(c)
An outcome will be considered by the head of department, if not directly involved, and the Dean. Where difficulties have been identified, the report will include an agreed course of action which may include discontinuation of candidature.
(a)
If a candidate fails to submit evidence of progress or if the relevant head of department considers that the evidence submitted does not indicate satisfactory progress, the Dean may, on the head's recommendation, call upon the candidate to show good cause why that candidature should not be terminated by reason of unsatisfactory progress towards completion of the degree and where, in the opinion of the Dean, the candidate does not show good cause, the Dean may terminate that candidature or may impose conditions on the continuation of that candidature.
(b)
For the purposes of these Resolutions, good cause means circumstances beyond the reasonable control of a candidate, which may include serious ill-health or misadventure, but does not include demands of employers, pressure of employment or time devoted to non-University activities, unless these are relevant to serious ill-health or misadventure. In all cases the onus is on the candidate to provide the University with satisfactory evidence to establish good cause.
14 Discontinuation of enrolment
(1)
A candidate who wishes to discontinue enrolment in the degree or in a unit of study must apply to the relevant head of department and will be presumed to have discontinued enrolment from the date of that application, unless evidence is produced showing:
(2)
A candidate who discontinues enrolment in a unit of study shall have that discontinuation recorded as Withdrawn (W) or Discontinued Not to Count as Failure (DNF) where that discontinuation occurs within the time-frames specified by the University or where the candidate meets other conditions as specified by the relevant head of department.
(3)
A candidate who discontinues candidature for the degree shall have that discontinuation recorded as Withdrawn (W) or Not Enrolled or Not Continuing where that discontinuation occurs Doctor of Arts Doctor of Social Sciences within the time-frames specified by the University or where the candidate meets other conditions as specified by the relevant head of department.
(4)
A candidate who discontinues candidature and who seeks to re-enrol as a candidate for the degree must apply for re-admission in accordance with the procedures determined by the Committee.
15 Suspension of candidature
(1)
A candidate must be enrolled in each semester in which he or she is actively completing the requirements for the degree. A candidate who wishes to suspend candidature must first obtain approval from the Dean.
(2)
The candidature of a candidate who has not re-enrolled and who has not obtained approval from the Dean for suspension will be deemed to have lapsed.
(3)
A student whose candidature has lapsed must apply for re-admission in accordance with procedures determined by the Committee. If re-admitted to candidature, the candidate shall complete the degree requirements under such conditions as determined by the Dean.
(4)
A candidate who enrols after suspending candidature shall complete the requirements for the degree under such conditions as determined by the Dean.
16 Examination
0.
Except as prescribed in these resolutions, the examination procedures shall be in accordance with the policies and procedures prescribed by the Academic Board for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy.
17 Appointment of examiners
(1)
On receiving the thesis and having considered the certificate of the supervisor, the Dean shall consuls with the relevant head of department and, if the Dean sees fit, appoint examiners.
(2)
If the Dean resolves to appoint examiners, two independent examiners shall be appointed. Of the examiners so appointed:
(d)
each examiner shall hold a professional doctorate or PhD-level qualification and/or be a member of staff at a recognised university.
(3)
The Dean shall report the names of the examiners appointed to the PhD Award Sub-Committee of the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board, which may appoint one or more additional examiners.
(4)
In any case where the Dean, having received the thesis and having considered the report of the supervisor, resolves not to appoint examiners, the Dean shall report the circumstances to the PhD Award Sub-Committee of the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board.
18 Determination of the result of candidature
0.
The Dean will refer the results of the coursework and the examiners' reports on the thesis, together with a recommendation concerning the award of the degree, to the PhD Award Sub-Committee or the Academic Board's Research and Research Training Committee, which shall determine the result of the candidature.
19 Public availability of thesis
(1)
It is the policy of the Senate that a candidate for a higher degree should not normally be permitted to undertake a program of advanced study and research which is likely to result in the lodgement of a thesis that cannot be available for use immediately, to be read, photocopied or microfilmed, except as provided in sub-sections 19(3) and 19(4) below.
(2)
An applicant for admission to candidature for a higher degree shall be required to acknowledge awareness of this policy when applying for such admission.
(a)
If, at any time between application for admission to candidature and the lodgement of the thesis, it shall appear to the supervisor and to the relevant head of department that successful prosecution of the candidature will require the use of confidential material which the candidate would not be at liberty to fully disclose in the thesis, the matter shall be reported as soon as practicable to the Dean.
(b)
The Dean may, if the Dean thinks fit, recommend to the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board that the candidate be granted:
(i) permission to include an appendix to the thesis such material as is essential to the thesis but which, for a limited period, may not be available for general inspection; and
(ii) exemption, in respect of such an appendix, from the requirement to give the undertaking specified in sub-section 19 (2) above.
(c)
Subject to the provisions sub-section 19(3)(d) below, if the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board resolves to grant such permission and exemption, the University Librarian shall restrict access, for a period to be specified by the Graduate Studies Committee of the Academic Board, to any appendix referred to in sub-section 19(3)(b) above. This period of restriction shall not exceed five years unless there are exceptional reasons for an extension of the period.
(d)
The University Librarian may grant access to an appendix to a thesis to which access has been restricted in accordance with sub-section 19(3)(c) above, to a scholar who -
(ii) has the written consent of either: the author of the thesis; or the head of the relevant department in a case where the author cannot be contacted, notwithstanding that all reasonable steps have been taken to contact the author.
(e)
Notwithstanding any other provision of these resolutions, the examiners of a thesis, including any Faculty committee or any committee of the Academic Board which is directly concerned with the examination of such thesis, shall have access to the thesis and any appendix to the thesis for the purposes of any examination or re-examination.
(a)
The Senate recognises that there are certain circumstances where deferment of the public availability of the thesis is appropriate.
(b)
In a case where a candidate or potential candidate is to be associated with a project in collaboration with industry that has potential for concern over exploitation of intellectual property, the Dean, if satisfied that the circumstances warrant it, may recommend to the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board that:
(i) the candidate or prospective candidate be granted exemption from the requirement to give the undertaking specified in sub-section 19(2) above; and
(ii) authorisation be given to delay lodgement of the thesis in the Library for a period that, except in exceptional circumstances, shall not exceed eighteen months from the date of the award of the degree.
(c)
The Chair of the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board may approve such applications on behalf of the Research and Research Training Committee, where the Chair is satisfied that they are appropriate.
(d)
If, at any time between application for admission to candidate and the lodgement of thesis, it shall appear to the candidate, supervisor and to the relevant head of department that there are reasons to believe that the candidate's interests would be at risk if the thesis were immediately made available, the candidate may apply in writing for deferment of the availability of that thesis in the University Library for a specific period of time. Any such application should set out clearly the reasons for the request and include supporting evidence, as appropriate.
(e)
The Dean, if satisfied that such deferment is necessary to protect the interest of the candidate, may:
(i) give authorisation for the thesis not to be lodged in the Library for a period not exceeding six months from the date of award of the degree; and may also
(ii) recommend to the Research and Research Training Committee of the Academic Board that a longer period of deferment, or an extension of the original deferment, be approved provided that, except in exceptional circumstances, the total period shall not exceed eighteen months.
20 Chairs of department
0.
A chair of department may delegate to a specified member of the academic staff his or her responsibilities under these resolutions by countersigning a specific recommendation in respect of a particular candidature or by making, and forwarding to the Registrar, a written statement of delegation of those powers.