Program Admission

Students must have the following:

• A recognized Master’s degree in the social sciences
• Evidence of progressively senior career appointments with increasing decision-making authority
• A competitive, interdisciplinary, applied research proposal that reflects current  research  in the Faculty of Social and Applied Sciences (FSAS)
• English language skills and competency

English language skills and competency:

• TOEFL (paper-based) 600; TOEFL IBT (Internet-based) minimum score of 20 in each section for an overall minimum score of 100 or better. (Institution Code: 9054)
• International English Language Testing Services: 7.0 overall with no individual item score less than 6.5.
• Pearson Test of English: Minimum score of 68.
• Graduate Record Examination (GRE): International English Language requirement with Verbal 560, Quantitative 740, and Analytical 4.0.

Evidence of competence in English through other standardized tests or education experience will be considered on an individual basis.

Acceptance into the Program

Admission selection will reflect a number of factors including the applicant’s academic skills and ability, the alignment of the proposed dissertation topic with the applied and academic goals of the degree, available faculty expertise to supervise the proposed dissertation, and the desire to balance topic areas within the cohort across areas of research expertise within FSAS. A telephone interview may be required.

Applications to the DSocSci program will be submitted to the Admissions Office where files will be prepared for review by the DSocSci Selection Committee. The DSocSci Selection Committee is a sub-committee of the DSocSci Program Management Committee and consists of the Dean of the FSAS, the FSAS Associate Dean, and three FSAS faculty members appointed by the Vice-President Academic.

Application Requirements

Applicants should follow the general application requirements along with the following program-specific requirements:

Application timelines.

• Due to the competitive admission process of this program, the deadline for applying is handled differently than our other programs. Please check the program information and "schedule, costs & curriculum" link for the deadline associated with specific start dates for this program.

 Three written letters of reference.

• These letters should consist of two letters from individuals qualified to speak specifically to the applicant’s academic qualifications and ability to conduct research at the doctoral level and one letter from a professional in the applicant’s career file qualified to assess the applicant’s professional expertise.

The applicant’s three to five-page program proposal which includes:

• Statement of proposed dissertation topic, its relevance to the workplace, community, or society, and a rationale of the need for doctoral level study of the proposed problem or topic; 
• A description of the social science fields of inquiry that contextualize the dissertation topic;
• Statement of career goals and how the program links to those goals as well as the impact the program may have;
• An indication of potential faculty supervisors the applicant might like to work with.
• Evidence of English proficiency for those applicants whose first language is not English; 

The applicant’s structured resume, which includes:

• Education (all post-secondary education, degrees, diplomas, and certificates);
• Professional Experience (demonstration of progressively senior-level appointments with increasing levels of decision-making authority);
• Voluntary/Unpaid Work Experience (including organization title, length of service, and a brief description of duties).

Writing sample (Thesis chapter, academic or professional report/publication).

Additional Admission Information

Applications not accepted for admission the first time will not automatically be considered for next year’s intake. All applicants not formally admitted to the first intake will need to reapply for the next year’s intake (including candidates who may have received backup offers) and compete with the pool for that year’s intake. Offers of admission cannot be deferred. An applicant who receives an offer of admission but chooses to not accept it would have to reapply for admission in subsequent years if they wished to enter the program.

The DSocSci Selection Committee will review all applications received. The successful applicants will be offered admission no later than October 3, 2011 and will be required to accept the offer of admission no later than October 14, 2011.

Royal Roads University graduates with master’s degrees will be given the same consideration as other applicants. Royal Roads University alumni will be given the same consideration as applicants with master’s degrees from other institutions.

The DSocSci Selection Committee is a sub-committee of the DSocSci Program Management Committee and consists of the FSAS Dean, the FSAS Associate Dean, and three FSAS faculty members appointed by the Vice President Academic.

The Royal Roads University flexible admission policy does not apply to the DSocSci Program.  All applicants must have a recognized master’s degree in the social sciences.

Doctoral level courses from other institutions may be transferable. All transfer credit must be approved by the Dean and Registrar consistent with Royal Roads University policy. Such credit must demonstrate a high level of competency. No more than six credit hours (two courses) may be granted in total, and the courses must be assessed as direct equivalents of the courses contained in the DSocSci program of study. Royal Roads University is a member of the Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies and participates in the Western Canadian Deans of Graduate Studies Agreement.