Postgraduate Diploma Requirements
Programs leading to a Postgraduate Diploma (P.G.D.) are available in a number of academic units. They are designed particularly for people who have been away from university for some time and wish to broaden their knowledge at the graduate level on subjects peculiar to their professional interests. Full-time attendance for a regular academic session (September to April inclusive), or its equivalent, may be required by the academic unit. Research is not a basic part of such programs, although candidates in some fields may be given the opportunity to become acquainted with research techniques.
The general regulations applicable to P.G.D. programs are as follows:
Admission
- Bachelor's degree (professional college with specialization in some subject or discipline comparable to that required for a Bachelor’s (Honours) degree from the University of Saskatchewan, and a cumulative weighted average of at least 65% in each of the final two years of their undergraduate program.
- Some departments and professional colleges may require professional experience and credit for particular undergraduate courses related to the proposed program.
- If a student was admitted to a P.G.D. program and wishes to transfer to a Master’s program, the following criteria must be met:
- At the invitation of the academic unit, a transfer to a Master’s program can be made by completing 15 credit units (for transfer to Master’s with thesis) or 18-21 credit units (for transfer to Master’s with project) of 800 level coursework with a cumulative weighted average of 80% and no grade below 75%.
- An admission cumulative weighted average of at least 70% will be considered fully qualified to a P.G.D. program. Therefore if a grade of 70% or higher in each of the courses is attained that student may transfer at any time (upon academic unit recommendation and College of Graduate Studies and Research approval) to a Master's program. The Master’s degree can then be obtained by completing the remaining requirements, e.g., thesis, project and/or additional courses, provided the time limits for a Master's program are respected. Additional fees will apply.
- A person who has received a P.G.D. may be admitted subsequently to a Master’s program. Relevant course work completed to fulfill the P.G.D. program requirements may be taken into account in determining the requirements for the Master’s program. Regular Master’s admission and minimum program requirements are applicable. There may be additional course requirements, depending upon the pertinence, level and currency of the P.G.D. course work. The amount of course work required will be determined on an individual basis through recommendation of the academic unit and approval of the College of Graduate Studies and Research.
Program
- A P.G.D. program consists of 30 credit units, at least 18 of which are at the 800 level in the same field of specialization.
- All requirements for a P.G.D. must be completed within a five-year time period. This time is measured from the date of registration in the first course work which applies to the P.G.D. program.
Graduation
- Students and academic units are jointly responsible for insuring that the unit sends the appropriate documents to the College of Graduate Studies and Research Office when program requirements have been completed.
- Upon submission of the GSR 300.4 form, the P.G.D. is awarded to a student who passes all the courses of an approved program with a grade of at least 60% in each course and an average of at least 65% for all courses.