At Brock University we call the PhD final dissertation, the Capstone Project. Our PhD Program in Interdisciplinary Humanities presents a diverse array of innovative pathways beyond the traditional written dissertation. These distinctive options empower students, from different disciplines, to optimize their research endeavors. The program introduces three additional pathways: research-creation, suite of essays, and thesis by project.
Explore each of the four pathways to see which works best in the mobilization of your research and then discuss with your supervisor what pathway optimally works for your research.
The student will complete a traditional written manuscript on their research topic. The length and format of the final submission will be determined by the student in consultation with their supervisor, supervisory committee, and Program Director. Normally a dissertation will be 200-300 pages.
This pathway envisions students presenting their scholarly investigations in the form of a monograph.
The student will complete a research-creation project combining creative practice in their chosen media with scholarly investigation. Their final project may include non-textual components—such as, but not limited to, digital media, audio, and/or visual production—accompanied by a written scholarly text of 100-150 pages. Students must demonstrate their capacity to complete the research-creation project in the proposal. This includes listing skillsets (e.g., 3D modelling, film/video editing, painting) necessary for completing the project.
This pathway allows students to engage in their creative practice while integrating their scholarly investigations.
The student will complete a collection of essays on a common theme. Though composed as stand-alone pieces, each essay is modelled as a journal article and highlights different dimensions of a shared question/investigation, without specifically linking to a single argument on that subject. A variation on the dissertation, the length and format of the final submission will be determined by the student in consultation with their supervisor, supervisory committee, and Program Director. Normally a suite will be 200-300 pages.
This pathway envisions a series of linked essays which would allow students to move material quickly to publication.
The student will complete a thesis by project combining the design of a project with scholarly investigation. Their final project may include components such as construction of digital projects (e.g., curated digital materials, data visualizations, GIS projects), reports, policy briefs, exhibit catalogues, or any documentation describing the project and pertaining to it. These components will be accompanied by a written scholarly text of 100-150 pages. Students must demonstrate their capacity to complete the project in the proposal. This includes listing skillsets (e.g., computer programming) necessary for completing the project.
This pathway allows students to pursue new digital forms, collaborate with non-academic bodies such as NGOs, cultural institutions, and businesses, and to develop concrete applications that integrate their scholarly investigations.
All capstone pathways must reflect the interdisciplinary nature of the degree and must demonstrate the candidate’s capacity for original thought, independent study, and the ability to produce high-level work. All capstone pathways are required to be rigorous scholarly works which develop a clear argument, articulate the place of the project within the existing literature in the field, and state the significance and importance of the project for the humanities.
All capstone projects require a public defence. In the case of research-creation and thesis by project capstone project, the format of the defence will be determined by the student’s supervisory committee and approved by the programme committee. As with the dissertation and suite defences, the defence committees for research-creation and thesis by project pathways will include an external examiner and an internal external examiner.
Students must identify which capstone pathway they will pursue in their application to the program, but they may change it during their time at Brock. A student’s request to change capstone pathways must be approved by the supervisor and supervisory committee, in consultation with the Program Director. All capstone pathways must be completed by the end of year 4 of the program, including the public defense and any other component required.
For additional details please consult the Program Handbook.