Students in the course-work option complete nine core courses, three field courses, plus two additional electives (7.0 credits). Students in the major paper option complete nine core courses, three field courses, plus a major paper (7.0 credits). The courses selected must be acceptable to the school and the Assistant Vice-President (Graduate Studies) for graduate credit. These substantive courses comprise the candidate's prescribed studies, in which the student must obtain an overall average grade of at least ‘B- ' (see Establishment of Program and Prescribed Studies).

In addition to these prescribed studies the candidate may take ancillary courses supportive of the special discipline. These courses may be at either the undergraduate or the graduate level.