Graduate academic calendar 2012 - 2013 - Trent University

GRADUATE PROGRAMS
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ABOUT TRENT
Trent University is located in Peterborough, Ontario, 90 minutes northeast of Toronto and about three
hours from Ottawa. The University’s main campus, the Symons Campus sits on a 580-hectare property,
much of it preserved as nature areas, along both banks of the Otonabee River at the northern edge of
the city. Catharine Parr Traill College in downtown Peterborough focuses on the University’s growing
Graduate Studies programs. Trent also has a long history of offering full degree programs in Oshawa
and in 2010 opened a new facility of its own, the Trent University Oshawa Thornton Road Campus.
Trent was born out of years of planning by public-spirited citizens of Peterborough. An Academic
Planning Committee and a Campus Planning Committee were formed after T.H.B. Symons was
appointed president-designate in 1961, and the University was formally created by the Ontario
Legislature in April 1963. Trent opened its doors to its first students in September 1964. In 1967, Leslie
M. Frost, former Premier of Ontario, was elected first Chancellor of the University. The University was
admitted to full membership in the Association of Colleges and Universities of Canada in 1968.
The core of what is now the Symons Campus was donated by GE Canada, and has provided Trent
with an uncommonly beautiful setting in which to develop its facilities. Guided by master planning
architect, Ronald J. Thom, a long-range plan was devised. Today the Symons Campus is home to four
residential colleges; the main library; three science buildings, including the award-winning Chemical
Sciences building with the Water Quality Centre; the First Peoples House of Learning; the DNA
Building; a new Life and Health Sciences facility; a child care facility, and central administrative offices,
along with newly expanded recreational facilities which include an athletics complex, artificial turf
playing field, and rowing facilities.
Now in its forty-ninth teaching year, the University has approximately 6,334 undergraduates in the
full-time program, and 1,125 part-time students. In addition, there are 303 Master’s degree candidates
and 130 Ph.D. candidates. Recognized as one of Canada’s top universities, Trent University is
consistently renowned for striking a unique balance between excellence in research and a commitment
to teaching.