Health Sciences

Program information
Admission requirements

Part-time studies
Degree requirements

Program information

The Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) programs focus on providing students with opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills required to conduct high-quality research projects that culminate in a master’s thesis or major project, or a PhD thesis.

Graduate training focuses on research conducted in one of three key areas in the Health Sciences:

Community, Public and Population Health
Health Informatics
Kinesiology

Students in the Community, Public and Population Health stream will develop a broad understanding of how the physical and social context shapes health, illness and health care. In particular, this includes research and analysis of cultural and economic differences and their implications for health and health care for diverse populations. Students will learn strategies to engage communities in efforts to reduce illness and promote health.

Students in the Health Informatics stream will develop strategies to actively participate in multidisciplinary collaborations with diverse groups (e.g., patients, clinicians, health care managers, computer scientists, engineers) and will learn to assess and deploy the latest in computing and informatics systems to support efficient health care delivery. The Health Informatics stream prepares students to identify, develop and manage health care information systems that support health care administration, management, policy, training, clinical management and clinical research.

Students in the Kinesiology stream will synthesize current research and integrate practical and theoretical knowledge to understand how and why exercise and physical activity can be used as an intervention to promote health and well-being in a range of populations, including those with developmental delays; children and adolescents; adults with chronic pain, cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, psychiatric and neurological disease; as well as recreational and high-performance athletes. Students will have the option of diverse research experiences in the kinesiology area ranging from intensive laboratory-based studies with human populations to interventional studies with special populations.

As a research-based degree, students in the MHSc will combine course work, seminars, workshops and independent research to achieve the program’s core objectives. Two required courses, HLSC 5010G - Health Research Approaches and either HLSC 5020G - Studies in Community, Public and Population Health (Community, Public and Population Health), HLSC 5205G - Multidisciplinary Perspectives in Health Informatics (Health Informatics) or HLSC 5030G - Studies in Kinesiology (Kinesiology), lay the foundation for more focused course work and independent research under the guidance of a research supervisor and supervisory committee. By virtue of the strong research foundation and substantive training obtained throughout their education, graduates from the MHSc program will be well prepared to take on higher-level roles within the health profession, seek funding for projects or research to be undertaken at their workplace, or pursue a PhD in a research-oriented health sciences or related program.

The PhD in Health Sciences offers an interdisciplinary approach to health sciences doctoral training alongside depth of study in their individual field. The program prepares graduates for diverse careers within and beyond academia in tertiary institutions, research centres, hospitals, and other clinical settings, community health promotion and illness prevention organizations, health and/or government policy, public health, clinical practices (Kinesiology), post-doctoral fellowships, technology transfer and research grants officers. For those students interested in securing academic appointments post-graduation, or for those who wish to broaden their skill set in general, the university has both an Academic Success Centre and the Teaching and Learning Centre to build the teaching skills necessary to pursue an academic career trajectory. Wherever possible, we will endeavour to provide students with the opportunity to teach at least one course during their four years.

Doctoral coursework provides graduates with a framework for evaluating data and technology in health sciences research, training and practice, where the technical, ethical, social and policy implications of data collection, analysis and storage are critically evaluated and discussed in an interdisciplinary context. The mechanisms of knowledge synthesis, dissemination and exchange as well as the ethical application of knowledge in health are critically evaluated using the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) knowledge translation framework. Graduates will gain the expertise to become effective research brokers in academic, professional and research settings. Advanced communication skills will ensure that graduates can articulate the scientific and practical significance of their research to multiple audiences in multiple ways.

Admission requirements

In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate studies , MHSc applicants must meet the following program-specific requirements.

Master of Health Sciences

Undergraduate preparation in research methods in either quantitative or qualitative analysis. This should include experience and training in statistics. Applicants planning to study in the field of Health Informatics should also have training or experience with computing or information technology within the health care domain.
Each applicant who expresses a desire to pursue the field in Kinesiology in the MHSc program will be expected to have an honours undergraduate degree in Kinesiology, or a related field.
If applicable, a minimum score of 580 on the paper-based TOEFL, 92-93 on the Internet-based TOEFL or 7 on the IELTS. Note that these English language proficiency scores are slightly higher than those required for some other graduate programs. Visit the English language proficiency section of this calendar for additional details.

Admission depends on the availability of a research supervisor. Applicants should contact the potential supervisor before formally applying. Applicants should then make reference to this in the application form and/or statement of intent.

PhD in Health Sciences

At least two letters of support from academic referees.
A statement of academic intent describing the student’s intended area of research, research experiences and career aspirations.
Identification of a supervisor, and significant support from that supervisor, indicating the student’s exceptional academic qualities and prospects and their willingness to supervise that student.

Completion of a master’s thesis is preferred over a non-thesis master’s but is not required. Exceptional students who have demonstrated superior academic credentials and outstanding research potential in their master’s degree program will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in consultation with the dean. Similarly, master’s education in health-related areas is preferred, but applicants from other research or education backgrounds may be admitted as special cases. Efforts will be taken to ensure a balanced student intake across our three fields of study, once student excellence and supervisor fit has been considered.

Co-supervisors and committee members from other faculties will be considered wherever applicable with an aim toward enhancing the interdisciplinary nature of the program.

Under exceptional circumstances, MHSc students may transfer directly to the PhD program after completing at least four master’s courses, including the two core courses and either Biostatistics or Qualitative Methods or equivalent. Students must also meet the requirements outlined in the university’s policy on transferring from a thesis-based master’s to a PhD program .

Part-time studies

To facilitate access to all potential students, part-time studies in the MHSc are permitted. Part-time PhD enrolments will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as approved by the Dean of Health Sciences.

Degree requirements

Select a program from the list below for details on degree requirements.

Programs

Master’s

Doctoral

Health Sciences, PhD