General information
The Master of Health Sciences (MHSc) program focuses on providing students with opportunities to develop the knowledge and skills required to conduct high-quality research that culminate in a master’s thesis or major project.
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.
Admission requirements
In addition to the general admission requirements for graduate studies , MHSc applicants must meet the following program-specific requirements:
- 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.
A current list of graduate faculty is available on the Faculty of Health Sciences’ website.
Degree requirements
To earn the MHSc degree, students are required to complete a program of study worth 30 credits, typically 15 course credits and a thesis or 21 course credits and a major project. All MHSc students must complete HLSC 5010G - Health Research Approaches and either HLSC 5096G - MHSc Thesis in Health Sciences or HLSC 5097G - MHSc Graduate Project in Health Sciences .
Students in the thesis option must complete an additional three elective courses, at least two of which chosen from the list of designated electives included below. Students in the major project option must complete an additional five electives, at least three of which chosen from the list of designated electives below.
In consultation with a research supervisor and supervisory committee, if applicable, the thesis or major project topic is identified and the proposal is developed during the first year of study. In the second year of study, the thesis research or major project is completed. Thesis-based students must pass an oral examination. Students who complete a major project will present their work at one or more professional forums.
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