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a) Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
b) Master of Science (MSc)

Within the thesis-based programs, the student must select a specialization in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, Healthcare Epidemiology, Clinical Epidemiology, Health Services Research, Population/Public Health or Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies.

Effective September 1, 2013, Community Health Sciences will be offering specialization in Medical Education (visit the Departmental website for more information).

Effective September 1, 2013, Community Health Sciences will be offering specialization in Health Economics (visit the Departmental website for more information).

Descriptions of each specialization and its requirements are found on the Departmental website at: http://www.ucalgary.ca/communityhealthsciences/.

In addition to Faculty requirements, the Department requires:

a) A BSc, BA, BCR, MD or equivalent degree for admission to the Master of Science program;

b) For applicants required to provide proof of proficiency in English, a minimum TOEFL score of 600 (written test), or 100 (Internet-based test), an IELTS score of 7.0, a MELAB score of 84, or PTE score of 70.

c) A statement outlining the applicant’s interest and reasons for choosing the program.

d) A letter from a faculty member of our Department indicating interest in supervising the applicant.

e) Work and/or research experience in the health system, community rehabilitation and/or disability studies is highly recommended.

f) Two letters of reference.

The deadline for the submission of complete applications is January 15 for September admission.

Students applying to the MD/MSc or MD/PhD program must apply individually to each program and complete a supplementary application for the Leaders in Medicine Program.

Open Studies Students may take courses before applying for admission to a graduate program. However, Open Studies Students are not eligible to enrol in two Block Week courses: Introduction to Community Health Sciences (Community Health Sciences 600) and Determinants of Health (Community Health Sciences 601), and three core courses, Essentials of Biostatistics (Community Health Sciences 610), Fundamentals of Epidemiology (Community Health Sciences 640) and Health Research Methods (Community Health Sciences 681). A maximum of two half courses, completed at a satisfactory level (minimum "B+") and within three years of admission to the graduate program, may be credited toward a student's degree requirements. Completing courses does not guarantee admission into the program.

All students must complete the Block Week course: Community Health Sciences 600: Introduction to Community Health Sciences. All students, with the exception of the Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies and the Medical Education Specialization, must also complete the Block Week course: Community Health Sciences 601: “Determinants of Health”. The additional program requirements are as follows:

Master of Science

A minimum of six half-course equivalents for all specializations (with the exception of five half-course equivalents in Medical Education). See departmental website for specific course requirements for each MSc specialization.

Doctor of Philosophy

A minimum of four half-course equivalents for all specializations (with the exception of three half-course equivalents in Medical Education), in addition to specific MSc courses if not completed previously. See departmental website for specific course requirements for each PhD specialization.

Brief course descriptions, schedules, and outlines are provided on the departmental website at: http://www.ucalgary.ca/communityhealthsciences/current.Some courses are only offered in block weeks.

All students attend the departmental seminars offered weekly and student seminars offered bi-weekly during the academic year.

Students are required to compliance with Tri-Council Research Ethics training. Attendance at Research Integrity Day is required once during a student’s program.

The Department does not normally give credit for undergraduate courses.

Expected completion time for the MSc program is two to three years (maximum four years)and for the PhD program is four to five years (maximum six years).

Time limits for MSc/PhD students in the Leaders in Medicine program are slightly different. Expected completion time for the MD/MSc program is four to five years (maximum five years) and for the MD/PhD program is six to seven years (maximum seven years).

Applicants must secure a supervisor prior to applying for admission. The Supervisor, in consultation with the student and the Graduate Program Director, recommends the Supervisory Committee during the second academic term of the first year of the program. The student and Supervisor complete and submit an Appointment of Supervisor/Supervisory Committee form.

Students in the Leaders in Medicine Program must also have a Supervisory Committee as above regulations. Both MD/MSc and MD/PhD students will also be evaluated and advised by a Joint Liaison Committee composed of the Associate Dean (Graduate Sciences Education), Associate Dean (Undergraduate Medical Education), and the Associate Dean (Research) of the Faculty of Medicine.

For the PhD candidacy exam the student and his/her Supervisory Committee establish a concept map outlining the student’s study area and an accompanying reading list. The Supervisory Committee develops three exam questions that meet the competency requirements as outlined by the department. These questions are derived from the concept map and reading list developed for each student. Questions on the research proposal are not included. The student has three weeks to prepare written solutions to the three questions.

In both MSc and PhD programs final thesis oral examinations are open.

The proposal is usually 12 to 15 single-spaced, typed pages. Appendices are permitted and should include the research instrument and, if the research involves agencies or institutions outside of the Department, their written permission to conduct the research. Doctoral students should include a complete literature review as an appendix.

After approval by the student’s Supervisory Committee and before commencement of data collection, all proposals are submitted to the Conjoint Health Research Ethics Board for ethical review, and some are submitted to the appropriate committee for impact review.

None.

Financial assistance may be available to qualified students. For information on awards, please see the Awards and Financial Assistance section of this calendar.

The Department’s deadline for applications to the Graduate Award Competition is January 15.

Courses in Community Health Sciences (MDCH) are listed following this section.

Current faculty and their areas of research are on the departmental website at: http://www.ucalgary.ca/communityhealthsciences/prospective/admission/advisor.