Community Health Sciences

Community Health Sciences

Master of Science (MSc)

Thesis-based program

Program overview

Community Health Sciences students develop a core set of skills to recognize, explore and solve problems at the intersection between population, public health and education. This program is one of the most diverse medicine programs offered by the University of Calgary; faculty and students address big-picture issues in health care, from biostatistics, disease and population health to social and economic factors in community health, disability issues, delivery of health services and more. The program is ideal for students inspired to do research with wide-ranging impact, and who are ready to gain the specialized knowledge and skills required to tackle the intricate details of the complex issues affecting community health.

Completing this program

  • Courses: Courses are determined according to the specialization and background of the student.
  • Research Ethics: Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.
  • Sex & Gender Module: Students are required to complete one of the CIHR sex and gender online training modules found at discoversexandgender.ca in the first year of their program.
  • Thesis: Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
  • Seminars: Students attend Community Health Sciences and O'Brien Institute for Public Health seminars during the academic year.
  • Research proposal: Students must submit research proposals for approval by their supervisory committee.

Specializations

  • Biostatistics
  • Community Rehabilitation and Disability Studies
  • Epidemiology
  • Health Services Research
  • Medical Education
  • Population/Public Health
  • Health Economics

Outcomes

Analyst; researcher; academic; rehabilitation/case/respite worker; consultant; recreation therapist; family outreach/advocacy; resource teacher; clinical trials biostatistician; epidemiologist; statistician; psychometrician; knowledge translation/prevention/development/health promotion specialist.

A master’s degree in community health sciences will give you the pre-requisite for a PhD.

Thesis-based program

Students are required to prepare a thesis and successfully defend in an open oral defense.

Courses

Two or more, depending on specialization and background

Learn more about program requirements in the Academic Calendar

Classroom delivery

Time commitment

Two to three years full-time; four years maximum

Supervisor

A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted

Fees and funding

See the Graduate Calendar for information on fees and fee regulations, and for information on awards and financial assistance.

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Supervisors

Learn about faculty available to supervise this degree.


  1. Fariba Aghajafari

    Fariba Aghajafari

    Accepting Inquiries
    vulnerable population, primary care
  2. Martina

    Martina Ann Kelly

    Unavailable
    Medical Education
  3. Headshot Camila Aquino

    Camila Aquino

    Accepting Inquiries
    Neuromodulation in Movement Disorders, Clinical Trials in Parkinson's Disease, Patient-Oriented Research
  4. Placeholder Profile Image

    Philip Barber

    Seeking Students
    Stroke, Dementia, Cognition, MRI, CT, biomarkers
  5. Herman Barkema

    Herman Barkema

    Accepting Inquiries
  6. Cheryl Barnabe

    Cheryl Barnabe

    Unavailable
    Rheumatoid Arthritis Epidemiology and Health Services Research, Indigenous Health
  7. CHS faculty photo 2018

    Reed Beall

    Unavailable
    Population Health, Pharmaceutical Policy, Health Policy, Equitable health innovation and access
  8. Dr Tanya Beran

    Dr. Tanya Beran

    Accepting Inquiries
    Child and adult health and education
  9. Billington Headshot

    Emma Billington

    Unavailable
    Osteoporosis & Metabolic Bone Disease, Nutrition, Culinary Medicine
  10. Picture of Dr. Katie Birnie

    Kathryn Birnie

    Seeking Students
    Pain; Pediatric Pain; Child Health; Patient-Oriented Research; Implementation Science; Knowledge Mobilization

Admission Requirements


GPA

A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.

Minimum education

A four year baccalaureate degree, or equivalent from a recognized institution.

Work samples

None

Documents

  • A letter from a faculty member indicating interest in supervising the student
  • A statement outlining the applicant's interests and reasons for choosing the program

Reference letters

Two

Note:  When choosing your references, it is preferred that you choose individuals who are external to your supervisor.

Test scores

None

Work/Research Experience

Work and/or research experience related to your specialization of choice is highly recommended.


English language proficiency

An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:

Deadlines

For admission on September 1:

  • Canadians and permanent residents: Dec. 1 application deadline
  • International students: Dec. 1 application deadline

If you're not a Canadian or permanent resident, or if you have international credentials, make sure to learn about international requirements

Learn more about this program

Department of Community Health Sciences

Health Science Centre, Room HSC G341B
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, AB T2N 4N1

Contact the Graduate Program Administrator

Visit the departmental website

Cumming School of Medicine

Health Sciences Centre
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary
Calgary, ABT2N 4N1

Visit their website

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