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Health Sciences
This master of science (MSc) in health sciences program prepares graduates for research careers in one of the signature areas within the faculty including: global health; environmental and occupational health, and toxicology; maternal and child health; epidemiology and biostatistics; health promotion and disease prevention; infectious diseases; chronic diseases and aging; mental health and substance use; social inequities and health; adolescent and child development; reproductive health; and health policy. The available courses and directed research experiences available will cover health issues from the level of cells, organisms, systems, communities and populations, encompassing and transcending strictly individual or clinical perspectives.
The MSc curriculum is flexible by design. Students, in consultation with faculty advisors, create a curriculum plan that will best help them meet their research and career goals. A disciplinary-specific application of the scientific method shall be common to all MSc curriculum plans.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must satisfy the University admission requirements as stated in Graduate General Regulations 1.3 and the requirements on the Faculty of Health Sciences website.
See Graduate General Regulation 1.3.7b transfer from master's to PhD, which is possible for exceptional students in the first 6 semesters of their master's.
Supervision
An FHS faculty member who has agreed to serve as the applicant's supervisor must be identified prior to submitting an application for admission. Applicants who do not have a confirmed supervisor at the application deadline will not be considered.
Program Requirements
This program consists of course work, a thesis proposal, and a thesis for a minimum of 36 units.
Students must complete all of
Foundational elements to introduce MSc/PhD students to basic knowledge and skills needed for an interdisciplinary approach to the study of health sciences, drawing from a wide range of methods and approaches used in laboratory sciences, clinical research, health services, policy, social sciences, humanities and public health research.
Philosophical, disciplinary, and social groundings for inquiry, evaluation, and interdisciplinarity in health sciences research. Issues in research design, professionalism, engagement, and higher education. Prerequisite: HSCI 902.
and a minimum of six elective graduate units approved by the Supervisor
and a thesis proposal
and a thesis
Course Work
A student may be advised to complete additional course work by his/her supervisor in consultation with the supervisory committee commensurate with the research interests of the student and within the scope of the student's curricular focus.
Accelerated Master's
SFU students accepted in the accelerated master's within Faculty of Health Sciences may apply a maximum of 10 graduate course units, taken while completing the bachelor's degree, towards the upper division electives of the bachelor's program and the requirements of the master's degree. For more information go to: https://www.sfu.ca/gradstudies/apply/programs/accelerated-masters.html.
Program Length
Students are expected to complete the program requirements in six to nine terms (two to three years) from initial enrollment, depending on the research discipline and progress in the program.
Optional Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization (IOGS)
Application to IOGS is through the IOGS steering committee. Students must fulfill all FHS requirements for the MSc and approval from the Supervisor.
To receive the IOGS, students must complete both ONC courses. With approval from the Supervisory committee, these courses can be used as graduate elective course requirements for the program.
Students must complete
This course covers the biology and epidemiology of cancer and theories behind prevention, diagnosis and treatment of different types of cancer. A major goal of the course is to integrate knowledge and research on the biology of cancer with all disciplines in oncology. This course can only be taken once, either during an MSc or during a PhD. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites.
Features cancer-related research by trainees and faculty located at the BC Cancer Research Centre and other sites. Topics include recent developments in the molecular basis of oncogenesis, cancer bioinformatics, cancer epidemiology, cancer treatment and other clinical studies, and ethical issues. Students are required to present seminars on their research. Students undertaking the interdisciplinary oncology graduate specialization must enroll in this course throughout their entire time as a graduate student. This course can be taken twice, if a student does the interdisciplinary oncology graduate specialization (IOGS) as an MSc student, and also does it as a PhD student. Students who transfer from MSc to PhD would only take it once. Graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis. Prerequisite: Enrollment in a participating graduate program. No specific courses are prerequisites.
| Section | Instructor | Day/Time | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| G100 | TBD |
and
participate in a yearly interdisciplinary oncology retreat. For more information on IOGS, please see Interdisciplinary Oncology Graduate Specialization.
Academic Requirements within the Graduate General Regulations
All graduate students must satisfy the academic requirements that are specified in the Graduate General Regulations, as well as the specific requirements for the program in which they are enrolled.