205
Graduate Programs
205.65
Public Health Sciences
205.65 Public Health Sciences
Department of Public Health Sciences
School of Public Health
3-12 University Terrace
8303 – 112 Street
University of Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2T4
E-mail: sph.programs@ualberta.ca
205.65.1 General Information
The Department of Public Health Sciences currently offers a course-based degree of Master of Public Health with several specializations and a thesis-based degree of Master of Science in Public Health Sciences with several specializations. A PhD in Public Health Sciences is also offered.
Entrance Requirements
The Department's minimum admission requirements are those set out as minimum acceptable standards by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research. These include a baccalaureate degree or its academic equivalent in a relevant field from an academic institution recognized by the University of Alberta, with a grade point average of at least 3.0 on the 4-point scale over the last 
60; at least one year of relevant experience; and, if required (see §203.2.4), a minimum overall score on an approved English language examination as described below: PTE Academic score of 59; a minimum acceptable TOEFL score of 570 (paper-based) or a total score of 92 with a score of at least 20 on each of the individual skill areas (internet-based); or a minimum overall band score of 6.5, with at least 6 on each test band on the IELTS. Applicants should arrange for their English language test results to be sent directly to the Department.
The Department also requires the following:
A current curriculum vitae. | |||||
Three letters of reference. | |||||
At least one year of relevant experience or significant volunteer experience is preferred. | |||||
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Educational Test Scores - the GRE or GMAT is recommended for applicants with qualifications from outside Canada. The omission of a GRE or GMAT test score will materially weaken the applicant’s chance of being recommended for admission. | |||||
A prerequisite for admission is a recent course in introductory statistics such as STAT 141 or 151. Admission may be granted provisionally pending successful completion of one of these courses, or equivalent. Applicants with prior statistics training may have this prerequisite waived by demonstrating satisfactory knowledge. |
Financial Assistance
All students admitted to the Department of Public Health Sciences must establish their own funding prior to their admission.
Graduate students can finance their studies at the University of Alberta in several ways. Some financial programs are administered by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, and others are administered by other campus offices or outside organizations.
Students in public health sciences are eligible to compete for the general graduate awards listed at www.gradstudies.ualberta.ca.
Students are urged to seek awards from other agencies, such as SSHRC, NSERC, CIHR, AHFMR, etc.
Support may be available to some students from research grants held by individual staff members. The amount of support will vary with the nature of the research grant and the regulations of the granting agency.
205.65.2 The Degree of MPH in Applied Biostatistics (course-based)
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: three ( |
Length of Program
The minimum time to complete the program is 16 months. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.3 The Degree of MPH in Environmental and Occupational Health (course-based)
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: three ( |
Length of Program
The minimum time to complete the program is 16 months. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.4 The Degree of MPH in Epidemiology (course-based)
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: three ( |
Length of Program
The minimum time to complete the program is 16 months. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.5 The Degree of MPH in Global Health (course-based)
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: four ( |
Length of Program
The minimum time to complete the program is 16 months. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.6 The Degree of MPH in Health Policy and Management (course-based)
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: four ( |
Length of Program
The minimum time to complete the program is 20 months. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.7 The Degree of MPH in Public Health Leadership (course-based)
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: two ( |
Length of Program
The minimum time to complete the program is 16 months. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.8 The Degree of MSc in Public Health Sciences in Clinical Epidemiology
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: one ( | |||||
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the area, defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis should be appropriate to form the basis for a refereed journal publication.
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Length of Program
The time required to complete the program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; a minimum of two years is normally required. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is four years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.9 The Degree of MSc in Public Health Sciences in Environmental Health Sciences
Program Requirements
Students admitted to this program will be expected to have an advanced-level course in environmental chemistry. Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: one ( | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the area, defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis should be appropriate to form the basis for a refereed journal publication. |
The minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Students are required to present the results of their thesis at a student seminar prior to the defense.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; a minimum of two years is normally required. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is four years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.10 The Degree of MSc in Public Health Sciences in Epidemiology
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses (
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Elective courses: two ( | |||||
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the area defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis should be appropriate to form the basis for a refereed journal publication. |
The minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Students are required to present the results of their thesis at a student seminar prior to the defense.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; a minimum of two years is normally required. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is four years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.11 The Degree of MSc in Public Health Sciences in Global Health
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: one ( | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the area, defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis should be appropriate to form the basis for a refereed journal publication. |
The minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Students are required to present the results of their thesis at a student seminar prior to the defense.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; a minimum of two years is normally required. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is four years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.12 The Degree of MSc in Public Health Sciences in Health Policy Research
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: four ( | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the area, defined in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis should be appropriate to form the basis for a refereed journal publication. |
The minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Students are required to present the results of their thesis at a student seminar prior to the defense.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; a minimum of two years is normally required. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is four years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.13 The Degree of MSc in Public Health Sciences in Health Technology Assessment
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: two of: PHS 570, 685, 693 or a graduate-level course approved by the student's Supervisor. | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the area, defined in consultation with the student’s supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis should be appropriate to form the basis for a refereed journal publication. |
The minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Students are required to present the results of their thesis at a student seminar prior to the defense.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; a minimum of two years is normally required. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is four years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration .
205.65.14 The Degree of MSc in Public Health Sciences in Occupational Health
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: Students are required to complete two ( | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the area, defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis should be appropriate to form the basis for a refereed journal publication. |
The minimum period of residence is two four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Students are required to present the results of their thesis at a student seminar prior to the defense.
Length of Program
The time required to complete the program will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken; a minimum of two years is normally required. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is four years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.15 The Degree of PhD in Public Health Sciences in the research area of Epidemiology
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: three ( | |
Candidacy Examination: the Candidacy Examination is typically planned for sometime after the first year of the program, once all course work is completed and should occur by the end of the second year of the PhD program. The Candidacy Examination will be administered in two parts, a Written Examination, which is primarily intended to comprehensively examine the student on her or his area of research interest, and an Oral Examination, which is primarily intended to assess the student's ability to conduct independent research. | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the program area defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis must represent an advance in knowledge of the candidate’s field of study and should be appropriate to form the basis for at least one refereed journal publication describing the methodology and results of the research. |
The minimum period of residence is four four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Students are required to present the results of their thesis at a student seminar prior to the defense.
Length of Program
The doctoral program has an expected four-year minimum duration for full-time students from the bachelor's level. The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.16 The Degree of PhD in Public Health Sciences in the research area of Health Promotion and Socio-behavioural Sciences
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: three ( | |
Candidacy Examination: the Candidacy Examination is typically planned for sometime after the first year of the program, once all course work is completed and should occur by the end of the second year of the PhD program. The Candidacy Examination will be administered in two parts, a Written Examination, which is primarily intended to comprehensively examine the student on her or his area of research interest, and an Oral Examination, which is primarily intended to assess the student's ability to conduct independent research. | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the program area defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis must represent an advance in knowledge of the candidate's field of study and should be appropriate to form the basis for at least one refereed journal publication describing the methodology and results of the research. |
The minimum period of residence is four four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Length of Program
The doctoral program has an expected four-year minimum duration for full-time students from the bachelor's level. The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.17 The Degree of PhD in Public Health Sciences in the research area of Health Services and Policy Research
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: four ( | |
Candidacy Examination: the Candidacy Examination is typically planned for sometime after the first year of the program, once all course work is completed ,and should occur by the end of the second year of the PhD program. The Candidacy Examination will be administered in two parts, a Written Examination, which is primarily intended to comprehensively examine the student on her or his area of research interest, and an Oral Examination, which is primarily intended to assess the student's ability to conduct independent research. | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the program area defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis must represent an advance in knowledge of the candidate’s field of study and should be appropriate to form the basis for at least one refereed journal publication describing the methodology and results of the research. |
The minimum period of residence is four four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Length of Program
The doctoral program has an expected four-year minimum duration for full-time students from the bachelor's level. The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.18 The Degree of PhD in Public Health Sciences in the research area of Public Health
Program Requirements
Students must complete the following:
Required courses ( | |
Elective courses: five ( | |
Candidacy Examination: the Candidacy Examination is typically planned for sometime after the first year of the program, once all course work is completed and should occur by the end of the second year of the PhD program. The Candidacy Examination will be administered in two parts, a Written Examination, which is primarily intended to comprehensively examine the student on her or his area of research interest, and an Oral Examination, which is primarily intended to assess the student's ability to conduct independent research. | |
Thesis: successfully complete and defend a thesis on a research topic in the program area defined in consultation with the student's supervisory committee. The scope and quality of the thesis must represent an advance in knowledge of the candidate’s field of study and should be appropriate to form the basis for at least one refereed journal publication describing the methodology and results of the research. |
The minimum period of residence is four four-month terms of full-time registration at the University of Alberta.
Length of Program
The doctoral program has an expected four-year minimum duration for full-time students from the bachelor's level. The time required to complete the PhD will vary according to the previous training of the applicant and the nature of the research undertaken. The maximum time permitted for completion of the program is six years (part- or full-time) from the date of first registration.
205.65.19 Graduate Courses
Graduate courses can be found in §231, Course Listings, under the subject heading Public Health Sciences (PHS).
