The INCLEN Trust - Training Programs

McMaster University

Health Research Methodology
Health Sciences Graduate Programmes
McMaster University, Faculty of Health Sciences
1200 Main St. W., Room HSC-3N10
Hamilton, ON, Canada L8N 3Z5
Telephone: (905) 525-9140, extension 22718
Email: greenea@mcmaster.ca
Web: http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/grad/hrm

MCMASTER UNIVERSITY
FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES

McMaster University is located in Hamilton in south-western Ontario at the foot of the Niagara Escarpment. The McMaster campus encompasses about 300 acres in total and is home to more than 16,750 full-time students, over 2,000 of whom are pursuing advanced degrees in Graduate Studies. McMaster is an innovative university and has earned a reputation for being one of the leading post-secondary institutions in Canada.

The Faculty of Health Sciences is a leader in the development of application of rigorous health care, health services and health policy research methods, and in the evaluation of the quality of such research, particularly with respect to the strengths and weaknesses of the methodologies employed. It is structured to emphasize collaboration in the pursuit of excellence in education, research and practice.

All graduate programmes in the Faculty of Health Sciences are administered by the Health Sciences Graduate Programmes Office under the auspices of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences). The Health Research Methodology (HRM) Graduate Programme is one of several interdepartmental, interdisciplinary programmes that make up the Faculty of Health Sciences Graduate Programmes.

HRM PROGRAMME FEATURES

The HRM Programme provides the opportunity for advanced education and research in health research methods, and allows graduates to contribute to the evaluation of health services, programmes and policies, population health and health professions education. Both PhD and MSc degree programmes are offered. Master's students have the option of either a thesis-based or a course-based MSc degree and may enroll in a co-op option that provides experience in work settings such as health ministries, pharmaceutical companies and health care organizations. Students may also be eligible to apply to the Clinical Investigator Programme or the Diploma in Health Services and Policy Research.

The HRM Programme has a long history of innovation and continues to evolve. In part, the programme has been emulated by such programmes as the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Programme in the United States. The Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (CE&B) at McMaster University plays a major part in its innovative features and in the continued success of the programme.

HRM STUDENTS

The HRM Programme offers research training which is applicable to a broad range of health and health care areas. The Programme offers flexibility and attempts to cater to the interests of individual students. Students come from numerous health-related backgrounds such as the various specialties/subspecialties of medicine, speech pathology, physiotherapy, midwifery, chiropractic, etc. They may also come from backgrounds in biology, health studies, psychology, sociology and other social sciences. The learning environment is enriched by the diverse research interests that students bring to the programme.

HRM FACULTY

The HRM Programme has experienced graduate faculty who share a common interest in the methods of applied health care research. They may be members of any of the departments in the Faculty of Health Sciences. However, the Department of CE&B bears a unique relationship to this programme as it is a special Faculty resource in methodology for applied medical and health care research. The multi-disciplinary talents of faculty in this department have worked to infuse applied research in the Faculty of Health Sciences. The programme and the faculty who teach in it are a specialized resource within the Faculty. Faculty members include health professionals with advanced research training, and social scientists such as economists, psychologists, medical geographers, bioethicists, sociologists, and biostatisticians.
August 2003

MASTER'S DEGREE PROGRAMME OBJECTIVE

The objective is to refine critical and scholarly skills in the analysis and development of methodology relevant to applied health care research including clinical epidemiology, health services research, health policy analysis, program evaluation, population health and health economics. Graduates are expected to be able to conduct high quality research studies within their specific area of interest. Some MSc graduates work for government, private health agencies and research groups, or continue their studies to pursue a PhD. Others, mainly health professionals, may accept academic or senior research positions upon graduation with their MSc degree. MSc students may apply to transfer to the PhD programme after completing five courses.

The MSc Programme is offered on both a part- and full- time basis and has two admissions streams. Stream I students are health professionals while Stream II students often come from social, biological or health science backgrounds. Admission standards for the two streams differ, and the two streams are considered individually during the admission process. Non-health professionals who have career interests in health services research, population health and policy analysis are encouraged to apply to the programme.

PhD DEGREE PROGRAMME OBJECTIVE

The aim of this programme is to prepare students for independent scholarly work in health care, health services, health policy and population health issues in order to contribute to the evaluation and enhancement of health and health care. The intent is to provide students with broad perspectives and advanced methodological skills required for multidisciplinary, in-depth exploration of focused areas in population health, health services, health policy, health education and health care. Graduates often accept faculty positions, postdoctoral awards or choose to work for government or private companies.

THE CURRICULUM

A unique curriculum feature is that many of the courses in methodology are problem-based, although both lecture and small group learning (tutorials) formats are used. Students are encouraged to apply the concepts and conceptual frameworks they are learning to research topics of their specific interest. Courses have both a theoretical and applied component. Transferring knowledge gained to refine current research ideas is integral to the teaching process. Several methodology courses culminate in a term paper in which the student prepares a detailed research proposal. The proposal is reviewed by faculty and other students. In addition to course work, students are involved in on-going research seminars and participate in the research of faculty members.

AFFILIATED RESEARCH SETTINGS

The Faculty of Health Sciences and McMaster University have numerous research centres in which students may gain research experience by interacting with faculty members and participating in research activities. Some of the affiliated research centres include: Centre for Evaluation of Medicines, Health Information Research Unit, Hamilton Civic Hospitals Research Centre, The Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis, McMaster University Evidence-Based Practice Centre, Centre for Childhood Disability Research, Health Evidence Application and Linkage Network, Programme in Evidence-Based Care (Cancer Care Ontario), Supportive Cancer Care Unit, Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Public Health Department, and McMaster Institute of Environment and Health.

ADMISSION & FINANCIAL AID

To apply to the HRM Programme, please visit our web site at http://www.fhs.mcmaster.ca/grad/hrm to review the application procedures and download the required forms. The required $75 application fee is not refundable.

MSc In addition to the application form, a curriculum vitae, personal statement of interest (2 pages in length), 1 official transcript, statement of funding, and 2 references are required. A TOEFL score of 580 is required for students whose native language is not English. The deadline for application submission is November 1st to begin course work in July of the following year.

PhD In addition to the above application requirements for the MSc, a questionnaire and a 2-3 page description of areas of interest for doctoral research must be completed. The deadline for application submission is February 1st with admission the following September.

Fours types of financial support are normally available to the HRM full-time students: teaching assistantships, external graduate fellowships/scholarships, internal or endowed scholarships and bursaries, and support through the supervisor's research grant. A student's letter of offer from the School of Graduate Studies, McMaster University includes details of financial support. Applicants are encouraged to seek funding from granting agencies and foundations which support graduate education in health research.

There is no financial support for part-time students.