| Location | Email Address | Program Website |
|---|---|---|
| Room #313, Stong College | gradhlth@yorku.ca | yorku.ca/gradstudies/health/ |
The Graduate Program in Health is a cross- disciplinary program, providing students with a broad range of perspectives that cross health policy, health equity, health system management and health informatics. MA and PhD students choose from one of two different fields of study:
- Health Policy & Equity
- Health System Management & Health Data Analytics.
The Health Policy & Equity field emphasizes equity in health through policies that are directed at the social, political and economic causes of inequality, unequal access to health as well as inequities resulting from the administration, organization, funding and delivery of health care services. Health equity is explored through a range of theoretical, empirical, interdisciplinary, and experiential orientations, supported by York’s thematic strength in social justice.
The Health System Management & Health Data Analytics field combines two areas of intellectual focus that correspond to specialization within our school – health system management and health informatics. They are combined in a way that centers around on the use of health data analytics to improve health system management decision making, incorporating not only the technical, but also the social, political, economic and organizational aspects of decision making. A range of perspectives are employed towards improving knowledge utilization and knowledge mobilization in the health sector.
The program is interdisciplinary, incorporating perspectives from political science, political economy, law, economics, sociology, health services research, organization and management studies, health informatics, history and ethics. There is an intentional intersecting of the two fields by having students take the same foundational courses. Overall, the Program provides a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates the School of Health Policy and Management’s interdisciplinary perspectives on health policy and equity, health management and health informatics. In pursuing their interests, students have the opportunity to link into existing and ongoing faculty research.
Admission Requirements
Students with an honours degree who wish to be considered for admission to the MA in Health must:
- have completed an honours undergraduate degree with a B+ average or equivalent in the last two years of study, usually in a social science field related to health policy, health management or health informatics. Related disciplines might include psychology, political science, sociology, women’s studies, management, or nursing;
- provide a statement of interest demonstrating commitment to advanced research in the field. The statement should include a discussion of the applicant’s background, interests, skills and career goals, along with a proposed field of study and research interests;
- demonstrate ability in writing and research by submitting a recent research paper or report that the applicant has written for a course or in an employment context; and,
- provide two letters of reference, both preferably from university faculty members. Equivalencies (letters from non-university professional colleagues) are considered for applicants who have been out of school for more than five years.
Students with a master’s degree who wish to be considered for admission to the PhD Program in Health must:
- have completed a master’s degree with a B+ average or equivalent in a field of study related to health policy, health management or health informatics. Related disciplines might include psychology, sociology, women’s studies, political science, management or nursing
- provide a statement of interest demonstrating commitment to advanced research in the field. The statement should include a discussion of the applicant’s background, interests, skills and career goals, and research interests along with selection of one of the fields of study;
- demonstrate ability in writing and research by submitting a recent research paper or report that the applicant has written for a course or in an employment context; and,
- provide two letters of reference, both preferably from university faculty members. Equivalencies (letters from non-university professional colleagues) will be considered for applicants who have been out of school for more than five years.
Applicants are assessed based on academic achievement and/or demonstrated capacity or potential for advanced work in an applied area. The statement of interest and submitted research paper or report provide a basis for evaluating that potential.
Candidates with backgrounds in varying disciplines are assessed by the admissions committee on a case-by-case basis. The most important factors remain research excellence and research potential as demonstrated through competitive grade standing, favourable reference letters and publications.
Degree Requirements
MA Degree by Major Research Paper
Students must successfully complete the following requirements:
Master’s students are required to take six 3.0 credit courses in the first two terms of study. Three of these are ‘foundational’ courses in the Graduate Program in Health including the following foundational graduate research methods course which is required:
Health 5405 3.0: Graduate Research Methods
Students must complete two additional foundational courses from the following (a selection of which will be offered each year):
Health 5010 3.0: Health and Science
Health 5020 3.0: Health and Economics
Health 5030 3.0: Health and Politics
Health 5040 3.0: Health Ethics & Law
Health 6245 3.0: Perspectives on Knowledge Translation and Evidence-based decision making
Master’s students in the Health Policy & Equity Field must complete two field-specific courses from the following:
Health 6210 3.0: The Political Economy of Health Inequities
Health 6220 3.0: Human Rights and Health Equity
Health 6230 3.0: Health Equity: Analytic Orientations
Health 5485 3.0: Public Policy and Health
Master’s students in the Health System Management and Health Data Analytics Field must complete two field-specific courses from the following:
Health 5050 3.0: Perspectives in Decision Making
Health 5420 3.0: Measurement for Health Improvement
Health 6240 3.0: Health Data Visualization
Health 6270 3.0: Machine Learning for Health
Finally, all MA students must complete one elective course from the remaining Health course roster, or from another graduate program upon Graduate Program Director approval. The course requirements outlined are designed to ensure that students benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the program.
The major research paper tests students against the educational objectives of being able to form an original researchable question, and to address it through an appropriate theoretical framework, review and synthesis of the literature, analysis of primary or secondary data sources and formation of a set of conclusions. It trains students in the formulation and writing of a specific project, and gives them the experience of working independently on a project under faculty supervision. Students develop a research topic given their specific interests and are supervised by faculty members with related expertise.
The major research paper is evaluated by the student’s major research paper supervisor and advisor through the written work, and an oral presentation at which the student’s ability to answer questions related to the major research paper is assessed. The major research paper is evaluated on the extent to which the student proposes an original researchable question, and their ability to address it through an appropriate theoretical framework, review and synthesis of the literature, analysis of primary or secondary data sources and formation of a set of conclusions. The length of the major research paper is 50 pages with an upper limit of no more than 65 pages, excluding references.
The MA program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.
The expected degree completion time for full-time master’s students is 3 terms. For those students who complete degree requirements earlier than 3 terms, they must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of 3 terms of full- time study. All requirements for a master’s degree must be fulfilled within 12 terms (4 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time master’s student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
PhD
Candidates for the PhD degree must successfully complete the following requirements:
PhD students in Health entering with a master’s degree are required to take seven* 3.0 credit courses in the first 1-2 years of study (as specified below).
PhD Students entering with an MA from York’s Graduate Program in Health must take four 3.0 graduate courses or equivalent within the first year of study (upon discussion with the supervisor and Graduate Program Director, with at least two 3.0 courses from the Graduate Program in Health).
‘Non-standard’ entrants to the PhD program, i.e., with qualifications other than a master’s degree, must take ten 3.0 credit courses within the first two years of study (as specified below).
Generally, students entering with a master’s degree are required to take the following courses:
Two foundational courses from the following: Health 5010 3.0: Health and Science
Health 5020 3.0: Health and Economics
Health 5030 3.0: Health and Politics
Health 5040 3.0: Health Ethics & Law
Health 6245 3.0: Perspectives on Knowledge Translation and Evidence-based decision making
* PhD students who have not previously completed an equivalent graduate level methodology course must take Health 5405 3.0: Graduate Research Methods, in addition to the 2 foundational courses for a total of 3 foundational courses.
Students in the Health Policy & Equity Field must complete two field-specific courses from the following:
Health 6210 3.0: Political Economy of Health Inequities
Health 6220 3.0: Human Rights and Health Equity
Health 6230 3.0: Health Equity: Analytic Orientations
Health 6300 3.0: Political Economy of Global Health
Health 5485 3.0: Public Policy and Health
Students in the Health System Management and Health Data Analytics Field must complete two field-specific courses from the following:
Health 5050 3.0: Perspectives in Decision Making
Health 5420 3.0: Measurement for Health Improvement
Health 6240 3.0: Health Data Visualization
Health 6270 3.0: Machine Learning for Health
Finally, all students must complete the credit requirements corresponding to their admission category drawing from courses from the Health roster, with up to two 3.0 credit elective courses from another graduate program, upon Graduate Program Director approval.
Students in the Health System Management & Health Data Analytics field without a graduate level statistics course must take one as an elective.
The course requirements outlined are designed to ensure that students benefit from the interdisciplinary nature of the specialization.
The comprehensive examination consists of two written papers (about 25 double-spaced pages each, excluding references) and an oral examination. The comprehensive papers are completed under the supervision of two faculty members appointed to the Graduate Program in Health, each of them supervising one paper and advising on the other one.
Each comprehensive paper is in essay format and informed by comprehensive and critical reviews of literature conducted by the student to answer questions informed by the following overarching framework:
Comprehensive Paper 1: What are the salient theoretical frameworks and debates in (a) health policy and equity or (b) health system management and health data analytics to examine your topic of interest?
Comprehensive Paper 2: What are the key concepts, ideas, empirical research findings (qualitative and quantitative) and gaps as they relate to the topic of your interest? In this paper, an appendix must be included that explores various methods that you could use to address research questions in this specific area, examines the debates around these methods and then justifies your choice of the methods ultimately chosen.
Students begin their work on comprehensive papers after completing the course work, normally by end of term 2 or 3. For each of the comprehensive papers, students prepare an outline of the paper (abstract of 500 words) and a preliminary reading list by seeking advice from their respective faculty supervisors. The Abstract and Reading List for each of the comprehensive paper are approved by the supervisors and the dates for the submission of written papers (stage 1) and for the oral examination (stage 2) are set. These documents (i.e., approved Abstract and Reading List) and the scheduled dates are submitted to the Graduate Program Office for approval, normally in term 4. The student then begins an independent review of literature to complete the two papers. We strongly recommend that students complete the comprehensive papers sequentially (rather than concurrently).
The written papers are reviewed and approved by the supervising/advising faculty members (stage 1), before proceeding to oral examination chaired by the Graduate Program Director or a delegate (stage 2). The outcomes of the stage 1 are: proceed to oral examination or one set of revisions to be completed within one month time frame. If the revisions are not satisfactory or the revised papers are not submitted on time, the student is asked to withdraw from the program. The outcomes for the stage 2 are pass, pass with specified revision in a week, major revision in a month, or fail. A rating of fail in oral examination will result in the student’s withdrawal from the program. Successful completion of the oral exam qualifies students to begin their dissertation.
Students who enter the program with a master’s degree complete the two-stage comprehensive examination process normally by term 6. For students entering with a master’s degree in Health from the Graduate Program in Health from York, the comprehensive examination will normally take place in 4th term in the program. For nonstandard entrants, the comprehensive examination will normally take place during the 6th term in the program. Under exceptional circumstances the comprehensive examination will take place later.
The comprehensive examination process entails evaluation of the comprehensive papers in the chosen fields in relation to the questions posed for each paper, to demonstrate competence with the Program Learning Outcomes as specified below.
- Depth & breadth of knowledge: Articulate a thorough understanding of theoretical frameworks, debates, key concepts, ideas, empirical research findings and gaps in the topics of interest within the field of health policy and equity OR health system management and health data analytics.
- Research and scholarship: Select from and apply theoretical frameworks and concepts to inform the critical review of related literature in the field of health policy and equity OR health system management and health data analytics.
- Professional capacity/autonomy: Demonstrate autonomous initiative and intellectual independence; Receive and act on constructive feedback on one’s own academic work;
- Level of communication skills: Clearly, accurately and concisely communicate complex ideas, arguments, theoretical frameworks, debates and critical review of literature in oral, written, chart and diagram formats within field of health policy and equity OR health system management and health data analytics.
- Awareness of limits of knowledge: Recognize the limitations of one’s own work, training, and discipline, as well as the complexity of knowledge, and of the potential contributions of other interpretations, methods, and disciplines/perspectives.
After successful completion of the comprehensive examination students will focus on the dissertation process. The dissertation must make an original contribution to scholarship in the student’s specified topic. The dissertation process includes:
- The establishment of a supervisory committee. This committee will be comprised of three faculty members (generally, albeit not necessarily, members of the comprehensive examination committee), at least two of whom must be members of the Graduate Program in Health. The supervisor must be a full-time faculty member from the Graduate Program in Health. The third member may be appointed to a graduate program other than Health. In all cases a supervisory committee should be established no later than the 7th term in the program. The GPD will assist students who require help with forming a supervisory committee.
- The preparation of a dissertation proposal. A dissertation proposal should normally be completed within one term following the comprehensive examination. The proposal must be approved by the supervisory committee and all ethics approvals must be completed and approved prior to the initiation of the research project.
- The conduct and write up of an original research project will include conducting the proposed doctoral research and writing up its rationale, methodology, findings and implications in a dissertation format (traditional or manuscript-based) acceptable to the supervisory committee and formally approved as examinable by the members of that committee.
- The oral defence. The oral defence consists of the successful completion of an oral examination addressing the dissertation research and related matters and presided over by an examining committee.
The PhD program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. Entry is fall term.
The length of time required to complete the PhD is normally four years (12 terms). PhD students must register and pay fees for a minimum of the equivalent of six terms of full-time registration. All requirements for a doctoral degree must be fulfilled within 18 terms (6 years) of registration as a full-time or part-time doctoral student in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.