Students are required to achieve the following to earn a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Global Health, under the guidance of a supervisory committee:
- Independent Learning Plan (Year 1)
- Courses
- GH 6000 6.0 (Year 1), and
- GH 6100 6.0 (Years 1–3),
- Electives (optional),
- Comprehensive exam, including dissertation proposal (Year 2), and
- Doctoral research culminating in dissertation product/s that demonstrate independence, originality, and an advanced understanding of the interdisciplinary field of global health, in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies: Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines (Years 3–4).
Additional information and guidance on degree requirements are detailed in the PhD in Global Health Handbook.
The program is designed to be completed in 4 years but often takes longer. 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 the Faculty of Graduate Studies’ Registration Policies, including the requirement of continuous registration. Terms that students register as Leave of Absence, Maternal Leave, Parental Leave, or No Course Available are not included in these time limits.
In Year 1, students will craft an independent learning plan, together with their primary supervisor. The ILP will comprise a set of Students are required to complete an Independent Learning Plan (ILP) in Year 1 in consultation with their supervisor and, where formed, supervisory committee. The ILP serves as a roadmap for the student’s journey in their PhD. It is individualized, and outlines the strategies and resources needed to gain the interdisciplinary knowledge, skillsets, and expertise to fulfill doctoral research requirements and dissertation product/s. Additional information and guidance on the ILP is detailed in the PhD in Global Health Handbook.
Students are required to complete two core courses, which unite expertise across multiple disciplines in health, social sciences, biological sciences, the humanities and the natural sciences, that are relevant for research and practice in global health, in areas such as but not limited to public policy, health policy, law, human rights, humanitarianism, planetary health, governance, security, systems thinking, complex evaluation, and quantitative and qualitative methods. The course schedule is annually updated on the York Courses Website.
- GH 6100: Critical Perspectives in Global Health Seminar
GH 6000 is an intensive in-person course taught over three week-long modules in Year 1 to develop students’ skills and capacity for critical and transformative problem-solving. Modules follow a unique schedule that supports students with concurrent enrolment in elective courses. The course is evaluated on a pass/fail basis. - GH 6100: Critical Perspectives in Global Health Seminar
GH 6100 is a seminar course focussing on interdisciplinary approaches and scientific and technical innovations in Planetary Health, Humanitarianism Global Health, and related topics. Seminars are held over the Fall and Winter terms. The course is most intense in Year 1 (GH 6100) when students are required to meet every two weeks in-person. Additional meetings may also be scheduled as per the course schedule. In Year 2 (GH 6110) and Year 3 (GH 6120), students have to the option to meet in-person or on-line. In all years, the course is evaluated on a pass/fail basis.
Elective course decisions should be based on students’ ILP. They may include courses required to develop substantive knowledge or methodological skills to undertake doctoral research, or core courses required of a cotutelle arrangement. Students are encouraged to explore courses available within other Faculties and Departments at York University (or external institutions, where applicable), consult with their supervisory committee and, if electives are decided upon, complete them as soon as possible (ideally in Year 1 or 2).
A sample of potentially relevant courses is listed ahead. Their availability and formats will vary annually and should be verified on the York Courses Website. Students seeking to secure enrollment in courses offered in another Graduate Program must seek timely support from the Graduate Program in Global Health Office.
| Topic | Suggested Courses |
|---|---|
| Quanitative analysis | SOCI 6112 3.0 Quantitative Analysis KAHS 6020 3.0 Multivariate Analysis and Design ECON 5025 3.0 Applied Econometrics |
| Qualitative analysis | SOCI 6060 3.00 Qualitative Methods of Research HLTH 5060 3.00 Qualitative Methods for Health Studies KAHS 6030 3.0 Qualitative Research Methods |
| Visual Methods | ANTH 2130 6.00 Anthropology Through the Visual: Images of Resistance/Irresistible Images PRWR 4800 3.00 Advanced Workshop 1 Visual Information and Document Design FILM 6254 3.00 Critical Visualization as Media Practice: Connecting Data to Social Practice |
| Feminist approaches | EU/ENVS 5106 3.00 Critical Perspectives on Race, Gender and Environment GFWS 6008 3.0 Feminist Research Methodologies and Methods GFWS 6225 3.0 Feminism in Black Africa |
| Indigenous health | ENVS 6152 3.0 Reshaping research with Indigenous Peoples POLS 6145 3.0 Indigenous Politics: Decolonization or “Development”? |
| Equity and intersectionality | ANTH 5135 3.0 Globalization and Cultural Identities SOWK 5030 3.0 Oppression and Intersectionality |
| Global governance and political theory | ENVS 6173 3.0 Planning and Politics GS POLS 6410 6.0 The Study of Comparative Politics SPTH 6104 6.00 Social and Political Thought: Theories, Approaches, and Methods |
| Global health emergencies | DEMS 5082 3.0 Disaster and Emergency Management: Medical and Public Health Issues for Non-medical personnel DEMS 6073 Public Capacities for Disaster Management (Public Policy, Governance & International Response) ANTH 5225 3.0 Global Health |
| Global health treaties | GS LAW 3.0 6610 Legal Research HIST 5590 3.0 Transnational and Global Histories GS/SLST 6005 3.0 Advanced Research Strategies in Socio-Legal Methods |
| Environmental Studies | EU/ENVS 5055A 3.0 Climate Justice EU/ENVS 6275A. 3.0 International Political Economy and Ecology Summer School |
In addition to courses, students are encouraged to consult with their supervisory committee to gain access to additional trainings, certifications, and/or professional development opportunities within and outside of York University, based on their ILP. The Academic Excellence Fund may help to support these opportunities.
Students are required to satisfactorily pass a comprehensive examination in Year 2 before advancing as candidates. The objective of the examination is to determine whether:
- The student’s proposed research is suitable for doctoral research,
- The student has demonstrated aptitude for conducting the proposed research by means of adequate progress and productivity in their ILP, and
- The student has adequate background and intellectual ability to pursue independent research in the interdisciplinary field of global health.
For their examination, students must develop a comprehensive and critical literature review of their doctoral research topic, and a research proposal articulating the questions, theory and methodologic approach including ethics oversight, where applicable, that will guide their doctoral research. Students who pass their comprehensive examination proceed to become doctoral candidates. Additional information and guidance on the comprehensive examination is detailed in the PhD in Global Health Handbook.
Thesis formats (monograph, manuscript based or Candidates must prepare and submit a doctoral dissertation product based on original research carried out under the supervision and guidance of a supervisory committee. The research should demonstrate the candidate’s independence, originality, and understanding of the area of investigation at an advanced level. Acceptable dissertation product formats are monograph, manuscript-based, and complex electronic and multimodal, and may follow upon the disciplinary and professional norms in which the candidate’s doctoral research is rooted. All formats must contain a written component, though additional components may take on different formats in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies: Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines. Additional information and guidance on the doctoral dissertation is detailed in the PhD in Global Health Handbook.
Students are required to complete their degree requirements under the guidance of a supervisory committee comprising of a primary supervisor and minimum two committee members. Students are matched to a primary supervisor by the Graduate Program in Global Health at the point of admission to the Program (latest in Year 1), and are supported in forming a full committee in Years 1-2. Additional information and guidance is detailed within the Faculty of Graduate Studies: Graduate Supervision Website and PhD in Global Health Handbook.
Students are required to present an annual Progress Report to their supervisory committee, detailing their progression in the PhD and successful completion of degree requirements (i.e., Program milestones such as the ILP and comprehensive examination). The approved Progress Report must be submitted to the Graduate Program in Global Health Office in each year of enrollment in the Program. Additional information and guidance on the Progress Report is detailed in the PhD in Global Health Handbook.
The PhD is to be completed on a full-time basis. Entry is Fall term. A change to enrollment status including leave of absence must be petitioned with Graduate Academic Petitions.
The normal degree completion time for full-time students is 12 terms (4 years). All requirements must be fulfilled in maximum 18 terms (6 years) regardless of full-time or part-time status in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies’ registration policies.
Intra-institutional cotutelles (with another Graduate Program at York University) and inter-institutional cotutelles (with a Graduate Program outside York University) can be supported on a case-by-case basis.
A cotutelle may extend the Program length and increase the degree requirements. Students with an interest in a cotutelle are recommended to prepare a brief rationale, and contact the Graduate Program in Global Health Office prior to admission. They may also make a notation within their application statement of interest, or consult with their supervisor after admission.
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The Graduate Program in Global Health at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.