Requirements Overview
Students may be full or part-time but are required to participate in both one-week, on-campus residencies (HS EDUC 700 & HS EDUC 707) as well as complete the required online course offerings for their stream: Thesis Stream (2 core + 1 elective) or the Course-Based Stream (2 core + 3 electives). At coursework completion, students will apply their knowledge and skills developed across the program (coursework, residencies, and educational offerings) and their professional backgrounds in completing their final requirement: a thesis or capstone portfolio.
Please note all graduate students at McMaster University are also required to successfully complete SGS 101 (Academic Research, Integrity, and Ethics) and SGS 201 (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act [AODA]) during their first year of study.
Minimum requirements for candidates of the MSc in Health Science Education program are outlined below.
Course-based option students must complete: | Thesis-based option students must complete: |
---|---|
HS EDUC 700 & HS EDUC 707 (1.5 units each) | HS EDUC 700 & HS EDUC 707 (1.5 units each) |
Complete, with at least a B- standing: The program’s two required courses (3 units each course) | Complete, with at least a B- standing: The program’s two required courses (3 units each course) |
Three graduate approved electives (3 units each course) | One graduate approved elective (3 units each course) |
A scholarly paper (6 units)*
A Capstone portfolio** |
A thesis (12 units)
*Thesis students should only register in “HSED 709 Thesis” in the term that they plan to defend. Terms where a student is actively working on their thesis, but not enrolled in an academic course, must be registered in the Academic Placeholder SGS 700. |
*Only available to students who entered the HSED Program before the 2020-21 academic year
** For course-based students joining the HSED Program in Fall 2020 or thereafter, the Scholarly Paper final degree requirement will be replaced by the Capstone Portfolio.
Course Option
Course Based Option (24 Units Required)
- Two mandatory Residency Periods (1.5 units each)
- HS EDUC 700: Health Science Education I: Fundamentals of Health Science Education
- HS EDUC 707: Health Science Education II
Course Work
- Two Core Courses (3 units each)
- HS EDUC 701: Learning and Curriculum
- HS EDUC 703: Assessment in Health Professions Education
- Three Elective Courses (3 units each) from:
- HS EDUC 704: Simulation-based Education
- HS EDUC 705: Education Technology
- HS EDUC 706: Leadership and Management
- HS EDUC 710: Program Evaluation
- HS EDUC 712: Critical Pedagogies and Inclusive Teaching Practices
- HS EDUC 747: Conceptual and Qualitative Research Methods
- HS EDUC 777: Special Topics in Health Professions Education
- Elective Course outside HSED*
- Capstone Portfolio (enrolled before 2020-21: Scholarly Paper)
* With Departmental Permission
Scholarly Paper Timeline
Activity | Fall 2023 | Winter 2024 | Spring/Summer 2024 |
---|---|---|---|
Milestones 1-4 Due | September 8, 2023 | January 5, 2024 | May 10, 2024 |
Students Notified of Approval | September 15, 2023 | January 12, 2024 | May 17, 2024 |
Papers are Due | November 24, 2023 | March 22, 2024 | July 26, 2024 |
Assessments are Delivered | December 8, 2023 | April 5, 2024 | August 9, 2024 |
Revisions are Due | December 22, 2023 | April 19, 2024 | August 23, 2024 |
Thesis Option
Thesis Based Option (24 Units Required)
- Two mandatory Residency Periods (1.5 units each)
- HS EDUC 700: Health Science Education I: Fundamentals of Health Science Education
- HS EDUC 707: Health Science Education II
Course Work
- Two Core Courses (3 units each)
- HS EDUC 701: Learning and Curriculum
- HS EDUC 703: Assessment in Health Professions Education
- One Elective Course (3 units each) from:
- HS EDUC 704: Simulation-based Education
- HS EDUC 705: Education Technology
- HS EDUC 706: Leadership and Management
- HS EDUC 710: Program Evaluation
- HS EDUC 712: Critical Pedagogies and Inclusive Teaching Practices
- HS EDUC 747: Conceptual and Qualitative Research Methods
- HS EDUC 777: Special Topics in Health Professions Education
- Elective Course outside HSED*
- Thesis
- Equivalent to 12 units
- Thesis students should only register in “HSED 709 Thesis” in the term that they plan to defend. Terms where a student is actively working on their thesis, but not enrolled in an academic course, must be registered in the Academic Placeholder SGS 700.
* With Departmental Permission
2023/2024 Thesis Timeline
Activity |
Spring/Summer 2023 |
Fall 2023 |
Winter 2024 |
Spring/Summer 2024 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Final Date to Enroll in HS EDUC 709 |
May 12 2023 |
September 8 2023 | January 12 2024 | May 10 2024 |
Final Date to Identify External Examiner and Chair and to set Time, Date, and Location |
May 26 2023 |
September 22 2023 | January 26 2024 | May 24 2024 |
Final Date to Submit Master’s Thesis to HSED (Prior to Defense) |
June 23 2023 |
October 20 2023 | February 23 2024 | June 21 2024 |
Final Date to Defend |
August 8 2023 |
December 5 2023 | April 9 2024 | August 6 2024 |
Final Date to File Thesis with Graduate Studies and Complete Degree Requirements |
September 5 2023 |
January 2 2024 | May 7 2024 | September 3 2024 |