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 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. |
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
As of August 23, 2024, the Scholarly Paper offering has ended. This table and any other mention of the Scholarly Paper is for reference only.
| 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
2024/2025 Thesis Timeline
| Activity | Spring/Summer 2024 | Fall 2024 | Winter 2025 | Spring/Summer 2025 |
| Final Date to Enroll in HS EDUC 709
|
May 10th, 2024 | September 6th, 2024 | January 10th, 2025 | May 9th, 2025 |
| Final Date to Identify External Examiner and Chair and to set Time, Date, and Location
|
May 24th, 2024 | September 27th, 2024 | January 24th, 2025 | May 23rd, 2025 |
| Final Date to Submit Master’s thesis to HSED (Prior to Defense)
|
June 28th, 2024 | October 18th, 2024 | February 28th, 2025 | June 20th, 2025 |
| Final Date to Defend
|
August 6th, 2024 | December 3rd, 2024 | April 8th, 2025 | August 5th, 2025 |
| Final Date to File thesis with Graduate Studies and Complete Degree Requirements
|
September 3rd, 2024 | January 2nd, 2025 | May 6th, 2025 | September 2nd, 2025 |