HPME: Health Policy, Management and Evaluation PhD Concentration: Health Systems Research

Doctor of Philosophy

Concentration: Health Systems Research

 

PhD Program (Full-Time)

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • A master's degree (MA or MSc) requiring a thesis with a B+ average or higher.

  • Satisfactory references pertaining to the applicant's academic and research abilities.

  • Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Program Requirements

  • Students must select one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

  • Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • A comprehensive course (0.5 FCE) specified as part of the requirements for each emphasis below.

    • 2.0 FCEs as follows: HAD5011H, HAD5772H (or equivalent if specified in the selected emphasis), HAD6760H, and HAD6770H.

  • Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

Program Length

4 years full-time

Time Limit

6 years full-time

 

Students enrolled in the Health Systems Research concentration of the PhD program must study under one of six emphases, described below, and complete six courses (3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs]) related to their declared emphasis.

Emphasis: Health Economics

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

  • HAD5744H Applied Health Econometrics I.

  • HAD5746H Applied Health Econometrics II.

  • HAD5760H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis.

  • HAD6750H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis II.

  • 0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Emphasis: Health Informatics Research

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5726H Evaluation and Research Design in Health Informatics.

  • HAD5747H Cognitive, Social, and Information Science Theory in Health Informatics Research.

  • HAD6764H Health Informatics Research Comprehensive Course.

  • Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, Master of Health Informatics program, or other relevant graduate courses as approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Policy

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • CHL5300H Public Health Policy (students may elect to take this course on a Credit/No Credit basis).

  • HAD5778H Comparative Health Systems and Policy.

  • HAD6763H Health Policy Comprehensive Course.

  • 0.5 FCE from the following list:

    • CHL5308H Tools and Approaches for Public Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation.

    • HAD5022H Politics, Policy, Public Health, and Health Technology.

    • HAD5765H Case Studies in Health Policy.

    • Other course as appropriate, for example:

      • CHL5523H Indigenous Health and Social Policy.

      • CHL5702H History of International Health.

      • CHL5704H International Human Rights Law and Global Health: The Right to Health in Theory and Practice.

  • 0.5 FCE from the following list:

    • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems, and Policy.

    • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

    • Other courses from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration in the area of policy-relevant methods.

  • 0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, or other HPME concentrations as approved by the HPME graduate coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Technology Assessment

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5301H Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research.

  • HAD6765H Health Technology Assessment Comprehensive Course (Credit/No Credit).

  • Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

  • One course (0.5 FCE) from the following list:

    • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics.

    • HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

Emphasis: Organization and Management Studies

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

  • HAD5750H Seminar in Organizational Behaviour.

  • HAD5773H Introduction to Theories of Organizational Behaviour and Applications to the Health Care Sector.

  • HAD6762H Organization and Management Studies Comprehensive Course.

  • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

  • One course (0.5 FCE) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Emphasis: Outcomes and Evaluation Studies

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5743H Evaluation II.

  • HAD6761H Outcomes and Evaluation Studies Comprehensive Course.

  • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

  • Two courses (1.0 FCE) from the following list:

    • HAD2003H Learning Health Systems Part 1: Identifying Opportunities for System Change and Designing Sound Innovations.

    • HAD5720H Evaluation I.

    • HAD5728H Performance Measurement in Health Care: Theory and Application.

    • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5740H Intermediate Level Qualitative Methods.

    • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5763H Advanced Methods in Health Services Research.

    • HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

    • HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems and Policy.

  • One course (0.5 FCE), generally an advanced methods course, from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

PhD students in the Health Systems Research concentration who are pursuing the emphasis in Outcomes and Evaluation Studies may fulfil the concentration requirements by replacing HAD5772H Intermediate Statistics for Health Systems Researchers with CHL5202H Biostatistics II or HAD5316H Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods.

 

PhD Program (Transfer)

Transfer Requirements

  • To be considered for admission to the PhD transfer option, applicants must be admitted to the MSc program in Health Policy, Management and Evaluation.

  • At the time of application to the MSc program, applicants must indicate in their Letter of Intent their interest in applying to transfer to the PhD program.

  • Transfer to the PhD program is contingent upon:

    • Successful completion of a minimum 2.5 FCEs of master’s coursework.

    • Achieving a minimum grade of B+ in all courses and an overall average of A– in their program.

    • Obtaining a letter of support from the applicant's supervisor.

    • The preparation and defence of a PhD-quality thesis proposal.

Program Requirements

  • Once students have successfully transferred to the PhD program, they must study under one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

  • Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • A comprehensive course (0.5 FCE) specified as part of the requirements for each emphasis below.

    • 2.0 FCEs as follows: HAD5011H, HAD5772H (or equivalent if specified in the selected emphasis), HAD6760H, and HAD6770H.

  • Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

Program Length

5 years full-time

Time Limit

7 years full-time

 

Students enrolled in the Health Systems Research Concentration of the PhD program must study under one of six emphases, described below, and complete six courses (3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs]) related to their declared emphasis.

Emphasis: Health Economics

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

  • HAD5744H Applied Health Econometrics I.

  • HAD5746H Applied Health Econometrics II.

  • HAD5760H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis.

  • HAD6750H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis II.

  • 0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Emphasis: Health Informatics Research

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5726H Evaluation and Research Design in Health Informatics.

  • HAD5747H Cognitive, Social, and Information Science Theory in Health Informatics Research.

  • HAD6764H Health Informatics Research Comprehensive Course.

  • Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, Master of Health Informatics program, or other relevant graduate courses as approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Policy

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • CHL5300H Public Health Policy (students may elect to take this course on a Credit/No Credit basis).

  • HAD5778H Comparative Health Systems and Policy.

  • HAD6763H Health Policy Comprehensive Course.

  • 0.5 FCE from the following list:

    • CHL5308H Tools and Approaches for Public Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation.

    • HAD5022H Politics, Policy, Public Health, and Health Technology.

    • HAD5765H Case Studies in Health Policy.

    • Other course as appropriate, for example:

      • CHL5523H Indigenous Health and Social Policy.

      • CHL5702H History of International Health.

      • CHL5704H International Human Rights Law and Global Health: The Right to Health in Theory and Practice.

  • 0.5 FCE from the following list:

    • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems, and Policy.

    • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

    • Other courses from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration in the area of policy-relevant methods.

  • 0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, or other HPME concentrations as approved by the HPME graduate coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Technology Assessment

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5301H Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research.

  • HAD6765H Health Technology Assessment Comprehensive Course (Credit/No Credit).

  • Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

  • One course (0.5 FCE) from the following list:

    • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics.

    • HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

Emphasis: Organization and Management Studies

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

  • HAD5750H Seminar in Organizational Behaviour.

  • HAD5773H Introduction to Theories of Organizational Behaviour and Applications to the Health Care Sector.

  • HAD6762H Organization and Management Studies Comprehensive Course.

  • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

  • One course (0.5 FCE) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Emphasis: Outcomes and Evaluation Studies

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5743H Evaluation II.

  • HAD6761H Outcomes and Evaluation Studies Comprehensive Course.

  • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

  • Two courses (1.0 FCE) from the following list:

    • HAD2003H Learning Health Systems Part 1: Identifying Opportunities for System Change and Designing Sound Innovations.

    • HAD5720H Evaluation I.

    • HAD5728H Performance Measurement in Health Care: Theory and Application.

    • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5740H Intermediate Level Qualitative Methods.

    • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5763H Advanced Methods in Health Services Research.

    • HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research.

    • HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems and Policy.

  • One course (0.5 FCE), generally an advanced methods course, from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

PhD students in the Health Systems Research concentration who are pursuing the emphasis in Outcomes and Evaluation Studies may fulfil the concentration requirements by replacing HAD5772H Intermediate Statistics for Health Systems Researchers with CHL5202H Biostatistics II or HAD5316H Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods.

 

PhD Program (Flexible-Time)

With approval of the Graduate Chair, some applicants may be admitted to a flexible-time PhD option. This option will benefit students with career obligations. The degree requirements for the flexible-time PhD option are identical to those listed above for the full-time PhD option.

Minimum Admission Requirements

  • Applicants are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies. Applicants must also satisfy the IHPME's additional admission requirements stated below.

  • A master's degree (MA or MSc) requiring a thesis with a B+ average or higher.

  • Satisfactory references pertaining to the applicant's academic and research abilities.

  • Outstanding students with a non-thesis master's degree may be admitted to the PhD upon the recommendation of the appropriate IHPME committee, if the applicant has the appropriate background preparation and research experience or publications which can be considered equivalent to a master's thesis.

Program Requirements

  • Students must register full-time for the first four years of their program (Fall, Spring, Summer sessions); thereafter, they may register part-time.

  • Students must select one of six emphases and complete the required emphasis courses listed below.

  • Completion of 5.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) including:

    • A comprehensive course (0.5 FCE) specified as part of the requirements for each emphasis below.

    • 2.0 FCEs as follows: HAD5011H, HAD5772H (or equivalent if specified in the selected emphasis), HAD6760H, and HAD6770H.

  • Writing of a PhD thesis under the supervision of an approved thesis committee (supervisor plus at least two additional graduate faculty members).

  • Oral defence of the thesis before an examination committee.

Program Length

6 years flexible-time

Time Limit

8 years flexible-time

 

Students enrolled in the Health Systems Research Concentration of the PhD program must study under one of six emphases, described below, and complete six courses (3.0 full-course equivalents [FCEs]) related to their declared emphasis.

Emphasis: Health Economics

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

  • HAD5744H Applied Health Econometrics I.

  • HAD5746H Applied Health Econometrics II.

  • HAD5760H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis.

  • HAD6750H Advanced Health Economics and Policy Analysis II.

  • 0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Emphasis: Health Informatics Research

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5726H Evaluation and Research Design in Health Informatics.

  • HAD5747H Cognitive, Social, and Information Science Theory in Health Informatics Research.

  • HAD6764H Health Informatics Research Comprehensive Course.

  • Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, Master of Health Informatics program, or other relevant graduate courses as approved by the Graduate Coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Policy

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • CHL5300H Public Health Policy (students may elect to take this course on a Credit/No Credit basis).

  • HAD5778H Comparative Health Systems and Policy.

  • HAD6763H Health Policy Comprehensive Course.

  • 0.5 FCE from the following list:

    • CHL5308H Tools and Approaches for Public Health Policy Analysis and Evaluation.

    • HAD5022H Politics, Policy, Public Health, and Health Technology.

    • HAD5765H Case Studies in Health Policy.

    • Other course as appropriate, for example:

      • CHL5523H Indigenous Health and Social Policy.

      • CHL5702H History of International Health.

      • CHL5704H International Human Rights Law and Global Health: The Right to Health in Theory and Practice.

  • 0.5 FCE from the following list:

    • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems, and Policy.

    • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

    • Other courses from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration in the area of policy-relevant methods.

  • 0.5 FCE from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration, or other HPME concentrations as approved by the HPME graduate coordinator.

Emphasis: Health Technology Assessment

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5301H Introduction to Clinical Epidemiology and Health Care Research.

  • HAD6765H Health Technology Assessment Comprehensive Course (Credit/No Credit).

  • Three courses (1.5 FCEs) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

  • One course (0.5 FCE) from the following list:

    • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5771H Resource Allocation Ethics.

    • HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

Emphasis: Organization and Management Studies

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

  • HAD5750H Seminar in Organizational Behaviour.

  • HAD5773H Introduction to Theories of Organizational Behaviour and Applications to the Health Care Sector.

  • HAD6762H Organization and Management Studies Comprehensive Course.

  • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

  • One course (0.5 FCE) from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

Emphasis: Outcomes and Evaluation Studies

Students must complete 3.0 FCEs as follows:

  • HAD5743H Evaluation II.

  • HAD6761H Outcomes and Evaluation Studies Comprehensive Course.

  • HSR1001H Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health Systems and Policy Research.

  • Two courses (1.0 FCE) from the following list:

    • HAD2003H Learning Health Systems Part 1: Identifying Opportunities for System Change and Designing Sound Innovations.

    • HAD5720H Evaluation I.

    • HAD5728H Performance Measurement in Health Care: Theory and Application.

    • HAD5730H Economic Evaluation Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5740H Intermediate Level Qualitative Methods.

    • HAD5742H Mixed Methods for Health Systems Research.

    • HAD5763H Advanced Methods in Health Services Research.

    • HAD5779H Evidence Synthesis for Health Services, Systems, and Policy Research or HAD5308H Evidence Synthesis: Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis.

    • HAD5781H Case Study Research for Health Services, Systems and Policy.

  • One course (0.5 FCE), generally an advanced methods course, from the course listing for the Health Systems Research concentration.

PhD students in the Health Systems Research concentration who are pursuing the emphasis in Outcomes and Evaluation Studies may fulfil the concentration requirements by replacing HAD5772H Intermediate Statistics for Health Systems Researchers with CHL5202H Biostatistics II or HAD5316H Biostatistics II: Advanced Techniques in Applied Regression Methods.