Physiology: Medical Physiology MHSc

A near-infinite amount of data is generated by clinicians at the bedside, researchers at the bench, and emergent health technologies every single day. But who can interpret that data and render it relevant for use?

The Master of Health Science (MHSc) in Medical Physiology is a 12-month professional master's program specially designed to address this rapidly emerging need. Featuring core courses and electives led by the Department of Physiology's world-class faculty, the program also includes significant professional development training and culminates with a practicum in an industry, hospital, or government setting.

The program blends advanced topic-specific physiology courses of the students' choosing with:

  • a mentored current literature review, where graduates acquire the critical analysis skills to identify new knowledge relevant to specific problems in human health;

  • a big data and health course, where students gain the skills to analyze and interpret data sets relevant to human health;

  • a commercialization and collaboration course, where students will acquire skills to understand how to commercialize new discoveries and how to work in a team science environment; and

  • a practicum opportunity, where students will experience how physiological knowledge is applied to real-life scenarios in their area of interest.

This unique combination of coursework and hands-on experience ensures that graduates are equipped with the knowledge and skills sought by today's competitive health-related workforce.

MHSc Program

Minimum Admission Requirements

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

  • Admission is based on demonstrated exceptional scholarly achievement based on the following criteria:

    • a one-page statement summarizing how this program will contribute to the advancement of the applicant's professional goals

    • a curriculum vitae (CV)

    • two letters of reference.

  • Applicants must have an appropriate bachelor's degree from a recognized university with an average of at least A– in the last two years of study. Students must have completed at least third year-level physiology or equivalent courses and demonstrate an interest in physiology.

  • Selected applicants will be interviewed prior to final acceptance into the program.

  • Applicants who were educated outside Canada, whose primary language is not English, and who graduated from a university where the language of instruction was not English, must demonstrate proficiency in the English language through the successful completion of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with the following minimum scores:

    • Internet-based TOEFL: 100/120 and 22/30 on the writing and speaking sections.

    • Other English proficiency tests are acceptable. Please consult the Physiology website for departmental standards.

Completion Requirements

All students are required to:

  • Take 6.0 full-course equivalents (FCEs) in physiology courses:

    • PSL4000Y Seminars and Graduate Professional Development

    • PSL4010Y Mentored Literature Review Project in Physiology

    • PSL4020Y Medical Physiology Practicum

    • PSL4030H Clinical Physiology

    • PSL4040H Big Data and Health

    • PSL4050H Collaboration and Commercialization in Physiology

    • 1.5 elective FCEs.

Students will be matched with a mentor and practicum placement in consultation with the relevant course director and MHSc program director.

Mode of Delivery: In person
Program Length: 3 sessions full-time (typical registration sequence: FWS)
Time Limit: 3 years full-time

 

Physiology