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Global Health (PhD Program) Faculty of Graduate Studies
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Degree Requirements

All students are required to complete the following, in addition to the regulations of the Faculty of Graduate Studies pertaining to all Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees:

  1. Independent Learning Plan
  2. Core courses GH 6000 6.0 and GH 6100 6.0 (required) and other courses (where applicable)
  3. Milestone exam, that includes a dissertation proposal;
  4. Dissertation research that demonstrates a high degree of independence, originality, and an advanced understanding of the area of study, in accordance with the Faculty of Graduate Studies : Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines.

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 individualized learning objectives – that will draw on the proposed research a student hopes to undertake, and the strategies and timeline needed to support the fulfillment of those objectives. ​

​This includes courses needed to acquire the interdisciplinary knowledge, skillsets, and expertise for undertaking their PhD research. And in an iterative manner, this will help the student and supervisor identify the most suitable PhD committee members or co-supervisors to support the student through their adventure.​

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GH 6000 Fostering Transformative Change in Global Health Year 1
GH 6100 Critical Perspectives in Global Health Seminar Years 1-3

There are two required courses for the PhD program, GH 6000: Fostering Transformative Change in Global Health, and GH 6100: Critical Perspectives in Global Health Seminar.

GH 6000 is an intensive in-person course split into three modules to develops students’ skills and capacity for critical and transformative problem-solving. Each module is taught over one week in Year 1, under a year-specific schedule that avoids overlap with GH 6100 and other elective courses a student may take.

GH 6100 is a seminar course on interdisciplinary approaches and scientific and technical innovations in Planetary Health, Humanitarianism Global Health, and related topics. GH 6100 meets 12 times a year, every two weeks, over the course of three years. In Year 1, students meet in-person. In Years 2 and 3, students have a choice to meet in person or online.

The schedule for both courses will be updated annually on the York Courses website.

With our interdisciplinary focus, students will be encouraged to take courses in other programs and Faculties at York University consulting with the School of Global Health to secure entry into those courses. Here are some other archetypical courses a student might take depending on their ILP. This is just a sample of many others available at York University.

Coursework based on student’s individualized ILP Year 1-2:

Quantitative analysis
Multivariate Analysis & Design
Applied Econometrics
Planning & Politics
Comparative Politics

Qualitative Research Methods 
Social & Political Thought: Theories, Approaches, Methods

Transnational & Global
Histories
Socio-Legal Methods
Disaster & Emergency Management
Public Capacities for Disaster Management
Anthropology Through the Visual: Images of Resistance/Irresistible Images
Critical Visualization as Media Practice: Connecting Data to Social Practice
Critical Perspectives on Race, Gender & Environment
Oppression & Intersectionality
Feminist Research Methodologies
Feminism in Black Africa

Indigenous Politics: Decolonization or “Development”?
Globalization and Cultural Identities

In year 2, a comprehensive exam will serve as the launching pad for an interdisciplinary project that supports the student’s original contribution(s) in global health.

  • Literature review
  • Critical analysis
  • ILP progress
  • Proposal for dissertation or portfolio
  • Manuscripts

All students will be encouraged to submit manuscripts, especially near the end of the first year and the beginning of the second year of the PhD program. The comprehensive exam will conclude with a dissertation proposal, allowing students to embark on their PhD projects.

Thesis formats (monograph, manuscript based or multimodal) will be determined by criteria for excellence in the selected discipline(s) and the nature of the PhD project, in accordance with Faculty of Graduate Studies : Thesis and Dissertation Guidelines.

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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.

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