MA
- The Master's of Arts in the Graduate Program in Health can be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis.
- Courses are delivered through seminar format, in-person
- Students pursue one area of specialization: 1) Health Policy and Equity or 2) Health System Management & Health Data Analytics
The specialized field in Health Policy and Equity (HP&E) is designed to ask questions and challenge assumptions that everyone accessing health care is treated equally, or has an equitable chance at good health. Equity approaches are concerned with disparities, inequalities and inequities amongst population groups and individuals that are “avoidable, unfair and unjust” (Whitehead, M 1992). The field considers the determinants of inequity such as gender, poverty, age, race/ethnicity, migration status, and social exclusion. The emphasizes is placed on analysis and promotion of equity in health and policy by examining how societal, economic, political, and social structures and processes influence health and policy. Attention is given to how public policy shapes the social inequalities that cause disease and/or inequities in the organization and delivery of care. We offer an environment that encourages critical inquiry and debate that aims to expose, critique, and address the societal and system forces that shape health. The interdisciplinary program is social science-oriented and draws upon various disciplines including educational theory, health studies, political economy, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology, among others. The degrees within this field incorporate an exploration of health and social justice issues at the local, national and international levels.
The specialized field in Health System Management & Health Data Analytics (HM & HDA) uniquely brings these two areas together to examine the nature of data and evidence, and the complexity of decision making in the health system context. The WHO defines a health system as all activities whose primary purpose is to promote, restore or maintain health. Health system management focuses on decisions pertaining to how a health system is organized, managed, and delivered. Data Analytics refers to integration of heterogenous sources of data, drawing inferences to enable various types of decision-making. These areas are brought together in this specialized field given the practical reality that health systems are dynamic, complex, open systems that interact with the political and social environments external to those system. Managerial decision making in this context is therefore complex. This specialized field seeks to contribute knowledge regarding both the technological and the socio-political aspects of how health system decisions are made and how system change occurs (or why it sometimes fails to occur). This novel interdisciplinary approach to health sector decision making is vital for improving and sustaining rapidly evolving health systems and draws from disciplines like organizational sciences (organizational behaviour, theory and psychology), information sciences (management, decision making, implementation), and informatics (engineering and data sciences) and also includes critical sociological/political perspectives.
MA students register and complete six 3.0 credit courses: three 'foundational' courses taken by students in both specializations including required HLTH 5405 Graduate Research Methods; two from offered field-specific courses in each specialization; and one elective.
Overall, the Program provides a comprehensive curriculum that incorporates the School of Health Policy and Management’s interdisciplinary perspectives on health policy and equity, health management and digital health. In pursuing their interests, students have the opportunity to link into existing and ongoing faculty research
The minimum program time limit is outlined in the table below.
| Master's | |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 3 terms |
| Part-time | 6 terms |
(Note: 3 terms = 1 academic year running from September to August.)
MA students will:
- Articulate a systematic understanding of leading-edge multi-disciplinary concepts, approaches and issues in the study of health policy and equity problems; including, relevant knowledge from outside the field
- Comprehend and demonstrate understanding of methodology -- how analytical frameworks are used with different research methods -- to assess and analyze literature and data about health issues, policies, norms, laws, organizations, services, systems and the social determinants of health.
- Demonstrate competence with employing methodology / analytical frameworks in a research study and show the ability to carry out original research that demonstrates originality in the application of knowledge and the ability to develop and support a sustained argument..
- Demonstrate autonomous initiative in complex situations, intellectual independence and engagement with the field, ethical behavior and academic integrity necessary for employment.
- Demonstrate initiative, personal responsibility and accountability, the capacity for complex decision-making, and intellectual independence necessary for employment; Exhibit ethical behaviour consistent with academic integrity and the use of appropriate guidelines and procedures for responsible conduct of research; and show ability to appreciate the broader implications of sharing and applying knowledge to particular contexts and receiving feedback in a constructive manner.
- Clearly and effectively communicate ideas and issues and to justify findings and conclusions about health research questions in oral, written, chart and diagram formats.
- Articulate awareness of the complexity of knowledge and of the potential contributions of other interpretations, methods, and disciplines/perspectives.
| Type of Course | Master's Program |
|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | Two 3.0 credit courses selected from (HLTH 5010, 5020, 5030, 5040 and 6245) HLTH 5405 3.0 Graduate Research Methods (required) |
| Field Specific Courses | Two 3.0 credit courses (6 credits total) Health Policy & Equity field will select from (HLTH 6210, 6220, 6230 and 5485) Health Systems Management and Health Data Analytics field will select from (HLTH 5050, 5420, 6240 and 6270) |
| Elective Courses | One 3.0 credit course ( 3 credits total) See note 1 below |
| Total | Six 3.0 credit courses (total of 18 credits) |
| Additional Non-credit Degree Requirements | MRP Proposal Major Research Paper |
** Additional non-credit degree requirements for MA students can be found below.
Notes:
- MA students may take one 3.0 credit course from other graduate programs at York University to fulfill their elective requirement of 3.0 credits, only with the Program Director’s approval.
Only those students completing a stand-alone MA must complete the Major Research Paper.
Major Research Paper
The research paper tests MA students against the educational objectives of being able to form an original researchable question, and to address it through an appropriate theoretical framework, review and synthesis of the literature, analysis of primary or secondary data sources and formation of a set of conclusions. It trains students in the formulation and writing of a specific project, and gives students the experience of working independently on a project under faculty supervision. Students develop a research topic given their interests in specific areas and are supervised by faculty members with related expertise. Please refer to the updated MRP Guidelines (.pdf).
The MRP is evaluated by the student’s MRP supervisor and advisor through the written work, and an oral presentation at which the student’s ability to answer questions related to the MRP will be assessed. The MRP is evaluated on the extent to which the student proposes an original researchable question, and her or his ability to address it through an appropriate theoretical framework, review and synthesis of the literature, analysis of primary or secondary data sources and formation of a set of conclusions. The length of the MRP is 50 pages with an upper limit of no more than 65 pages, excluding references.
PhD
- The PhD degree in the Graduate Program in Health can be pursued on either a full-time or part-time basis, yet the maximum time for program completion is within 6 years.`
- Courses are delivered through seminar format, in-person
- Students pursue one area of specialization: 1) Health Policy and Equity or 2) Health System Management & Health Data Analytics
The specialized field in Health Policy and Equity (HP&E) is designed to ask questions and challenge assumptions that everyone accessing health care is treated equally, or has an equitable chance at good health. Equity approaches are concerned with disparities, inequalities and inequities amongst population groups and individuals that are “avoidable, unfair and unjust” (Whitehead, M 1992). The field considers the determinants of inequity such as gender, poverty, age, race/ethnicity, migration status, and social exclusion. The emphasizes is placed on analysis and promotion of equity in health and policy by examining how societal, economic, political, and social structures and processes influence health and policy. Attention is given to how public policy shapes the social inequalities that cause disease and/or inequities in the organization and delivery of care. We offer an environment that encourages critical inquiry and debate that aims to expose, critique, and address the societal and system forces that shape health. The interdisciplinary program is social science-oriented and draws upon various disciplines including educational theory, health studies, political economy, philosophy, political science, psychology and sociology, among others. The degrees within this field incorporate an exploration of health and social justice issues at the local, national and international levels. Examples of various issues that are incorporated include: the relationship of precarious employment and health status; women’s health issues; seniors’ health and long-term care; health of racialized/immigrant communities; mental health care/policy; issues of ethics as they apply to biomedicine; legal consciousness and human rights and health law. Graduate of H&PE have joined for careers in universities, governments, and agencies and institutions concerned with promoting health and improving health care through public policy action.
The specialized field in Health System Management & Health Data Analytics (HM & HDA) uniquely brings these two areas together to examine the nature of data and evidence, and the complexity of decision making in the health system context. The WHO defines a health system as all activities whose primary purpose is to promote, restore or maintain health. Health system management focuses on decisions pertaining to how a health system is organized, managed, and delivered. Data Analytics refers to integration of heterogenous sources of data, drawing inferences to enable various types of decision-making. These areas are brought together in this specialized field given the practical reality that health systems are dynamic, complex, open systems that interact with the political and social environments external to those system. Managerial decision making in this context is therefore complex. This specialized field seeks to contribute knowledge regarding both the technological and the socio-political aspects of how health system decisions are made and how system change occurs (or why it sometimes fails to occur). This novel interdisciplinary approach to health sector decision making is vital for improving and sustaining rapidly evolving health systems and draws from disciplines like organizational sciences (organizational behaviour, theory and psychology), information sciences (management, decision making, implementation), and informatics (engineering and data sciences) and also includes critical sociological/political perspectives. Applicants from applied disciplines, healthcare practitioners and professionals in clinical and managerial roles are encouraged to apply. In all these cases, individuals will have a strong interest in the application and use of knowledge and data in health system decision making. Graduates from this program would be able to addresses the growing need for digital fluency, information literacy and knowledge in the era of data wealth and evidence to help optimize decision making and improve performance outcomes across the health system.
The minimum time limit is outlined in the table below.
| PhD | |
|---|---|
| Full-time | 12 terms |
| Part-time | 12 terms |
(Note: 3 terms = 1 academic year running from September to August.)
- Articulate a thorough understanding of a substantial body of multi-disciplinary concepts, approaches and issues at the leading edge of the field to inform the study of health policy and equity; including, relevant knowledge from outside the field.
- Select from and apply -- with a measure of autonomy -- multi-disciplinary concepts, approaches and issues to inform the research process (framing of research questions, collection of data, the analysis of findings; and the formulation of a discussion and conclusions) in a way that confirms, refines or extends knowledge in the field of health policy and equity.
- Conceptualize, justify, design and implement a feasible study (including navigating theoretical/practical/ethical challenges and revising design and analysis as needed) that generates new knowledge of a quality that satisfies peer review and merits presentation / publication.
- Demonstrate qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment including responsibility and largely autonomous initiative in complex situations; intellectual independence and engagement with the field and current to the field; ethical behaviour and academic integrity in the conduct of teaching and research; Ability to understand, receive, provide and act on constructive peer review; and evaluate the broader implications of sharing and applying knowledge in and to particular contexts.
- Clearly and effectively communicate complex and abstract ideas and issues, and comprehensively justify findings and conclusions about health research questions in oral, written, chart and diagram formats.
- Appreciate the limitations of one’s own work, training, and discipline, as well as the complexity of knowledge, and of the potential contributions of other interpretations, methods, and disciplines/perspectives
| Type of Course | PhD (students entering with a Master's degree) | PhD (students admitted with MA in Health from York University) |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | Two 3.0 credit courses selected from (HLTH 5010, 5020, 5030, 5040 and 6245) HLTH 5405 3.0 Graduate Research Methods (might be required) See note 1 | Two 3.0 credit courses selected from (HLTH 5010, 5020, 5030, 5040 and 6245) HLTH 5405 3.0 Graduate Research Methods (might be required) See note 1 |
| Field Specific Courses | Two 3.0 credit courses (6 credits total) Health Policy & Equity field will select from (HLTH 6210, 6220, 6230 and 5485) Health Systems Management and Health Data Analytics field will select from (HLTH 5050, 5420, 6240 and 6270) | Refer to available course selection and discuss with Graduate Program Director; see note 4 |
| Elective Courses | Two 3.0 credit courses (6 credits total) See note 2 and 3 below | Up to two 3.0 credit courses (6 credits total) in another York graduate program |
| Total | Seven 3.0 credit courses (total of 21 credits) | Four 3.0 credit courses (12 credits total) with at least two from Health program |
| Additional Non-credit Degree Requirements ** | Comprehensive Papers and Exam Dissertation Proposal Dissertation | Comprehensive Papers and Exam Dissertation Proposal Dissertation |
** Additional non-credit degree requirements for PhD students can be found below.
Notes:
- If prior to admission, PhD students entering with a Master’s have not taken a graduate level methodology course, HLTH 5405 3.0 is a requirement; (total of 24 credits)
- PhD students may take one 3.0 credit course from other graduate programs at York University to fulfill their elective credits, contingent on the Graduate Program Director’s approval.
- PhD students in the Health System Management & Health Data Analytics field without a graduate level statistics course must take one as an elective.
- PhD students — who hold an MA in Health from York University — are required to complete four 3.0 credit graduate courses. With the Graduate Program Director's approval, students may take up to two 3.0 courses from other graduate programs at York University to fulfill their elective requirements
- A unique admission to the PhD program, with qualifications other than a master's degree, must take ten 3.0 credit courses within the first two years of study
Students in the PhD program complete: (1) Comprehensive Exam and (2) Dissertation proposal and final dissertation, as noted below. All PhD students must abide by FGS requirements for completing their chosen program of study within 18 terms.
- Comprehensive Examination
- Dissertation Proposal
- Dissertation
After successful completion of the comprehensive examination, PhD students will focus on the dissertation process. The dissertation makes an original contribution to scholarship in the student’s specified field. The dissertation process has several stages:
- The establishment of a Supervisory Committee, if different from the comprehensive examination committee. The committee consists of three faculty members, at least two of whom will be members of the Graduate Program in Health. The third member may be appointed to a Graduate Program other than Health;
- The preparation of a dissertation proposal, which must be approved by the Program Director, the Supervisory Committee, and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
- The writing of a dissertation acceptable to the Supervisory Committee and formally approved as examinable by the members of that committee;
- The successful completion of an oral examination, centered on the dissertation and matters related to it, and presided over by an Examining Committee recommended by the program director for approval and appointment by the Faculty of Graduate Studies.
Learn More
The Graduate Program in Health at York is an exciting environment to pursue innovative, socially engaging, career-ready education. Contact our Graduate Program Assistant to learn more.