Community Health Sciences
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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Program overview
Students in Community Health Sciences pursue solutions to complex problems in a wide range of big-picture health issues. This is one of the most diverse medicine programs offered by the University of Calgary, representing individual, family and population health in variety of healthcare, education and community settings. Students gain a strong foundation in core competencies in research and professional practice, with applied learning gained through interactions in clinical settings. Specializations touch on wide-ranging issues in community and population health and disease, health services, disabilities and more, preparing students for careers that require a deep understanding of - and the skills to act on - the many factors and relationships that affect community health.
Outcomes and next steps
Analyst; researcher; academic; rehabilitation/case/respite worker; consultant; recreation therapist; family outreach/advocacy; resource teacher; clinical trials biostatistician; epidemiologist; statistician; psychometrician; knowledge translation/prevention/development/health promotion specialist.
A PhD in community health sciences is usually considered a final degree; graduates may go on to pursue post-doctoral research.
Degree at a glance
Completion requirements
Thesis-based
Courses
Two or more, depending on specialization and background
Program requirements
Class delivery
Classroom
Commitment
Four to five years full-time; six years maximum
Supervisor
A supervisor is required, and must agree to oversee the student's research before admission will be granted
Fees and funding
Flat annual fee; funding may be offered
Related programs
If you're interested in this program, you might want to explore other UCalgary programs.
Supervisors
A supervisor is required for this program. The supervisor must agree to oversee the student's research prior to admission.
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Jessica Simon
- Advance Care Planning
- Palliative Care
unavailable
Kent Hecker
- Psychometrics and Neuro-education in Health Professional Education
seeking students
Kerry McBrien
- Health services research and health economics
accepting inquires
Kirsten Fiest
- Chronic Disease Epidemiology
accepting inquires
Maeve O'Beirne
- Patient Safety in community practices
accepting inquires
Melanie Rock
- critical public health, qualitative health research, human-animal studies, anthrozoology, anthropology, urban studies, policy studies
accepting inquires
Additional supervisors may be available. Contact the Faculty of Graduate Studies for more information.
Completion requirements
Courses
Courses are determined according to the specialization and background of the student.
Research Ethics
Students are required to attend Research Integrity Day sessions in the first year of their program.
Candidacy
Students will complete both oral and written candidacy exams.
Seminars
Students attend Community Health Sciences and O'Brien Institute for Public Health seminars during the academic year.
Research proposal
Students must submit a research proposal for approval by their supervisory committee.
Thesis
Students will be required to submit and defend an original research thesis.
Admission requirements and information
Requirements for the Community Health Sciences Program
GPA
A minimum of 3.3 GPA on a 4.0 point system, over the past two years of full-time study (a minimum of 10 full-course equivalents or 60 units) of the undergraduate degree.Minimum education
An MSc or equivalent.Work samples
None
Work/Research Experience
Work and/or research experience related to your specialization of choice is highly recommended.
Documents
- A letter from a faculty member indicating interest in supervising the student
- A statement outlining the applicant's interests and reasons for choosing the program
Reference letter
TwoTest scores
NoneEnglish language proficiency
An applicant whose primary language is not English may fulfill the English language proficiency requirement in one of the following ways:
- TOEFL score of 105 (Internet-based) or 600 (paper-based). Our institution code is 0813
- IELTS score of 7.5 (Academic version)
- MELAB score of 86, or higher
- PTE score of 75, or higher (Academic version)
- Tier 3 of the International Foundations Program with minimum grades of A,A,A (Writing & Grammar, Reading Comprehension, Listening Comprehension & Oral Fluency)
Deadlines
For admission on September 1
Canadian and permanent residentJan. 31 Application deadline
InternationalJan. 31 Application deadline
If you’re not a Canadian or permanent resident make sure to read and learn about international specific requirements
Tuition fees and funding
All graduate students must pay general fees each year, as well as program fees.
Fees
Estimate for full-time students
Canadian and
permanent resident
International
student
General fees
12 months of study
$1,830 CAD
$1,830 CAD
Program fees
First 12 months of study
$5,593 CAD
$12,695 CAD
Total fees
For first year of studies
$7,423 CAD
$14,525 CAD
What are annual continuing fees?
Domestic Continuing Fees: $1,627 CAD
International Continuing Fees: $3,693 CAD
Continuing fees apply in the first term following completion of candidacy requirements.
Funding availability
No guaranteed funding is offered. Students are encouraged to apply for external funding.
Fees listed here are estimates only, and have been rounded to the nearest dollar. These amounts should not be considered accurate. All amounts are in Canadian Dollars.
Fees are subject to change.
For more details and the most accurate information go to the Academic Calendar
For more general information, see our Fees and Funding Guide
Highlights of the Community Health Sciences Program
Pets, people and urban places
Melanie Rock's research recognizes intricate connections between the health of humans, animals and ecosystems
Understanding the public health impact of fluoridation
Lindsay McLaren has found that removing fluoride from drinking water has worsened tooth decay among Calgary children
MEDi robot comforting young patients
Dr. Tanya Beran, founder of Rxrobots, is studying children's interactions with robots in hospital settings
Learn more about this program
Cumming School of Medicine
Health Sciences Centre
Foothills Campus, University of Calgary
Calgary, ABT2N 4N1
Community Health Sciences - Graduate Studies
Health Science Centre, Room G345C
3330 Hospital Drive NW
Calgary, ABT2N 4N1
403.210.7051
Go to our contact page and connect with the right person to answer any questions you might have
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