M.Sc. Thesis Epidemiology
Students will study the foundations and principles of epidemiology and applied biostatistics, in order to design, conduct, and analyze clinical, population-based, environmental, policy, and methodological health-related research. Graduates will be prepared to engage in scientific collaboration, and communicate results to other scientists and diverse audiences.
For eligible clinicians: there is the possibility of completing the program in one year. Please see "M.Sc. intensive for clinicians" tab.
Program Requirements
Thesis Course (21 credits)
Required Courses (21 credits)
Students exempted from any of the courses listed below must replace them with additional complementary course credits.
Complementary Course (3 credits)
3 credits of coursework, at the 500 level or higher, chosen in consultation with the student's academic adviser or supervisor.
Core learning objectives
The general objective of the core teaching program in epidemiology is to introduce students to the principles and methods of epidemiologic research in order to enable them to design, conduct, analyze, and interpret epidemiologic research. Upon the completion of their MSc degree, students should have acquired an understanding of the following broad topics:
- the contribution of epidemiology and biostatistics to health research
- design, conduct, and analysis of epidemiologic studies
- critical appraisal of epidemiologic studies, synthesis and integration of epidemiologic research, and causal inference in epidemiologic research
- communication of scientific results
In addition, students should have acquired a basic knowledge of some substantive epidemiology, including a general appreciation of broad public health problems in Canada and internationally.
Students in the thesis program complete 24 credits of coursework and submit a thesis (21 credits). A thesis for the Master's degree must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to carry out research and to organize results. The thesis must be expressed in good literate style. An exhaustive review of work in the particular field of study is not necessarily required, nor is original scholarship necessarily expected. As an alternative to the traditional thesis format, the thesis can consist of one or more manuscripts. The student must be the first author in at least one of the manuscripts describing the major contribution of the thesis research. If this option is chosen, all components must be integrated into a cohesive unit with a logical progression from one chapter to the next; connecting text that provides logical bridges preceding and following each manuscript is mandatory.
M.Sc. thesis research involving human participants, animal subjects, microorganisms, living cells, biohazards, and/or radioactive materials, must have the appropriate compliance certification. Students must apply for Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval themselves or, if appropriate, have IRB approval to be included under the supervisor's IRB approval. In addition, all students must complete the in order to graduate. Supervisors may add students directly to their existing approved IRB protocols. IRB approval (or a waiver from a McGill IRB committee) is required for graduation.
Program Milestones
Nomination of Supervisor
Students will need to identify an academic supervisor and thesis committee no later than 15 February of their first year of study. The supervisor should be a faculty member in the department who has primary supervisory privileges. If the supervisor and student determine that a co-supervisor is beneficial, this co-supervisor can be either from the department or from outside the department. There must be a minimum of two McGill-affiliated faculty members on the thesis committee.
Forms
Graduate Student Research Progress Tracking
Completed tracking forms are required to demonstrate a student’s satisfactory progress in the MSc program as of May 15 of their first year of study. Tracking forms must be submitted to the gradcoord1.eboh [at] mcgill.ca by November 15 and May 15 each year until thesis submission.
Forms
Research proposal
Students must submit a research proposal to the SAO no later than September 1 of their second year of study.
MSc Epidemiology Thesis Proposal
M.Sc. theses will be read and evaluated by an external examiners and will be given a pass-fail grade. If the examiner has given a failing grade to the M.Sc. thesis, full instructions on how to proceed will be sent to the candidate, the supervisor and the unit head by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
A public presentation of the M.Sc. thesis work (at a scientific conference or at a seminar at McGill or elsewhere) is strongly recommended for all M.Sc. thesis students.
MSc Epidemiology Program Guide
Program Director:
Nicole.basta [at] mcgill.ca (Nicole Basta)
Program Advisor:
alton.russell [at] mcgill.ca (Alton Russell)
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M.Sc. Intensive for Clinicians
Students will study the foundations and principles of epidemiology and applied biostatistics, in order to design, conduct, and analyze clinical, population-based, environmental, policy, and methodological health-related research. Graduates will be prepared to engage in scientific collaboration, and communicate results to other scientists and diverse audiences.
Thesis Course (21 credits)
Required Courses (21 credits)
Students exempted from any of the courses listed below must replace them with additional complementary course credits.
Complementary Course (3 credits)
3 credits of coursework, at the 500 level or higher, chosen in consultation with the student's academic adviser or supervisor.
Core learning objectives
This document 
MSc Epeidemiology Program GuideÌýoutlines objectives of the core program for all M.Sc. students registered in the epidemiology program. The document was designed to facilitate the planning of courses and other learning activities, and to help students identify learning objectives. The objectives presented here may be met in a variety of ways: course work, the conduct of the thesis or non-thesis M.Sc. project, other research and participation in other academic activities such as departmental seminars.
Students in the thesis program complete 24 credits of coursework and submit a thesis (21 credits). A thesis for the Master's degree must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to carry out research and to organize results. The thesis must be expressed in good literate style. An exhaustive review of work in the particular field of study is not necessarily required, nor is original scholarship necessarily expected. As an alternative to the traditional thesis format, the thesis can consist of one or more papers of which the student is an author or co-author. If this option is chosen, all components must be integrated into a cohesive unit with a logical progression from one chapter to the next; connecting text that provides logical bridges preceding and following each manuscript is mandatory.
To be considered for admission, students interested in the intensive M.Sc. for clinicians option must have identified a Departmental supervisor or co-supervisor as well as a thesis topic at the time of application. The proposed thesis must use data already collected to allow for the completion of all the requirements for the M.Sc. by the end of August of the year after admission to the program. It is also expected that successful applicants will not be required to have any clinical duties during the 12 month period of study.
Applicants to the intensive M.Sc. for clinicians option must contact Dr. Pierre Ernst (see contact details below) for further information and to assure that the planned research program meets all requirements of the M.Sc. thesis program.
M.Sc. theses involving human participants, animal subjects, microorganisms, living cells, biohazards, and/or radioactive materials, must include the appropriate compliance certification. Supervisors may add students directly to their existing approved IRB protocols. IRB approval (or a waiver from a McGill IRB committee) is required for graduation.
Completed progress and tracking forms are required to demonstrate satisfactory progress in the M.Sc. program (see website for details: /epi-biostat-occh/student-affairs/academic-information/policies
M.Sc. theses will be read and evaluated by an external examiners and will be given a pass-fail grade. If the examiner has given a failing grade to the M.Sc. thesis, full instructions on how to proceed will be sent to the candidate, the supervisor and the unit head by Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.
A public presentation of the M.Sc. thesis work (at a scientific conference or at a seminar at McGill or elsewhere) is strongly recommended for all M.Sc. thesis students.
M.Sc. Intensive Advisor:
pierre.ernst [at] mcgill.ca (subject: M.Sc.%20Epidemiology%20Intensive%20Program%20for%20Clinicians%20inquiry) (Pierre Ernst)
Program Advisor:
alton.russell [at] mcgill.ca (Alton Russell)
Program Director:
nicole.basta [at] mcgill.ca (Nicole Basta)