Faculty of Health Sciences

https://healthsci.mcmaster.ca/

DEAN AND VICE-PRESIDENT

P. O’Byrne/M.B., F.R.C.P.I., F.R.C.P.C., F.R.C.P.E., F.R.C.P. (Glasg), F.A.P.C., F.C.C.P., F.E.R.S., F.R.S.C.

EXECUTIVE VICE-DEAN AND ASSOCIATE VICE-PRESIDENT ACADEMIC

S.D. Denburg/B.A., M.A., Ph.D.

VICE DEAN, RESEARCH

J.L. Bramson/B.Sc., Ph.D. (McGill), Canada Research Chair in Translational Cancer Immunology

VICE DEAN, CLINICAL SERVICES

W. Orovan/B.Sc., M.B.A., M.D., F.R.C.S.(C), F.A.C.S.

VICE DEAN, EDUCATION

R. Whyte/M.D., M.Ed., F.R.C.P.(C)

VICE DEAN (NURSING)

S. Carroll/B.Sc., Ph.D. (McMaster), R.N.

VICE DEAN, FACULTY OF HEALTH SCIENCES & ASSOCIATE DEAN OF GRADUATE STUDIES (HEALTH SCIENCES)

S.E. Hanna/B.Sc, M.Sc, Ph.D. (Western)

VICE DEAN (REHABILITATION SCIENCE)

D. Brooks/B.Sc.PT, M.Sc., Ph.D.

For information concerning Health Sciences education programs and admission requirements, contact:

Office of the Registrar
McMaster University
Gilmour Hall, Room 108
Hamilton, Ontario, L8S 4L8
Telephone (905) 525-4600
http://future.mcmaster.ca

Overview

The concept of Health Sciences Education is based on the view that health is a broad subject encompassing both the problems of ill health and the impact of biology, environment and lifestyle on health. Each health sciences program has specific educational requirements, but by learning together in shared facilities there exists an opportunity to establish effective interprofessional working relationships.

The programs in the Faculty attempt to meet these goals through a variety of learning approaches. Emphasis is placed on problem-based, small group learning experiences and inquiry. Other approaches to learning, including interdisciplinary educational experiences, are used where appropriate.

In July 1974, the School of Nursing and the School of Medicine were brought together to form the Faculty of Health Sciences. In 1989, the School of Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy (School of Rehabilitation Science) was added and in 1993 the Midwifery Education Program was established. A further innovation was the implementation of the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program in 2000, followed by the establishment of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Physician Assistant) in 2008. The Faculty introduced in 2014, the Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization Program, which has an optional fifth-year Masters degree component beyond the Bachelor’s degree. The Faculty of Health Sciences joined with the Faculty of Engineering in 2017 to jointly offer the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program (IBEHS) which lead to a B.Eng.BME, or a B.H.Sc. (Honours) Health, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) degree. In 2019, the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-Op transferred to the Faculty of Health Sciences from the Faculty of Science. The Faculty offers the following undergraduate degree programs: Doctor of Medicine (MD), Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.Sc.N.), Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) (B.H.Sc. Honours) with specializations available in Biomedical Sciences and Child Health, Bachelor of Health Sciences in Midwifery (B.H.Sc.), Bachelor of Health Sciences in Physician Assistant (B.H.Sc.), Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (B.H.Sc. Honours) and most recently the Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-Op Program (B.H.Sc. Honours).

In addition to its undergraduate programs, the Faculty of Health Sciences also has responsibility for Residency Programs in Postgraduate Medical Education.  The Clinician Investigator Program (CIP) allows Residents in the Royal College of Physician and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) specialty or subspecialty program to do research as a key component of their medical career.  The CIP at McMaster University is one of the largest Clinical Investigator Training Programs in Canada.

The University offers eight distinct research-oriented graduate programs in Health Sciences. Both Masters and Ph.D. programs are offered in: Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, Chemical Biology, Health Research Methodology, Medical Sciences, Neurosciences, Nursing and Rehabilitation Sciences. Masters degrees are offered in: Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization, Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care, eHealth, Global Health, Health Science Education, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Public Health and Speech-Language Pathology.  A Ph.D. is also available in Health Policy.  

The Faculty of Health Sciences developed the MD/PhD Program to bridge the gap between medical sciences and clinical application and train the future leaders of healthcare. The program is uniquely structured to allow optimal integration of medical education and research training that starts on the first day and extends throughout this 7 year program.

The Faculty of Health Sciences collaborates with the Division of Health Sciences at Mohawk College in educational programs for other health professions based at the College. Research programs encompassing the broad spectrum of health have been established, including basic and applied research and various aspects of health-care delivery. The graduate programs in medical sciences are related to the various areas of health research.

The Health Sciences Centre at McMaster provides educational and research facilities for medicine, nursing and other health professions. It includes a teaching hospital (the McMaster Site of Hamilton Health Sciences) with extensive ambulatory clinics for primary and specialized aspects of patient care. The building has been designed to bring into close proximity the programs for the various health professions and to integrate the facilities for education, research and patient care in the Faculty of Health Sciences.

In addition to the Health Sciences Centre, education, research and clinical programs are based at other Hamilton Health Sciences sites (Chedoke, General, Juravinski), St. Joseph’s Centre for Mountain Health Services, St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Peter’s Hospital, Juravinski Cancer Centre and the Health Sciences Education Centre, Mohawk College. Extensive use is made of a variety of community agencies. In accordance with the plan to coordinate the development of specialized health services among the Hamilton and District hospitals, the Postgraduate Education programs in medicine have been developed on a regional basis.

Undergraduate Health Sciences Education Programs

Admission and Registration

Application to any program in the Faculty of Health Sciences implies acceptance on the part of the applicant of the admission policies and procedures, and the methods by which applicants are chosen for the Health Sciences programs.

Registration in any program in the Faculty of Health Sciences implies acceptance on the part of the student of the objectives of that program and the methods by which progress toward the achievement of those objectives is evaluated.

The following describes the regulations governing admission and registration in the Health Sciences programs, and should be considered in conjunction with specific admission requirements described on the following pages for: the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) program (B.H.Sc. Honours), Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biochemistry (Honours) programs (B.H.Sc.Honours), Bachelor of Health Sciences in Biomedical Discovery and Commercialization (Honours) program (B.H.Sc. Honours), Bachelor of Health Sciences in Health, Engineering Sciences and Entrepreneurship Specialization (Honours) in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences program (B.H.Sc. Honours), Honours Biology and Pharmacology Co-Op Program (B.H.Sc.), School of Medicine (MD), Bachelor of Health Sciences, Midwifery Education program (B.H.Sc.), Bachelor of Science, Nursing (B.Sc.N.) and the Physician Assistant Education program (B.H.Sc.). The following application deadlines are strictly enforced. Deadline dates re for consideration of admission to a program in the following September.

The University reserves the right to change the admission requirements at any time without notice.

As places in the degree programs of the Faculty of Health Sciences are limited, admission is by selection, and possession of published minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. The University, therefore, reserves the right to grant admission to a limited number of students, and to refuse readmission to any student whose academic performance or general conduct has been unsatisfactory, or who has withdrawn from the program for a period in excess of one academic year.

An evaluation of Unsatisfactory in the School of Medicine signifies that the student has failed to meet these objectives and the University may require the student to withdraw from the School at any time.

The University reserves the right to require the withdrawal of a student should his or her conduct so warrant.

Falsification of Admission Information

An applicant supplying documentation or evidence which, at the time, or subsequently, is found to be falsified will be withdrawn from consideration. Any student admitted to the program having submitted false evidence will be withdrawn.

Health Screening Record for Admission

Before registering in a clinically based program, students must submit a McMaster Faculty of Health Sciences Health Screening Record. This form details a student’s immunization history and tuberculosis (TB) screening. It must be completed by a health care professional and submitted before the submission deadline. More detailed information will be provided upon acceptance into the program or visit https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/healthscreening/index.html.

Police Records Check

Incoming students must provide an original Police Records Check, including Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS). International or Visa students are required to provide an original Police Certificate from each country or territory they have resided for more than six months consecutively for the past five years. More detailed information will be provided upon acceptance into the program or visit https://fhs.mcmaster.ca/pcbe/police_records_check.html.

Clinical Course Requirements

Where the performance of the student in clinical practice may jeopardize or endanger the welfare of the patient or the patient’s family, the student may be removed from clinical experience any time during the academic year, until continuation in the course is reviewed.

Information and Academic Counseling

In certain programs, a faculty member is selected for each student in the September of entry to a degree program and provides each student with advice on evaluations, electives and other educational needs throughout the program. Changes in advisors may be entertained as each student becomes acquainted with Faculty well enough to choose his or her own advisor. The academic advisory role for B.Sc.N. students is fulfilled by the Coordinator of Studies (Nursing). Students are also encouraged to consult individual faculty members regarding career planning.

Transportation

Students are responsible for expenses involved in transporting themselves to community agencies, making home visits, or in connection with clinical study.

License to Practice

All graduates who wish to engage in clinical practice in any of medicine, midwifery, nursing, occupational therapy and physiotherapy are subject to any qualifying examinations and other requirements by the licensing bodies for each of these professions. In addition students should be aware that a license may be denied if they have been convicted of a criminal offence for which a pardon has not been granted. A student in such a position should consult the respective licensing body about such a situation.

Transferring to Graduate with a Three-Year B.H.Sc. Degree from the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) stream of the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program

Students who successfully complete at least 90 units including all admission requirements and program-specific course requirements up to the end of Level III of the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) Program, Engineering Science and Entrepreneurship (HESE) stream of the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences Program, with a minimum Grade Point Average of 4.0 may request permission from the Integrated Biomedical Engineering and Health Sciences office for transfer to graduate with the B.H.Sc. (exit) degree.

Occupational Therapy Examination and Practice Preparation Project (OTepp)

The OTepp Certificate Program, in partnership with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT), aims to assist re-entry and internationally educated occupational therapists meet their learning needs in order to successfully transition into Canadian practice. 

For students who are unable to join the online class in real time, the sessions are recorded and archived, and can be viewed at the student’s convenience. This is an intense study experience where students are expected to complete readings in preparation for two 3 hour classes each week. Students who successfully complete the first four academic courses may engage in an eight-week practicum, supervised by a registered occupational therapist. Students who complete the entire program are awarded an undergraduate certificate from McMaster University. More information is available at http://www.otepp.ca/.