Physiotherapy, M.Sc.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the M.Sc. (PT) Program, applicants will have completed a four-year baccalaureate degree or the equivalent number of courses (120 units/credits), and will have achieved a minimum grade-point average of “B+” or 77% or 3.0/4.0 or 8.0/12.0 in their final 60 units of credit. Post-graduate coursework is also considered in this GPA calculation. Applicants may apply during the fourth year of their degree. In this case, the pre-admission GPA for eligibility purposes is calculated using the most recent 60 units of credit towards their degree. If an applicant in this category is subsequently offered admission to the program, the offer is “conditional” upon successful completion of their four-year degree by June 30 in that year, and maintenance of a B+ average in their final 60 units of credit.

Additional requirements include:

A minimum of one (1) human anatomy course, at any level, with a grade of at least B+ (77%) or higher
A minimum of one (1) human physiology course, at any level, with a grade of at least B+ (77%) or higher
A minimum of one (1) statistics course, at any level, with a grade of at least B+ (77%) or higher
A minimum of one (1) humanities course, at any level, with a grade of at least B+ (77%) or higher

Please see Program website for more details regarding prerequisites.

An offer of admission is contingent upon a “clear” approved Police Records Check Vulnerable Sector Screen or approval by the Assistant Dean. This condition of admission follows the Police Records Check Policy - Faculty of Health Sciences that was approved in November 2013. Click here for the full policy

Application Procedure

Applicants are required to apply via the ORPAS on-line application service located at the Ontario Rehabilitation Sciences Programs Application Service (ORPAS), Guelph, Ontario website: http://www.ouac.on.ca/orpas/.

Applicant On-line Video Interview

All applicants who meet the required GPA admission requirements and pre-requisite courses will be invited to participate in an on-line, video-based interview comprised of a series of ‘mini interview’ questions. Once applicants have submitted their online application and paid the $40 video interview fee, the Program will notify applicants of the link to the video interview questions, instructions on how to complete the interview and the due date for completion of this component of the application. Please refer to the Program website for more details. Applicants will require an internet connection, a computer/laptop/phone with a functioning webcam and microphone to complete the on-line, video-based interview.

Education Equity: Indigenous Applicants
Each year, up to seven (7) Year 1 positions will be designated for applicants of Indigenous (First Nations, Inuit or Métis). Applicants should identify their Indigenous nation/citizenship when completing the ORPAS application.
Indigenous applicants will be required to meet the admissions requirements and will be required to provide proof of Indigenous nation/citizenship - see website for more details.

Indigenous applicants who have concerns about the technology requirements of the application process should contact the PT Program Coordinator.

Enquiries: 905 525-9140 Ext. 27859, PT Program Coordinator
Fax: 905 524-0069
Email: askPT@mcmaster.ca
Website: http://srs-mcmaster.ca

Graduates with a strong research bias may be eligible to proceed to thesis-based graduate programs should they wish to do so in the future.”

Program Requirements

Students will complete university-based course work, Clinical Education courses (clinical placements), an elective course and a research project. All students will be required to complete the equivalent of 23 required half-courses and one Program approved elective half-course over the five (5) units of full-time study, across two study years (24 months). All courses are required*, with the exception ofPHYSIOTH 797 , PHYSIOTH 798 or PHYSIOTH 799 , which are offered to students eligible for remediation.

*Note: The MSc(PT) Program offers a dual degree option in collaboration with Rehabilitation Sciences. For program fulfillment requirements for students enrolled in the dual degree option please see the Dual Degree section of the Graduate Calendar.

The University reserves the right to cancel academic privileges of a student at any time should the student’s scholastic record or conduct warrant so doing. Serious deficits in matters pertaining to work in clinical settings, research ethics or professionalism when interacting with human or other subjects may result in termination of the work in a clinical placement or research project. Unsatisfactory standing or serious deficits in matters pertaining to professional skills, which include but are not limited to patient safety, professionalism, ethical behavior and technical skills, as described in the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada (www.physiotherapy.ca), may result in a decision to terminate the clinical placement or research project. In most situations termination of the clinical placement or research project constitutes a failure and will result in the student receiving a grade of F in the Clinical Education course or the Research and Evidence-Based Practice course, and may result in dismissal from the program. For Health Sciences Graduate programs with clinical courses, all clinical activities associated with such courses must be successfully achieved for attainment of a passing grade in the course. Students will receive a Program Handbook, a Clinical Education Handbook and Unit Handbooks which provide additional information and details regarding procedures, guidelines and requirements. In the event of a discrepancy between these documents and the Graduate Calendar, the Graduate Calendar represents the official policy.

Review of Student Progress

The progress of students in the MSc (PT) Program is overseen by a team of McMaster faculty and registered therapists. Student progress in the program is regularly reviewed by a Program Academic Study Committee (PASC). The PASC’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to, determining if a student may proceed to the next unit of study.

The program may, in appropriate circumstances, defer a student’s clinical placement or remove a student from a clinical placement if the student, including but not limited to, fails to maintain timely and professional communication with the program, exhibits behaviours that place clients or others at risk, or fails to comply with other program (academic or non-academic) requirements (e.g., obtain and receive clearance for mandatory health screening, mask fit testing, etc.).

Deficits in matters pertaining to work in clinical settings, research ethics or professionalism may result in restrictions or termination of the work in a clinical placement or research project. Unsatisfactory standing or deficits in matters pertaining to professional skills, which include but are not limited to patient safety, professional and ethical behavior, and knowledge and skills, as described in the Essential Competency Profile for Physiotherapists in Canada (www.physiotherapy.ca), may result in a decision to terminate the clinical placement or research project. In most situations termination of the clinical placement or research project constitutes a failure and will result in the student receiving a grade of F in the Clinical Education course or the Research and Evidence-Based Physiotherapy Practice course, and may result in dismissal from the program.

Accreditation

The M.Sc. (PT) Program is accredited by the Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada (PEAC).

Regulation of Practice

All physiotherapists in Canada must be registered with the appropriate provincial regulatory body in order to practice in that province. Each regulatory body has a separate and distinct registration process; however, in all circumstances, a degree in physiotherapy is required. In Ontario, successful completion of the Physiotherapy Competency Examination (PCE, Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators) is also required.