Program: Graduate Diploma in Community and Public Health - McMaster University

Apr 05, 2025

School of Graduate Studies Calendar, 2023-2024

In keeping with McMaster University’s purpose of advancing human and societal health and well-being, the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) offers the Graduate Diploma in Community and Public Health (GDCPH) that draws on the strengths of the MPH and Public Health Preventative Medicine Program.

The Graduate Diploma in Community and Public Health is delivered exclusively online, providing professionals and aspiring professionals in social service, mental health and public health roles, as well as recent graduate students, with the knowledge, skills and expansive network they need to forge a rewarding career in community and public health.
GDCPH learners will complete coursework in Foundations of Community Health and Policy (PUBHLTH 717), Epidemiology and Research Methods in Community Health (PUBHLTH 718), Knowledge Translation for Community Health (PUBHLTH 719) and Planning and Evaluation for Population and Community Health (PUBHLTH 720), and will make the most of an innovative online curriculum, combining synchronous discussions and asynchronous components. GDCPH courses are taught by world-class faculty whose research programs inform public health policy and practice locally, nationally and internationally.

As one of Canada’s best schools for public health education, McMaster University’s aim is not simply to arm its learners with a graduate diploma, but to empower them to tackle the most pressing community and public health issues of our time with confidence, conviction and compassion.

Enquiries:
E-mail: gdcph@mcmaster.ca
Website: https://gdcph.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/

Admission

Applicants need to meet the admission requirements for entry into Graduate Studies at McMaster University, including:

Completion (or expected completion) of a 4-year undergraduate program in any discipline.
B+ average (75-79%, equivalent to a McMaster 8.5 grade point average) in the final year of undergraduate study.
Completion of a statistics or mathematics undergraduate course with B+ standing.
Additional evidence (CV and Letter of Interest) attesting to suitability for GDCPH study as reflected in work experience, relevance of academic background, and letters of recommendation.
Two confidential academic letters of recommendation from instructors or research supervisors most familiar with your academic work are required.
Applicants whose native language is not English must provide evidence of proficiency in the use of the English language. An official copy of your TOEFL score, or other evidence of competency in English is required. A minimum TOEFL (iBT) score of 92 (580 on the paper-based TOEFL test or 237 on the computer-based TOEFL test) is required. Students taking the IELTS test are required to achieve a minimum score of 6.5 with a minimum score of 5.5 in each category.

Meeting the minimum admissions requirements does not guarantee admission into the GDCPH. The admissions process is competitive.

Further details of the admission requirements and procedure are available at: https://gdcph.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/

Requirements

GDCPH students complete the diploma online on a part-time basis. There is no requirement for students to be available on the McMaster campus. Students must have suitable access to internet and computing, and may be required to participate in lectures and online tutorial sessions during business hours on Eastern Standard Time. To be awarded the GDCPH, students are required to complete the following four 3.0-unit online courses with minimum B- standing (70%). The courses must be completed consecutively.

Program Duration

Program duration is normally 16 months. Except by permission of the program director students may take no more than one course concurrently and must complete the courses in the order listed above. Each course is offered once per academic year. Specific policies and procedures governing the GDCPH are provided on the website: https://gdcph.healthsci.mcmaster.ca/