Health and Aging, M.A.

M.A. Degree

Admission

The M.A. offers students a critical social science perspective and an interdisciplinary approach to the study of health and aging. Admission to the M.A. degree program requires an average of B+ or better in an undergraduate Honours Bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Upon admission, students will be accepted into the one year course work and research paper option. Students must apply for the two-year course work and thesis option during the first term of their studies.

Degree Requirements

Students will have two options for completing their M.A.

A. Course Work and Research Paper Option (one year)

Students will be required to complete six (6) half courses, including:

HLTH AGE 701 Social Science Disciplines and Theory in Health and Aging
ONE of: HLTH AGE 716 / Quantitative Research Methods in Studies of Health and Aging OR HLTH AGE 714 / Qualitative and Historical Methods in Studies of Health and Aging
ONE of: HLTH AGE 713 Critical Perspectives on Aging OR HLTH AGE 715 Critical Perspectives in Health & Society
Two elective courses offered by Health, Aging & Society (HLTH AGE 713 , 714 , 715 , 716 , or any other 700-level HLTH AGE course)
One elective course offered by Health, Aging & Society (HLTH AGE 713 , 714 , 715 , 716 , or any other 700-level HLTH AGE course) OR by another department or academic unit (provided that permission has been obtained from those departments or academic units).
A research paper (7500-8500 words, excluding references) supervised by a core or associate faculty member. The research paper will be read by the supervisor and another faculty member. If the supervisor is an associate member, then the second reader must be a core faculty member selected by the supervisor in consultation with the student.

B. Course Work and Thesis Option (two years)

Students will be required to complete four (4) half courses, including:

HLTH AGE 701 Social Science Disciplines and Theory in Health and Aging
ONE of: HLTH AGE 716 Quantitative Research Methods in Studies of Health and Aging OR HLTH AGE 714 Qualitative and Historical Methods in Studies of Health and Aging
ONE of: HLTH AGE 713 Critical Perspectives on Aging OR HLTH AGE 715 Critical Perspectives in Health & Society
One elective course offered by Health, Aging & Society (HLTH AGE 713 , 714 , 715 , 716 , or any other 700-level HLTH AGE course) OR by another department or academic unit (provided that permission has been obtained from those departments or academic units).
A thesis that involves original and independent research (20,000-25,000 words excluding references) supervised by a core faculty member or an associate member if approved by the graduate committee. The thesis will be orally examined by a committee including the supervisor and two other faculty selected by the thesis supervisor in consultation with the student.