Medical Sciences, M.Sc.

M.Sc. Degree

Requirements

The requirements for the M.Sc. degree appear under the Regulations for the Master’s degree near the beginning of this Calendar. A candidate for the M.Sc. degree is required to spend at least one calendar year in full-time study at McMaster University.

McMaster’s Postgraduate Medical Education Program allows Clinician Investigator Program trainees have the opportunity to undertake a Master’s or Ph.D. degree as a full-time student (please refer to the Handbook for CIP trainees and the HSGP Policy re CIP Applicants; separate applications are required for both).

The candidate must complete, with at least B- standing, at least one 3.0 unit, 700-level graduate half course in Medical Sciences, usually lasting one term, and one 3.0 unit graduate-level half course in Medical Sciences or any other Faculty (with approval from the supervisory committee and Assistant Dean of Medical Sciences). Medical Sciences MSc course requirements are expected to follow Section 2.6.4 of the Graduate Calendar. The candidate is also required to present a thesis, which embodies the results of original research. In a final oral examination the candidate will be required to defend the thesis.

All graduate students in Medical Sciences are expected to present at least one research seminar during their M.Sc. studies.

Transfer to Ph.D.

Following two terms after initial registration in the Master’s program, students may request to be transferred (reclassified) to the Ph.D. program. The candidate must present requests for transfer to the supervisor and the Supervisory Committee and all must be in agreement to proceed with the transfer. To remain consistent with Graduate Calendar policy, students enrolled in the Master’s program beyond 22 months must complete the MSc degree requirements including all course work and the thesis defense prior to admission to the Ph.D. program. As such, all students seeking reclassification to the Ph.D. program from the M.Sc. program must receive approval to transfer do so before going beyond 22 months following registration in the M.Sc. program. Approval to transfer will be determined following the supervisory committee meeting at which permission to transfer was requested.

Candidates who intend to transfer to the PhD program without completion of a Master’s degree must have presented at least one research seminar prior to transferring.