Eligibility Criteria
A candidate for the Ph.D. degree must comply with the School of Graduate Studies Regulations for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy, including the completion of two and one-half full graduate courses beyond the B.Sc. or three additional half courses beyond those required for the Master’s degree. The three half courses must include at least one 700-level half course in Medical Sciences, but may include one 600- and one or two 700-level half courses normally in the Faculty of Science or Faculty of Engineering. When appropriate, a maximum of two Health Research Methodology or Nursing half courses may be taken as Prescribed Graduate Courses from the B.Sc. to the level of Ph.D. For those students entering the Ph.D. program with a Master’s, a maximum of one Health Research Methodology or Nursing half course may be taken. Only one 600-level half course offered by the Faculty of Science or Faculty of Engineering can be included within the two and one-half minimum course requirement.
Candidates must also:
Obtain at least B- standing in course work.
Pass a Comprehensive Examination before the end of the twenty-first month following the start of their doctoral studies at McMaster. The examination, which consists of a written and oral part, gives students an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to acquire information about major issues in biomedical sciences and to critically evaluate such information. Students will be formally examined on two topics. One of the topics will be oriented toward basic science, while the other will be related to human disease. Further information regarding the comprehensive examination is contained in the Medical Sciences Graduate Program Comprehensive Examination, Purpose and Procedure booklet which is available in the Health Sciences Graduate Programs Office.
Present a thesis on an approved topic and defend the thesis at a final oral examination.