MSc Program Requirements
- Students are required to successfully defend an MSc thesis, WACH 549 (18 credits).
- A total of 30 credits are required to graduate from this program.
- Students are required to take 12 credits of coursework.
- Mandatory courses are WACH 501 (3 credits) and WACH 502 (3 credits). These courses must be completed in your first year of study.
- Elective courses include WACH and OBST course codes, or others selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor/supervisory committee and Program Co-Directors.
- Prior to graduation and in consultation with their research supervisors, students can choose one of the following research streams: Women+ Health, Child Health, or Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (RDS). This stream will appear on the student’s transcript, but not on their parchment (degree).
- Students are encouraged to participate in optional career development activities including completing an Individual Development Plan (IDP), following the Competency Passport framework (ComPass), and participating in a mentorship program.
Students’ academic programs must be approved by the supervisory committee and the Program Co-Directors.
The expected time to completion is 2 years.
The minimum course requirements are 30 credits, of which at least 24 must be numbered 500 to 699. A maximum of 6 credits at the undergraduate level in courses numbered 300 to 499 may be counted toward the requirements of a 30-credit master’s degree.
Satisfactory progress policies for the WACH program can be reviewed here.
PhD Program Requirements
- Candidates are required to successfully defend a PhD dissertation, WACH 649 (0 credits).
- Students are required to take 12 credits of coursework.
- Mandatory courses are WACH 501 (3 credits) and WACH 502 (3 credits). These courses must be completed in your first year of study.
- Elective courses include WACH and OBST course codes, or others selected in consultation with the student’s supervisor/supervisory committee and Program Co-Directors.
- Students entering the program with an MSc must take WACH 501 and WACH 502, but can apply to the program to have other course requirements waived.
- Students are required to complete coursework, pass a comprehensive examination, and have their research proposal approved, to advance to candidacy within 36 months of registering in the program.
- Prior to graduation and in consultation with their research supervisors, students can choose one of the following research streams: Women+ Health, Child Health, or Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (RDS). This stream will appear on the student’s transcript, but not on their parchment (degree).
- Students are encouraged to participate in optional career development activities including completing an Individual Development Plan (IDP), following the Competency Passport framework (ComPass), and participating in a mentorship program.
Students’ academic programs must be approved by the supervisory committee and the Program Co-Directors.
The expected time to completion is 5 years.
Satisfactory progress policies for the WACH program can be reviewed here.
Responsible Conduct of Research
All biomedical graduate students conducting research in the Faculty of Medicine are required to complete the Responsible Conduct of Research course. You will be contacted with an invitation to register in September, when the next session dates are set. The course consists of two in-person sessions and one set of online modules (to be completed between the in-person sessions), and is offered three times per year.
You can find out more information, and view past syllabi here: http://grad-postdoc.med.ubc.ca/current-students/research-conduct-course/