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Faculty of Science

Science Careers & Experience Centre

Graduate and Professional School

Professional programs prepare students for careers in specific fields, including health and medicine, teaching, and law. These applied programs are course-based and do not include a thesis component. Completion of a licensing exam is required to work in some professions.

If you are interested in applying to any of the following programs offered in Ontario, you must submit an application via the Ontario Universities Application Centre (OUAC):

  • Medical school
  • Teacher’s College
  • Rehabilitation Sciences (Occupational and Physiotherapy, Speech Language Pathology, Audiology)
  • Law School

The following is information about professional schools and career specific professional associations. Students are advised to review the websites and/or contact the admission departments of schools of interest for application details.

Graduate school provides students with the opportunity to conduct focused research and/or profession-specific training. Such programs can be loosely categorized into four types.

Classical Master’s Degree

This degree is research-focused and can be terminal (ending after 2 years), or it can be a stepping stone toward earning a PhD. This type of Master’s degree involves completing a research thesis which focuses primarily on collecting and analyzing data, with the goal of trying to publish your work in a peer reviewed research journal. Students conduct research under the guidance of a supervisor but also need to work quite independently. This degree will typically involve conducting your own research as well as being an undergraduate teaching assistant and completing graduate level courses. Upon submitting your thesis, you likely will be required to present your research during a thesis defense. Completing this degree generally takes 2 years.

Applied/Course Based Master’s Degree

This degree requires completion of a specified number of courses with no research (thesis) component. This type of Master’s degree will be focused around coursework. Depending on the program, a research or capstone project may be required. Completing this degree typically takes 1 or 2 years, and may require additional work placements or internships which could extend the degree by an additional year.

Professional Master’s Degree

This program is designed to cross discipline boundaries and employment sectors, and to include work that develops skills related to workplace needs.

PhD. Degree

This is the highest level of education a student can achieve. It consists of completing a dissertation or thesis based on extensive original research in a chosen field. Most of your time is spent on research, though students will likely have some mandatory coursework and TA or teaching duties. Approximately halfway through this degree and after the student has completed any required coursework, the student will be required to complete a comprehensive exam. A comprehensive exam typically consists of a written or oral exam, or both, and it tests the student’s knowledge in their chosen field of study. Additionally the students are required to submit a thesis which they will likely be required to present during a thesis defense. Admission into a Ph.D. program may require completion of a Master’s degree in a related field with significant research experience and strong academic success. More often, students can directly enter a Ph.D. program upon completion of an Honours Bachelor’s degree, or transfer to a doctoral program after completing one year in a Master’s program. The time to complete this degree can be between 4 and 6 years.

Useful Links:

Expandable List

Relevant Websites For Veterinary Medicine:

How much animal/veterinary related experience do I need in order to apply for Veterinary School?

  • Although there is no set minimum, the more experience the better!
  • Schools may also look at whether you have a variety of experience (e.g., large animal, exotics, marine mammals) as opposed to many hours in just one setting (e.g., small animal)
  • Variety is key when it comes to experience because it shows admissions that you have taken time to explore the profession

Typical Entrance Requirements:

  • Complete a minimum of three years in an undergraduate science program
  • Complete required courses as listed on each school’s website
  • Gain practical hands-on experience working with animals
  • Complete a Background Information Form
  • Provide Letters of Reference
  • Attend an Interview

Types Of Nursing Positions:

  • Registered Practical Nurse (RPN)
    • Must complete four semesters over two years in a college program leading to a diploma in Practical Nursing
    • An RPN’s role is to care for patients with less complex needs, and patients with stable and predictable conditions
  • Registered Nurse (RN)
    • Must complete a baccalaureate degree through a collaborative college-university nursing program or a four-year university nursing program, both leading to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BScN) or Bachelor of Nursing degree (BN)
    • An RN’s role is to autonomously care for patients regardless of the complexity of their conditions
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP)
    • Must be a qualified RN and complete additional education and gain experience
    • An NP’s role is to autonomously diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe pharmaceuticals, and perform specific procedures depending on the specialty certification they hold

Relevant Websites For Nursing:

Relevant Medical School Websites:

FAQ – Medical School

What courses do I need to take for Medical School?

  • Refer to www.ouac.on.ca/omsas for more information on each school’s prerequisite requirements.
  • If you have a question regarding course equivalency, please contact the school directly. Be specific and send the description of the course (from the course calendar) identifying the prerequisite you want considered.

What undergraduate program do I need to be in for Medical School?

  • No specific program is required to enter into Medical School. Students have been admitted to Medical Schools from a variety of undergraduate programs.

How many students get in every year?

  • Visit www.ouac.on.ca/omsas for information on applicants for Ontario Medical Schools.
  • For McMaster, the number of applicants in 2017 was 4929 and the class size was 206, which translates to an acceptance rate of 4.2%.

Can I take summer school?

  • Refer to the Ontario Medical School Application Service (OMSAS) Instruction Booklet or the school’s website.
  • Some schools will not consider summer courses.
  • Remember, because you are not taking a full course load (ie, 30 units) during summer school, you may appear less competitive than a person who has taken the same course during a full academic year.

What happens if I failed a course?

  • It will appear on your transcript. For more details regarding how a failed course will affect your cumulative average contact the school directly.

Entrance into most Pharmacy programs requires the completion of one full year of University. Candidates become eligible to apply during their second year of study. Prerequisite courses are different for each institution, therefore refer to the school websites listed below. Applications to Canadian Pharmacy Schools must be submitted to the individual institutions directly.

Relevant Websites For Pharmacy:

Occupational Therapy aims to help people learn or re-learn activities of daily living, including dressing, bathing, preparing meals, answering the phone or getting up after a fall. Occupational therapists often do this by breaking activities into smaller steps and/or suggesting adaptive devices or mobility equipment to patients.

Physical Therapy/Physiotherapy aims to restore physical function and range of motion through treatment of the anatomy. Physical Therapists work with patients pre or post-surgery, after injury or accidents, and through illnesses, age related conditions and chronic disease.

Audiology aims to maintain function and maximize communication in patients with hearing impairments. Audiologists will assess and evaluate auditory function, as well as fit and dispense a variety of assistive listening devices as required.

Speech-Language Pathology aims to assess, treat and manage communication (i.e. speech, language and voice) and swallowing disorders. Speech-Language Pathologists treat disorders such as Aphasia, Apraxia, Cleft Palate, Dysphagia and Selective Mutism.

Rehabilitation Science (Thesis/Research option) aims to develop advanced knowledge and evaluation skills in the field, allowing graduates to contribute to Rehabilitation Sciences through research and leadership.

Relevant Websites For Rehabilitation Sciences: