McGill.CA / Social Studies of Medicine / Programs and Teaching

Graduate Program

On this page: Programs offered | Admission requirements | Application procedures | Program requirements | SSOM courses

Programs offered

The Department (SSoM) offers graduate studies in two programs:

  • one in medical anthropology given jointly with the Department of Anthropology
  • two  in medical sociology, given jointly with the Department of Sociology.

In each program, the student may work towards the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees. All degrees are awarded by the relevant Faculty of Arts department. For further information regarding these departments, please consult Anthropology, History, or Sociology sections.

The Department (SSoM) is interdisciplinary, having faculty in the fields of medical anthropology, medical history, and medical sociology. In its programs of graduate studies, it attempts to provide two things: a training that is solidly grounded in the discipline of the chosen program, i.e. in anthropology, history or sociology; and, through seminars and interaction with Department members and other graduate students, an exposure to the other disciplines that are represented in the Department. The Department aims to instill in its graduates a combination of disciplinary competence and interdisciplinary perspective.

Admission requirements

M.A. in Medical Anthropology

The program is open to students with backgrounds in the social sciences, the medical professions, or the medical sciences.

M.A. in Medical Sociology

The program is open to students with a background in social sciences, health professions or health sciences. It aims to prepare candidates for a career of teaching and research in medical sociology, and there is consequently a preference for applicants with the potential to proceed to the doctoral degree.

Ph.D. Programs

Candidates for a Ph.D. will normally have taken their M.A. in the same field. Please refer to the appropriate Department - Anthropology, History, or Sociology.

Application procedures

M.A. in Medical Anthropology

Admission is granted by a joint admissions committee made up of representatives from Anthropology and SSOM. For details concerning applications, teaching assistantships, fellowships, etc. see Department of Anthropology.

M.A. in Medical Sociology

Admission is granted by representatives from Sociology and SSOM. For details concerning applications, teaching, assistantships, fellowships, etc., see Department of Sociology.

Ph.D. Programs

Please refer to the appropriate Department - Anthropology, History, or Sociology.

**Students applying to begin a Ph.D. in the history of medicine in 2011-2012 at McGill University are eligible for a newly created fellowship: the CRC doctoral fellowship in the history of modern medicine. This award, which may be renewed twice contingent upon student performance and funding, is reserved for an exceptionally meritorious applicant. The annual stipend is $35,000 per year. Students applying for the Ph.D. track in the history of modern medicine will automatically be eligible for this fellowship**.

Program requirements

Click course title for course credit weight and term information.

Search the Class Schedule by term for course sections offered. This includes class times, locations and instructors.

Please note: not all courses are offered each year.

M.A. in Medical Anthropology

For Anthropology courses, see Department of Anthropology. For SSOM seminars, see below.

M.A. in Medical Anthropology (Thesis) (48 credits)

Required Courses (42 credits)

HSSM 605 Medical Anthropology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


ANTH 615 Sem in Medical Anthropology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


ANTH 694 M.A. Thesis Tutorial 1 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


ANTH 695 M.A. Thesis Tutorial 2 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


ANTH 699 M.A. Thesis 21 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Complementary Courses (6 credits)
Two Anthropology courses.

M.A. in Medical Sociology

Students may choose between two programs: MA thesis or non-thesis. For Sociology courses, see Department of Sociology. For SSOM seminars, see below.

M.A. in Medical Sociology (Thesis) (48 credits)
This includes 18 credits of course work and a research thesis that is based on original research (30 credits).

Required Courses (12 credits)

SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 540 Comparative Ethnicity and Race 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Complementary Courses (6 credits) one of the following two courses:

SOCI 515 Medicine and Society 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 538 Sel Top in Soc of Biomed Know 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


plus one course in the History of Medicine

Thesis Component - Required (30 credits)

SOCI 690 M.A. Thesis 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 691 M.A. Thesis 2 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 692 M.A. Thesis 3 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 693 M.A. Thesis 4 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 695 M.A. Thesis 6 15 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

M.A. in Medical Sociology (Non-Thesis) (45 credits)
This includes 27 credits of course work and a research paper based on original research (18 credits).

Required Courses (36 credits)

SOCI 504 Quantitative Methods 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 540 Comparative Ethnicity and Race 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 580 Social Res Design&Practice 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 603 Bibliographic Methods 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 604 Bibliographic Methods 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 652 Current Sociological Theory 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 696 Research Paper 1 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 697 Research Paper 2 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 699 Research Paper 4 12 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


* All students must have taken SOCI 504, 540, 580 and 652, or take them during the first year of the program. Students granted an exemption from any one or more of these courses by the Graduate Studies Committee must substitute another substantative seminar in its place.

Complementary Courses (9 credits)
3 credits, one of the following courses:

SOCI 515 Medicine and Society 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


SOCI 538 Sel Top in Soc of Biomed Know 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

3 credits, one graduate-level course in the History of Medicine

3 credits, one graduate-level course in Social Studies of Medicine

PH.D PROGRAMS
For information on the doctoral programs, please refer to the appropriate Department - Anthropology, History, or Sociology

SSoM Courses

Students preparing to register should consult the Web at www.mcgill.ca/minerva (click on Class Schedule) for the most up-to-date list of courses available; courses may have been added, rescheduled or cancelled. Class Schedule lists courses by term and includes days, times, locations, and names of instructors.

Courses with numbers ending D1 and D2 are taught in two consecutive terms (most commonly Fall and Winter). Students must register for both the D1 and D2 components. No credit will be given unless both components (D1 and D2) are successfully completed in consecutive terms.

Click course title for course credit weight

HSSM 604 History of Medicine 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


HSSM 605 Medical Anthropology 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


HSSM 606 Course not available

HSSM 610 Sociology of Medicine 3 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer


HSSM 611 Course not available

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