Program Requirements
Candidates entering Ph.D. 1 must complete at least three years of full-time resident study (six terms). The normal and expected duration of the Ph.D. program is four to five years. A student who has obtained a master's degree at McGill in a related field, or at an approved institution elsewhere, and is proceeding in the same subject toward a Ph.D. degree may, upon the recommendation of the Graduate Training Committee, enter at the Ph.D. 2 level.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (3 credits)
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HGEN 692 Human Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : This course will emphasize the principles and practice of human genetics, including an overview of the fundamental aspects of human genetics pertaining to chromosomes and mutations, population, cancer and development genetics, the inheritance of complex traits.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Dewar, Ken (Fall)
Restriction: For Department of Human Genetics graduate students.
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HGEN 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination
Overview
Human Genetics : An examination that must be passed by all doctoral candidates in order to continue in the doctoral program.
Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Complementary Courses (15 credits)
(15 credits or 6 credits depending on admission status as described above.)
Courses are to be chosen from the list below and/or from among 500-, 600-, or 700-level courses offered in the Faculties of Medicine and Science.
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HGEN 660 Genetics and Bioethics (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : This course will deal with ethical issues in the gathering, dissemination, and use of genetic information for decisions concerning reproduction, health care, and research.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: Joly, Yann; Palmour, Nicole (Fall)
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HGEN 661 Population Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : Principles and concepts of the genetics of human populations.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Gravel, Simon (Winter)
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HGEN 663 Beyond the Human Genome (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : A review of recent advances in human genomics and current state of the art technologies of DNA sequence and whole genomics analyses, as well as future directions in the post-genomic era.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Majewski, Jacek (Winter)
Prerequisite: BIOL 370 or by permission of the instructor.
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HGEN 690 Inherited Cancer Syndromes (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : The principles and practice associated with inherited predisposition to cancer (breast and colon cancers, example) such as the methods of gene discovery, clinical characteristics of inherited predisposition, methods of mutation analysis, genetic counselling, and ethical issues of genetic testing.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
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HGEN 693 Using Bioinformatics Resources (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : Study of internet resources relevant to biomedical research.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Restriction: As the emphasis of the course instruction will be on the human genome, a preference will be given to graduate students in the Dept. of Human Genetics. Graduate students with basic knowledge of human genome from the Faculty of Medicine can apply with permission of the course coordinator.
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HGEN 695 Psychiatric Genetics (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : A seminar on current knowledge in the field of complex trait genetics as it applies to psychiatric disease.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Prerequisites: BIOL 370 or HGEN 692 or an equivalent basic course in human genetics or permission of the instructor.
Note: This course is aimed at students enrolled in the Department of Human Genetics graduate program. This course is also open to students from the Department of Psychiatry with permission. Permission is required from other disciplines as there is an expectation that graduate students have a basic knowledge of human heredity and genetic principles of human heredity (see course prerequisites
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HGEN 696 Advanced Readings in Genetics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : A review and discussion of specific topics in genetics (genetic models: population-based, animal, and in vitro genetic models, genomics, and medical genetics) centred on current literature and latest advances in the field.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Riaz Alhosseini, Yasser; Witcher, Michael; Foulkes, William; Zawati, Ma'n Hilmi; Bailey, Swneke; Najafabadi, Hamed; Labbé, David; Kleinman, Claudia; Langlais, David; Ragoussis, Ioannis (Winter)
Note: Course enrolment is limited to 12 students.
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HGEN 697 Advanced Readings in Genetics 2 (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : A review and discussion of specific topics in genetics (genetic models: population-based, animal, and in vitro genetic models, genomics, and medical genetics) centred on current literature and latest advances in the field.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note: Course enrolment is limited to 12 students.
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HGEN 698 Advanced Readings in Genetics 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : A review and discussion of specific topics in genetics (genetic models: population-based, animal, and in vitro genetic models, genomics, and medical genetics) centred on current literature and latest advances in the field.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Majewska, Loydie (Winter)
Note: Course enrolment is limited to 12 students.
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HGEN 699 Advanced Readings in Genetics 4 (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : A review and discussion of specific topics in genetics (genetic models: population-based, animal, and in vitro genetic models, genomics, and medical genetics) centred on current literature and latest advances in the field.
Terms: Fall 2024
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Note: Course enrolment is limited to 12 students.
Students are restricted to taking the following course.
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HGEN 670 Advances in Human Genetics 1 (3 credits)
Overview
Human Genetics : This course will deal with recent progress in human genetics, and its applications to health care, by identifying different fields including different disciplines (e.g. cancer genetics, neurogenetics), different conceptual approaches, or different methodologic approaches.
Terms: Winter 2025
Instructors: Bhérer, Claude (Winter)
Note: The Graduate Advisory Committee may stipulate additional coursework depending on the background of the candidate.