9.2. Master of Health Studies
The Master of Health Studies (MHS) program contains two streams: Leadership and Advanced Nursing Practice (ANP).
The Leadership Stream prepares health professionals to assume leadership positions in the health system. The rapid pace of change in health services requires health professionals to be leaders, equipped to address new challenges. The program provides professionals from various health backgrounds with skills that will enable them to discern emerging trends and anticipate future directions in health services,, and to provide leadership in planning, implementation, evaluation, and policy development.
The ANP Stream prepares nurses to assume a broader role in the provision of health services to clients of all ages. It provides theoretical and clinical preparation for nurses whose role will focus on advanced nursing practice. Graduates will be prepared for nurse practitioner functions in accordance with jurisdictional legislation. Students in the ANP stream are required to write a comprehensive exam upon completion of ANP courses.
The courses in both streams of the Master of Health Studies program are delivered online using asynchronous conferencing. Students should be familiar with using a computer with a Windows 95 (minimum) environment, e-mail, the Internet, and computer conferencing. Students are expected to connect to an Internet service provider at their own expense.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for admission to the MHS Leadership Stream must be graduates of a health-related baccalaureate program from an accredited university and have a minimum of two years professional health care experience.
Applicants for admission to the MHS ANP Stream must be graduates of a Canadian baccalaureate degree program in nursing or the equivalent and have a minimum of two years of professional nursing experience.
Application Procedure
- Complete and submit the MHS Application Form.
- Submit the Program Application Fee Payment Form along with the non-refundable application fee.
- Complete and submit the Application Status Sheet.
- Submit official transcripts*, to be sent directly from the institution to the Centre for Nursing and Health Studies (CNHS), showing the granting of a baccalaureate degree in Nursing (ANP Stream) or health-related discipline (Leadership Stream).
* Applicants submitting any official documents (e.g., transcripts) in a language other than English must provide an official translation of such documents. If the credential being submitted has been earned outside Canada or the US, documentation that attests to its equivalence to a Canadian baccalaureate degree, is required. Such documentation may be obtained from
International Qualifications Assessment Services
Department of Learning, Government of Alberta
4th Floor, Sterling Place
9940-106 Street
Edmonton, AB T5K 2N2
780.427.2655
iquas@gov.ab.ca
- Submit three letters of reference, one of which should come from someone familiar with the applicant's academic skills. The person providing the reference must send the letter directly to CNHS. Letters of reference submitted by the applicant will not be considered.
- Submit an up-to-date résumé.
- Submit proof of a minimum of two years professional health care experience (Leadership Stream).
For ANP Stream Applicants Only
Submit proof of a minimum of two years of professional nursing experience; current nursing registration; certification in Basic Life Support Level C (BLS-C); and immunization records.
ANP Stream courses have a practicum component. The participating health authority, institution, or agency may request a criminal record check, at the student's expense, before he or she is accepted as a practicum student.
Program Application Deadline
CNHS must receive all application materials by March 1 for consideration for admission to the program starting in September of the same year.
Program Status
To maintain program status, students must complete six credits of course work during each academic year (September 1 to August 31). In order to graduate, students must present a minimum average grade of 70 percent in all courses. A minimum grade of 60 percent is required to pass an individual courses in the MHS program. Failures in two courses will result in the automatic removal of the student from the program.
Non-program Students
Individuals who are not enrolled in the MHS program will be permitted to register in up to two MHST courses on a first-come, first-served basis, space permitting. Courses taken as non-program students may be applied toward the MHS program requirements, if and when a student becomes a program student, however, the University is under no obligation to admit non-program students into the MHS program.
Program Withdrawal
Students may withdraw from the program by submitting their request in writing to the Coordinator, Graduate Programs. Students who withdraw may be re-enrolled in the program by following the regular application procedures outlined above. Students requesting re-admission to the MHS program will be competing against all other applicants and will not receive special consideration. Failures in two courses will result in the automatic removal of the student from the program.
Program Delivery
All courses are delivered online using asynchronous conferencing. The courses are offered by the paced study method, meaning there is a set start and end date. Students will interact with the professors and complete assignments and exams according to the course schedule. MHST courses are offered during three sessions each year, while NURS courses are offered only once per year (See Course Offerings for detailed session information). The fall session begins the day after the Labour Day holiday in September; the winter session begins the second non-holiday Monday in January; and the spring/summer session begins on the first Tuesday in May. Each session is 15 weeks in length.
Residency Requirements
In keeping with Athabasca University's mandate of open access, residency requirements are satisfied when the student has successfully completed 15 credits in the core MHST courses through Athabasca University. The remaining credits may be transferred from other institutions, if they are applicable to Athabasca University's Master of Health Studies degree program.
Program Completion Time Limits
Students must complete the MHS degree requirements within seven years of their initial enrolment in the program.
Graduation Requirements
To be awarded the MHS degree, a graduate student must a) successfully complete the program requirements, b) complete an Application for Graduation Form, and c) meet all other regulations. In addition, students must have paid all necessary fees owed to the University and have returned all library resources.
| 2001 |
| May 21 |
Victoria Day. University closed. |
| May 31 |
Last day for students to register in 2001 fall session courses.
Registration fees are due. |
| July 2 |
University closed in lieu of Canada Day. |
| Aug. 6 |
Civic holiday. University closed. |
| Sept. 3 |
Labour Day. University closed. |
| Sept. 4 |
First day of fall session. |
| Oct. 1 |
Last day for students to register in 2002 winter session courses.
Registration fees are due. |
| Oct. 4 |
Last day for early withdrawal from fall session courses. No record of
the course will appear on the transcript. |
| Oct. 8 |
Thanksgiving Day. University closed. |
| Nov. 12 |
University closed in lieu of Remembrance Day. |
| Nov. 14 |
Last day for late withdrawal from fall session courses.
Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing. |
| Dec. 14 |
Last day of fall session courses. |
Dec. 24/01-
Jan. 2/2002 |
The University will close at 3 p.m. Monday, Dec. 24, 2001 and will reopen 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2002. |
| |
| 2002 |
| Jan. 7 |
First day of winter session courses. |
| Feb. 8 |
Last day for early withdrawal from winter session courses. No record of
the course will appear on the transcript. |
| Feb. 18 |
Family Day. University closed. |
| Mar. 1 |
Last day for receipt of application materials for admission to the
program, starting in September 2002. |
| Mar. 19 |
Last day for late withdrawal from winter session courses.
Transcripts will reflect a withdrawal in good standing. |
| Mar. 29 - Apr. 1 (inclusive) |
Easter break. University closed. |
| Apr. 19 |
Last day of winter session courses. |
| May 20 |
Victoria Day, University closed. |
| May 31 |
Last day for students to register in 2002 fall session courses. Registration fees are due. |
| July 1 |
Canada Day, University closed. |
In order to participate in the program, each student must own or have ready access to the following minimum computer hardware and software.
Minimum
- Pentium 100 or greater
- 32 MB RAM
- 50 MB free disk space
- 3.5 inch floppy disk device
- Mouse
- 28.8 baud modem or faster
- Windows 95
- Current operational anti-virus software
Optimum
- Pentium MMX200 or greater
- 64 MB RAM
- 100 MB free disk space
- CD-ROM
- Mouse
- 33.6 baud modem or faster
- Laser or inkjet printer
- Backup device
- Access to fax
Software
The required word processing system is either Microsoft Word (version 6.0 or
higher) or Microsoft Works. WordPerfect is not supported.
Netscape or Internet Explorer is required, as well as
current operational anti-virus software
PCs are the primary equipment supported by Athabasca University's Help Desk. Only limited assistance for other hardware and software platforms is offered. Students are responsible for their own communication costs such as long distance telephone charges and subscriptions to an Internet node, or any other communications service requirements.
Registration
Complete and submit the Course Registration Form and the course tuition fee by the deadline date to CNHS. The Course Registration Form may be mailed or faxed. Refer to CNHS for online forms and credit card information. Non-program students must also submit the Non-program Approval Form.
Students must provide evidence of completion of an undergraduate research course before registering in MHST 603.
Students may register in a course's prerequisite (for example, NURS 328 is one possible prerequisite for MHST 603), however, they must successfully complete NURS 328 before MHST 603's start date. If the prerequisite is not completed before the course's start date, students are required to withdraw from the course and pay the required course withdrawal fee.
Course Withdrawal
Students may withdraw from a course up until one month before the end of the semester (refer to Academic Schedule) by submitting a Course Withdrawal Request Form. The date of withdrawal will be the postmark on the request, or, if the notice is hand-delivered or faxed, the University date stamp. Students may also request to be withdrawn from a course by e-mail provided the request is later confirmed by submitting the Course Withdrawal Request Form by fax or regular mail. Refer to CNHS for online forms.
If a student withdraws from a course within the first month, the record of registration will be deleted from his or her official transcript. If a student withdraws from a course after the first month of the course and before the last month of the course, the official record and transcript will show that the student withdrew without credit and without prejudice or academic penalty.
Course Reregistration
Students may reregister in a course only if they have received a final grade of 59 percent or less, or have withdrawn from the course in good standing. When reregistering, students must complete all course requirements and pay the full course fee. Students are permitted only one reregistration in each course.
Transfer Credit
Students enrolled in the MHS program may take courses from other post-secondary institutions in fulfilment of the program requirements, provided such courses are applicable to the Athabasca University MHS program. Students wishing to take courses from other institutions must obtain and submit a Letter of Permission, a written request, detailed course outlines, and the appropriate Letter of Permission fees to the CNHS office for review.
If approved, the Office of the Registrar will issue a Letter of Permission. To allow for mailing time, requests for a Letter of Permission should be made at least one month before the registration deadline at the institution where the student will be taking the course. Upon completion of the course, the student must submit an official transcript to the MHS program coordinator in order to receive credit for the course.
Advanced Standing
Some students may have completed work at other post-secondary institutions that is applicable to the MHS program. Students seeking advanced standing are required to submit to the CNHS office, official transcripts (if these were not submitted in support of their application for admission), detailed course descriptions for such courses, and appropriate fees.
Course Fee Refunds
Students will receive a refund of the course fees less the course withdrawal processing fee (refer to Fees) if they withdraw from the course within 30 days of the course start date. Students should not return their course materials. Students withdrawing after the first month of the course will not receive a refund.
Course Extensions
In exceptional circumstances and where the course instructor concurs, a student may be assigned a grade of "Incomplete" (INC). This allows the student to take one additional month to complete and submit the course work. The student must submit the required request form and course extension fee. One month after the original course completion date, a mark will be assigned to the course. The mark will reflect assignments submitted, or if no assignments have been submitted, a mark of zero will be assigned.
Grading System
All courses will be graded using a percentage system: 60 percent is required to pass any course, however, students are required to have a 70 percent overall average to graduate. Late assignments may be penalized five percent per day. They will not be accepted after five days unless there are extenuating circumstances that have been discussed with the instructor before the deadline, and the instructor has agreed to extend the deadline. MHST 698 and MHST 699 are graded on a pass/fail basis.
| All fees are quoted in Canadian dollars and are subject to change. |
Program application fee (non-refundable) required with each application: $50
Admission fee (payable upon acceptance into the program): $100
Course Tuition Fee (includes all required materials)
Students living in Canada: $925
Canadians living outside of Canada: $1,025
International students living outside of Canada: $1,125
Other Fees
Course extension fee: $250 per course
Transfer credit evaluation fee: $250 per course
Letter of Permission fee: $20 per letter
General application fee for non-program students (required only once and waived if previously an Athabasca University student): $50
Transcript request fee: $10 per request
Course withdrawal processing fee: $300 per course
Course challenge fee: $300
Program extension fee (equal to course registration fees. See above.)
| The course withdrawal processing fee includes the cost of course materials and an administrative fee for processing the request. Do not return the course materials as there will be no refund. |
Students who choose to complete the AGD: ANP before applying to the MHS, must pay the MHS application fees when applying to the MHS program.
Schedule
Athabasca University reserves the right to modify the list of available courses at any time.
Fall Session: September 2001
NURS 520 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
NURS 524 Advanced Nursing Practice: Children (3)
NURS 528 Advanced Nursing Practice: Older Adults (3)
MHST 601 Philosophical Foundations of Health Systems (3)
MHST 602 Transforming Health Care through Informatics (3)
MHST 603 Facilitating Inquiry (3)
MHST 604 Leadership Roles in Health (3)
MHST 605 Demystifying Policy Analysis and Development (3)
MHST 606 Health Systems and Services Evaluation (3)
MHST 607 Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals (3)
MHST 610 Contemporary Issues in Research (3)
MHST 611 Dissemination Strategies (3)
MHST 621 Coaching and Leading: The Human Side of Organizational Change (3)
Winter Session: January 2002
NURS 522 Advanced Nursing Practice: Women (3)
NURS 526 Advanced Nursing Practice: Adults (3)
NURS 530 Comprehensive Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
MHST 601 Philosophical Foundations of Health Systems (3)
MHST 602 Transforming Health Care through Informatics (3)
MHST 603 Facilitating Inquiry (3)
MHST 604 Leadership Roles in Health (3)
MHST 605 Demystifying Policy Analysis and Development (3)
MHST 606 Health Systems and Services Evaluation (3)
MHST 607 Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals (3)
MHST 610 Contemporary Issues in Research (3)
MHST 611 Dissemination Strategies (3)
MHST 620 Culture and Health (3)
MHST 621 Coaching and Leading: The Human Side of Organizational Change (3)
Spring/Summer Session: May 2002
MHST 601 Philosophical Foundations of Health Systems (3)
MHST 602 Transforming Health Care through Informatics (3)
MHST 603 Facilitating Inquiry (3)
MHST 604 Leadership Roles in Health (3)
MHST 605 Demystifying Policy Analysis and Development (3)
MHST 606 Health Systems and Services Evaluation (3)
MHST 607 Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals (3)
MHST 610 Contemporary Issues in Research (3)
MHST 611 Dissemination Strategies (3)
MHST 620 Culture and Health (3)
MHST 621 Coaching and Leading: The Human Side of Organizational Change (3)
MHS Core Courses (both streams)
MHST 601 Philosophical Foundations of Health Systems (3)
MHST 603 Facilitating Inquiry (3)
MHST 611 Dissemination Strategies (3)
Leadership Stream
MHST 602 Transforming Health Care through Informatics (3)
MHST 604 Leadership Roles in Health (3)
MHST 605 Demystifying Policy Analysis and Development (3)
MHST 606 Health Systems and Services Evaluation (3)
MHST 607 Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals (3)
MHST 610 Contemporary Issues in Research (3)
Advanced Nursing Practice Stream
NURS 520 Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
NURS 522 Advanced Nursing Practice: Women (3)
NURS 524 Advanced Nursing Practice: Children (3)
NURS 526 Advanced Nursing Practice: Adults (3)
NURS 528 Advanced Nursing Practice: Older Adults (3)
NURS 530 Comprehensive Advanced Nursing Practice (3)
Elective Courses
Course-based Route: For the course-based route in either stream, you will require two electives. These courses may be:
MHST courses:
- MHST 620 Culture and Health
- MHST 621 Coaching and Leading: The Human Side of Organizational Change
- Other Athabasca University graduate-level courses.
- Negotiated independent study.
- Pre-approved graduate courses from other universities.
Project-Based Route: For the project based route in either stream, implementation of the project replaces the electives with two project course equivalents: MHST 698 and MHST 699.
MHST 601
3—Philosophical Foundations of Health Systems
Students will explore the philosophical considerations and societal values underlying health systems. This foundation course will assist students in interpreting health delivery norms that lead to the formulation of health policy.
MHST 603
3—Facilitating Inquiry
Prerequisite: An undergraduate research methods course.
This course will focus on the application of research in the health system and explore ways and means of enabling research in practice settings. Students will investigate values that drive the research questions and identify the appropriate methods of facilitating inquiry in their particular fields of practice.
MHST 611
3—Dissemination Strategies
Prerequisite: All other required courses.
Health professionals possess a wealth of information and experience. In this course, students will learn to use a variety of dissemination strategies.
MHST 602
3—Transforming Health Care through Informatics
This course will focus on the breadth of applications and technologies available to support health services delivery. Discussion of the resulting issues—including consumer informatics, data protection, coding, standards and access—form the remainder of the course.
MHST 604
3—Leadership Roles in Health
In this course, students will be encouraged to identify and understand their leadership style through an examination of personal qualities and values. Specific skills that contribute to effective leadership will be examined, stressing the importance of mentoring. Principles underlying change management and decision-making will be studied.
MHST 605
3—Demystifying Policy Analysis and Development
This course will focus on analysis and development of policy, a process necessary before moving to the next steps of planning, management, and evaluation of actions for change. The interface between policy and decision-making, the implications of policies formed at different levels, and the relationship of accountability to the policy process will be covered.
MHST 606
3—Health Systems and Services Evaluation
This course will examine the strategies of program and project evaluation. Students will analyse a variety of evaluation frameworks. Issues of risk management, communication, and marketing will be addressed.
MHST 607
3—Developing Successful Project and Program Proposals
Prerequisite: MHST 603.
Precluded course: NURS 530.
As students write their own project funding proposal, they will review ethical, design, methodological, and analytical principles studied in previous courses. Presenting and defending a proposal to peers will allow students to gain competence in presentation and analytical skills.
MHST 610
3—Contemporary Issues in Research
Students will explore a variety of issues related to research, such as ethical considerations, implementation strategies for Best Practices, and the relationship of research to policy development and program evaluation.
MHST 620
3—Culture and Health
This course will focus on a variety of issues related to culture and health. Students will identify key concepts related to culture and health, examine how health is constructed within cultural contexts, and understand the meanings that health has for people cross-culturally.
MHST 621
3—Coaching and Leading the Human Side of Organizational Change
To be a successful leader, the effect of change on humans within our organizations must be a priority. Through the use of real-life case studies, this course will help students learn how to initiate change, assist employees to move through change, make change "stick" and help to "unstick" constrained change, deal personally with the effects of non-stop change, and create a change environment that resembles an oasis instead of a swamp!
MHST 698
3—Project Seminar I
This course assists the student to develop an acceptable project proposal. Ethical clearance for the project will be commenced during this course. A project supervisory committee for each student will be established during this course
MHST 699
3—Project Seminar II
Students should register in MHST 699 in the term in which they anticipate completing their project and scheduling their project defense.
Advanced Nursing Practice Stream |
NURS 520
3—Foundations of Advanced Nursing Practice
This course introduces concepts and principles on which advanced nursing practice is founded. These include competencies of advanced nursing practice, principles of primary health care and community development, determinants of health, and evidence-based practice.
Students are introduced to practice frameworks for community health development and apply these frameworks in the assessment of a geopolitical community. NURS 520 also introduces extended health practice frameworks that students will use in later courses to diagnose and treat common health concerns of individual clients of all ages. Students identify an individual (family physician or Masters-prepared health professional) who will serve as their preceptor in the extended health clinical experiences of later courses.
NURS 522
3—Advanced Nursing Practice: Women
Prerequisite: NURS 520.
Selected concepts of primary health care, extended health services, and community health are examined with respect to health concerns of women. Clinical experiences provide students with the opportunity to develop extended health service skills and to assess a community's health needs and resources with respect to women.
NURS 524
3—Advanced Nursing Practice: Children
Prerequisite: NURS 520
Precluded courses: NURS 504 and NURS 506.
Selected concepts of primary health care, extended health services, and community health are examined with respect to health concerns of individual and community clients in the infant, pre-school, school-age, and adolescent life stages. Clinical experiences provide students with the opportunity to develop extended health-service skills and to assess a community's health needs and resources with respect to clients in this life stage.
NURS 526
3—Advanced Nursing Practice: Adults
Prerequisite: NURS 520.
Selected concepts of primary health care, extended health services, and community health are examined with respect to health concerns of individual and community clients in the adult life stage. Clinical experiences provide students with the opportunity to develop extended health-service skills and to assess a community's health needs and resources with respect to clients in this life stage.
NURS 528
3—Advanced Nursing Practice: Older Adults
Prerequisite: NURS 520
Selected concepts of primary health care, extended health services, and community health are examined with respect to health concerns of individual and community clients in the older adult life stage. Clinical experiences provide students with the opportunity to develop extended health needs and resources with respect to clients in this life stage.
NURS 530
3—Comprehensive Advanced Nursing Practice
Prerequisites: NURS 520, 522, 524, 526, 528. MHST 603 (for MHST program students only).
The final course in the program reviews the characteristics and competencies of advanced nursing practice and presents issues related to the development of the role of an advanced practice nurse. As well, students develop funding proposals for health projects related to advanced nursing practice. Students finalize their extended-health and community-health development clinical experiences.
At the completion of NURS 530, students write a comprehensive exam that includes content from NURS 520 through NURS 530. Students who complete the AGD; ANP program may apply to the MHS program and will be required to complete the three core MHST courses and two approved electives.
Library
Athabasca University Library also serves the needs of graduate students. Refer to Section 10 Student Support Services.
Tuition and Education Tax Credit Receipt Information
Application and tuition fees can be used to reduce income tax. Only fees paid and expended during the calendar year can be reflected in the tax receipt. Canada Customs and Revenue Agency regulations permit the University to issue an education tax credit receipt only for amounts greater than $100. In February, T2202 tax forms for the educational tax deduction, along with the tuition tax receipts, are mailed to the address on record. Full-time students may be eligible for the education tax credit for each month of full-time registration.
Regulations and Appeals
Athabasca University policies and regulations governing academic conduct and appeals apply to all students. Refer to Section 12 Student Code of Conduct and Right to Appeal.
Athabasca University's policies, regulations, and procedures governing the release of transcripts and confidential information apply also to graduate students. Refer to Section 5 Admissions, Transfer Credit, and Assessments.
Centre for Nursing and Health Studies
Athabasca University
1 University Drive
Athabasca, AB T9S 3A3
800.788.9041 (ext. 6381) or 780.675.6381
Fax: 780.675.6468
mhs@athabascau.ca
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