Welcome to the School of Rural and Northern Health at Laurentian University!

The School is designed:

• to enhance both the quality and quantity of research focused on rural and northern health;
• to train students to become high quality professionals in health research;
• to promote the development of a critical mass of health research expertise in the north; and
• to facilitate linkages between the university and community health organizations.

Interdisciplinary PhD in Rural and Northern Health

The School is home to the Interdisciplinary PhD in Rural and Northern Health PhD program.   This program offers, innovative, interdisciplinary, graduate education that supports research in the following areas: Aboriginal health; epidemiology; children’s health; health administration; health policy; health promotion; health services; environmental health; mental health; occupational health; and population health in vulnerable populations.  The program draws on experienced research faculty from across the health sciences, social sciences, basic sciences, and humanities.

The ideal candidate will have a thesis-based master’s degree in the health sciences or a related discipline from a recognized university, with a minimum average of B+, and is strongly encouraged to have successfully completed at least 1 course in statistics, 1 in research methods, and 1 or more in the social and/or health sciences. The person will be interested in conducting research relevant to rural and northern populations.

The program is full-time or part-time, and is completed in approximately four years of full-time study. Training is achieved through core courses, a comprehensive exam process, and the development and defense of a thesis.

Supervisors work closely with their students throughout the program and should be identified prior to applying for admission. Please contact us for a list of potential supervisors and further details on the application process.

The program is linked with a number of Laurentian’s existing research centres (e.g. Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research (CRaNHR), Evaluating Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) and Centre for Research in Occupational Safety and Health (CROSH)) and community partners (e.g. the Sudbury and District Health Unit). Our students are engaged in a broad interdisciplinary education with opportunities to conduct applies, real-world health research in, and with, northern, rural and remote communities.