Overview
Complete the Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology program and earn a microcredential
Upon successfully completing this program, you will receive a microcredential recognizing your learning achievement. Complete with details of the skills and specialized knowledge you have acquired, the microcredential is digitally shareable, making it easy to add to your resume, LinkedIn profile and to share with current or prospective employers.
Grow your knowledge in health research methodology
Improve your knowledge of health research methodology. Acquire the skills necessary to successfully initiate, carry out, and complete a research study.
- Online non-credit course, affiliated with the McMaster University Faculty of Health Sciences (Department of Anesthesia)
- Gain the knowledge and skills you need to effectively conduct research studies in your field
- Earn a Certificate of Completion in a microcredential format in just 10 weeks
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Program highlights Learn More
- Now offered as a microcredential
- Convenient online course
- Taught by experienced researchers
Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology program features:
- Earn a Certificate of Completion
- Convenient online platform
- Learn from experienced researchers and instructors
- Connect with health professionals across various disciplines

What you'll learn Learn More
- Essential methodology for clinical trials
- Fundamentals of health research design, research ethics, measurement and statistics
- How to develop and write a research proposal
Through our Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology program, you’ll learn to:
- Distinguish the main types of health research design to select the most appropriate one for a research project
- Explain the hierarchy of evidence based on a study design and its implications in health research
- Critically appraise health research literature for validity and application of research outcomes
- Interpret basic statistical findings reported in clinical studies
- Formulate an answerable question using the “Participants, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes” (PICO) framework
- Develop a research proposal using health methods and approaches
- Identify strategies of knowledge translation, including writing and publishing manuscripts
Learn more about the Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology program
- Physicians
- Residents
- Medical students
- Nursing and health students
- Research Coordinators
- Research Assistants
- Any health professional who requires a solid foundation in health research methodology in order to successfully initiate, carry out and complete a research study
Earning a Certificate of Completion in Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology could lead to a wide range of rewarding careers including:
- Research Associate
- Research Assistant
- Research Project Coordinator
- Clinical Research Assistant
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Clinical Trial Coordinator
- Distinguish the main types of health research design to select the most appropriate design for a research project
- Explain the hierarchy of evidence based on a study design and its implications in health research
- Critically appraise health research literature for validity and application of research outcomes
- Interpret basic statistical findings reported in clinical studies
- Formulate an answerable question using the “Participants, Interventions, Comparisons, Outcomes” (PICO) framework
- Develop a research proposal using health research methods and approaches
- Identify strategies of knowledge translation, including writing and publishing manuscripts
What our recent graduates say

Krystal
Health and Social Service Skill Development graduate
I wanted to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that.
I wanted to be able to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that because of McMaster Continuing Education. Being a nurse, there are so many different avenues of nursing that I can try new things and continue to learn. The instructors were really understanding. When you’re working full-time, having someone that will promptly answer your questions and make time for you when you need it, they made it really easy.
Krystal
Health and Social Service Skill Development graduate
I wanted to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that.
I wanted to be able to reinvent myself and change my career path and I was able to do that because of McMaster Continuing Education. Being a nurse, there are so many different avenues of nursing that I can try new things and continue to learn. The instructors were really understanding. When you’re working full-time, having someone that will promptly answer your questions and make time for you when you need it, they made it really easy.
Krystal
Health and Social Service Skill Development graduate
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Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology Certificate of Completion
Certificate of Completion in Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology
Earn a Certificate of Completion in Health Research Methodology with McMaster Continuing Education
Explore the requirements below and register today!
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Certificate of Completion in Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology
Earn your Certificate of Completion by completing the 10-week course listed below.
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Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology Courses
Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology Courses
Advance your career with online Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology courses
Explore course options below and register today!
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Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology Schedule
Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology Schedule
This schedule table displays courses planned to be offered this year and is a guide to planning your courses for the academic year. Please note: Spring term registration opens mid-March and Fall/Winter term registration opens mid-July.
For more information about our learning formats and to choose a format that works best for you, please visit our Learning Formats page.
Course Name (Course Code) | Cost | Units | Fall 2023 | Winter 2024 | Spring/Summer 2024 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Fundamentals of Health Research Methodology (HTH 501) | $749.00 | Sep 18 - Nov 26 Format: Online | Jan 22 - Mar 31 Format: Online | — | |
TBD | — | — | May 6 - Jul 14 Format: Online |
The schedule table is subject to change. Please visit the course pages to browse classes currently available for registration and the latest cost information.
Admission Requirements
Admission Requirements
This program is open enrolment, which means there is no formal application or admission procedure. To enrol in a course, simply register online. Our courses can be taken as part of a program or individually.
To enrol in McMaster Continuing Education programs, you must:
- Have an Ontario Secondary School Diploma or equivalent
- Be a mature student as defined in the Undergraduate Calendar of McMaster University or
- Be deemed an exceptional case
To ensure you are successful in your online courses, you are required to have knowledge and skills with general computer applications, such as keyboarding, file management, video conferencing and word processing.
Language Requirements
If your first language is not English, you must meet the University’s English language proficiency requirements. Completion of TOEFL exam with a minimum acceptable score of 20 on each of the four components (reading, writing, speaking and listening), valid for 2 years.
Expandable List
- Visit continuing.mcmaster.ca/programs to find your program of choice
- Click on each tab on the program page to learn about credential options and requirements, schedule and fees, and a list of all courses in the program
- Select a course and then select an available offering, noting important information such as cost, delivery format, and start/end dates; then click ‘add to cart’
- Once you have added your courses, click the shopping cart icon at the top right-hand corner of the page (bottom of the browser screen on mobile)
- Review your cart and, once you’re ready to proceed with enrolment, click ‘proceed to checkout’
- As the next step, you will be redirected to Mosaic – McMaster’s Administrative Information and Enrolment system
- Once you are in Mosaic, select ‘new to McMaster’ or log in with your existing MacID and password (if applicable)
- Complete all required fields and select a program of study when prompted (i.e., a specific program or open studies for standalone courses)
- Finally, payment is required in full to secure a spot in your course(s)
A payment receipt email will be issued to you immediately after registering, and a course confirmation email will be sent to you overnight. Within approximately 24 hours of registering, you will also receive an important email containing credentials used to activate your MacID, which you must do before you can access courses in Avenue to Learn. Please review our Getting Started page to learn more about the next steps for beginning your studies after registration, and our Help Centre for our Refund Policy and other frequently asked questions. Please note that on average, each course requires 6-8 hours of study per week, per course (sometimes more) and some courses may have listed prerequisites. Please plan your schedule accordingly. Most students take 1-2 courses per term across a few different terms and a full-time equivalent course load is typically 3-4 courses per term.
For more information and a walkthrough on how to register, please check out this video.
- Payment must be made in full at the time of enrolment
- Online credit card or debit payments are preferred
- Accepted credit cards: Visa, MasterCard and American Express
- Accepted debit cards: Visa Debit and Debit Mastercard
- Google Pay is available for faster checkout
- Payments can be made from a Canadian Financial Institution and can take 2 to 4 business days to arrive in your McMaster student account. Once payment has arrived, you can register for your course. Please note that if the amount of the course fees owing is more than what was transferred to your student account, you will be dropped from the course.
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Visit the Courses tab to select your course and proceed with the registration steps.