Grad studies?

I'm a year away from finishing my undergrad degree and I'm thinking about grad studies. I really like school and I really like research. I looked into the financial aspect of it too, and realized that I can most likely afford it.

I also read this post by another blogger on getting a MA. I do agree with all those points (I see it a little bit now in undergrad, and I think I'll see it more in grad studies).

So what do I want to study? Ideally, the program would be 60% management (specifically policy studies) and 40% analysis of hazards (including biohazards), specifically from a community and spatial analysis point of view.

Where on earth do I find something to fulfill that? Well... I'm considering a Masters of Arts in Emergency Management at York University. The program is new (only starting in 2007) which I don't like so much. Also, I'm not a big fan of York University. If I'm going to splash money out for a masters degree, I want it from an outstanding university. I wasn't willing to do my undergrad at York, so why should I do my masters at York? Because they are one of the only schools in Canada to offer a masters in emergency management. The others are the University of Manitoba and Royal Roads University--obviously both mediocre compared to York. The best part about doing this at York is the faculty. David Etkins is there and he's a very active participant in the field.

I'm also interested in Masters of Health Science in Community Health and Epidemiology at the University of Toronto. What I like about it is that I don't need an undergrad degree in health sciences for this program. Also, they specifically say that the program prepares you for a career in public health policy--which is one of the areas I'm thinking about (policy studies of biohazards). The fact that it's the University of Toronto, one of the world's best universities, doesn't hurt.

I really, really like the Masters of Health Science in Epidemiology and Community Health at the University of Ottawa. The problem is that:

Candidates are required to have an honours degree in a discipline relevant to epidemiology (life science or behavioural science such as psychology) or a four-year degree in a health profession (medicine, nursing, rehabilitation therapy etc.), with at least upper second class (B+) standing.

I don't have an undergrad degree in epidemiology or related discipline. Boo.

Still, I won't be applying until next year (or even later) so I have time to think about it.