Program Overview

Public Health Degree

The Public Health degree at the University of Waterloo is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle health problems and save lives on a large scale. This program takes a systems approach to disease prevention and treatment, allowing students to understand how to influence the many factors that affect health.

Overview

As a Public Health student, you will study the social, cultural, political, biological, and geographic forces that impact individual, community, and population health. You will also examine trends, behaviors, and inequalities in health systems and learn how to address these challenges. The program is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health, ensuring that the degree is current and relevant to the field.

Courses

The program includes a range of courses that provide students with a comprehensive understanding of public health. Some of the courses include:

• HLTH 101 – Introduction to Health 1
• HLTH 103 – Biological Determinants of Health
• HEALTH 107 – Sociology of Activity, Health, and Well-being
• Two electives

In the second semester, students will take:

• HEALTH 150 – Foundations of Human Anatomy and Physiology
• HLTH 102 – Introduction to Health 2
• HLTH 104 – Introduction to Health Data Science
• PSYCH 101 – Introductory Psychology
• One elective

Customizing Your Degree

Students can customize their degree by adding areas of interest and expertise through minors, options, or specializations. Some of the available areas of focus include:

• Minor (10 courses in an area of focus)
  • Addictions, Mental Health, and Policy
  • Gerontology
• Option (six to eight courses in an area of focus)
  • Aging Studies
  • Health Informatics
• Specialization (six courses in an area of focus)
  • Health Research

Co-op Program

The Public Health program is available as a co-op program, which provides students with the opportunity to gain relevant paid work experience. The co-op program is designed to help students explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, and graduate with up to two years of valuable experience.

Sample Co-op Job Titles

Some of the sample co-op job titles include:

• Health and safety student officer
• Health promotions and events assistant
• Corporate events coordinator
• Residential/vocational assistant
• Health and wellness coordinator
• Rehabilitation and mental health assistant
• Junior policy analyst
• Public health analyst

Career Opportunities

Graduates of the Public Health program can pursue careers in a range of fields, including community health centers, public health departments, social services agencies, non-profit organizations, and health consulting. Some of the recent graduates have gone on to work as:

• Public Health Promoter - Huron County Health Unit
• Policy Analyst - Public Health Agency of Canada
• Consultant, Strategy Management - Lakeridge Health
• Information and Communications Technology System Instructional Technologist - Centre for the Evaluation of Health Professionals
• Solutions Consultant - NexJ Health Inc.
• Life Enrichment Therapist - Halton Region Services for Seniors

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the Public Health program include:

• Six Grade 12 U and/or M courses, including any 4U English (minimum final grade of 75% is required) and any 4U Mathematics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
• Admission averages: Regular - Low 80s, Co-op - Mid-80s

Faculty and Degree

The Public Health program is offered by the Faculty of Health, and the degree awarded is a Bachelor of Public Health (BPH). The program is available as a co-op program and a regular program, but not as a minor.

Conclusion

The Public Health degree at the University of Waterloo provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the factors that affect health and the skills necessary to address health problems on a large scale. With a range of courses, customization options, and career opportunities, this program is ideal for students who want to make a positive impact in the field of public health.