Public Health (MPH)

Location(s): Online

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Master of Public Health

Program Website: Master of Public Health

Field(s) of Specialization

Health Information Management
Infection Prevention and Control

Faculty and Administration

For a listing of program faculty and administrative contacts, please visit the program directory.

Program Description

The Master of Public Health (MPH) program is designed to meet the needs of public health professionals, health practitioners and recent post-graduate students with the goal of enhancing theoretical and applied knowledge through course work and a practicum experience. The MPH courses complement the core competencies outlined by the Public Health Agency of Canada, leading to a professional degree in public health.

Delivered in an exclusively online format, a combination of synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning techniques will be used to guide instruction and evaluate learning. The curriculum focuses on identifying the interdisciplinary elements required to design, implement, and effectively manage public health systems. Research methods and analytical training essential to public health will provide a foundation in the conduct of research that will enhance evidence-based decision making. The program addresses the growing need to anticipate, manage and mitigate public health crises.

Graduates of the MPH will be prepared to compete for positions in a variety of public health organizations as well as leadership roles in the health sector.

Pathway opportunities also exist for MPH graduates to pursue an accelerated Master of Business Administration (MBA) or accelerated Master of Education (MEd):

Admission Requirements

Successful completion of a four-year Bachelor’s degree, or equivalent, from an accredited university in Public Health, Health Sciences, Medical Sciences, Pure Sciences, Social Sciences or a relevant health field, with an average of no less than 80% (A-) in the last two years of study. Students with a Bachelor’s degree in related fields of business, mathematics and pure sciences may also be eligible, although additional course work may be required. Applicants must have undergraduate preparation and a knowledge-based proficiency in Epidemiology and Biostatistics and have relevant work and/or volunteer experiences in a Public Health organization. Additional preparatory courses in biostatistics (MPHA 6P01 ) and/or population epidemiology (MPHA 6P02 ) may be required as part of a conditional offer of admission for applicants with insufficient proficiency of these public health core sciences.

The Graduate Admissions Committee will review all applications and recommend admission for a limited number of candidates. Successful applicants to the MPH program will complete the degree exclusively online. This program is offered on a full-time (12 months), as well as part-time (maximum 4 years) basis. Students who have completed courses equivalent to those in the MPH as part of a graduate Canadian or U.S. degree (within the last seven years) may be granted advanced standing, up to a maximum of four half-credit courses, subject to performance. Advanced standing can be assessed during the application review process.

Degree Requirements

Basic degree requirements include the successful completion of twelve (12) half-credit courses, which include eight (8) required and four (4) elective half-credit courses.

Required Courses:

Elective Course Options:

Select four (4) half-credit courses:

Master of Public Health Specializations:

Students apply into a general MPH program and can register for any course offered in the program. Additionally, two specializations are offered within the MPH program including Health Information Management (HIM) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC). Students must complete core HIM or IPAC courses to be eligible for a specialized designation on their transcripts.

Health Information Management

The HIM specialization ensure that our graduates can transform data into valuable information that will impact the quality of prevention and care across Canada. Students interested in the HIM specialization must successfully complete three core courses including MPHA 5P19 , MPHA 5P29 , and MPHA 5P39 . HIM students are encouraged to complete their two required practicum courses (MPHA 5P11 and MPHA 5P21 ) with an emphasis on health information management. Students that complete the HIM specialization will be eligible to sit the Canadian College of Health Information Management board exam.

Required Courses:

Elective Course Options:

Select one (1) half-credit course listed below:

Infection Prevention and Control

The advent of an IPAC specialization nested within the MPH program will provide training for students with the technical expertise and leadership to keep Canada’s public safe. Students interested in the IPAC specialization must successfully complete three core courses including MPHA 5P07 , MPHA 5P27 , and MPHA 5P37 . IPAC students are encouraged to complete their two required practicum courses (MPHA 5P11 and MPHA 5P21 ) with an emphasis on infection prevention and control. Students with an IPAC specialization will be prepared to sit the national examination set by the Certification Board of Infection Control and supported by IPAC Canada.

Required Courses:

Elective Course Options:

Select one (1) half-credit course listed below:

Program Notes

Full and part-time students must register for MPHA 5P06 in their final year of study, as a capstone course. Students must complete two (2) public health practicum courses (MPHA 5P11 , MPHA 5P21 ) in conjunction with or preceding MPHA 5P06 to synthesize and integrate knowledge acquired during course work with the learning experiences gained through their public health practicum.
Failure to succeed in the practicum course MPHA 5P11 and/or MPHA 5P21 may result in dismissal from the program.
Students must successfully complete MPHA 5P11 prior to completing MPHA 5P21 .
No student is allowed to begin their practicum without approval from BOTH the MPH Program and health sector organization.
All required practicum documentation must be completed and submitted according to MPH program and health sector organization rules and regulations BEFORE a student may begin their practicum. Failure to follow appropriate procedures may result in academic misconduct or suspension from the practicum.
Health sector organizations may have internal policies and procedures governing student participation in practicums. Students will be required to comply with all health sector organization requirements, and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure they are familiar with and comply with any such policy and procedures. Such policies and procedures may include but are not limited to placement provider’s intellectual property policies, conflict of interest policies and confidentiality requirements.
Students may require current Standard First Aid and CPR (BCLS or Level C) certification that is in accordance with and approved by the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) when completing their practicum. The certification must be valid during the duration of study.
Proof of immunizations may be required prior to commencement of the practicum course. Immunization screening required for: Measles, Mumps, Rubella; Hepatitis B; Tuberculosis; Tetanus/Diptheria/Pertussis, COVID-19.
Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) may be required by practicum agencies. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the process is complete - at their own expense. In some cases, students may not be allowed to attend practicum if these requirements are not met.
All program costs associated with required documentation or equipment are the sole responsibility of the student. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure the process is complete prior to commencement of the program.
Students planning to pursue either the MPH-MBA or MPH-MEd consecutive degrees pathway may apply for consideration to the MBA or MEd program prior to completion of the MPH program. However, students may not pursue two degrees concurrently. Both the MBA and MEd admission requirements will still need to be met, and the applicants will be considered for admission.
With permission from the Graduate Program Director, students may take up to two additional MPH courses. These two courses replace the extra courses outside the program. Extra courses must be taken concurrently with degree required courses and cannot be taken after completion of degree requirements.

Graduate Micro-Programs in Public Health

The Faculty of Applied Health Sciences offers Graduate Micro-Programs (GMPs), non-degree programs tailored to students interested in gaining graduate-level expertise in the health sector: Graduate Micro-Programs in Public Health .

Following successful completion of either the HIM or IPAC Graduate Micro-Programs and with permission from both the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs and the MPH Graduate Program Committee, students may apply to transfer their credits earned towards bridging their GMP into a Master of Public Health degree.

Admission Requirements

Applications will be considered from those with a variety of experiences and qualifications who demonstrate an ability and aptitude to succeed in graduate-level study. While the standard admissions criteria for graduate studies applies (a four-year degree with a minimum 75% average over the last two years of full-time undergraduate study), applicants who do not meet the university’s minimum academic requirements may be considered if they can demonstrate equivalent competencies. Equivalent competencies include additional education coupled with significant and related professional experience (usually 5+ years), and/or substantial and relevant learning and skill development.

Interested applicants should submit transcripts, curriculum vitae, reference letters and a letter of intent with their application.

Graduate Micro-Program in Health Information Management (HIM)

The Graduate Micro-Program (GMP) in Health Information Management (HIM) is tailored to those interested in gaining graduate-level expertise in public health. The Graduate Micro-Program in HIM will focus on educating students on governmental systems and application of the practice of analyzing, protecting, and managing complex digital and traditional public health and health care information. This GMP will attract public health practitioners at regional, provincial, and national levels seeking advanced knowledge in HIM.

The GMP in Health Information Management is comprised of three (3) half-credit online courses that can be completed within three terms (1 year). For the HIM GMP to be noted on an academic transcript, students must successfully complete all three required courses with a minimum grade of 70%.

Graduate Micro-Program in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC)

The Graduate Micro-Program (GMP) in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) is tailored to those interested in gaining graduate-level expertise in public health. The Graduate Micro-Program in IPAC will provide training for students with the technical expertise in infection control and leadership to keep Canada’s public safe. Students enrolling in this GMP will gain comprehensive knowledge and skills that are crucial to hospital and long term healthcare environments.

The GMP in Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) is comprised of three (3) half-credit online courses that can be completed within three terms (1 year). For the GMP to be noted on an academic transcript, students must successfully complete all three required courses with a minimum grade of 70%.