Improve the health of thousands of people.
Doctors might help a dozen or so patients a day. Public health professionals help thousands.
Explore how social, cultural, political, and geographical conditions play a pivotal role in health — and how understanding these factors can help us tackle smoking, obesity, infectious diseases, and other modern-day health challenges.
By drawing on skills from different disciplines, you’ll learn how to develop health policies that work and health messages that hit home. In your final year, you’ll complete a thesis, an independent study, or a community engagement placement.
With a Bachelor of Public Health degree, whether you take the co-op stream or not you’ll be equipped to make important contributions to society, whether it’s developing healthy eating campaigns for teenagers, improving social services for seniors in your community, or researching ways to control infectious diseases.
Public Health admission requirements
Ontario students: six Grade 12 U and/or M courses including
- Any 4U English (minimum final grade of 75% is required)
- Any 4U Mathematics (minimum final grade of 70% is required)
Admission averages: Regular: Low 80s | Co-op: Mid-80s
We recommend completing the Admission Information Form once you've applied.
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.
First-year Public Health courses
September to December
January to April
After first year
About half of the classes you’ll take will be Health courses. With your remaining classes, you can choose electives from many of the 100 subject areas at Waterloo.
View all the courses required for your degree.
Sample upper-year courses
HLTH 280 – Applied Public Health Ethics
HLTH 304 – Health Communication
HLTH 355 – Public Health Nutrition
HLTH 410 – Health Policy
Andrea chose Public Health at Waterloo because she wanted to study at the root causes of the issues she was passionate about.
Apply directly to this program on your application
Earn a Bachelor of Public Health degree (BPH)
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
By alternating school terms and paid co-op work terms throughout your degree, you can explore new career areas and types of employers as your career interests evolve.
Sample co-op job titles
- Health & wellness coordinator
- Rehabilitation & mental health assistant
- Community advocate
- Public health analyst
- Health & safety student officer
- Health promotions & events assistant
- Corporate events coordinator
- Residential/vocational assistant
Sample co-op employers
- L'Arche
- Canadian Institute for Health Information
- Ontario Ministry of Health & Long Term Care
- Regional Municipality of Peel
- Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada
- Royal Ottawa Health Care Group
- University of Waterloo
- Premier Home Care Services
Co-op students earn $42,000-$69,000 on average over their work terms
Offered by the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences
Electives in your degree to explore your interests
Customize your Bachelor of Public Health degree
You can also add additional areas of interest and expertise by including one or more of the areas of focus in Public Health.
- Gerontology
- Aging Studies
- Health Informatics
- Health Research
You can also include one of the minors available to all Waterloo students. Popular areas of focus for Public Health students include Psychology, Gerontology, Sociology, and Health Informatics.
What can you do with a degree in Public Health?
Waterloo Public Health graduates typically pursue careers in community health centres, public health departments, social services agencies, non-profit organizations concerned with social justice and social services, and health consulting.
Recent graduates
- 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
For more information on potential careers, check out our career page on health and helping professions.
Further education
While the full range of further education depends on your individual interests, graduates commonly pursue a master's, PhD, or other professional program in areas such as public health, epidemiology, health promotion, or social work.
Get a master’s degree faster
Aiming for grad school? You can get a head start by applying for an accelerated master’s in your third year.
Make lasting connections
With small class sizes right from first year, you’ll create close bonds with your classmates — and your world-renowned professors.
Ready to learn more?
- Visit the School of Public Health and Health Systems website
- Email Pamela Hurvid, our Applied Health Sciences recruitment co-ordinator, who can answer any questions about the program
- Subscribe to our newsletter to get tips and advice from current students
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