Dean's Office:
B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH), Third floor
General inquiries email
519-888-4567, ext. 31346
William
The Health Studies program not only looks at human health from the level of the cell, it also looks at health from a systems-level creating innovative solutions for complex health challenges.
Jibin Yu
Experiences while travelling can have a profound impact on an older person’s well-being. Jibin Yu brings a new perspective and looks to expand our understanding of how tourism, well-being, and aging are connected.
Vanessa V.
What I like most about Health Studies is that it combines courses in both the natural sciences and the social determinants of health, allowing students to be well-rounded and appreciate a holistic approach to healthcare.
Emily T.
From dissecting cadavers, getting involved in research, and working with varsity athletes - there are so many ways to get involved in the Kinesiology community and have fun at the same time!
Elena
Kinesiology is such an interdisciplinary program. In the first two years, we get exposed to so many different subjects such as biomechanics, exercise physiology, neuroscience, and so much more. The freedom you then get in the upper years really gives you the opportunity to explore the subject areas you want to learn about in more detail.
Katie
What I like best about my program is that I’m able to apply my learning from the classroom into my everyday life, and that I will be prepared for any health-related career I choose.
Kimberly Lopez, PhD
Kimberly Lopez gives a voice to those who provide care within the long-term care sector using innovative research approaches to uncover racialized, gendered, and classed issues that structure care labour.
Janette Smith
Janette Smith is the Commissioner of Public Works at the Region of Peel. She began her leadership role in Public Works in January 2017 after a twenty-seven year career in Health Services. Within Health Services, Janette held a number of progressive leadership positions including: Commissioner of Health Services, Director of Long Term Care, and Director of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention.
Jason
I like the atmosphere that surrounds Public Health as well as the Faculty of Health. I have always had an enjoyable experience with my peers and professors!
Vanessa R.
The thing I like most about my program is the sense of community. I like how open everyone is to helping each other and asking each other questions.
Caitlin McArthur
Caitlin McArthur is on a mission to improve rehabilitation for residents living in long-term care. As a physiotherapist, her first-hand knowledge is an integral aspect that guides her doctoral research.
Kavini
I like that Health Studies allows me to explore various fields of health care through my classes. Coming into university I knew I wanted to pursue a health care profession but I was never set on a specific field. To have the opportunity to customize my degree depending on the specialization I choose is perfect for me!
Jeff Payne
Jeff is Director, Partnerships at Golf Canada, where he is responsible for integrating brands throughout the organization’s portfolio of assets, from the RBC Canadian Open and CP Women’s Open to Youth Development to Team Canada. He has spent his career in sports marketing, working for and with teams in the NHL, NBA, MLS, NFL, English Premier League, Serie A and the Canadian Olympic Committee.
Jayna
I enjoy that my program has allowed me to study recreation in the broad sense and take courses in tourism, sports business, and therapeutic.
Bakhtawar
I like the flexibility my program offers. This program is really great, especially if you know you want a career in the healthcare field but just can't decide which one or don't know yet! Health Studies will definitely offer you some clarity in one way or another.
Andrew Robertson, PhD
Andrew Robertson continues to work with new and innovative technologies to improve the lives of stroke patients. His training in the Aging, Health and Well-being doctoral program prepared him to continue with his research as a doctoral fellow.
Kobisha
I like that Health Studies gives me the opportunity to explore health from many different perspectives! The program has introduced me to a vast number of fields within health and several different careers that I can potentially pursue.
Lauren H.
I enjoy how small my program is. There are only about 75 people in Recreation and Sports Business in my year so I get to know a lot of the people in my classes and it makes it easy to talk to people in class or even outside of class.
Krista
I love how flexible Waterloo Kinesiology is! The first two years are packed with foundational courses, but then I can tailor my degree my way with the amount of electives we get in upper years.
Maisha
I love that I have the opportunity to learn about health from a holistic perspective and apply my knowledge both inside and outside the classroom. The program and professors foster an incredible community where anyone will feel welcome and excited to learn!
Rebecca Genoe, PhD
Rebecca Genoe has long known that her life's work would be in the field of aging research. Now as an Associate Professor at the University of Regina, she recalls how her time at the University of Waterloo prepared her for academic life.
Christina Hassan
As a recent Master of Public Health (’16) graduate and a Law student at the University of Calgary, Christina dedicates her time and energy to growing FullSoul Canada, a social enterprise she co-founded to equip hospitals in developing countries with medical delivery kits.
Jessica H.
I like that my program offers multiple minors/specializations which allowed me to pursue a gerontology minor. I also like the flexibility of my program as there are a lot of free electives.
Norma Jutan, PhD
Norma Jutan's in-depth experience working with big health data in her Aging, Health and Well-being doctorate made her a perfect candidate to continue working with these numbers as a Methodologist after her studies.
Meagan
My program is amazing because it combines a basic foundation in science and math to various aspects of human health and how it impacts physical activity. It is the perfect pre-med pathway for me since it combines those necessary sciences with things that I am passionate about - nutrition, exercise, and wellbeing!
John Lohuis
John (BA '76) has had a very diverse career in both private and public sectors that include Ministries of Correctional Services, Health and Natural Resources. He is still active in promoting parks issues within CPRA and as a Board member of the Leisure Information Network. John is also a Board member of the Niagara Sports Commission where he is busy with a bid for the Canada Summer Games for Niagara.
Mawj
I love that my program teaches me about multiple different aspects of health and not just the classic sciences. I love that I'm learning how to make health more accessible and make the world a better place through health.
Ashley Flanagan
Ashley Flanagan brings gender identity and aging to the forefront in her dissertation research by challenging the way we currently think about and understand successful aging.
Rajan
I really enjoy the variety of courses we take, not only do we cover the physiology of diseases, but also take a look at the upstream social determinants of health. Health Studies is a great program for really exploring different avenues in the field of health care.
Sydney P.
I choose Waterloo Therapeutic Recreation because I knew I wanted to help people coming into university but I didn’t know exactly in what capacity. Coming into first year in general Recreation and Leisure studies allowed me to try a little bit of each Recreation program and choose what I liked best: Therapeutic Recreation!
Luke Turcotte
Luke Turcotte studies large health databases in order to determine which factors influence the path to recovery for rehabilitation patients. The goal of his dissertation work is to help older adults regain function and achieve independence again.
Shelby
I like that my program provides me with enough electives to pursue a minor or double major in Psychology!
Lindsey Oretan
Emilia M. Bozzo
Grace Tang
Aisley
I like the broad scope of study in public health, you get the best of both worlds understanding the effects social and natural sciences have on individuals and the population.
Manasa
I like that my program allows me to understand health care from a different perspective, at a population level. I also like that my program offers room through electives to explore other areas of interest.
Riana
I chose the recreation and sport business program because it allows me to combine my two passions together: business and sports! This program provides me with the knowledge I need to not only excel in a business career but also provides me with the real-world experience needed to pursue a career in the sports industry.
Harkomal
The best thing I like about my program is all the lab experiences we receive in our first two years.
Katrin
My program is really social! This was really nice because coming into university can be overwhelming but being able to make friends easily was nice. As a student who is registered with AccessAbility I have had great experiences working with my profs to make things more accessible for me. I have been able to explore so many other courses as well, and am currently looking into a biology minor.
Salva
The Health Studies program offers a multidisciplinary approach to health and healthcare and considers many approaches to treating illness and preventing disease. I love the variety of courses taken during my degree; courses rooted in the sciences, social sciences, and public health!
Lindsay
I like that my program covers the broad systemic factors that cause disparities in health like poverty, climate change, and more.
Bahja
I love how the Health Studies program highlights key global health issues and while also getting key scientific information about the human body.
Rina
I like that my program is hands-on and I get to implement what I learn within the community. In one of my classes, I was able to apply what I learned when completing an accessibility assessment of a building on campus!
Ash
I love how Kinesiology at Waterloo allows students to take part in a variety of foundational courses from biomechanics to neuroscience. In the first two years of the degree students are introduced to a vast variety of different specialities in the health field, which I feel allows students to discover what they are most passionate about!
Kaileigh
I like that my program allows me to combine my passion for sports and interest in business and bring them together for interesting learning opportunities. Other universities don't provide a program similar to this one and I like that class sizes are small so we can develop a strong sense of community with other students. I have a passion for sports but I also enjoy the business areas of sports and this program allows me to study both.
Abanoub
The best thing I like about my program is learning health from multiple perspectives and how interesting the courses are. You really get exposed to a more holistic approach to healthcare and you also have the opportunity to choose a specific minor/specialization depending on your interests!
Lucy
I really like how the program offers many electives that allow me to explore other subjects such as history, psychology, and sociology.
Kaitlyn
I like that we get the opportunity to learn about the health system and healthcare, but at the same time look at things from a social determinants lens.
Sam
In addition to the close tight-knit community, what I love most about the program is that it is very hands-on, which has helped me both gain perspective and further develop my skills.
Bhiraamy
I love that my program offers a wide variety of courses not only in core sciences and kinesiology courses but also math, psychology and sociology in first and second year and then gives us the freedom to adapt a minor or two with our free electives in upper year.
Tianna
I love how Kinesiology offers a variety of courses that match my interest and can help me with my career path. I personally love the lab courses because they are very interactive and provide a lot of hands-on experience.
Shenise
I enjoy that the Health Studies program includes applied sciences as well as social sciences which I believe are equally important. Health Studies also allows for flexibility so that I can take electives that fit my personal and academic interests. This program has helped me to discover newfound interests in healthcare.
Neha
What I like best about my program is the global impact of public health research and the scope and variety of professions that one could go into following a public health degree.
Tiffany
What I like best about my program is how flexible it is! The degree is very customizable and allows you to explore your interests with a variety of electives and specializations.
Hannah
I love to learn with friendly and knowledgeable professors while also having the ability to meet many new friends! The tourism industry is always changing and adapting which provides very interesting course material!
Kirsthen
I love that for the first few years of my program, we are taught foundational concepts that will help us in choosing whatever courses we would like to take in the future. The program is very flexible which is motivating since I know that I can tailor my degree and broaden my knowledge in a way that I know I would enjoy and be successful in!
Akshaya
Not only do we study the physiology of diseases, we also examine determinants of health at the population level. Public Health is a great program for exploring different tracks in the field of health care. The program is intensive and allows me to draw on knowledge and skills from a variety of disciplines such as public policy, health science, epidemiology, behavioural sciences, etc. to critically assess a broad spectrum of public health issues. Lastly, the Co-op option provides the opportunity to gain practical work experience during which you can figure out what types of careers you are interested in within health care.
Danielle
I love the health courses I get to take and explore. I went into University not knowing which path I wanted to take in my career, but through the program I have been introduced to many different fields that exist in the healthcare system that I never knew existed. With co-op as an option, I not only have the opportunity to learn about these fields, but work in them and carve a unique and meaningful career path for myself.
Viv
My favourite part about my program is the community. It is a decently small program so I am able to make meaningful connections with my classmates. Everyone is always willing to help out, friendly and approachable.
Zanib
I love the versatility of the Health Studies program. I have the option to learn and focus on a specific area of health i.e., research, informatics, or clinical.
Nahomi
I like that my program provides its students plenty of opportunities to explore various health-related topics. I find that I'm never uninterested in any of the material we cover in each of our courses, which allows me to truly enjoy what I learn.
Maya
I love that my program has a variety of labs that give you a hands-on learning experience. It makes it easier to apply the content you learn in class to real-life situations.
Ivy
The best thing about Recreation and Leisure Studies is the flexibility of the program, allowing me to explore more of my interests from other faculties and learn from others. Not to mention, I absolutely love how this program contributes so much in the impacts of individuals' health and overall well-being.
Shajanthini
I like the variety of health courses the Health Studies program requires, which allows me to see health through a multidisciplinary approach.
Sylvia
What I like best about my program is the people! I couldn't ask for better peers, professors, advisors, etc. to support me throughout my undergrad.
Abeera
I like how the program gives students a strong foundation in human health and sciences and allows students to explore many health-related topics such as population health, health informatics, gerontology and more!
Mehak
I love that all the students and staff are extremely helpful and care about each and everyone's mental health.
Oumar
I like how customizable my degree is to my preferences and plans for the future. You typically complete all your prerequisite courses in your second year, leaving your last two years in Kinesiology completely open with any electives you want to take!
Jacob
What I like best about my program is that everyone is a community that not only works together to improve our collective knowledge of the business side of sports, but also that we all share a passion for sports.
Archana
I admire how versatile and diverse the program is, it allows me to keep my options open while exploring each field of interest. The program also allows me to learn about courses that aren't strictly related to chemistry or biology as well. Ultimately, I gain knowledge in many different areas such as HLTH, PSYCH, CHEM, BIO and KIN!
Justin
I love the versatility of this program and how it really lets you go down the path you want to take. The first two years give you a solid understanding of the various Kinesiology topics that are out there, and then from there you can really specialize in a topic, if you desire to do so!
Myeengun Henry
As Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, Elder Henry provides strategic leadership to the Faculty of Health and our response to the Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action.
Safaa
The thing I like the most about my program is how great a balance it has between the natural sciences and public health subjects. There is also a great amount of flexibility within the program which allowed me to go on a study abroad!
Ramandeep
What I like best about my program is the extensive support and care that professors provide students with. They will go above and beyond to support you with whatever it may be. This really helps develop a sense of community and create such a strong and positive faculty environment.
Umang
I like how the professors are very kind and willing to help you, and answer any questions and/or concerns you may have.
Maria
I love that my program explores the intersectionality in health. I believe that it is important to learn about different identities and circumstances that affect one's health. Also, beyond the biomedical lens of health, I love that Health Studies explores other aspects of health such as mental health, access to healthcare and resources, health-related technologies and much more!
Leiann
I like the wide variety of kinesiology courses our faculty has to offer. There are courses on topics you never would have thought or known about.
Avonae
I like the versatility of my program and the opportunities it presented to gain experience in different health science domains. I especially love the focus on upstream elements through investigation of the social determinants of health.
Scarlett
What I like best about my program is the courses. My favorite course is KIN 100 with the lab. I found it very useful during my co-op as a physiotherapist assistant.
Amna
My program has taught me to think about different factors such as biology, environment, and socioeconomics in discussions about health. This holistic approach when it comes to the health of individuals and communities is what I like best about the Public Health program.
Zana
What I like most about Health Studies is that it has prompted an immense curiosity and passion for the field of health, starting at the cellular and physiological level and expanding into system-level thinking surrounding broader social factors of health.
Katherine
I like the sense of family the Kinesiology program has, and the willingness everyone has to help each other.
Anna L.
I like how Health Studies is a combination of "traditional science" courses but also adds in public health aspects. The program challenges students to explore how social determinants can impact ones health and challenges us to create solutions at the primary healthcare level.
Sean
What I like best about my program are the opportunities that we have to do real hands-on work in labs and apply what we learn in our classes.
Anya
I like how supportive the entire Faculty of Health is. The Public Health advisors are especially accessible and truly want the best for everyone in our program. They often go above and beyond to watch us succeed and know us personally. You really get a chance to get to know each person and you honestly build a little community on campus! There is so much to love about the Public Health program here at Waterloo. From the caring support system to the engaging, thought-provoking subject matter which draws on skills from different disciplines – you can't go wrong!
Lexie
My program is very multidisciplinary and allows me to explore an extensive variety of subjects ranging from how the Canadian health system works to how the cells in our body function.
Muskaan
I like that Health Studies focuses not only on the scientific areas of health but also on the social aspects such as the social determinants of health. I also love the diversity of this program as it allows us to learn about various fields of health care.
Kayla
I like the opportunity we have to learn about health holistically by integrating knowledge from both science and health courses. Each course you take whether it be science, social science or health builds on to each other and allows you to view health from a different lens. I also enjoy the upstream approach we take when looking at the social determinants of health and public health intervention.
Lauren M.
My favourite part about Therapeutic Recreation is all of the hands-on experience we get throughout our degree! Many of our courses include experiential learning components and we have a practicum and internship.
Amanda
I like the wide range of course options, relevant lab experiences, and passionate faculty members.
Priya V.
I love how welcoming and inclusive the professors and student body are. Everyone is always smiling and ready to lend a hand!
Rachel
I like the tight knit community in the Health Studies program. There is so much room to grow, both inside and outside of the classroom, and further your dreams - whether that be through specializations, research or minors.
Ayesha
I love that my program allows us to take various electives throughout the years! These electives have allowed me to take many different courses that interest me.
Amanjot
I like that Health Studies allows me to learn and explore many different aspects of health and the many ways in which we can improve health through upstream measures rather than just focusing on helping one during the disease stage.