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, food insecurity, 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.
A Bachelor of Public Health degree will equip you to make important contributions to society, whether it’s researching ways to control infectious diseases such as COVID-19, developing healthy eating campaigns for teenagers, or improving social services for seniors in your community.
Program highlights
Social science focus. With lots of electives, you can easily include minors and specializations such as health informatics, health research, and aging studies as part of your degree.
Get hands-on experience in class. You'll complete a thesis, independent study, or a community placement – plus some upper year courses include field learning.
- Available as a regular or co-op program
- Earn a Bachelor of Public Health (BPH)
- Offered by the Faculty of Health
Discover if Public Health is right for you.
What will you learn?
First-year courses
You'll take courses from the Faculty of Health to give you the foundations for your upper-year classes. After first year, about half of the classes you’ll take will be Health courses.
Learn about courses you'll take for your Public Health degree.
Customize your degree
You can also add additional areas of interest and expertise by including one or more of the areas of focus within the program.
- Gerontology
- Aging Studies
- Health Informatics
- Health Research
- Addictions, Mental Health, and Policy
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.
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Monthly topics include how to choose a university program, what it's like to be a Waterloo student, and more.
Questions? Ask a student!
Connect with a current student ambassador to learn about their experience in the program.
Ask them questions such as why they chose Public Health, what the classes are like, and how you can get involved on campus.
Co-op = relevant paid work experience
Waterloo's co-op program, the largest in North America, is an amazing way to explore potential careers, learn to interview for jobs, graduate with up to two years of valuable experience – and make money!
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
Co-op work-study sequence
Starting in second year, you'll normally alternate between school and work every four months, integrating your classroom learning with real-world experience. You can return to the same employer for a couple of work terms to gain greater knowledge and responsibility or work for different employers to get a broad range of experience.
Year | September to December (Fall) | January to April (Winter) | May to August (Spring) |
---|---|---|---|
First | Study | Study | Off |
Second | Study | Co-op | Study |
Third | Co-op | Study | Co-op |
Fourth | Study | Co-op | Co-op |
Fifth | Study | Study | - |
Your first work term will be halfway through second year (January - April 2026).
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
Not studying in Ontario? Search our admission requirements.
How to apply?
Apply directly to this program on your application.
Connect with us
Questions about courses, programs, requirements, or careers?
Please contact Clare Stevens, our Faculty of Health recruitment co-ordinator who can answer any questions you have.
Not sure which Health program is right for you?