There are numerous rewarding health-related careers and opportunities for current School of Public Health Sciences (SPHS) undergraduate students. On these pages, we will outline the various career options, further education paths, and additional resources available for SPHS undergraduate students for obtaining experience and guidance throughout university and the workplace.
Firstly, take some time to consider the following:
- What are your short and long-term goals?
- Are you completing a specific degree or certification that is related to your field of interest within public health or health sciences?
- Consider the specific skills that are needed for your future career aspirations (eg. communication skills, data analytics, teamwork, leadership, program planning, etc).
- What are ways for you to connect with mentors or peers, volunteer with different organizations, or gain relevant work experience to expand your network within your field?
- What skills do you possess, and what are you passionate about?
- What relevant experiences do you possess with respect to the field of public health and health sciences? (eg. research experience, customer service, leadership opportunities from volunteering, work experiences etc)
- What courses do you particularly enjoy during your undergraduate studies that might inform your future career aspirations?
- Are there any majors, minors, or specializations that align with your interests?
- What kind of job do you hope to obtain?
- Consider your career prospects and ensure it aligns with your education goals, interests, skillset, personal values, and work preferences.
- For more information to explore values and skills related to future careers, see CareerHub.
- Where do you want to be?
- Explore career opportunities that involve international travel or working on global health projects.
- Examine public health priorities in different regions.
- Investigate partnerships and collaboration with public health organizations, academic institutions, and other stakeholders.
- What are your workplace values?
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What kind of work environment do you see yourself in?
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Do you value teamwork, independence, or a mix of both?
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Do your goals align with your personal values and lifestyle?
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- Do you have any relevant experience? How do you build it?
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How can you connect with faculty, staff, or peers for advice and support?
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Are there any student opportunities on campus you can get involved in?
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Your knowledge of health careers and what they entail will expand throughout your undergraduate studies. Keep an open mind to ensure you don’t miss out on any new opportunities, experiences, or knowledge.
Potential careers
There are many different opportunities within the health field. See the Potential careers webpage for more information on careers in various disciplines such as: health promotion, health technology, epidemiology, statistical data analysis, policy analysis, medicine, and more.
One year after graduation, we survey our most recent alumni to inquire about their career paths and education pursuits. Check out the Graduation statistics webpage for examples of job positions, organizations, and post-graduate education received by our alumni to see their status and achievements:
Read about the career paths of recent and established alumni who graduated from SPHS undergraduate programs:
Further education
Students may choose to pursue additional education after their undergraduate degree. Some may do this directly after completing their undergraduate degree, while others may enter the workforce first and return to school later. It is important to recognize that everyone’s path looks different.
For more information on graduate programs, medical school, and further education advising, see Further education or book an appointment with a further education advisor.
Volunteering and community involvement
Engaging in student-run organizations is a great way to get involved, learn, and network within a community. The University of Waterloo is always looking for students who want to get involved in the Faculty of Health and volunteer their time. Other opportunities for engagement also exist within external faculties and community organizations. For more information, see Volunteering and community involvement, or check out the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) website for a complete club listing.