Summary
Degree offered: Master of Public Health (MPH), Concentration in Public Health Policy
- Registration status option: Full-time
- Language of instruction: English
- Program options (expected duration of the program):
- MPH (4 terms; 16 consecutive months)
- MPH+ with 12 credits of language training (5 terms; 20 consecutive months)
- Academic units: Faculty of Medicine, School of Epidemiology and Public Health.
Program Description
Master of Public Health (MPH)
The MPH is a course-based program with an experiential learning component (Public Health Practicum) and a culminating experience (Applied Public Health Capstone Project) which demonstrates integration and synthesis of public health skills and knowledge. It is to be completed full-time over 4 terms.
The MPH builds on SEPH’s existing strengths in global health, population health risk assessment, and empirical public health sciences. The content and structure of the program are also consistent with the Canadian Guidelines for MPH programs developed by the Network of Schools and Programs of Public and Population Health, the entity which represents the professional and academic public health community in Canada.
- Enhanced Policy Training
We are partnered with the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs so that the MPH program can offer enhanced policy training to all enrolled students, and a policy stream that is unique in Ontario. This program will create leaders in the practice of public health and in public health policy analysis.
- Program Goals
The MPH, Concentration in Public Health Policy will prepare graduates for careers in public health policy development, strategic planning, evaluation, and implementation.
The MPH program will produce professionals who are competent, flexible, and ready to respond to diverse and changing population, disease, and political contexts in Canada and globally. In short it will prepare candidates for meaningful professional careers in the field of public health.
The program has three goals:
- Prepare leaders for strong and professional public health practice and policy work in Canada and globally.
- For graduates planning a professional public health practice career, ensure a superior understanding of the policy perspective
- For graduates planning a public health policy career, ensure a superior understanding of the scientific evidence perspective.
Master of Public Health (MPH+)
Another feature that is unique to the uOttawa MPH is that students may elect to undertake intensive language training (12 units over 5 terms) throughout their MPH studies through the MPH+ option. This option will help MPH students improve their abilities in a second (or third) language and will help them pursue their public health career-related goals in the language of their choice.
Through our collaboration with the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute and the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures, MPH + students may take language courses in French, English, Arabic , Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
Other Programs Offered Within the Same Discipline or in a Related Area
- Master of Public Health, Concentration in Public Health Practice (MPH)
- Master of Public Health, Concentration in Global Health (MPH)
- Graduate Diploma in Population Health Risk Assessment and Management
- Master of Science Epidemiology (MSc)
- Master of Science Epidemiology Specialization in Biostatistics (MSc)
- Doctorate in Philosophy Epidemiology (PhD)
Fees and Funding
- Program fees:
- The estimated amount for university fees associated with this program are available under the section Finance your studies.
- To learn about possibilities for financing your graduate studies, consult the Awards and financial support section.
Notes
- Programs are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.
- In accordance with the University of Ottawa regulation, students have the right to complete their assignments, examinations, research papers, and theses in French or in English.
Program Contact Information
Graduate Studies Office, Faculty of Medicine
451 Smyth Road, Room RGN 2016
Ottawa ON Canada
K1N 6N5
Tel.: 613-562-5215
Email: grad.med@uottawa.ca
For the most accurate and up to date information on application deadlines, language tests and other admission requirements, please visit the specific requirements webpage.
To be eligible, candidates must:
- Honours Bachelor’s degree with specialization or major in a discipline relevant to public health (e.g., life science, health science, behavioural or social science such as psychology, economics or law or arts such as English or journalism) with a minimum average of B+ (75%), OR equivalent
Note: International candidates must check the admission equivalencies for the diploma they received in their country of origin.
- Undergraduate-level bio-statistics course (such as MAT 2379) OR equivalent completed in the last 3 years or completion of the 1-week intensive Biostatistics Summer Institute offered by the School of Epidemiology and Public Health.
- Admission requirements for the Master of Public Health (MPH+), are the same as for the Master of Public Health (MPH).
Language Requirements
Applicants must be able to understand, write and fluently speak the language of instruction (English) in the program to which they are applying. Proof of linguistic proficiency may be required.
Applicants whose first language is neither French nor English must provide proof of proficiency in the language of instruction.
Note: Candidates are responsible for any fees associated with the language tests.
Notes
- The admission requirements listed above are minimum requirements and do not guarantee admission to the program.
- Admissions are governed by the general regulations in effect for graduate studies.
Requirements for this program have been modified. Please consult the 2022-2023 calendars for the previous requirements.
MPH
Students must meet the following requirements:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Compulsory courses | ||
| API 5116 | Democratic Government and Public Policy | 3 Units |
| EPI 5189 | Health Economic Evaluation | 3 Units |
| EPI 5210 | Public Health Governance | 3 Units |
| EPI 5240 | Epidemiology I- Introductory Epidemiology | 3 Units |
| EPI 7184 | Health Policy | 3 Units |
| PBH 5101 | Population Perspectives in Public Health | 3 Units |
| PBH 5102 | Core Functions in Public Health | 3 Units |
| PBH 5103 | Public Health Protection | 3 Units |
| PBH 5105 | Applied Public Health Capstone Project | 3 Units |
| PBH 5301 | Public Health Practicum | 9 Units |
| 3 course units from: | 3 Units | |
| Biostatistics I | ||
| Biostatistics for Public Health | ||
| Seminar | ||
| PBH 5104 | Professional Skills in Public Health and Policy 1 | |
| Electives | ||
| 3 elective course units from: 2 | 3 Units | |
| Concepts and Issues in International Affairs | ||
| Microeconomics for Public Policy | ||
| Ethics and Moral Reasoning for Public and International Affairs | ||
| Introduction to Healthcare Epidemiology | ||
| Health Services Evaluation | ||
| Epidemiological Research Using Large Databases | ||
| Global Health Epidemiology and Practice | ||
| Globalization and Health Equity | ||
| International Health and Development | ||
| Sample Survey Research Methods | ||
| Approaches to Community/Public Health Program Evaluation | ||
| Health Technology Assessment | ||
| Environmental and Occupational Health | ||
| Communicable Disease Epidemiology | ||
| Epidemiology II: Advanced Epidemiology | ||
| Special Topics in Epidemiology | ||
| Measurement in Health | ||
| Health Promotion | ||
| Intervention Studies in Health Research | ||
| Social Aspects of Epidemiology | ||
| Systematic Review and Meta- Analysis | ||
| Introduction to Knowledge Translation in Health Research | ||
| Qualitative Research Methods in Epidemiology | ||
| Applied Research Methods in Public Health | ||
| Language Training for MPH+ | ||
| 12 intensive language course units | 12 Units | |
Note(s)
- 1
Participation to the seminar PBH 5104 is mandatory.
- 2
The elective course units may also be selected from graduate courses offered by other departments with the approval of the MPH Program Committee.
- 3
In collaboration with the Official Languages and Bilingualism Institute and the Department of Modern Languages and Literature, courses may be taken in French, English, Arabic, Chinese, German, Italian, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
Research Fields & Facilities
Located in the heart of Canada’s capital, a few steps away from Parliament Hill, the University of Ottawa is among Canada’s top 10 research universities.
uOttawa focuses research strengths and efforts in four Strategic Areas of Development in Research (SADRs):
- Canada and the World
- Health
- e-Society
- Molecular and Environmental Sciences
With cutting-edge research, our graduate students, researchers and educators strongly influence national and international priorities.
Research at the Faculty of Medicine
“The Faculty of Medicine has a long history of conducting both basic and clinical research of the highest quality. Many of our high profile research projects are conducted in partnership with affiliated-teaching hospitals and research institutes. These partnerships lead to biomedical discoveries that have a significant impact on health care. In the process they educate the next generation of Canadian scientists. Our research activity also attracts significant investment, which stimulates the Ottawa economy.”
- Dr. Bernard Jasmin, Vice-Dean, Research
Facilities, Research Centres and Institutes at the Faculty of Medicine
- Centre for Neural Dynamics
- University of Ottawa Centre for Neuromuscular Disease
- Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals and Biotechnology
- Canadian Partnership for Stroke Recovery
- Kidney Research Centre
- University of Ottawa Skills and Simulation Centre
- Medical Devices Innovation Institute
- Ottawa Institute of Systems Biology
- University of Ottawa Brain and Mind Research Institute
For more information, refer to the list of faculty members and their research fields on Uniweb.
IMPORTANT: Candidates and students looking for professors to supervise their thesis or research project can also consult the website of the faculty or department of their program of choice. Uniweb does not list all professors authorized to supervise research projects at the University of Ottawa.
Not all of the listed courses are given each year. The course is offered in the language in which it is described.
PBH 5101 Population Perspectives in Public Health (3 units)
An overview of the history, and philosophical underpinnings of population and public health including an exploration of the determinants of health, health inequities in Canada, major public health threats in Canada and internationally, and the role of public health in addressing these. Health inequities are explored in the context of: Indigenous and Inuit populations, gender, race, languages and modes of communication, SES.
Course Component: Lecture
PBH 5102 Core Functions in Public Health (3 units)
A theoretical overview of the core functions of public health in the Canadian context including: population health assessment; public health surveillance; public health policy; program development, implementation and evaluation.
Course Component: Lecture
PBH 5103 Public Health Protection (3 units)
An overview of disease and injury prevention; health promotion; health protection and public health emergency preparedness. Topics in environmental health sciences including the principles of exposure assessment and toxicology. Introduction to communicable disease surveillance, prevention and outbreak management, and the practical application of health protection methods including ensuring the safety and quality of water, food and air. Principles of risk assessment and risk communication.
Course Component: Lecture
PBH 5104 Professional Skills in Public Health and Policy
Seminar on individual professional skills development. Topics will include ethics in public health practice; advocacy, effective oral and written communication, self-assessment, tailoring messages to specific audiences; collaboration; media training, interviewing skills, change management, conflict management, leadership, and cultural sensitivity and competence.
Course Component: Seminar
PBH 51041 Professional Skills in Public Health and Policy (Part 1 of 2)
Seminar on individual professional skills development. Topics will include ethics in public health practice; advocacy, effective oral and written communication, self-assessment, tailoring messages to specific audiences; collaboration; media training, interviewing skills, change management, conflict management, leadership, and cultural sensitivity and competence. (Part 1 of 2)
Course Component: Seminar
PBH 51042 Professional Skills in Public Health and Policy (Part 2 of 2)
Seminar on individual professional skills development. Topics will include ethics in public health practice; advocacy, effective oral and written communication, self-assessment, tailoring messages to specific audiences; collaboration; media training, interviewing skills, change management, conflict management, leadership, and cultural sensitivity and competence. (Part 2 of 2)
Course Component: Seminar
Prerequisite: PBH 51041
PBH 5105 Applied Public Health Capstone Project (3 units)
Students will each be given a case study so that they can demonstrate their ability to integrate, synthesize, and apply knowledge and competencies gained during their coursework and practicum.
Course Component: Lecture
PBH 5106 Applied Research Methods in Public Health (3 units)
The purpose of this course is to expose students to applied public health research, and learn how to apply core epidemiological concepts to the critical review and interpretation of findings from public health research. The course content will focus on quantitative and qualitative study designs frequently used in public health research, using applied examples from the literature.
Course Component: Lecture
PBH 5107 Biostatistics for Public Health (3 units)
An introduction to concepts and methods of statistics used in public health. Topics include descriptive statistics, basic probability theory, estimation of parameters, testing of hypotheses by parametric and non-parametric methods, analysis of variance, introduction to linear and logistic regression models and to survival analysis. Theoretical teaching is applied in discussion group activities focused on understanding statistical analyses.
Course Component: Lecture
PBH 5301 Public Health Practicum (9 units)
A 420-hour practicum to learn how to apply public health knowledge and skills.
Course Component: Work Term