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Occupational Public Health (MSc): Course-Based Option

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Program Overview

The new Master of Science (MSc) in Occupational and Public Health: Course-Based Option combines advanced coursework, interactive seminars, and a hands-on research capstone project to deliver advanced learning and research opportunities without the requirement of a thesis. 

In the first and only program of its kind in Canada, students  gain the applied knowledge and skills needed to prevent workplace injury and illness and promote public health.

The MSc Course-Based Option offers three flexible paths:

  • Full-Time (12 months): Finish quickly and launch your career sooner.
  • Co-op Option (16 months): Add a paid spring/summer work term to get valuable job experience before you graduate.
  • Part-Time: Take courses at your own pace if you can鈥檛 commit to full-time study.

Unique paid co-op option 
Gain valuable work experience through an integrated work term

Get career ready
with a graduate degree in just 12鈥�16 months

First and only degree of its kind in Canada

At a Glance

Degree Earned

  • Master of Science (MSc)

Program Format

  • Full-time or part-time

Program Length

  • Full-time: 12 months without co-op, 16 months with co-op
  • Part-time: 24+ months

Tuition Fees

Start Date

  • September entry

As a graduate of the Occupational and Public Health (MSc): Course-Based Option, you鈥檒l have the advanced skills and knowledge needed to analyze, evaluate, and respond to real-world occupational and public health problems and issues.

With this skill set, you鈥檒l have diverse opportunities.

Career Possibilities

  • Policy or program advisor 
  • Health, workplace, or community coordinator
  • Occupational health/safety or public health specialist
  • Manager
  • Consultant

Employment Sectors

  • Government (municipal, provincial, federal)
  • Manufacturing 
  • Healthcare
  • Transportation
  • Construction
  • Non-profit

Further Education

  • Medical School
  • Advanced Professional Certifications such as Certification in Infection Control, Certification in Health Information Management, and Canadian Registered Safety Professional

Capstone Course

  • OH8301 Applied Research Project in Occupational and Public Health (Final Semester of Study)
    In this course, students will conduct an applied research project on a contemporary or emerging occupational and public health issue related to their co-op work experience or prior coursework. The project must include a critical investigation, analysis, and evaluation of the problem and possible solutions or mitigation strategies. Students will present their project as part of a final symposium at the end of the semester. 1 Credit.

Four Required Courses

  • OH8001 Research Methods and Study Design for Occupational and Public Health
    This course will provide the methodological foundation for interdisciplinary research in occupational and public health. Students will learn to select appropriate study designs for their topic of interest. Both experimental and observational study designs will be discussed, with particular attention to minimizing biases and confounding in occupational and public health research. Reviewing the literature to develop a research question as well as rigorous designs for data collection instruments, including questionnaires, will be emphasized. Additional topics will involve critical appraisal and research ethics. 1 Credit.
  • OH8002 Occupational and Public Health Principles and Practices
    This course will introduce students to the fields of occupational and public health. It will provide an overview of current and emerging occupational and public health problems and issues affecting communities, workplaces, and society. A particular emphasis will be placed on problems that intersect both domains, illustrated through case studies from the field. Students will develop and apply a collaborative and multidisciplinary approach to solving an occupational or public health issue. 1 Credit.
  • OH8003 Data Analysis for Occupational and Public Health
    This course will build on standard undergraduate coursework in statistics to provide a foundation for advanced data analysis methods used in occupational and public health for the assessment of environmental and occupational exposures and a range of health outcomes. Topics will include multiple linear regression, logistic regression, and survival analysis. Students will be provided hands-on experiential learning using statistical software packages and publicly available occupational and public health datasets. 1 Credit.
  • OH8004 Knowledge Synthesis in Occupational and Public Health
    This course will cover structured methods of synthesizing and reviewing research evidence to support decision-making in occupational and public health. Detailed guidance will be provided on how to conduct and evaluate systematic reviews and meta-analysis, scoping reviews, and other types of evidence reviews. Students will gain experience practicing key stages of the review process throughout the course. 1 Credit.

Seminar Series

  • OH8005 Seminar Series I (Fall)
    This course will feature presentations by guest speakers, faculty, and students in the program. Presentations will cover research, writing skills, and presentation tips. All program students are required to participate in the seminar series. Pass/Fail
  • OH8006 Seminar Series II (Winter)
    This course will feature presentations by guest speakers, faculty, and students in the program. Presentations will cover research, career planning, and professional practice. All program students are required to participate in the seminar series. Pass/Fail

Three Elective Courses

At least two elective courses must be from the Occupational and Public Health program:

  • OH8210 Epidemiology for Public and Population Health
    This course will provide foundations of epidemiological methods for the analysis of population and public health data. Students will use example data from case-control, longitudinal and cross-sectional studies to develop and test hypotheses. Methods unique to injury, chronic disease and infectious disease epidemiology will be explored. 1 Credit.
  • OH8211 Environmental and Occupational Exposures
    This course will cover exposures that influence occupational and public health and how these can be measured to understand their human health impacts. Approaches used to assess chemical, physical, and biological exposures for research and surveillance purposes will be explored. 1 Credit.
  • OH8220 Qualitative Methods in Occupational and Public Health
    This course will provide an introduction and overview of qualitative research methods in occupational and public health contexts. Topics will include foundations of qualitative inquiry, theoretical approaches, methods of data collection and analysis, ethical considerations, interpretation and presentation of results, and the application of qualitative methods to current and emerging issues and problems. 1 Credit.
  • OH8230 Health Equity and Well-Being: Population Health Perspectives
    This course will provide students with an advanced understanding of the structural and social determinants of population health and well-being in an increasingly interconnected world. Students will examine the ways in which health systems, social policies, economic conditions, climate change, digital transformations, and community environments drive the inequitable distribution of power and resources and shape the experiences, health, and well-being of diverse populations. Students will learn how to apply an equity and intersectoral lens to analyze complex issues and challenges and develop collaborative solutions that promote health equity and well-being. 1 Credit.

You may also enroll in electives from other graduate programs at the university, depending on course availability and instructor permission. Please note that not all electives listed below will be offered in an academic year. Related electives include: 

  • DS8007 Advanced Data Visualization
  • ES8911 Ecotoxicology
  • ES8920 Environmental Policy and Management
  • ES8922 GIS for Environmental Management
  • ES8923 Environmental Assessment
  • ES8927 Risk Assessment in Environmental Management
  • ES8929 Responding to Climate Change
  • ME8103 Advanced Human Factors
  • MN8910 Individuals and Families Experience with Health and Illness: Theoretical Perspectives
  • MN8911 Population Health & Health Promotion
  • MN8920 Health Policy: A Comparative Analysis
  • MN8931 Diversity and Globalization: Promoting Urban Health
  • MN8932 Issues of Informatics, Knowledge Transfer and Exchange
  • MN8935 Theory and Practice of Program Planning and Evaluation
  • NC8102 Nutrition and Health Behaviour
  • NC8201 Food and Nutrition Policy
  • PL8315 Transportation Planning
  • PS8503 Special Topics in Health Psychology
  • PS8508 Critical Perspectives in Psychology
  • SA8901 Geospatial Data Analytics
  • SA8903 Applied Spatial Statistics

Grade Requirements

Credit towards program requirements will only be granted for a course where a student achieves a minimum grade of B- for master鈥檚 students. Failure to maintain an acceptable academic standing could result in students being asked to withdraw from the program.

The MSc Course-Based Option includes an optional integrated co-op work term component in the spring/summer semester, extending the program length to 16 months. Sample industries for placement include manufacturing, healthcare, government (municipal, provincial, federal), transportation and construction. The work term will be paid with an average salary in the range of $18-20/hour.

If you are interested in this option, you should indicate this directly in your application. The program cannot guarantee immediate co-op placements for all students, so enrollment may be limited. 

If you are admitted to this option, you will need to complete and pass all required core courses in your first two semesters to participate in your work term. You must also participate in training and preparatory activities offered through the 91影视 Career, Co-op and Student Success Centre. To receive an academic credit for your work term (marked as pass/fail), you must submit a work term reflection report together with an employer evaluation to your faculty advisor. 

飦� The three elective courses can be taken in any semester depending on availability.

Course-Based Option Without Co-op

Term Courses
Fall
  • OH8001 Research Methods and Study Design for Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8002 Occupational and Public Health Principles and Practices
  • OH8005 Seminar Series I
  • Two Elective Courses
Winter
  • OH8003 Data Analysis for Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8004 Knowledge Synthesis in Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8006 Seminar Series II
  • One Elective Course
Spring/Summer
  • OH8301 Applied Research Project in Occupational and Public Health

Course-Based Option With Co-op

Term Courses
Fall
  • OH8001 Research Methods and Study Design for Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8002 Occupational and Public Health Principles and Practices
  • OH8005 Seminar Series I
  • One Elective Course
Winter
  • OH8003 Data Analysis in Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8004 Knowledge Synthesis in Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8006 Seminar Series II
  • Two Elective Courses
Spring/Summer
  • Co-op Work Term
Fall (Year 2)
  • OH8301 Applied Research Project in Occupational and Public Health

Part-Time Course-Based Option Without Co-op: Example Course Structure

飦� This is an example course structure only, and the specific course sequencing and structure for the part-time program could be tailored to meet the needs and working schedule of each student on a case-by-base basis.

Term Courses
Fall (Year 1)
  • OH8001 Research Methods and Study Design for Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8002 Occupational and Public Health Principles and Practices
Winter (Year 1)
  • OH8003 Data Analysis in Occupational and Public Health
Spring/Summer (Year 1)
  • One Elective
Fall (Year 2)
  • OH8005 Seminar Series I
  • One Elective
Winter (Year 2)
  • OH8004 Knowledge Synthesis in Occupational and Public Health
  • OH8006 Seminar Series II
  • One Elective
Spring/Summer (Year 2)
  • OH8301 Applied Research Project in Occupational and Public Health