Public Health

O.S.S.D. with six Grade 12 U/M courses including Grade 12 U English and one of Grade 12 U Chemistry (SCH4U) or Grade 12 U Biology (SBI4U).

NOTES:

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
   
2. The grade(s) required in the subject prerequisites (normally in the 65-70 percent range) will be determined subject to competition.
   
3. Candidates who are 21 years of age and wish to be considered as a mature student applicant should refer to the Mature Student policy.
   
4. Applicants who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university must apply for the two-year Public Health program for university graduates only (admission requirements described below). These applicants are not eligible for admission to the four-year program.
   
5. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

The Public Health Program for University Graduates requires two years of full-time study.  

Admission consideration for this program is available to applicants who hold a bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university including three (lower or upper level) liberal studies courses.

Applicants must have as part of their degree (or other post-secondary education) credit for at least one single-term course in chemistry (equivalent to CHY 104).

Successful candidates may apply for up to six single-term transfer credits based on their previous university studies.

This curriculum is designed to equip graduates for careers in a broad range of environmentally related health fields but in particular for a career as an environmental health officer or public health inspector. To this end, the School retains national accreditation from the Board of Certification of the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors as an academic leader in the environmental health field. Demand for graduates comes from across Canada. Regional and provincial health agencies continue to be major employers, but significant numbers of graduates establish careers with either public agencies or private companies.

Professional certification as an Environmental Health Officer or Public Health Inspector is a valued addition to a graduate's portfolio and is possible after successful completion of the degree plus a 12 week practicum and a certification examination. Further details about the certification process can be obtained from the Board of Certification or the School.

The School offers a co-operative option for the Public Health program, which provides graduating students with 12 months of work experience integrated into their academic studies which enhances their organizational and technical abilities as well as their oral and written communication skills.

Although the Career and Co-op Centre cannot guarantee work term employment, it provides assistance in locating suitable positions and in counselling students in their search for suitable jobs. This co-op program enables students to earn competitive wages to offset the costs of a university education.

Students who have completed the first year of the program must apply through this Centre for admission to the co-operative education program at the end of first year. Note:The only time to apply is during the co-op admission period in the spring/summer semester. Only students going into second year can apply to be in the co-op program (after the 2nd term in the program). Enrolment in the co-op program is limited. Admission will be based on a criteria which includes the student's grade point average, courses completed, a resume and a statement of intent. Students who are direct entry/transfer are not permitted into the program except on an exceptional case by case basis. Students who are ahead with significant course credits are not permitted into the program except on an exceptional case by case basis. All decisions regarding admission into the program are final and at the discretion of the Career and Co-op Centre, in consultation with the Co-op Faculty Advisor.

Sequencing of Academic and Work terms

The following table shows the sequence of academic and work terms for this program.

Work terms are graded on a pass/fail basis. Each work term is assessed by the School's Co-op Faculty Advisor on the basis of the student's comprehensive written report and the employer's evaluation of the student's performance on the job. Students must successfully complete 3 co-op WKT’s in order to graduate from their program of study with a Co-op designation. Once the requirements are satisfied being able to do another work term (up to 4 WKT’s) is at the discretion of the Toronto Met Career & Co-op Centre.

The co-op program requires five years to complete the degree in Public Health. The regular program can be completed in four years.

All co-op positions must be approved by the Career and Co-op Centre and the Faculty Advisor for the Public Health co-op program.

Additional information about co-op can be found on the Career, Co-op and student Success website.

Students who enrol in the Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection will gain in-depth knowledge and technical skills in areas related to public health inspection practice, including water quality, food safety, infection control, wastewater management, law and professional core competencies. This specialization is required by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors, and graduates with this optional specialization will be eligible to pursue certification as a Public Health Inspector (Canada). 

For eligibility, registration and course information see Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection.

Students in the regular and co-operative programs must take three lower level liberal studies courses and three upper level liberal studies courses to graduate. Students must not choose courses that are restricted for their program or major.

Please refer to the liberal studies chapter of this calendar for more information on the Liberal Studies Policy. Further information on liberal studies can also be found at the Faculty of Arts' Liberal Studies website (opens in new window) .

Table A - Lower Level Restrictions

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

Students may pursue any Minor offered by Toronto Met (with some exceptions). Please refer to the Minors chapter of this calendar for further information on individual Minor requirements and exclusions.

Undergraduate students wishing to pursue a continuing education certificate program should be aware of possible program exclusions. Please refer to the Certificate Registration section of the Curriculum Advising website (opens in new window)  for complete details.

A Program Advisory Council (PAC) is a group of volunteers that provides expert advice to a school or department on program related matters such as curriculum, program review, technology and trends in the industry, discipline or profession. For more information, see Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

John Cannan
CIPHI, Ontario Branch, Representative

Anthony Habjan
Director, Environmental Health
Regional Municipality of Niagara

Aziz Ibrahim
Supervisor
Food Safety, Public Health Services, City of Hamilton
ASPHIO Representative

Shaun Mackie
Regional Environmental Public Health Manager
Indigenous Services Canada

Anna Miranda
Associate Director, Environmental Health
Toronto Public Health

Naghmeh Parto
Senior Program Specialist
Public Health Ontario

Lal Rishi
Public Health Inspector
Niagara Region
CIPHI, Board of Certification

Paula Rozowicz
Senior QA Manager
Maple Lodge Farms

Ali Sunderji
Acting Manager, Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care

Last offered 2026-2027 to students admitted Fall 2025 and before.

Last offered 2027-2028 to students admitted Fall 2025 and before.

Last offered 2028-2029 to students admitted Fall 2025 and before.

*Students may take ENH 66A/B Field Project to replace 2 open electives.
ENH 66A/B requires enrolment permission. See program department for criteria and guidance

The following table shows the sequence of academic and work terms for this program.

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Revised curriculum begins 2027-2028 for students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

*For students enrolled in Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection: Core course contributing to the CIPHI Instructional Objectives and must be completed by all students with a 60% passing grade to be considered for CIPHI certification post-graduation.

Revised curriculum begins 2028-2029 for students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

*For students enrolled in Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection: Core course contributing to the CIPHI Instructional Objectives and must be completed by all students with a 60% passing grade to be considered for CIPHI certification post-graduation.

Revised curriculum begins 2029-2030 for students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

*For students enrolled in Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection: Core course contributing to the CIPHI Instructional Objectives and must be completed by all students with a 60% passing grade to be considered for CIPHI certification post-graduation.
**ENH 66A/B requires enrolment permission. See program department for criteria and guidance.

Revised curriculum begins 2027-2028 for students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

*For students enrolled in Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection: Core course contributing to the CIPHI Instructional Objectives and must be completed by all students with a 60% passing grade to be considered for CIPHI certification post-graduation.

*For students enrolled in Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection: Core course contributing to the CIPHI Instructional Objectives and must be completed by all students with a 60% passing grade to be considered for CIPHI certification post-graduation.

Revised curriculum begins 2030-2031 for students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

*For students enrolled in Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection: Core course contributing to the CIPHI Instructional Objectives and must be completed by all students with a 60% passing grade to be considered for CIPHI certification post-graduation.
**ENH 66A/B requires enrolment permission. See program department for criteria and guidance.

The following table shows the sequence of academic and work terms for this program.

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Last offered 2026-2027 to students admitted Fall 2025 and before.

*Students may take ENH 66A/B Field Project to replace ENH 522 and PUB 800. ENH 66A/B requires enrolment permission. See program department for criteria and guidance.

Revised curriculum begins 2026-2027 for students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

Revised curriculum begins 2027-2028 for students admitted Fall 2026 and after.

Note:  *ENH 66A/B requires enrolment permission. See program department for criteria and guidance

In order to graduate with the Optional Specialization in Public Health Inspection designation on student transcripts, students must achieve the following: 

• minimum grade of 1.67 in all the courses required as part of the Optional Specialization in Public Health;
• minimum grade of 1.67 in all core required courses in the Public Health program.