Health Studies - Population Health Major (HBSc)

Admissions Category: Psychological & Health Studies

Are you a prospective student applicant?

You can enter the Health Sciences Stream to accelerate your career in a health care profession

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Program Overview

The Health Studies Major in Population Health focuses on the biological determinants of health, epidemiology, aging and the life cycle, and the importance of social and behavioural shapers of health. Students will learn about the biological determinants of health, epidemiology, aging and the life cycle, and the impact of environmental factors on health, both in a Canadian and global context. Graduates will have a strong interdisciplinary experience that will provide them with a solid understanding of the biological basis for health and disease including infectious, non communicable, environmental diseases and the social determinants of health.


Complementary Programs:

BiologyHuman BiologyMolecular BiologyImmunology and DiseaseMental Health StudiesPsychologyNeuroscienceEnvironmental ScienceStatistics



Check out future career opportunities and skills acquired from completing this program:

Competencies & Skills

  • Analyze social, historical, political, and economic processes that shape health and well-being
  • Identify biological, behavioural, and environmental factors that affect health
  • Analyze how cultural factors mediate health practices and shape health outcomes through tradition, ritual, customs, and concepts of health, illness and disease

Careers for Graduates

  • Team Assistant in community care centres
  • Customer Service Agent in biomedical products firms
  • Coordinator in health services
  • Clinical Research Assistant in the pharmaceutical industry
  • Activationist in long-term care homes
  • Project Assistant in health promotion services

Further Education

  • Public Health
  • Health Science
  • Epidemiology
  • Gerontology
  • Health/Public Policy & Administration
  • Community Health or Development
  • Community Education
  • Medicine or Nursing
  • Rehabilitation Sciences
  • Regulatory Affairs

Program Pathway

Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | Year 4

Year 1
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Apply Theory to Practice
Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Plan for Your Future Career

Year 2
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Apply Theory to Practice
  • Get involved in relevant opportunities on and/or off campus; apply to Work Study, or other part-time and summer jobs on CLNx (>Jobs & Recruitment).

Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
  • Check CLNx (>Jobs & Recruitment) to search for Work Study or volunteer positions on campus to gain experience and to get involved.

Plan for Your Future Career
  • Considering grad school? Speak to professors and advisors early so you are on track.
  • Explore careers through the AA&CC’s Job Shadowing and In The Field programs.


Year 3
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
Apply Theory to Practice
  • Build on your skills and knowledge through relevant events offered through your department, student groupsDSL and the AA&CC.

Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
Plan for Your Future Career

Year 4
Choose Your Courses Wisely
Develop Your Academic & Research Skills
  • Apply for an Academic Travel Fund through Department of Student Life (DSL) to research, present at a conference, or engage with the international academic community.

Apply Theory to Practice
  • Attend the Summer & Full-time Job Fair in January to meet with potential employers looking to hire students for summer and full-time positions relevant to your field.

Become an Engaged Citizen (Locally & Globally)
  • Participate in the AA&CC’s Partners in Leadership program to learn and network with an alumni mentor about transitioning to work or further education.

Plan for Your Future Career
  • Attend the AA&CC’s Get Hired job search conference in April/May.
  • Attend a Jobs for Grads orientation for a job search “crash course” and for access to full-time job listings.
  • Get your personal statement reviewed in the AA&CC.

Glossary

  • AACC - Academic Advising and Career Centre (www.utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc)
  • CCR - Co-Curricular Record (https://clnx.utoronto.ca/ccr/overview.htm)
  • CLNx - Career Co-Curricular Learning Network (https://clnx.utoronto.ca/home.htm)
  • CTL - Centre for Teaching and Learning (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/ctl)
  • DSL - Department of Student Life (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife)
  • HCSSA - Historial and Cultural Studies Student Association (https://hcssa.weebly.com)
  • ISC - International Student Centre (https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/utscinternational)
  • SCSU - Scarborough Campus Students Union (https://www.scsu.ca)


Contacts


Departmental Contact

Sean Ramrattan

E-mail: sean.ramrattan@utoronto.ca

https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/healthsociety/


Population Health Librarian

Kathryn Barrett

E-mail: kathryn.barrett@utoronto.ca
Location: ARC main floor
Phone: 416-208-5199

https://utsc.library.utoronto.ca/librarians


Academic Advising & Career Centre

Location: AC213
Phone: 416-287-7561

https://utsc.utoronto.ca/aacc/


Department of Student Life

Location: SL157
Phone: 416-208-4760

https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/studentlife/


Health and Society Students' Association

https://www.utsc.utoronto.ca/healthsociety/health-and-society-students-association-hssa

Did You Know?

Professor talking to a student

There’s a Population Health co-op program that combines academic studies with paid work terms.