Occupational and 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).

Two options are offered, Public Health and Safety and Occupational Health and Safety, both of which are unique in Canada. Applicants must choose their intended program at the time of application.

NOTES:

1. ENG4U/EAE4U is the preferred English.
   
2. The grade(s) required in the subject prerequisites (normally in the 60-70 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 Occupational Health and Safety or the Public Health and Safety Options for University Graduates only (admission requirements described below). These applicants are not eligible for admission to the four year programs.
   
5. Subject to competition, candidates may be required to present averages/grades above the minimum.

The Occupational Health and Safety Option for University Graduates requires two years of full-time study. Admission consideration for this option 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 who cannot demonstrate at least three liberal studies courses (either lower or upper level) during their previous university experience, will be required to take additional courses before graduation to bring their total liberal studies to at least three single-term courses (or equivalent).

Applicants must have as part of their degree (or other post-secondary education) credit for at least one single-term course in each of chemistry and organic chemistry (equivalent to CHY 104 and CHY 152).

In addition, an applicant whose degree (or other post-secondary education) does not include credit for at least one single-term course, in each of physics and microbiology (equivalent to PCS 106 and ENH 222, respectively), will be required to successfully pass PCS 106 and/or ENH 222, as applicable, before beginning the third semester of the option.

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

The Public Health and Safety Option for University Graduates requires two years of full-time study. Admission consideration for this option 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 who cannot demonstrate at least three liberal studies courses (either lower or upper level) during their previous university experience, will be required to take additional courses before graduation to bring their total liberal studies to at least three single-term courses (or equivalent).

Applicants whose degree (or other post-secondary education) does not include credit for at least one single-term course, in each of chemistry and microbiology (equivalent to CHY 104 and ENH 222, respectively), will be required to successfully pass CHY 104 and/or ENH 222, as applicable, before beginning the third semester of the option.

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

The first year subjects are drawn mainly from the sciences and include an introduction to law and epidemiology. They will provide a solid foundation for the applications that follow.

All students will take the same first year subjects, with discipline-specific courses beginning in second year.

This option is unique in Canada. It equips graduates for careers in Occupational Health and Safety, and positions may be found in public, private and service organizations throughout Canada. Graduates may choose to pursue registration as a Registered Occupational Hygienist through further examinations of the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists, or to apply for certification as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional through the Canadian Association of Registered Safety Professionals.

Occupational Health and Safety Option for University Graduates

The Occupational Health and Safety Option for University Graduates requires two years of full-time study. This option is open 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 a single-term course in each of chemistry and organic chemistry (equivalent to CHY 104 and CHY 152).

In addition, an applicant whose degree does not include credit for at least a single-term course (equivalent to PCS 106 or ENH 222), in each of physics and microbiology will be required to successfully pass PCS 106 and/or ENH 222 before beginning the third semester of the option.

In addition, successful candidates may apply for up to seven 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 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 still a valued addition to a graduate's portfolio and is possible after successful completion of the degree plus a 12 week practicum. Further details about the certification process can be obtained from the Board of Certification or the School.

Public Health and Safety Option for University Graduates

The Public Health and Safety Option for University Graduates requires two years of full-time study. This option is open to applicants who hold a Bachelor's degree or higher from an accredited university including three (lower or upper level) liberal studies courses.

Applicants whose degree does not include credit for at least one course in each of chemistry and microbiology will be required to successfully pass CHY 104 and/or ENH 222 before beginning the third semester of the option.

In addition, successful candidates may apply for up to seven single-term transfer credits based on their previous university studies.

The School offers co-operative options in both Occupational Health and Safety and Public Health and Safety, which provides graduating students with 20 months of work experience integrated into their academic studies.

Students in either Occupational Health and Safety or Public Health and Safety who have successfully completed the first year of their option and who wish to enrol in the co-op program must apply through this School for admission to the co-operative program during their third semester (Fall of second year). Enrolment in the co-operative program is strictly limited. Admission will be based on a student's grade point average (minimum GPA 2.50), a simulated employment and 'suitability for co-op' interview, and students must provide evidence of superior written and oral communication skills.

The School cannot guarantee work term employment, but Ryerson's Office of Co-operative Education (opens in new window)  has experienced placement officers who will work with the School's Co-op Co-ordinator to prospect for employers and make every effort to identify suitable positions, as well as assisting students with their own search for program-related jobs. The co-op program enables students to earn prevailing wages for the level of responsibility and contribution of the jobs they perform and thus finance at least part of their university education, as well as gaining marketable experience and contacts for career employment.

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

Work terms are graded on a pass/fail basis. Each work term is assessed by the School's Co-op Co-ordinator 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 a minimum of four work terms in order to graduate from a co-op program.

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

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 Ryerson (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  (PDF file) Senate Policy #158 (Program Advisory Councils).

Tony Amalfa
Manager, Environmental Health Programs
Ministry of Health and Long Term Care

Ron De Burger
Director, Healthy Environments
Toronto Public Health

Theresa Dunkley-Verhage
Food Safety Supervisor
Quality Assurance
Tim Hortons

Peter Heywood
Program Supervisor
Oxford Count Public Health & Emergency Services

David Lindeman
Manager, Health, Safety And Wellness
City of Hamilton

Joe Mulhall
President
Canadian Union of Skilled Workers

Dr. Ian Noy
Director
Liberty Mutual Research Institute for Safety

Vic Pakalnis
Professor
Queens University

Andy Papadopoulos
Associate Professor
Co-ordinator, Master of Public Health
University Of Guelph

Janet Tsao
Senior Health & Safety & Environment Advisor
Hydro One

3rd & 4th Semester is common for both the Regular and Co-op Programs in Occupational Health and Safety.

† In 7th Semester-8, in order to satisfy Required Group 1, students will complete:

1. The two-term course ENH 66A/B, or
   
2. ENH 766 and ENH 866, or
   
3. ENH 766 and two (2) courses from Table I .

* ENH 66A/B only be taken with permission of the School.

3rd & 4th Semester is common for both the Regular and Co-op Programs in Occupational Health and Safety.

† In 7th Semester-8, in order to satisfy Required Group 1, students will complete:

1. The two-term course ENH 66A/B, or
   
2. ENH 766 and ENH 866, or
   
3. ENH 766 and two (2) courses from Table I .

* ENH 66A/B only be taken with permission of the School.

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

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

3rd & 4th Semester is common for both the Regular and Co-op Programs in Public Health and Safety.

* ENH 66A/B may only be taken with permission of the School.

† In 7th Semester-8, in order to satisfy Required Group 1, students will complete:

1. The two-term course ENH 66A/B, or
   
2. ENH 766 and ENH 866, or
   
3. ENH 766 and two (2) courses from Table I  

3rd & 4th Semester is common for both the Regular and Co-op Programs in Public Health and Safety.

* ENH 66A/B may only be taken with permission of the School.

† In 7th Semester-8, in order to satisfy Required Group 1, students will complete:

1. The two-term course ENH 66A/B, or
   
2. ENH 766 and ENH 866, or
   
3. ENH 766 and two (2) courses from Table I  

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

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

* With the permission of the School, students will be allowed to substitute a multi-term Research Project or Field Project approved by the School in place of both courses.