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Occupational and Public Health

Degree Awarded: Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc)
Administered by: School of Occupational and Public Health
Program Format:
Full-time, four-year program.
Full-time, five-year co-op program.
Full-time, two-year program for university graduates.
Full-time, three-year co-op program for university graduates (Occupational Health and Safety only).
Full-time, two-year degree completion.

Toronto Met’s School of Occupational and Public Health is unique in Canada as it offers professionally recognized programs in both public health and occupational health and safety (OHS).  

Our graduates help prevent injury and illness in the community and workplaces by identifying, evaluating and controlling physical, biological, chemical and other hazards. Drawing on their specialized knowledge, they help develop and implement initiatives that improve the health, safety and well-being of workers and the community in a broad range of settings.

The Public Health program is one of a select number of programs accredited by the Canadian Institute of Public Health Inspectors. The OHS program is the only degree in OHS in Canada and is recognized by the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals as meeting the educational requirements of their professional designation.

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 programs are offered, Public Health 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 Public Health programs 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.

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

The Public Health and Occupational Health and Safety Programs for University Graduates require two years of full-time study. A three-year co-op option is available in the Occupational Health and Safety program.

Admission consideration for these programs 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.

 

Admission consideration for this option is available to applicants who have completed the Workplace Safety and Prevention Diploma from Lambton College, Seneca College or Cambrian College with a minimum B/3.0/70% overall average. Subject to competition higher overall averages may be required.

 

Occupational Health and Safety

This program 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. Upon graduation, graduates are eligible to apply for the examination and certification as a Canadian Registered Safety Technician (CRST). Following a period of work experience and an examination process, graduates may choose to pursue registration as a Registered Occupational Hygienist through the Canadian Registration Board of Occupational Hygienists, or to apply for certification as a Canadian Registered Safety Professional (CRSP) through the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals.

Public Health

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.

Co-Operative Program

The School offers co-operative options in both Occupational Health and Safety and Public Health and Safety, 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 & Co-op Centre cannot guarantee work term employment, they provide assistance in locating suitable positions and 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.

This co-op sequencing if for students admitted Fall 2020 and before. Students admitted Fall 2021 and after please see revised co-op sequencing below.

The sequencing of academic and work terms is shown below:

Sequencing of Academic and Work terms

This co-op sequencing if for students admitted Fall 2021 and after.

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 Occupational and Public Health & Safety. The regular program can be completed in four years.

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

Additional information about co-op can be found on the Co-operative Education website: https://www.torontomu.ca/career-coop

Liberal Studies

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

CHY 182 is not available for credit (for all Occupational and Public Health programs and plans)

Public Health and Safety Option (for students admitted Fall 2018 and prior): Students may take only two Politics courses for credit.

Occupational Health and Safety Option (for students admitted Fall 2018 and prior): ECN 110 is not available for credit. Students may take only two Economics courses for credit.

POH 105 is not available for credit (for all Occupational and Public Health programs and plans).

Table B - Upper Level Restrictions

GEO 716 is are not available for credit (for all Occupational and Public Health programs and plans).

Occupational Health and Safety Option (for students admitted Fall 2018 and prior): GEO 702 is not available for credit. Students may take only two Politics courses for credit.

Public Health and Safety Option (for students admitted Fall 2018 and prior): GEO 702 is not available for credit.

Minors

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.

The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education Certificates

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).

Lisa Fortuna
President, Durham Regional Health Department
CIPHI, Ontario Branch

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

Matt Ruf
Director, Healthy Environments and Communicable Disease,
Halton Region, ASPHIO

Naghmeh Parto
Senior Program Specialist,
Ontario Agency For Health Protection and Promotion

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

Anthony Habjan
Manager Environmental Health,
Regional Municipality of Niagara

Anna Miranda
Associate Director, Environmental Health Hazard
Toronto Public Health

Shaun Mackie
Regional Environmental Public Health Manager,
Indigenous Services Canada

Natalia Tsap
Senior Food Safety Specialist,
Loblaw Companies Limited

Occupational Health and Safety

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective.

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective.

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies (opens in new window) .

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective.

  

7th & 8th Semester

Begins 2022-2023

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester (offered in the Winter term)

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

OPEN ELECTIVE: One Open Elective (opens in new window) .

6th Semester (offered in the Fall term)

Begins 2022-2023

REQUIRED:

  

7th & 8th Semester

Begins 2023-2024

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

Sequencing of Academic and Work terms

This co-op sequencing is for students admitted Fall 2020 and before. Students admitted Fall 2021 and after please see revised sequencing below.

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

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

This co-op sequencing is for students admitted Fall 2021 and after.

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

Co-operative Work Terms

In addition to the regular Two-Year Fast-Track Bachelor of Applied Science: Occupational Health and Safety curriculum students must complete WKT 210 and WKT 310 before graduation.

The following table shows the sequence of academic and work terms:

Public Health

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • ENH 122 Epidemiology  
  • ENH 325 Housing and Built Environments
  • ENH 610 Parasitology and Pest Control
  • POH 407 Environment and Emergencies
  • PUB 501 Communicable Disease Control

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester

REQUIRED:

6th Semester

REQUIRED:

  

7th & 8th Semester

Begins 2022-2023

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
Two courses from Table A - Lower Level Liberal Studies.

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

  • ENH 122 Epidemiology  
  • ENH 325 Housing and Built Environments
  • ENH 610 Parasitology and Pest Control
  • POH 407 Environment and Emergencies
  • PUB 501 Communicable Disease Control

  

5th & 6th Semester

5th Semester (offered in the Winter term)

REQUIRED:

6th Semester (offered in the Fall term)

Begins 2022-2023

REQUIRED:

  

7th & 8th Semester

Begins 2023-2024

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

Sequencing of Academic and Work terms

This co-op sequencing if for students admitted Fall 2020 and before. Students admitted Fall 2021 and after please see revised co-op sequencing below.

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

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

4th Semester

REQUIRED:

Occupational Health and Safety Option

  

7th & 8th Semester

Last offered 2022-2023 for students admitted Fall 2018.

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1†: One course from the following:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1†: One course from the following:

† 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.

Sequencing of Academic and Work terms

This co-op sequencing is for students admitted Fall 2020 and before.

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

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Public Health and Safety Option

  

7th & 8th Semester

Last offered 2022-2023 for students admitted Fall 2018.

7th Semester

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1†: One course from the following:

LIBERAL STUDIES:
One course from Table B - Upper Level Liberal Studies.

8th Semester

REQUIRED:

REQUIRED GROUP 1†: One course from the following:

* 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  

Sequencing of Academic and Work terms

This co-op sequencing if for students admitted Fall 2020 and before. 

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

WKT courses are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Occupational Health and Safety Degree Completion Pathway

1st & 2nd Semester

1st Semester

REQUIRED:

2nd Semester

REQUIRED:

  

3rd & 4th Semester

3rd Semester

REQUIRED:

4th Semester

REQUIRED: