Program Requirements

Pathways to Success in the UBC MPH

The MPH program is a two year, full-time non-thesis degree which includes a practicum. Considering the curriculum below, the program is not intended for students who are working full-time. There are also program requirements such as professional development and related seminars which first year students are expected to attend.

The UBC Master of Public Health degree integrates learning in:

You’ll find that the MPH curriculum paves the way to a diversity of career paths.

MPH Curriculum

Program Requirements

Students will be expected to complete a minimum of 60 credits to graduate.

Each course is worth 3 credits. These 60 credits will be distributed as follows:

36 credits are required to complete 1 course in each of 12 core program themes
- See details below for core program themes
In addition, the program presumes all students will complete 12 credits in an area of focus
6 credits for the practicum
6 credits for elective courses (graduate-level courses)

Click here for a full list of SPPH graduate courses.

This curriculum will equip graduates with the depth and breadth of competencies now required to be at the cutting edge of public health as our profession fights the spread of the Covid-19 virus as well as the unintended harms imposed by physical distancing.

As we reduce the rates of many other chronic and infectious diseases
As we fight the climate crisis, the opioid crisis, housing unaffordability, and poverty
As we contribute to movements to advance equality like Truth & Reconciliation and Black Lives Matter
And so much more

Current MPH Curriculum

The MPH curriculum from 2021 onwards:

1) Colonization & Public Health SPPH 536: Aboriginal People & Public Health: Ethics, Policy and Practice OR SPPH 404: Indigenous Health: Historical Impacts and Contemporary Approaches	2) Ethics & Public Health Practice SPPH 538: Application of Ethical Theories in the Practice of Public Health	3) Statistics for Public Health Practice SPPH 400: Statistics for Health Research (Recommended in Year 1)

4) Qualitative Data for Public Health Practice SPPH 581H: Qualitative Research for Public Health Practice	5) Epidemiological Methods SPPH 502: Epidemiological Methods 1 (Recommended in Year 1)	6) Social Determinants of Health SPPH 527: Social Determinants of Health

7) Climate Change, Environment & One Health SPPH 522: Topics in Environmental Health OR SPPH 535: Principles of Occupational & Environmental Hygiene	8) Policy SPPH 542: Canadian Health Policy OR SPPH 581Y: Population Health Policy	9) Economics SPPH 546: Intro to Health Economics OR SPPH 547: Health Care Priority Setting

10) Evaluation SPPH 540: Program Planning & Evaluation OR SPPH 541: Economic Evaluation	11) Knowledge Translation SPPH 581N: Knowledge to Action in Population Health OR SPPH 552: Risk & Communication in Public Health	12) Leadership SPPH 526: Leadership in Public Health

	SPPH 508: MPH Practicum (6 Credits)

Please check the website for more details.

Frequently Asked Questions

Click here to see FAQs about admissions.