The MPH program is a 20 month, full-time non-thesis degree which includes a capstone project and 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 of60 credits to graduate.
Each course is worth 3 credits. These 60 credits will be distributed as follows:
39 credits of required courses related to 12 program themes
This curriculum will equip graduates with the depth and breadth of competencies now required to be at the cutting edge of public health.
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 Curricula
The MPH curriculum from 2021 – 2024:
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 521/400: 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 Healthcar
MPH Practicum: SPPH 508 (6 Credits)
Default (SPPH 500, 503, 504, and 553; 12 credits) or Customized Pathway (SPPH 500 and SPPH 503 or 504 or 553, and 3 courses; 15 credits) and Electives (from 3 to 6 credits)
The MPH curriculum for 2025:
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 521: Statistics for Health Research SPPH 500: Analytical Methods in Epidemiological Research
(Recommended in Year 1)
4)Qualitative Data for Public Health Practice
SPPH 581H: Qualitative Research for Public Health Practice
Vancouver Campus School of Population and Public Health 2206 East Mall Vancouver, BC Canada V6T1Z3 Tel: 604 822 2772 Website: spph.ubc.ca Email: info@spph.ubc.ca
