University of Saskatchewan

What you'll study

The Master of Public Health combines core public health disciplines with applied learning. The programme typically includes a set of core courses in epidemiology, biostatistics, health promotion, environmental and occupational health, health policy and management, and research methods. Students will also study social determinants of health, Indigenous and northern health issues, ethics in public health, and program planning and evaluation.

Most students complete a combination of coursework and an applied practicum or a research-based major project or thesis. Typical modules and topics include:

• Foundations of Epidemiology — study design, measures of disease frequency, causal inference and outbreak investigation.
• Biostatistics for Public Health — descriptive and inferential statistics, regression methods and basic data analysis.
• Health Policy and Management — health systems, policy analysis, finance and program planning.
• Environmental and Occupational Health — exposure assessment, environmental risk and regulatory frameworks.
• Health Promotion and Social Determinants — behaviour change theories, community engagement and equity-focused approaches.
• Research Methods — qualitative and quantitative methods, surveillance, evaluation methodologies and ethics.
• Practicum or Thesis/Major Project — a supervised placement with a health organisation or a supervised research project addressing a public health problem.
• Electives — options often include global health, chronic disease prevention, Indigenous health, health informatics, and advanced epidemiologic methods.

Course delivery commonly includes lectures, seminars, community-based projects and applied data analysis. Interdisciplinary collaboration with the College of Medicine, schools of nursing and other departments is frequently part of the learning experience.

Entry requirements

Applicants should hold a four-year bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognised university in a relevant discipline such as health sciences, nursing, medicine, biology, social sciences, kinesiology, or a related field. Admissions are competitive and normally require a good undergraduate academic record—commonly described as a competitive upper-second class standing or equivalent (for example, a B+ average).

Typical application documentation includes:

• Official transcripts from all post‑secondary institutions attended
• A statement of intent describing academic and professional goals
• Curriculum vitae or resume
• References (academic and/or professional)
• Proof of English language proficiency for international applicants where required

Relevant work or volunteer experience in health, community development or research can strengthen an application. Some applicants may be admitted to a thesis-based master’s or to a practicum/applied-stream depending on their background and interests.

Career prospects

Graduates of the Master of Public Health go on to careers across the public, non-profit and private sectors. Typical roles include:

• Public health practitioner or program coordinator in government health agencies
• Epidemiologist or surveillance analyst
• Health promotion specialist and community health educator
• Policy analyst or health systems planner
• Research associate in academic, clinical or independent research settings
• Environmental health officer or occupational health advisor
• Positions in Indigenous and northern health organisations and community-based health services

The programme also prepares graduates for further academic study (for example, a PhD) or for roles that require applied research skills and experience in program evaluation, evidence synthesis and health data analysis.

Why study at University of Saskatchewan

The University of Saskatchewan offers public health training with strong regional and Indigenous health expertise, reflecting the province’s needs in rural, northern and First Nations contexts. The campus has collaborative connections with provincial health authorities, Indigenous organisations and community partners that support practicum placements and applied research.

Students benefit from interdisciplinary mentorship across health sciences, access to research centres and laboratories, and opportunities to work on real-world public health problems. The university’s emphasis on community-engaged research and equity-focused practice makes it a strong choice for students interested in applied public health careers in Canada and beyond.