What is Health Studies?
Health Studies is an interdisciplinary field of study that provides students with a comprehensive understanding of contemporary health issues, the biological and social determinants of health, health humanities, and the impact of policy on health and well-being.
Two streams of study are available:
- Population Health (BSc): biological determinants of health, epidemiology, aging and the life cycle, social and behavioral determinants of health.
- Health Policy (BA): health care systems, public health policies, epidemiology, government and civil society responses to issues related to health.
What makes Health Studies at UTSC unique?
Our critical and interdisciplinary approach, and interesting service learning and co-op opportunities!
Skills of Health Studies Grads
- Research social, historical, political and economic processes shape people’s health and well-being, including how people mobilize to bring about progressive social change
- Research biological, behavioural, and environmental factors that affect human health and our susceptibility and resistance to disease.
- Analyse how cultural factors mediate health practices, and in turn, shape health outcomes through tradition, customs, ritual, and concepts of health, illness, and disease.
- Draw from humanistic perspectives and arts- based knowledge (including literature, film, drama, visual and performing arts) to reveal and inform the lived experience of health and illness.
- Navigate the Canadian health care system as it adapts to ongoing challenges presented by changing societal values and political arrangements.
Entry-Level Jobs for Bachelor Grads
Common employment destinations include:
- Team Assistant in Community Care Centres
- Junior Health Policy Analyst
- Project Assistant in Health Promotion Services
- Customer Service Agent in Biomedical Products
- Coordinator in Health Services
- Clinical Research Assistant in Pharmaceuticals
- Activationist in Long-Term Care Homes
- Administrative Associate in Medical Centres
Health Studies Grads from UTSC have gone on to:
- CAMH (Research) MSF (Program Unit Coordinator)
- Ministry, Health & LT Care (Lead - (Implementation)
- Roche (Study Data Manager)
UTSC Health Studies graduates are working in education, university & hospital research, community & social services.
Graduate & Professional Studies
Popular further education opportunities include:
- Public Health – Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Health Science – Master (MSc, MHSc)
- Epidemiology – Master (MSc, MHSc, MPH)
- Gerontology – Master or Graduate Certificate
- Health/Public Policy & Administration – Master
- Community Health or Development – Master
- Community Education – Master (MEd)
- Medicine or Nursing – MD or BScN
- Rehabilitation Sciences (MSc, MScOT, MScPT)
- Regulatory Affairs – Post-Graduate Certificate
- Fitness – Post-Graduate Certificate
Examples of Fields that ‘Fit’ the Skills of Health Studies Grads
- Education (Post-Secondary & School Boards)
- Hospitals, Health & Community Centres
- Insurance Companies & Law Firms
- Health & Safety Inspection Agencies
- Pharmaceutical & Biotech Developers
- Non-Government Health Advocacy Groups
- Government (Federal, Provincial, Regional, Municipal)
- Public Health Authorities & Health Access Centres
Your 4-Year Career Exploration Action Plan
1. Do Your Research
The databases below provide you with details about job prospects, nature of work, educational requirements, working conditions, pay and related career paths:
- Career Cruising: Log into cln.utoronto.ca, click on Resources, and click on Career Cruising to be logged in automatically
- O*Net: online.onetcenter.org (U.S. site)
Attend our workshop Discover Your Skills and Career Options, meet with a Career Counsellor, and use our resources to get to know your skills, values, personality and interests.
Use the advice on our tip sheets for gathering information:
- Information Interviews
- Working On-Campus
- Internships
- Volunteering
2. Explore Career Options & Get Experience
Gain exposure to your options in the world of work and make connections while you’re a student via campus events and programs listed on cln.utoronto.ca and ccr.utoronto.ca:
- Extern Job Shadowing
- In the Field
- Explore It! (course-based)
- Partners in Leadership (4th year students)
- iLead, uLead, weLead (Department of Student Life)
- Employer Information Sessions
- Career & Volunteer Fairs
- Departmental Student Association Events
Apply for Work Study jobs in CLN in Fall and Spring! You might also find work via the SCSU.
Find networking opportunities, internship programs and entry-level jobs via websites like TalentEgg and Charity Village.
As an upper year student (14+ credits), attend UTSC’s Get Hired conference and participate in Jobs for Grads.
As a graduate, explore internships and other trainee programs like Career Edge.
3. Build Your Network
Explore professional associations and get involved! Volunteer for their events and get to know people in your industry of interest. These are your future mentors, supervisors and colleagues!
- Anthropology and Health Studies Association
- Canadian Public Health Association
- American Public Health Association
- Canadian Institute of Health Research
- Canadian Institute for Health Information
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Canadian Federation for the Humanities and Social Sciences
- Regulated Health Professions in Canada
Please note: This information is a starting point for your further research into career options in this field of study. For more information on this program and course requirements, please visit the Department of Health Studies website.