Enumeration of the Schools and Students of Public Health in Canada

Abstract

Canada has experienced a growing trend in university public health education since the severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreak of 2003. However, the number of universities offering undergraduate and graduate public health degrees has not been accurately enumerated. Our study objectives were to quantify the university public health programs in Canada, examine the number of students graduating from these programs, and identify any trends and gaps. Websites of Canadian universities were reviewed to identify public health degree programs. We examined their academic units, degrees offered, year of establishment, references to public health core competencies, offerings of continuing education, and accreditation status. The faculties were contacted via survey, email, and/or phone to obtain the number of students issued a degree. We identified 36 faculties in 32 universities in Canada offering public health–related programs (four faculties offered programs accredited by a public health association). At present, 17 universities offer Master of Public Health degrees, representing over a threefold increase since 2003. We observed a twofold increase in the number of undergraduate and graduate public health students in the past 5 years. About two thirds of the universities stated a competencies-based learning curriculum, and less than half of the faculties offered continuing education opportunities for public health professionals. In little over a decade, public health education in Canada has changed from a subspecialty of medicine to distinct academic and research institutions. Further study is needed to determine the influences of the increase in public health academic programs and their graduates on Canada’s public health workforce.