School of Occupational and Public Health

SOPHe: A Brief Overview

Established in 1953 in response to an a noted societal need for trained public health professionals, the School of Occupational and Public Health (SOPHe) is the first undergraduate school in Canada to offer accredited degree programs in both occupational health and safety and public health.  In addition, a number of SOPHe curriculum courses are offered through The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. These courses can be taken individually for personal interest or professional upgrading, or as part of a selection of certificate programs.

SOPHe supports the advancement of knowledge and research in the fields of occupational and public health and safety through the delivery of a theoretical and practical curriculum aimed at preparing graduates for professional careers.  A science-based curriculum is augmented by complimentary courses in communication, business, social sciences and the humanities.

Professionally-related electives add substance to the well-rounded curriculum and expose students to subject areas not directly covered in SOPHe core courses.  Such exposure produces graduates who are committed
and prepared to pursue employment in multidisciplinary settings. Emphasis is placed on the acquisition of practical skills and current theoretical knowledge throughout both the two and four-year programs. In keeping with the SOPHe commitment to practical education, a five-year co-operative education option is offered to students in the occupational four-year stream who meet specific academic requirements.

As well as preparing students for professional certification exams in occupational and public health, SOPHe equips graduates to pursue a wide range of careers in diverse fields.  Currently, both streams feature graduates in the public and private sectors.  SOPHe has consistently produced job-ready graduates with unique, in-demand skill sets for over four decades.

The knowledge and skills acquired in SOPHe degree programs provide sufficient preparation for graduate studies in public and environmental health studies, teaching, law, medicine and business.  A number of SOPHe graduates have chosen to continue their education in fields of study relating to the core subject areas emphasized throughout their undergraduate program of study.