Eligible applicants include those with DVM, BScN or MD professional degrees (or equivalents), honours BSc in Biomedical Sciences, Biological Sciences, or Occupational and Public Health. Students with an honours degree without a biological focus will be required to complete the distance education BSc course Principles of Disease prior to enrolling in the degree program. Candidates should have earned a B+ average in their honours BSc degree or at least a B- average in a professional degree (e.g., BScN, DVM, or MD). All applicants should submit a two-page statement of interest and career goals in public health. Students will be admitted into the Fall semester.

The MPH program at the Ontario Veterinary College will typically consist of 5 consecutive semesters of full-time study. Full-time students will take three semester-length courses for four semesters (total 12 courses) and a 12 to 16-week practicum in a public health practice setting. Students will begin their program in September. Students can complete the program in 4 semesters if they choose to add one additional elective to their course load during each of the Fall and Winter first-year and Fall second-year semesters (four courses / semester).

Students will complete at least six (0.50 credit) courses before they begin the practicum (between May and August inclusive), which will provide the opportunity to add function to the knowledge base achieved during the didactic portion of the program. A paper and seminar developed from data gathered during the practicum will illustrate the cumulative experience. This is a residency program as core courses and most electives are not offered through distance education. Students may enroll part-time while they continue to work in their public health or regulatory careers. Part-time students will normally take one or two courses per semester.