Degree Division
Social & Behavioural Health Sciences Division
Program Contact
Rochelle Parcells

Program Description

The overall objective of this new field will be to provide graduate students with a culturally relevant program to fully understand Black public health issues in preparation for public health practice with Black communities. Black communities consist of diverse genders, gender identities, ages, sexual orientations, religious and spiritual backgrounds, abilities/disabilities, classes, immigration and migration processes, among other factors. Black identity is complex, made of diverse ways of identifying, such as Black, African, and African-Canadian, to name a few. Hence, African/Black is used to holistically include the diversity of representation amongst Black community members.

Areas the program will look at will include the impact of anti-Black racism on health, maternal health, the intersectionality of Black Elders and children, inter-generational relationships and their effects on community health, wellness and healing, resilience and resistance, infectious and chronic illness prevalence and treatment within the health-care system, among others. The program will also give students translatable skills in the practices of decolonizing pedagogy and anti-oppression frameworks.

Admission Criteria

MPH students are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS): Applicants must hold an appropriate Bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized university with at least a mid-B average in the final year of the degree or in the last 5.0 full course equivalents completed at a senior level. Proof of English Language Proficiency is required (See below).

Minimum Admission Requirements for MPH Black Health

  • At least one undergraduate statistics course with a minimum grade of mid-B or higher is required. Please review the MPH statistics requirements information.
  • Relevant work or volunteer experience.

International applicants

No applicant will be admitted without evidence of English Language Proficiency (ELP).  As per the policy of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), the following applicants do not have to provide direct supporting evidence of ELP in the application.

  • A Canadian citizen who studied at a Canadian university where instruction is in English or French;
  • Any applicant who has obtained a qualifying undergraduate degree from an institution that is recognized by the University of Toronto, and where the language of instruction and examination is uniformly English.

If either criterion above is satisfied, the application can be submitted without test scores or other proof of ELP.

Otherwise, an approved test of English Language Proficiency must be submitted at the time of application.  Scores must meet the minimum requirements set by SGS and must be valid (taken within 2 years of submission of the application). See SGS website for details.

If an applicant is required to submit proof of ELP and does not include this with the application, by the application deadline, the application will be considered incomplete and inadmissible.

Applicants who studied outside Canada must consult the School of Graduate Studies website to determine whether evidence of ELP can be waived. The SGS website lists those countries where university instruction in English will be recognized without further documentation. Click here for more information.

The SGS website also has an international degree equivalency tool that may be consulted to determine minimum admission requirements for graduates from recognized institutions outside Canada.  Admission eligibility cannot be determined until a complete application is submitted. We are not able to review or assess your academic record without an official application to a graduate degree program, including payment of the appropriate application fee.

Visit the Future Students page for complete application information and instructions.

Core Competencies

Please learn more about the program’s core competencies.

  1. To learn how to promote the well-being, health, healing, and wellness of diverse Black peoples and our communities.
  2. To develop a comprehensive understanding of the social/historical and current contexts that have led to public health crises resulting from intersectional violence in relation to anti-Black racism.
  3. To understand how systemic violence and exclusion are sustained by concrete public health practices that need to be eradicated.
  4. To ensure that social and political determinants of health include colonialism, racism, and other forms of intersectional violence from a decolonizing and resistance-centered framework/praxis.
  5. To unlearn and learn how to intentionally challenge power structures that uphold white supremacy and colonialist models.
  6. To ensure that African/Black health practitioners/leaders and those working in solidarity; have impactful roles in public health discourse and decision-making spaces, especially in areas that impact the health of Black populations.
  7. To include African Indigenous ways of wellness and healing as important to creating culturally responsive health care and safety.
  8. To incorporate African/Black epistemologies and methodologies that help in understanding the complexities of African/Black communities, specifically, intersectionality. Going beyond collecting demographics.

Program Requirements

Students are required to complete 10.0 Full Course Equivalents (FCEs) within the maximum time limit of 3 years as a full-time student and 6 years as a part-time student. Please note, that most full-time students complete their degree within 2 years. The table below outlines the usual distribution of required and elective courses, together with practica, which are taken throughout the program.

TERM Course/practicum FCEs
Term 1 – Fall
 2.0 FCE
CHL5004H Introduction to Public Health Sciences 0.5
CHL5220H or CHL5401H Introduction to Quantitative Research or Epidemiologic Methods I 0.5
CHL5103H or CHL5105H Health Promotion 1 or Social Determinants of Health 0.5
CHL5820H African/Black Health I: Sociohistorical Overview of Black Health (Anti-Black Racism, Colonialism, Intersectionality) 0.5
Term 2 – Winter
 2.5 FCE
CHL5107H Introduction to Qualitative Research 0.5
CHL5821H African/Black Health II: Chronic Diseases; Sexual and Reproductive Health: Across the Lifespan 0.5
CHL5822H Decolonizing Theory and Methods in African/Black Health Research 0.5
CHL5823H African/Black Practicum Preparation 0.5
1 approved elective 0.5
Term 3 – Summer
 2.0 FCE
CHL6010Y +
CHL6012Y		 Required MPH Practicum (1.0 FCE) +
Long Extension to Required Practicum (1.0 FCE)		 2.0
Term 4 – Fall 2.0 FCE
CHL5300H Public Health Policy 0.5
CHL5824H Transnational Black Health Policy and Practice 0.5
1 approved elective 0.5
Term 5 – Winter 1.5 FCE
CHL6020Y +
CHL6021H		 Optional MPH Practicum (1.0 FCE) +
Optional Practicum Extension (0.5 FCE)or any combination of practicum and electives totaling
1.5 FCE		 1.5
CHL5825H Black Resistance and Health: Interventions and Social Change 0.5
Totals 10

Elective Courses

Students have an opportunity to take at least 1.5 FCE in elective courses. Through electives, students can tailor their academic work to suit their professional needs and career interests.

Students can take courses within the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, or (with permission) from other Graduate Departments at the University of Toronto. Students also have the opportunity to take courses outside of the University of Toronto and must consult with their Program Director and the Graduate Office.

Practicum

Students typically undertake a 16-week full-time practicum in the Summer session of year 1 of the program (Term 3). Some students complete an optional 12-week full-time practicum in the Winter session of year 2 (Term 5). The practicum experiences will provide meaningful and essential application and synthesis of program learning outcomes and will be directly related to issues of Black public health.

Students will only receive a maximum of 3.5 FCE for practicum courses during their program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Black Health field of the MPH program be completed part time?

Yes, the MPH degree program can be completed on a part-time basis. For more information please see: https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/students/future-students/application-process/application-frequently-asked-questions/

How much is tuition?

Information regarding program costs for studies at the University can be found at: https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/students/current-students/information-for-incoming-students/

Funding and award opportunities can be found here: https://www.dlsph.utoronto.ca/students/current-students/student-awards-funding-opportunities/

What kind of careers could one pursue with this degree?

Below is a list of potential job titles that this degree would prepare you for:

  • Analyst (Research and Policy, Research Planning and Policy, Health)
  • Health Promotion Specialist
  • Health Promotion and Community Liaison
  • Health Planner
  • Program Coordinator
  • Program Facilitator
  • Coordinator of Community Engagement
  • Community Health Worker
  • Program Evaluator
  • Medical Doctor (Further Education)
  • Nurse (Further Education)

Information Sessions

For those who are interested in learning more about the program, you can sign up for an information session. They are offered on the following dates:

  • October 26, 2023 6:00pm-7:00pm
  • November 30, 2023 6:00pm-7:00pm
  • December 14, 2023 6:00pm-7:00pm

Sign up at this link: https://sway.office.com/faKg1YBe7L3QKeBt?ref=Link

I’d like to be kept abreast of all new program developments

Sign-up for our newsletters! By joining the list, you will be made aware of all upcoming Black health-related events, upcoming application dates and open houses where you can speak to professors in the program.

Current Students

Ogonna Ojiaka

I am Ogonna Ojiaka, a Nigeria-trained medical doctor where I worked briefly providing healthcare services to underserved communities and building a digital platform for healthcare. In Canada, I have worked actively in the youth-HIV space, developing and coordinating projects around HIV knowledge exchange, prevention strategies and living positively. These experiences have given me a unique yet varied experience of black health. I hope to work with community organizations and government agencies and lend my voice to ensuring that Black people have equitable access to healthcare and that systemic health disparities are addressed.

Osatohanwen (Joanne) Okungbowa

Hi, my name is Osatohanwen Joanne Okungbowa (She/Her), but many call me Joanne. Health equity, content marketing, entrepreneurship and travel are what makes me feel the most alive and purposeful. My research areas of focus are food sovereignty, Black health, Indigenous health, women’s health, health equity for marginalized communities; (particularly, the physiological manifestations of racism), as well as the surveillance, prevention and management of chronic illnesses. My goal is to create accessible health services that go beyond the biomedical approach by using interactive art-based therapies.

Amani Chabikuli

My name is Amani Chabikuli. I am currently a student researcher at MAP center of urban health solutions and I have recently graduated from Western University with a double major in Medical and Environmental sciences.  I am beyond thrilled to embark on my graduate studies at Dalla Lana, specializing in Black health alongside U of T’s diverse and renown research community.
Some of the goals I have in the future is to work with health organizations to improve the health and wellbeing of Black communities worldwide. I strongly believe in manifesting radical Black futures and creating space for the imagination necessary to create worlds that center the voices and perspectives of all Black people.

Adrianna Perryman

Hello, my name is Adrianna Perryman. I am a graduate of the Global Health Program at York University in which I specialized in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. I currently work as a women’s outreach worker in the HIV/AIDS sector. I enjoy working in community and being on “ground” knowing I am working in partnership with who I wish to reach. I am also passionate about serving Black women in the community through addressing the social determinants of health. I am also interested in policy and program development to ensure changes are made to create more equitable health outcomes for all.

Asli Nur

My name is Asli Nur, and I am a first-generation Somali Canadian. I have a diverse background in healthcare management, interpretation, and translation, having worked internationally for various health and governmental agencies. Additionally, I gained valuable experience as a research assistant with the Black Health Matter Covid-19 project from 2021 to 2023.
My future goals revolve around working closely with the Africa/Black Canadian community. I am determined to address the social determinants of health that significantly impact our communities.

Joshua Pratt

My name is Joshua Pratt and I am entering my first year of the MPH in Black Health program at the University of Toronto DLSPH. I graduated from the University of Toronto, Scarborough in 2021 with a BSc, double majoring in Health Studies and Human Biology. Throughout my undergrad I engaged in extracurriculars including working with the Athletics and Recreation department, playing intramural basketball, and working for the Imani Black Mentorship program. Since graduating, I have been working as a research assistant in the Knowledge Translation Program at St. Michael’s Hospital. I was born in Guyana and still have strong ties to my home country. I hope to be able to transfer the knowledge and experiences I gain through this program to equitable Global Health work in Guyana.

Tiya Samuel

Hello, my name is Tiya Samuel, and I recently graduated from York University with a degree in Global Health (specialization in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention). I am passionate about addressing health disparities and promoting equity in healthcare. I am also committed to empowering marginalized communities, especially women of colour, in combatting GBV. My future goals are firmly rooted in creating a meaningful impact on marginalized communities’ health outcomes. I aspire to advocate for GBV prevention and work in government agencies to design and implement initiatives and programs to reduce health inequalities.

Simone Blais

Simone Blais is a doula, director and reproductive justice advocate. She holds a degree in Gender Studies and Indigenous Studies from the University of Victoria. Her work focuses on equity in the arts through film and reproductive justice for marginalized communities. In the past five years, she has worked with the grassroots BIPOC Nesting Doula Collective and the Native Youth Sexual Health Network delivering childbirth education, sexual health education and full spectrum birth support.