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School of Public Health & Social Policy

Social Dimensions of Health PhD degree

The Social Dimensions of Health (SDH) doctoral program is a unique academic opportunity for students who are interested in extending current health research that transcends traditional disciplines.

This research-intensive program combines methodological and ontological perspectives of the faculties of Education, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences. Taking a minimum of 4 years to complete, you’ll engage in advanced research in health and its relation to society, working with leading faculty to push your chosen field across disciplinary boundaries.

Jenise Finlay

Prepare your application

Find out what you need to apply to the Social Dimensions of Health program and what's required to complete it.

Admissions requirements Program planning
Jenise Finlay (SDH PhD candidate) studies disability and sexuality, particularly how people living with chronic pain access care for sexual and reproductive health.

Social Dimensions of Health is affiliated with more than 130 full-time faculty members engaged in health research across the faculties of Social Sciences, Humanities, Education and Health. The innovative approach of our programs brings together researchers with a breadth of experience across theoretical and methodological backgrounds who challenge students to examine health research from a variety of perspectives.

Note: this program is offered on-campus and in-person only.
See our Master of Public Health program for online and remote graduate studies.

Program overview

Focused specifically on interdisciplinary health research, the SDH PhD program links the research and academic mandates of the faculties of Education, Health, Humanities and Social Sciences. The result is a research-intensive graduate experience that incorporates theoretical and methodological approaches to health research from multiple scholarly perspectives and disciplines.

This degree is flexible, allowing you to create a program that fits with your academic background and future goals. Your final output is a dissertation, which must be defended according to the regulations of the SDH handbook and the Faculty of Graduate Studies.

Student stories

Jenise Finlay

Let’s talk about sex—and disability

Disability and sexuality are rarely discussed in the same sentence in healthcare settings. Jenise Finlay, a Social Dimensions of Health PhD student, is challenging that bias through a new study that explores the intimate lives of people living with chronic pain.

Read Jenise's story

Career possibilities

Thanks to its interdisciplinary approach, the SDH program prepares you for a wide range of careers. These include:

  • university professor
  • college instructor
  • non-profit executive director
  • senior research scientist
  • health system executive
  • senior advisor
  • health research manager
  • private or non-profit health consultant
  • think tank expert
  • research director
  • director general
  • senior policy analyst

Ready to apply?

Applications to the SDH program must be submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies. Visit our admissions page for more information about requirements and deadlines:

Apply online