Bachelor of Health

General Information

The Bachelor of Health is a 4‐year interdisciplinary program offered by the Faculties of Arts, Business, and Science, Applied Science, & Engineering. The program provides students with both interdisciplinary knowledge and the specific skills necessary for success in a variety of careers in the health sector and will prepare them for professional programs and associated entrance exams. The program features a common academic entry in which students engage with biomedical, societal approaches to health and wellness, and to the management of healthcare services. Throughout the program, students will complete specifically designed courses that provide interdisciplinary perspectives and present innovative approaches to health. In the first year of the program, students will complete disciplinary courses relevant to all three majors as well as introductory, interdisciplinary health courses. In year two, students will select one of the following three majors: 1) Society and Health, 2) Management in Health, or 3) Biomedical Sciences and Health. Each major consists of disciplinary courses relating to the major and topical courses in health fostering academic exchanges on broadly applicable topics in health from different perspectives. In years three and four, students will complete their major requirements and advanced health courses. In the fourth year, students will complete a two‐term project that focuses on solutions of health‐related issues through interdisciplinary collaboration. Students are encouraged to meet with an academic advisor every year to assess their progression through the program. For information on admissions and university regulations, please consult section B of the University calendar.

Requirements
To earn the degree in Bachelor of Health, students must successfully complete a minimum of 126 credit hours with a minimum grade of C in required HEAL courses and required courses for the major. A grade of D will be considered for program credit only in certain circumstances.
Students are responsible for ensuring that they have completed the necessary prerequisites for the required courses and required electives.

Required courses for the degree in the Bachelor of Health (66 ch):
BA 1501 Introduction to Business (3 ch)
BIOL 1105 Biological Principles, Part I (3 ch)
BIOL 1205 Biological Principles, Part II (3 ch)
BIOL 1017 Applications in Biology, Part II (2 ch)
CHEM 1041 General Chemistry I (3 ch)
CHEM 1072 General Chemistry II (3 ch)
CHEM 1046 Introductory Chemistry Laboratory I (2 ch)
CHEM 1077 Introductory Chemistry Laboratory II (2 ch)
HEAL 1001 Current Issues and Future Trends in Health (3 ch)
HEAL 1002 Introduction to Health from a Global Perspective (3 ch)
HEAL 2001 Health Communications (3 ch)
HEAL 2002 Introduction to Data Analytics & Health Information Technology (3 ch)
HEAL 2003 Methods in Health Research and Information Literacy (3 ch)
HEAL 3001 History and Structure of the Canadian Health Care System (3 ch)
HEAL 3002 Indigenous Health Determinants (3 ch)
HEAL 4001 Transformation Through Collaboration & Innovation I (3 ch)
HEAL 4002 Transformation Through Collaboration & Innovation II (3 ch)
HIST 2514 First Nations in North America to the War of 1812 (3 ch) OR ABRG 1002 Introduction to Indigenous Studies (3 ch)
PSYC 1003 Introductory Psychology I (3 ch)
PSYC 1004 Introductory Psychology II (3 ch)
SOCI 1001 Introduction to Sociology (3 ch)
SOCI 2376 Sociology of Health, Illness and Healing (3 ch)
STAT 2263 Statistics for Health Sciences and Non‐Science Majors (3 ch)
Plus the specific requirements for the chosen major.

Major in Society and Health

The Society and Health major will attract students seeking knowledge and skills to prepare for careers in health services, public health, recreational services as well as professional programs.

  • Required courses for the major (12 ch) (please note prerequisites may apply)
    ECON 3813 Introduction to Health Economics (3 ch)
    POLS 1201 Canadian Politics I (3 ch)
    POLS 1301 Global Political Studies (3 ch) or POLS 2601 Introduction to International Politics (3 ch)
    PSYC 3033 Health Psychology (3 ch)
  • Required elective courses (please note prerequisites may apply):
    A minimum of 18 ch of required electives chosen from:
    HIST 4945 Women, Science, and Medicine (3 ch)
    PHIL 3133 Health Care in Ethics I (3 ch)
    PHIL 3134 Health Care in Ethics II (3 ch)
    POLS 3501 Contemporary Issues in Public Policy (3 ch)
    POLS 3632 Urbanization, Poverty and Politics (3 ch)
    POLS 3683 Human Rights (3 ch)
    POLS 3685 The Politics of Food (3 ch)
    POLS 4505 Politics, Policy and Prostitution (3 ch) or SOCI 4505 Society and Sex Work (3 ch)
    SOCI 3376 Mental Health, Addictions & Wellbeing (3 ch)
    SOCI 4379 Community‐Based Health Research Seminar (3 ch)
    HEAL 4004 Honours Research Seminar (3 ch)
    HEAL 4301 Advanced Topics in Society and Health (3 ch) 
  • General elective courses (please note prerequisites may apply):
    A maximum of 30 ch of General Electives

    Note: It is recommended that students take PHIL 1001 Introduction to Philosophy (3 ch) OR PHIL 1053 Introduction to Logic, Reasoning and Critical Thinking (3 ch)

Major in Management and Health

The Major in Management in Health will attract students who are interested in health administration looking to work in the managing of people or processes/systems or in the planning, marketing, financial oversight, and logistical deployment of health services across various organizations within the health sector and with insurance companies or within information, legal, public sector, not‐for‐profit or private sectors.

  • Required courses for the major (24 ch) (please note prerequisites may apply)
    BA 1216 Accounting for Managers I (3 ch)
    BA 2217 Accounting for Managers II (3 ch)
    BA 2303 Principles of Marketing (3 ch)
    BA 2504 Introduction to Organizational Behaviour (3 ch)
    BA 2858 Introduction to Human Resources Management (3 ch)
    ECON 1013 Introduction to Microeconomics (3 ch)
    ECON 1023 Introduction to Macroeconomics (3 ch)
    ECON 3813 Introduction to Health Economics (3 ch)
  • Required elective courses (please note prerequisites may apply):
    A minimum of 15 ch for required electives chosen from:
    BA 2123 Introduction to Digital Business (3 ch)
    BA 2606 Business Decision Analysis II (3 ch)
    BA 2611 Business Data Visualization (3 ch)
    BA 2758 Employment Law (3 ch)
    BA 3224 Accounting for Managers III (3 ch)
    BA 3235 Intermediate Accounting I (3 ch)
    BA 3236 Intermediate Accounting II (3 ch)
    BA 3304 Marketing Management (3 ch)
    BA 3305 Marketing on the Internet (3 ch)
    BA 3328 Consumer Behaviour (3 ch)
    BA 3339 Marketing Communications (3 ch)
    BA 3371 Marketing of Services (3 ch)
    BA 3425 Managerial Finance (3 ch)
    BA 3426 Corporate Finance (3 ch)
    BA 3547 Organizational Communication (3 ch)
    BA 3557 The Management of Planned Change (3 ch)
    BA 3623 Management Science: Deterministic Models (3 ch)
    BA 3653 Operations Management I (3 ch)
    BA 3654 Operations Management II (3 ch)
    BA 3661 Supply Chain Management (3 ch)
    BA 3672 Introduction to Management Information Systems (3 ch)
    BA 3715 Labour Law (3 ch)
    BA 3813 Introduction to Industrial Relations (3 ch)
    BA 4101 Competitive Strategy (3 ch)
    BA 4229 Advanced Financial Accounting I (3 ch)
    BA 4231 Advanced Financial Accounting II (3 ch)
    BA 4334 Public and Non‐Public Marketing (3 ch)
    BA 4813 Negotiations and Dispute Resolutions (3 ch)
    BA 4855 Compensation Structure Development (3 ch)
    BA 4857 Management of Occupational Health and Employee Wellness (3 ch)
    BA 4898 Strategic HRM Policy (3 ch)
    ECON 2013 Intermediate Microeconomics (3 ch)
    ECON 2023 Intermediate Economics (3 ch)
    ECON 2213 Poverty, Inequality and Income Redistribution (3 ch)
    ECON 3213 Public Sector Economics (3 ch)
    ECON 3375 Labour Economics (3 ch)
    ECON 3542 Topics in International Developments (3 ch)
    ECON 3755 Environmental Economics (3 ch)
    HEAL 4004 Honours Research Seminar (3 ch)
    HEAL 4501 Advanced Topics in Management in Health (3 ch) 
    MATH 1853 Mathematics for Business I (3 ch)
    PSYC 3401 Social Psychology (3 ch)
    Or other electives as approved by the Faculty of Business
  • General elective courses (please note prerequisites may apply):
    A maximum of 21 ch of general elective

NOTE: A maximum of 12 of the total 36 ch of required electives and general electives may be at the Introductory level.

Major in Biomedical Sciences and Health

The Biomedical Sciences and Health Major provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for a variety of careers. Students who complete this major will be prepared for research, medical device sales, and allied health careers. Students in this major will also gain the knowledge necessary to prepare for professional program entrance exams (medicine, dentistry, etc.).
To earn a Bachelor of Health with a major in Biomedical Sciences and Health, students must complete a minimum of 130 credit hours.

  •  Required courses for the major (29 ch) (please note: prerequisites may apply)
    BIOL 1441 Human Anatomy and Physiology I (4 ch)
    BIOL 1442 Human Anatomy and Physiology II (4 ch)
    BIOL 3853 Introduction to Pathophysiology (3 ch)
    CHEM 2421 Organic Chemistry I (3 ch)
    PSYC 2712 Foundations in Neuroscience (3 ch)
    PSYC 3033 Health Psychology (3 ch)
    Any 4th year seminar in Psychology (3 ch)
    6 ch in HEAL courses focused on Biomedical Sciences (courses designated as 3100-3299; 4100-4299)

  • Required electives courses (please note prerequisites may apply):
    A minimum of 8 ch of required electives chosen from:
    BIOL 2015 Introductory Genetics (4 ch)
    BIOL 2485 Introduction to Microbiology (4 ch)
    BIOL 2245 Introductory Molecular Cell Biology (4 ch)
    BIOL/CHEM 2065 Introductory Biochemistry (4 ch)
    A minimum of 15 ch of required electives chosen from:
    BIOL 2015 Introductory Genetics (4 ch)
    BIOL 2485 Introduction to Microbiology (4 ch)
    BIOL 2245 Introductory Molecular Cell Biology (4 ch)
    BIOL/CHEM 2065 Introductory Biochemistry (4 ch)
    BIOL 2615 Introductory Zoology (5 ch)
    BIOL 3132 Advanced Biochemistry (3 ch)
    BIOL 3435 Biomolecules and Primary Metabolism (3 ch)
    BIOL 3022 Evolution (3 ch)
    BIOL 3553 Introduction to Bioinformatics (4 ch)
    BIOL 3055 Animal Physiology (4 ch)
    BIOL 3635 Animal Physiology II (4 ch)
    BIOL 4245 Molecular Ecology (4 ch)
    CHEM/BIOL 4435 Biologically Active Natural Products and Secondary Metabolism (3 ch)
    HEAL 3101 Molecular and Cellular Basis of Cancer (3 ch)
    HEAL 3102 Clinical Neuroscience (3 ch) OR PSYC 3724 Introduction to Clinical Neuropsychology (3 ch)
    HEAL 3103 The Neurobiology of Learning (3 ch)
    HEAL 4004 Honours Research Seminar (3 ch)
    HEAL 4101 Advanced Topics in Biomedical Sciences and Health (3 ch)
    HEAL 4102 Neuroplasticity (3 ch)
    HEAL 4103 Epilepsy and Quality of Life (3 ch)
    PSYC 2693 Foundations in Perception and Cognition (3 ch)
    PSYC 3383 Perception (3 ch)
    PSYC 3503 Learning (3 ch)
    PSYC 3632 Motivation (3 ch)
    PSYC 3725 The Dementias (3 ch)
    PSYC 3752 Drugs and Behaviour (3 ch)
    PSYC 4021 Cognitive and Psychophysiological Research (3 ch)
    PSYC 4111 Conducting Research Studies (3 ch)
    PSYC 3723 Introduction to Human Neuropsychology (3 ch)
    PSYC 4583 Advanced Perception (3  ch)
    PSYC 4833 Psychopharmacology (3 ch)
    PSYC 4813 Substance Use Disorders (3 ch)
    PSYC 4733 Cognitive Neuroscience (3 ch)
  • General elective courses (please note: prerequisites may apply):
    A maximum of 12 ch of general electives
    Note: Students who are interested in Medical School are advised to take PHYS 1011 Introductory Physics I (3 ch) and PHYS 1021 Experiments in Introductory Physics I (2 ch). Students interested in applying to a professional program should review the program requirements when selecting their elective courses. It is recommended that physics be taken in the first year for many professional programs. You may seek assistance from the academic advisor in making a course plan.

Honours

The Honours Program in Health will be available to all Bachelor of Health (BH) students who meet the honours entrance requirements. Students in the honours program will work closely with a research supervisor to develop a research proposal (fall term) and conduct independent research (winter). In addition, students will be required to complete the Honours Seminar in Health (fall). The honours seminar will focus on research methodology, scientific writing, research ethics (animal and human), oral and poster presentation development, and leadership skill development. All honours students will work in consultation with an honours supervisory committee that will include their primary supervisor, a second reader, and the BH honours coordinator. To meet the interdisciplinary goals of the BH, the primary supervisor and second reader should not have the same research expertise (i.e., be primarily affiliated with the same BH majors). 

Students are responsible for securing a research supervisor. Updated lists of potential supervisors and their contact information will be posted on the BH website. Students can select an honours supervisor and complete an honours research project focused within their major area of study or with an interdisciplinary approach to health. BH honours students will receive their honours degree in their major area: Biomedical Sciences and Health, Management and Health, Society and Health. 

To apply to the honours program, students must have a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 at the end of the third year, with a minimum final grade of B+ in HEAL 3001 and 3002. Please note that these minimum requirements do not guarantee acceptance into the Honours program; admittance is competitive and students must obtain a Faculty member willing to supervise them. As well, space may be limited. Students wishing to complete an Honours are to replace 3 credits of required elective courses and 6 credits of general elective courses in their fourth year to meet the honours thesis requirements. Honours students will complete HEAL 4004 (honours research seminar), HEAL 4005 (designing a research proposal), and HEAL 4006 (honours thesis). To graduate with honours, a cumulative GPA of 3.0 must be maintained. Bachelor of Health honours students are required to complete all requirements for the Bachelor of Health. Enrolment in the honours program is limited and students must submit a completed application to the Bachelor of Health coordinator at the end of their third year of study. The application package will include a completed application form and a personal statement of research interests and career goals.