Health communication is the study of messages that create meaning in relation to physical, mental, and social well-being. Interdisciplinary research is conducted in the scientific, interpretive (humanities) and critical-cultural traditions. This course examines theories of interpersonal, organizational, and mass communication relevant to a variety of professionals in the health field. Students will review theories and contexts of communication (interpersonal, organizational, mass, social media and intercultural), relations of power in communication settings, strategies of persuasion, the relationship between attitudes and behaviour, and the importance of representation in our understanding of changing nature of health, health delivery and health issues in society. Students cannot take both COMS 2201 and HEAL 2001. Students in the Bachelor of Health cannot take COMS 2201. 

The course will provide an overview of the pharmaceutical industry, the process of drug discovery and optimization, an overview of the properties and biological activity of therapeutic substances, and case studies of select drug classes such as antibiotic, anti-ulcers drugs and/or others.   

This course focuses on the history and structure of the Canadian health care system, including how health care is organized, funded, regulated, and managed at provincial and federal levels in Canada. This course also examines current service delivery issues as they influence the health of Canadians. 

NOTE: Credit will only be given to one of HEAL 3001, HSCI 3061, or NURS 3061.  

This course provides multidisciplinary approach to health and wellness focusing on Indigenous Peoples. Topics such as Indigenous Ways of Knowing and social determinants of health/wellness will be examined, including an examination of the effect of colonialism and the current western health care system on indigenous peoples. Practical/ethical responsibilities of health care providers to Indigenous Peoples will also be addressed.  

This course will focus on how behavioural, physical, and technical strategies facilitate the translation of evidence into practice. Theories from disciplines including psychology and information systems design will be used to explain the multifactorial perspective of implementation science. Effective intervention implementation within various organizations and stakeholders will be explored. Topics such as intervention usability, user motivation for adoption, and resource utilization efficiency with the goal of improving health will be discussed. 

This course will provide an overview and outline the historical evolution of children’s rights. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), the four rights principles that the CRC is grounded upon will be covered. The 9 different clusters of rights under the CRC will be examined in relation to health. The relationship between human rights and children’s health and development and the rights-based approach to child health will be discussed.   

The course will focus on the pillars of the science of nutrition and the essential components of healthy eating. The role of macronutrients (fat, protein, carbohydrates) and micronutrients (the major classes of fats and minerals) on overall energy intake and their role in our health will be examined. Specific global concerns relevant to nutrition will be explored; for example, the discussion of macronutrients will include a focus on undernutrition and obesity at both ends of the caloric intake spectrum and how the global community struggles with it.   

Epidemiology is a scientific discipline concerned with the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations. This course introduces the principles and core concepts of epidemiology to examine how we measure disease risk and design studies to shed light on the etiology of and risk factors for disease. This course will cover topics such as basic principles of epidemiology, measures of disease frequency, epidemiologic study designs, bias, confounding, screening, causality, and ethical issues in epidemiologic research.   

This course will provide a comprehensive overview of cardiovascular physiology, followed by examining alterations of cardiovascular function in various diseases on a basic and clinical level. Topics of interest include vascular disorders, cardiomyopathies, coronary heart disease, arrhythmias, and circulatory failure.   

Improving Healthcare Systems provides students with the knowledge and skills needed to enhance efficiency and the patient experience in hospital administration. Throughout this course, students will explore creative problem-solving, strategic thinking, and design thinking techniques, all applied to healthcare management. By the end of the course, students will be well-equipped to address the complex challenges of healthcare administration, leading to improved patient experiences and better care outcomes.  

This course explores both collaboration and innovation at the intersection of the three majors in the Bachelor of Health degree (namely, Society and Health, Management in Health, and Biomedical Sciences and Health). This integrated interdisciplinary course interweaves personal development and growth with problem framing and solving skills, and diverse-team collaboration. This is the first course of a course pair in which students will formulate a plan to address a health problem or issue.  

In this interdisciplinary course, students will have the opportunity to work in an organization, institution or business related to interdisciplinary health. Students will be required to complete integrative reflections and community analyses that focus on different aspects of health: biomedical science, societal, and management. Students must apply to the instructor a minimum of four weeks prior to the course start date so work placements can be arranged.    

Applied neuroscience explores the multidisciplinary applications of neuroscience in real-world settings, drawing on knowledge from many areas of science, including psychology, biology, chemistry, and philosophy. Students will learn about neuroscience techniques, and how they are used to study disease mechanisms and improve treatments. There will be a focus on theories underpinning our current understanding of the neuroscientific and psychological foundations of mental health and human behaviour.  

This course will examine the principles of signal transduction including reception, cascades, and cytoplasmic/nuclear responses. Emphasis is placed on physiological and pathological signaling in select diseases including diabetes, inflammation, and cancer. Students will hone key skills including scientific communication and critical analysis of primary literature.