Biomedical Sciences and Health

Faculty: Interdisciplinary
Degree(s): Bachelor of Health
Campus: Saint John

Biomedical

Are you interested in learning about the basic biological mechanisms that underlie diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer? Are you interested in how psychological problems, including depression, anxiety, and addictions, affect the function of the brain and other body systems? If you are thinking about a career in a health-care profession or considering medical school, dentistry, pharmacy, or physiotherapy, the Biomedical Sciences and Health major could help you achieve your goals.

The biomedical sciences are the foundation for many careers in healthcare. Bachelor of Health students in the Biomedical Sciences and Health major take introductory and advanced courses in biology, chemistry and psychology. They also complete courses in the social and biological determinants of health, current health issues, health policy, the management of healthcare services, research methods and data analysis. The interdisciplinary curriculum is designed to produce a well-prepared and well-rounded health professional.

The Bachelor of Health degree is a 4-year interdisciplinary program focused on all aspects of health. Students develop the knowledge and the skills necessary for success in a variety of careers in the health sector. The program is also comprehensive preparation for further professional or graduate studies.

Why Biomedical Sciences and Health at UNB?

Students in UNB Saint John’s Bachelor of Health benefit from its location next door to the Saint John Regional Hospital. Through partnerships with Dalhousie Medicine NB (DalMedNB) and New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) Allied Health programs co-located at UNB Saint John, our students have access to DalMedNB’s Anatomy &Physiology lab and a state-of-the-art simulation lab at NBCC.

Our program provides students with a solid grounding in health and wellness in all its dimensions, as well as in-depth training in their chosen major in biomedical sciences.

Hands-on learning

Bachelor of Health students experience a variety of work settings in the healthcare system and in the community through job-shadowing and internships. Beginning in their first year, students apply what they’ve learned in the classroom in practical lab experiences and community-based research.

In the fourth year capstone course, students from all three majors come together to work in multidisciplinary teams to analyze and address a critical health issue identified in consultation with experts in the healthcare sector.

Skills you will acquire

  • Knowledge of the biological and social determinants of health
  • An understanding of how the Canadian healthcare system works
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving skills
  • Communicating effectively in the workplace and with a variety of audiences
  • How to work effectively in an interdisciplinary team
  • How to design, conduct and evaluate research

Facts

  • UNB’s Health program is unique in Canada in offering an interdisciplinary core curriculum integrating arts, science and business and offering corresponding majors in management, biological sciences, and health and society.
  • This is the only Bachelor of Health program offered in New Brunswick.
  • The teaching faculty are drawn from all three Faculties at UNB Saint John, and include researchers in life sciences, the social sciences and humanities, and business.
  • All Health students have a common first year. They take their HEAL classes together and progress through their degree as a group.
  • The interdisciplinary core courses in the Health program are team-taught.
  • Students in the Health program at UNB Saint John benefit from its location at Tucker Park, alongside Dalhousie Medicine NB (DalMedNB), the Horizon Health Network (HHN) Saint John Regional Hospital and New Brunswick Community College (NBCC) Allied Health programs. Together, UNB Saint John, DalMedNB, NBCC and the Horizon Health Network form a collaborate group, which is united by the common goal of improving health outcomes for New Brunswickers by marshalling the skills and talents of a multitude of disciplines and units.

Sample courses

All Bachelor of Health students take a series of interdisciplinary courses in Health, including:

  • HEAL 1001 Current Issues and Future Trends in Health
  • HEAL 2003 Methods in Health Research and Information Literacy
  • HEAL 3001 History and Structure of the Canadian Health Care System
  • HEAL 4001 Transformation Through Collaboration and Innovation
  • SOCI 2376 Sociology of Health, Illness and Healing

Biomedical Sciences and Health Majors also take a set of required and elective courses in Biology, Chemistry and Psychology. For example:

  • BIOL 1441 Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • BIOL 2015 Introductory Genetics
  • CHEM 2421 Organic Chemistry
  • PSYC 4733 Cognitive Neuroscience
  • PSYC 4833 Psychopharmacology

Career opportunities

  • Biomedical researcher
  • Laboratory technologist
  • Community Health Worker
  • Health program development and evaluation

With further study:

  • Medical doctor
  • Pharmacist
  • Dentist
  • Social Worker
  • Researcher
  • Teacher
  • Lawyer
  • MBA (Master of Business Administration)
  • Graduate school in Public Health, Population Health, Health Policy, Health Evaluation, Health Informatics, Biology, Psychology, Health Sciences, or related fields.

 For more information, see the Bachelor of Health.

Next steps