School of Public Health and Health Systems

In the Health Studies academic plan the knowledge from several traditional disciplines is combined and focused on the study of health and prevention of disease. Courses provide students with an understanding of the biological and social determinants of health and causes of disease.

The curriculum has four core areas:

1. Health sciences – the scientific knowledge and principles pertinent to personal and community health. Specific subject areas include:
   
   
   
   • introduction to health sciences,
   • fundamentals of population and public health,
   • determinants and distribution of disease (pathobiology, epidemiology),
   • environmental and occupational health.
      
2. Social and behavioural sciences – social factors that affect health, determinants of health behaviour, and health behaviour modification.
3. Life sciences – the basic principles of biology, kinesiology, physiology, and biochemistry.
4. Evaluation and research – the principles of statistics and research design aimed at developing sufficient competencies to enable students to evaluate, interpret, and apply the findings of health-related research.

Students may apply for admission directly into Honours Health Studies, Regular or Co-operative System of Study.

Legend

* Must be approved by the School of Public Health and Health Systems associate director, undergraduate studies.  

In order to receive the Honours Bachelor of Science, Health Studies degree the student must successfully complete 20.0 units of which at least 10.0 total units are at or above 200-level and including the following requirements:

1. Required Health Studies courses (6.0 units): HLTH 101, HLTH 102, HLTH 201, HLTH 202, HLTH 204, HLTH 230, HLTH 245, HLTH 260, HLTH 280, HLTH 320, HLTH 333, HLTH 370
2. Required Applied Health Sciences course (0.5 unit):
   
   AHS 107
3. Engagement seminar (0.5 unit):
   
   One of: HLTH 173 or HLTH 273
4. Methods/Application Cluster (1.0 units):
   
   Two of: HLTH 303, HLTH 344, HLTH 433, HLTH 435, STAT 316
5. Core Content Clusters (3.0 units):
   
   One of: HLTH 401, HLTH 410, HLTH 412, or HLTH 373*/HLTH 473* with an approved topic in Health Systems and Policy
   
   One of: HLTH 301, HLTH 304, HLTH 305, HLTH 352, HLTH 448, or HLTH 373*/HLTH 473* with an approved topic in Social Behavioural Sciences
   
   One of: HLTH 350, HLTH 355, HLTH 442, HLTH 443, or HLTH 373*/HLTH 473* with an approved topic in Population Health
   
   Three of: HLTH 310, HLTH 340, HLTH 341, HLTH 407, HLTH 421, HLTH 461, HLTH 471, or HLTH 373*/HLTH 472*/HLTH 473* with an approved topic in BioHealth
6. Required courses from other departments (3.5 units):
   
   BIOL 130/BIOL 130L, BIOL 239, BIOL 273
   
   CHEM 120/CHEM 120L
   
   KIN 217
   
   PSYCH 101
7. Restricted elective course (0.5 unit):
   
   One of: ENGL 109 or ENGL 140R (recommended for Year One) or any ENGL 210 (recommended for Year Two)
8. Free elective courses: 5.0 units

Course Sequence

Year One (Regular and Co-operative System of Study)

Regular System of Study

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four

4A (Fall)

Five Electives

4B (Winter)

Co-operative System of Study 

Year Two

Year Three

Year Four

Work Term 4 (Winter)

Work Term 5 (Spring)

4A (Fall)

Five Electives

4B (Winter)