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:
- 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), and
- environmental and occupational health.
- Social and behavioural sciences – social factors that affect health, determinants of health behaviour, and health behaviour modification.
- Life sciences – the basic principles of biology, kinesiology, physiology, and biochemistry.
- 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 the Bachelor of Science, 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.
** Cannot be used for both the methods/application cluster and core content clusters.
*** Cannot be used for both the required health studies courses and the biohealth core content cluster.
In order to receive the Bachelor of Science, Honours Health Studies degree, the student must successfully complete 20.0 units of which at least 10.0 total units are at or above the 200-level and including the following requirements:
- Required Health Studies courses (6.75 units):
HLTH 101, HLTH 102, HLTH 201, HLTH 204, HLTH 205, HLTH 230, HLTH 245, HLTH 260, HLTH 310, HLTH 333, HLTH 340 or HLTH 341, HLTH 370, HLTH 380, HLTH 480 (0.25 unit)
- Required Faculty of Health course (0.5 unit):
AHS 107
- Required statistics course (0.5 unit):
One of: HLTH 335, STAT 316
- Methods/application cluster (0.5 unit):
One of: HLTH 303, HLTH 344, HLTH 433, HLTH 435, HLTH 442, HLTH 443, HLTH 451, HLTH 453, HLTH 458**, HLTH 475
- Core content clusters (1.5 units):
One course in the area of health systems and policy: HLTH 373*, HLTH 392, HLTH 401, HLTH 410, HLTH 412, HLTH 472*, or HLTH 473* with an approved topic in health systems and policy
One course in the area of social behavioural sciences: HLTH 301, HLTH 304, HLTH 305, HLTH 320, HLTH 352, HLTH 373*, HLTH 448, HLTH 449, HLTH 450, HLTH 472*, or HLTH 473* with an approved topic in social behavioural sciences
One course in the area of biohealth: HLTH 290, HLTH 340***, HLTH 341***, HLTH 358, HLTH 373*, HLTH 407, HLTH 421, HLTH 458**, HLTH 461, HLTH 465, HLTH 471, HLTH 472*, or HLTH 473* with an approved topic in biohealth
- Required courses from other departments (4.75 units):
BIOL 130 and BIOL 130L, BIOL 239, BIOL 273, BIOL 373
CHEM 120 and CHEM 120L, CHEM 123 and CHEM 123L
KIN 217
PSYCH 101
- Free elective courses: 5.5 units
Course Sequence
Year One (Regular and Co-operative System of Study)
1A (Fall)
AHS 107
BIOL 130 and BIOL 130L
CHEM 120 and CHEM 120L
HLTH 101
1B (Winter)
BIOL 273
CHEM 123 and CHEM 123L
HLTH 102
PSYCH 101
One elective
Regular System of Study
Year Two
2A (Fall)
HLTH 201
HLTH 204
HLTH 205
KIN 217
One elective
2B (Winter)
BIOL 239
HLTH 230
HLTH 245
HLTH 260
One elective
Year Three
3A (Fall)
HLTH 333
HLTH 380
Three electives
3B (Winter)
BIOL 373
HLTH 310
HLTH 370
Two electives
Year Four
4A (Fall)
HLTH 480 (0.25)
Four electives
4B (Winter)
Five electives
Co-operative System of Study
Year Two
2A (Fall)
HLTH 201
HLTH 204
HLTH 205
KIN 217
One elective
Work Term 1 (Winter)
2B (Spring)
BIOL 239
HLTH 230
HLTH 245
HLTH 260
One elective
Year Three
Work Term 2 (Fall)
3A (Winter)
BIOL 373
HLTH 310
HLTH 370
Two electives
Work Term 3 (Spring)
3B (Fall)
HLTH 333
HLTH 380
Three electives
Year Four
Work Term 4 (Winter)
Work Term 5 (Spring)
4A (Fall)
HLTH 480 (0.25)
Four electives
4B (Winter)
Five electives