Click to view/print the Program SummaryThe curriculum of this program integrates social science and fundamental science concepts.
The integration supports the promotion of health by creating a new understanding among graduates of the determinants of health and how these determinants influence the health of individuals, families, and communities, as well as health services. This degree combine knowledge from science and social science disciplines in their content and learning experiences.
This program can provide a foundation for students who wish to gain access to specialized programs for both health and social science fields. The BHSt can serve as the foundation for careers in health care teams, community health management, and agencies and businesses that plan or deliver health related service and products. Health Studies offers a general course of studies; graduates will not achieve a professional status as a consequence of this degree.
As of 2018, BHSt students are required to take 21 credit hours of program electives, 18 credit hours of concentration electives and 6 credit hours of science courses from Approved Program Electives lists. Students must select one of the three new concentrations, see below for more information.
Prior to September 2018, students in this program are required to take at least 24 credit hours at the 3000 and 4000 levels from 36 credit hours of Approved Electives.
Students should consult the Academic Calendar to ensure that they have the appropriate pre- or co-requisites before they attempt to register in a course. The IHP student advisor may provide additional guidance as required.
Visit the Bachelor of Health Studies program planning page (post-September 2018 enrollment).
Click to view the printable Health Studies program planning page (pre-September 2018 enrolment).
Three new specialized concentrations:
Students enrolled in the BHSt for September 1, 2018 must select one of the three new concentrations, which include (1) Health Policy, Planning, and Evaluation; (2) Health Promotion and Education; and, (3) Family Health.
The Health Policy, Planning, and Evaluation concentration can provide foundational knowledge related to health policy development and related evaluation, as well as programming services. This concentration can be a potential route for those wishing to pursue related graduate studies in Community Health Sciences (although students in all three concentrations are eligible to pursue graduate studies), or for individuals seeking careers in areas such as Health Policy Analysis or Program Planning and Evaluation Coordinators.
The Health Promotion and Education concentration would be a route through which students wishing to pursue a career as a home economics teacher could obtain their ‘teachable subjects’ in family studies and nutrition. Students are advised that additional training will be required and that consultation with academic advisors in the Faculty of Education is recommended. Aside from home economics education, this concentration would lay the foundation for a future career options as Community Health Educators or Health-related Organization/Foundation Fundraising, or Health and Safety Coordinators.
The Family Health concentration was created to ensure that those students interested in family social science (an existing major that the university plans to phase out) would clearly see a place for themselves in the new academic structure. One of the features of the Family Health concentration will be the ability to take courses relevant to the existing Family Social Science options (Aging and Developmental Health; Child and Youth Developmental Health; Family Economic Health; Family Violence; Social Development) allowing the program to be flexible and meet individual student needs. This degree provides the educational background suitable for a future career as a Community Wellness Worker, Victim Services Worker, Youth Care Worker, Residential Care Manager.