Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc)

The Bachelor of Health Sciences degree is a four-year program consisting of a range of courses that relate directly to the science of health, in the recognition that health is a complex entity defying a simple explanation or a single disciplinary perspective.  The courses identified within the School of Health Sciences offer learning opportunities from a variety of disciplines, including the life sciences, social sciences, behavioural sciences, and ethics and law, to enable students to develop a body of knowledge and understanding relating to the dimensions of health.  Some of these courses are considered to be ‘core’ and therefore central to the basic understandings of health, while others offer the student opportunities to learn about a specific health perspective that is focused on one of three Majors:

i) Biomedical Studies,
ii) Community and Population Health-Environmental Health, or,
iii) Community and Population Health-Aboriginal and Rural Health.

Graduation from either of the Community and Population Health Majors enables students to embark on careers or graduate programs related to health care management, administration, information systems or public health.

Students pursuing the Biomedical Studies Major are required to complete a set of courses that enables them to be prepared for application to professional programs such as medicine, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy, dentistry, speech pathology or physiotherapy.  This major provides a foundational, multidisciplinary knowledge base that is focused on the natural,  physical, and social sciences, and includes population health and research methodology. Students interested in other fields requiring extensive biomedical laboratory skills may enroll in the degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BCMB).

All students graduating with the Bachelor of Health Sciences degree will have developed critical analytical skills, life-long learning skills, and the ability to work from the evident of best practice.  


General Requirements

To be awarded the BHSc degree, students are required to complete 122 credit hours of University-level courses consisting of 64 credit hours of common requirements for all BHSc students, with the remainder coming from the following Majors, and electives:

  • Biomedical Studies: Students take 34 credit hours of courses from the Biomedical Studies Major and  24 elective credit hours.

  • Community and Population Health - Aboriginal and Rural Health:  Students take 21 credit hours from the common course requirements for both Community and Population Health Majors, as well as a minimum of 12 credit hours (6 specified, 6 with some choice) in Aboriginal and Rural Health-related courses.  The remaining 25 credit hours are obtained from elective credit hours.

  • Community and Population Health - Environmental Health:  Students take 21 credit hours from the common course requirements for both Community and Population Health Majors, as well as a minimum of 12 credit hours (6 specified, 6 with some choice) in Environmental Health-related courses. The remaining  25 credit hours are obtained from elective credit hours.

Students enrolling in Health Sciences courses with prerequisites are required to have completed all prerequisite courses for those courses with a C or better, or have permission to enroll from the School Chair.

To change BHSc majors, students must apply through Student Advising.  

Admission Requirement

Admission to the Bachelor of Health Sciences program is based on academic qualifications and available space.  At the time of application, students must specify whether they intend to pursue either the Biomedical Studies Major or one of the two Community and Population Health Majors.  Priority admission is given to students who meet admission criteria and apply by the deadline of February 1.  Applications received after the deadline may be reviewed based on available space in the program.  Self-identified Aboriginal applicants who meet or exceed the minimum requirements for admission to the program are given priority for up to twenty percent (20%) of the first-year seats for the Bachelor of Health Sciences program.

Applicants from BC and Yukon secondary schools must:

  • Meet the basic UNBC admission requirements, and

  • Have completed Principles of Mathematics 11 or Pre-Calculus 11, Chemistry 11, Biology 12, English 12 and other approved Grade 12 courses as specified in the Admissions sections of the Undergraduate Calendar with a minimum of 70% in each course.

Other Applicants must:

  • Meet UNBC admission requirements, and

  • Have completed the equivalent of Principles of Mathematics 11, Chemistry 11, Biology 12, English 12, and other approved Grade 12 courses as specified in the Admissions section of the Undergraduate Calendar with a minimum of 70% in each course.

Students interested in specializing in the Biomedical Studies Major are strongly encouraged to take Pre-Calculus 12 or Principles of Mathematics 12, and Chemistry 12 before entering the Program.

Major in Biomedical Studies

Students pursuing a major in Biomedical Studies are required to complete the following 98 credit hours of courses. It is recommended that students take the following courses in the year of study indicated. Students must take an additional 24 elective credit hours of which at least 9 credit hours must be upper-division courses from any discipline for degree completion.

1st year - 34 credit hours

Introductory Biology I
Introductory Biology II
Introductory Biology I Laboratory
Introductory Biology II Laboratory
General Chemistry I
General Chemistry II
General Chemistry Lab I
General Chemistry Lab II
The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Introduction to Health Science I: Issues and Controversies
Health Care Systems
Functional Anatomy
Two of the following:
Introduction to Literary Structures
Introduction to Poetry
Introduction to Fiction
Introduction to Film
Writing and Communication Skills

2nd year - 32 credit hours

Microbiology
Genetics
Organic Chemistry I
Organic Chemistry II
Introductory Biochemistry
Organic Chemistry Lab I
Organic Chemistry Lab II
Ethics and Law in Health Care
Nutrition
Introduction to Psychology I
Introduction to Psychology II
Basic Statistics
Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences

3rd year - 23 credit hours

Cell and Molecular Biology
Intermediary Metabolism
First Nations Health and Healing
Human Physiology I
Human Physiology II
Human Physiology I Lab
Human Physiology II Lab
Research Design and Methods for Health Sciences
PSYC 309-3  Introduction to Health Psychology
4th year - 9 credit hours
Principles of Epidemiology
HHSC 445-3 Human Health and Development
Health and Chronic Disease Management

Note:  Students intending to apply to professional health degree programs are encouraged to take the following courses as electives:  PHYS 110-4, PHYS 111-4, MATH 100-3 and MATH 101-3.

Major in Community and Population Health - Aboriginal and Rural Health

Students pursuing a major in Community and Population Health-Aboriginal and Rural Health are required to complete the following 97 credit hours.  It is recommended that students take the following courses in the year of study indicated.

1st year - 26 credit hours

Introductory Biology I
Introductory Biology II
Introductory Biology I Laboratory
Introductory Biology II Laboratory
General Chemistry I
The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Introduction to Health Science I: Issues and Controversies
Health Care Systems
Functional Anatomy
One of the following:
Introduction to Literary Structures
Introduction to Poetry
Introduction to Fiction
Introduction to Film
Writing and Communication Skills

2nd year - 24 credit hours

Microbiology
Introduction to Health Economics and Policy
   or GEOG 202-3
Resources, Economies, and Sustainability
Introduction to Health Science II: Rural and Aboriginal Issues
Ethics and Law in Health Care
Nutrition
Introduction to Psychology I
Introduction to Psychology II
Basic Statistics
Statistics for Business and the Social Sciences

3rd year - 23 credit hours

ENPL 313-3 Rural Community Economic Development
FNST 302-3 First Nations Health and Healing
FNST 303-3 First Nations Religion and Philosophy
    or FNST 304-3 Indigenous Environmental Philosophy
HHSC 305-3 Human Physiology I
HHSC 306-3 Human Physiology II
HHSC 325-1 Human Physiology I Lab
HHSC 326-1 Human Physiology II Lab
HHSC 351-3 Research Design and Methods for Health Sciences
PSYC 309-3
Introduction to Health Psychology

4th year- 18 credit hours

Principles of Epidemiology
Medical Geography
    or ENVS 306-3
Human Ecology
HHSC 445-3 Human Health and Development
Health and Chronic Disease Management
Health Promotion
Social Work Critical Issues in Aging

Students must take an additional 6 credit hours from the following list, of which at least 3 credit hours must be upper-division courses. Students must ensure that all prerequisites are fulfilled prior to registering in any course.

ANTH 201-3 Medical Anthropology
ANTH 206-3 Ethnography in Northern British Columbia
ECON 410-3 Health Economics
FNST 249-3 Aboriginal Resource Planning
FNST 305-3 Seminar in First Nations Studies
POLS 403-3 Social and Health Policy and Administration
SOCW 440-3 Social Work in Mental Health
SOCW 441-3 Social Work and Substance Use
SOCW 443-3 Social Work and Health Care

Major in Community and Population Health - Environmental Health

Students pursuing a major in Community and Population Health-Aboriginal and Rural Health are required to complete the following 97 credit hours.  It is recommended that students take the courses listed below in the year of study indicated.

1st year - 26 credit hours

Introductory Biology I
Introductory Biology II
Introductory Biology I Laboratory
Introductory Biology II Laboratory
General Chemistry I
The Aboriginal Peoples of Canada
Introduction to Health Science I: Issues and Controversies
Health Care Systems
Functional Anatomy
One of the following:
Introduction to Literary Structures
Introduction to Poetry
Introduction to Fiction
Introduction to Film
Writing and Communication Skills

2nd year - 27 credit hours

Microbiology
Introduction to Health Economics and Policy
   or GEOG 202-3
Resources, Economies, and Sustainability
ENPL 205-3 Environment and Society
Introduction to Health Science II: Rural and Aboriginal Issues
Ethics and Law in Health Care
Nutrition
Introduction to Psychology I
Introduction to Psychology II
Basic Statistics

3rd year - 20 credit hours

First Nations Health and Healing
Northern Contaminated Environments
Human Physiology I
Human Physiology II
Human Physiology I Lab
Human Physiology II Lab
Research Design and Methods for Health Sciences
Introduction to Health Psychology

4th year - 18 credit hours

Principles of Epidemiology
Medical Geography
    or ENVS 306-3
Human Ecology
HHSC 445-3 Human Health and Development
Health and Chronic Disease Management
Health Promotion
Social Work Critical Issues in Aging

Students must take an additional 6 credit hours from the following list. Students must ensure that all prerequisites are fulfilled prior to registering in any course.

ECON 410-3 Health Economics
ENPL 208-3 First Nations Community and Environmental Planning
ENPL 304-3 Mediation, Negotiation and Public Participation
HIST 360-3 An Introduction to Environmental History
INTS 470-3 Global Environmental Governance
NREM 306-3 Society, Policy and Administration
          or POLS 344-3 Society, Policy and Administration of Natural Resources
POLS 403-3 Social and Health Policy and Administration

Elective and Academic Breadth Requirement for all BHSc Majors

Students take electives at any level sufficient to ensure completion of a minimum 122 credit hours. This includes taking any additional credits necessary to meet the Academic Breadth requirement of the University (see Academic Regulation 15).

Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours (BHSc, Honours)

Entry to the Honours Program takes place after the end of the third year (i.e., upon completion of 90 credit hours) and requires a minimum Cumulative GPA of 3.33 over the most recent 30 credit hours or permission of the School Chair. Consultation with Student Advising is highly recommended before applying.  Attaining the minimum requirement does not guarantee entry to the Honours Program, which is at the discretion of the School Chair. Subsequent to entry, and to remain in the Honours Program, students must maintain a minimum Semester GPA of 3.33 in each semester. All Honours students complete a thesis project (HHSC 490-6 Honours Thesis) under the direct supervision of a faculty member. Students are responsible to find their own undergraduate thesis research supervisor. Faculty members are under no obligation to supervise Honours students.

To be awarded the BHSc Honours Degree, students must complete all requirements for the BHSc in their major of choice and the following 9 Honours credit hours:

HHSC 490-6                             Honours Thesis

HHSC 497-3                             Senior Seminar

*Students must achieve a minimum grade of B (3.0) in HHSC 490-6 to be granted the Honours designation.

The minimum requirement for completion of a BHSc Honours is 131 credit hours.
 
All Honours Thesis research must comply with the Research Ethics Board requirements and is carried out at the discretion of the School of Health Sciences.

Updated: November 5, 2020