Program Overview

Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences Overview

The Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences program provides students with a comprehensive understanding of the cellular, molecular, and behavioural mechanisms that underlie population health and chronic and infectious diseases.

Program Description

The program offers a strong interdisciplinary experience in social science settings, fundamental laboratory skills comparable to those from basic biomedical science programs, and group problem-solving skills. Students will gain an understanding of and ability to interpret medical statistics, statistical computation skills, communication and organizational skills, and practical knowledge and understanding of concepts in molecular biology, immunology, toxicology, epidemiology, and public and population health.

Core Course Areas

The program covers a range of core course areas, including:

• Social, environmental, behavioural, and biological determinants of health
• Measurement of health, illness, and disease, as well as genetics
• General biology, cellular biology, and molecular biology
• General chemistry and biochemistry
• Pathophysiology, toxicology, and epidemiology
• Virology and immunology
• Bioethics
• Statistics and research methods (qualitative and quantitative)
• Health promotion and disease prevention
• Health policy and health care systems
• Evidence-based decision making
• Health technologies

Teaching Methods

The program features hands-on laboratory experience, with upper division laboratory courses in health sciences offering unique opportunities to perform experiments in toxicology, pharmacology, virology, and immunology. Quantitative computer modeling laboratories, such as those involving GIS, spatial statistics, and population databases, are also available. Courses offer opportunities for group work, case-based learning, developing research proposals, and quantitative reasoning.

Career Paths

The program provides a solid foundation for a number of occupations, including:

• Global health advocate
• Health authority worker
• Radiologic technologist
• Epidemiologist
• Medical doctor

Course Requirements

Students must complete 120 units, including:

• At least 44 upper division units
• At least 60 units that must be completed at Simon Fraser University
• Satisfaction of the writing (W), quantitative (Q), and breadth (B) requirements
• An overall cumulative grade point average (CGPA) and upper division CGPA of 2.0 or higher

The program offers two concentrations: Life Sciences (LS) and Public Health and Data (PH&D). The Life Sciences concentration focuses on the practical framework of knowledge and concepts in molecular biology, immunology, toxicology, epidemiology, and public and population health. The Public Health and Data concentration focuses on biostatistics, epidemiology, and population health research.