Applied Health Sciences (BASc)

Degree Highlights

Your future professors work hard to make sure your academic experience is current, complete and designed to open doors in your career. Here are a few things you can count on:

• Top Tier Faculty: Award-winning educators and researchers integrate the latest advancements and knowledge into courses. With comprehensive knowledge about health and health care, your professors will prepare you for future clinical career.
• Small Class Sizes: Small classes and labs let you connect closely with peers and professors, enriching your exploration of the biological aspects of health and disease and better preparing you for experiences in the field.
• Pathway to Med School:  We prepare you for a clinical career in Canada. Laurier students apply to med school with a competitive edge and gain preferential status with internationally accredited medical schools, including the American University of the Caribbean and St. George’s University. 

Top Experiences

Here are just a few of our students’ favourite ways to apply their learning in the real world throughout their degree (check out the Experience Guide for even more!):

• Research and Faculty Mentorship: Take the research-intensive course if you are interested in graduate studies, or the practicum course to gain real-world experience to add to your resume. Smaller class sizes mean access to faculty mentorship that can lead to a clinical pathway.
• Extensive Lab Time: Master your hands-on skills in state-of-the-art laboratory facilities. Apply what you are learning in biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology through laboratory components in your courses.
• Student Association Membership: Join the Health Studies Student Association and create opportunities for your fellow Health Studies students to engage with other students and professors. 

First-Year Courses

• Biological Diversity and Evolution
• Fundamentals of Chemistry I
• Fundamentals of Chemistry II
• Introduction to Public Health
• Social Determinants of Health
• Unifying Life Processes
• Introduction to Indigenous Studies
• two elective courses

Sample First-Year Electives

• Introduction to Psychology
• Disease and Society
• Leadership and Personal Development

Sample Upper-Year Courses

• Epidemiology and Public Health
• Human Anatomy and Physiology
• Infection Control and Prevention

Physical Forensics Specialization

In addition to our degree programs, the Department of Health Studies offers a specialization in Physical Forensics for students in the BASc Applied Health Sciences program. Knowledge of forensic science strengthens access to a broad range of careers related to work within healthcare, the justice system, or fields of social work and human rights.

Options and Minors

These are a few of the many popular academic opportunities which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge: 

• Game Design and Development Specialization
• Leadership Minor/Option
• Psychology Minor
• Computer Science Minor
• Teaching Option
• Public Safety Minor/Option
• Politics & Public Policy Option 

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Pathways

The following opportunities allow you to pursue additional, related qualifications from another postsecondary institution:

• Teaching Pathway: The Teaching Option is a direct path to the Bachelor of Education program (BEd). Students applying for an honours degree with the Teaching Option will be considered for admission directly into the BEd program. The Teaching Option is designed to provide you with a variety of courses and hands-on learning opportunities to prepare you for future studies and a rewarding teaching career.
• Medical School Pathway: Our pathway agreement with American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine (AUC) means you’re automatically granted an admissions interview to the AUC School of Medicine if you meet all academic requirements. Upon graduation, you’ll have the opportunity to write exams to practice medicine in Canada, the UK or the United States.

Check out other pathways to and from Laurier.