Health Studies

Chair: Dr. Kate Rossiter, PhD, krossiter@wlu.ca.

The Honours BA in Health Studies, Honours Combination BA in Health Studies and Minor in Health Studies; Honours BASc in Applied Health Sciences; Honours B.A. in Health Management.

Health Studies (BA):
The Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Health Studies provides students with an opportunity to explore and recognize the wide range of social, biological, and institutional factors that influence the health and well-being of communities; as defined by geography, socioeconomic status, gender, cultural makeup, ability, and vulnerability. Students in the program will develop the capacity to identify the most significant health challenges in communities, to evaluate the factors that create health risks for members of those communities, and to study and make recommendations for program and policy interventions that will improve health status within their communities of concern.

Health Management (BA):
The Honours Bachelor of Arts in Health Management provides students with a broad understanding of the diverse factors affecting population health, with a focus on the provision, management, and utilization of health care. This program is developed around a core of Health Studies courses, supplemented by key courses in business and leadership that provide a unique opportunity to develop the critical skills and knowledge necessary to become a capable manager and leader within the health and social services sector – one of Canada's largest and fastest-growing employment sectors.

Applied Health Sciences (BASc):
The Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science in Applied Health Sciences is concerned with understanding how physical and social factors influence health status, with the aim of identifying and promoting interventions that will reduce disease and injury, prolong life, and improve population health. Students in the program will examine the impacts of biology, environmental quality, social status, health care services and government policies on risks to the health of individuals and communities, and gain the research skills necessary to improve our understanding of these relationships.