Health Studies (BA)

Explore how social, biological, cultural and institutional factors affect the health and well-being of communities defined by geography, socioeconomic status, gender, cultural makeup, ability and vulnerability. Learn to identify significant health challenges in different populations and evaluate what’s creating health risks for individuals. In this program you will learn how – as a future community health practitioner – to intervene by making recommendations to improve programs and policies.

X-Rays of human bodies

Program Details

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: 

  • Course Content that Matters: Equip yourself with critical knowledge to identify significant health challenges, describe health and illness as complex social and physical phenomena, and evaluate factors that create health risks for community members.
  • Program and Policy Practice: Study and make recommendations for program and policy interventions that will improve the health status within your communities of concern.
  • Pathways 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!): 

  • Practicums and Placements: Take one of our upper-year courses that offer a practicum component or field placement to gain hands-on experience working with the community, while earning course credit.
  • Community Service Learning: Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses at Laurier integrate service in the community with what you are learning in your classes. Placements are approximately 10 weeks.
  • 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. 

 

Courses, Options and Pathways

First-Year Courses

  • Introduction to Public Health
  • Physical Determinants of Health
  • Social Determinants of Health

Sample First-Year Electives 

  • Introduction to Forensic Science
  • Aging: Realities and Myths 

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Power, Politics and Medicine
  • Autism: Advocacy, Policy, and Practice
  • Senior Practicum  
  • Senior Thesis 

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:

  • Criminology Minor
  • Human Rights and Human Diversity Minor
  • Leadership Option
  • Physical Forensics Minor
  • Psychology Minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

Combinations 

Expand your field of expertise by pairing your Health Studies major with another major (or another whole degree!): 

  • Computer Science (BA)
  • Game Design (BA)
  • Psychology (BA)
  • Public Safety (BA)
  • Leadership (BA) 

Admissions

  • Format: full time or part time
  • Duration: four years
  • Start: September (fall term), January (winter term) or May (spring term)
  • OUAC code: UHB

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • autism therapist
  • addictions counsellor
  • nurse/nurse practitioner
  • midwifery
  • community health educator
  • epidemiologist
  • health care administrator
  • medical claims adjudicator
  • mental health worker
  • social worker

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

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Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

 

Laurier is among the top 6 percent in the Global 2000 World University Ranking

 

Laurier students engaged in hands-on learning in 2023

 

Laurier graduates employed or in post-graduate studies in 2023

Brantford Campus

The Brantford campus is woven into the downtown core of the City of Brantford and is home to more than 3,000 students. Close to great walking and biking trails, you get the best of both worlds.

There are many ways to tour our Brantford campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

Chat with Current Students

Want to know what it’s really like to be in this program? U Community is our Discord server where future Golden Hawks like you can connect with current students to get their first-hand stories and tips on living and learning at Laurier.

Connect with Us

Questions? Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 548.889.8888 or see all contact information.


You Belong Here

Think this program might be the perfect fit for you and your future?