A Complete Guide to Carleton Health Sciences
Let’s go through everything from prerequisites to concentrations, research, career choices and more!
As universities start to send out admissions offers for the second round of applicants, here is a round-up of things you should know about Carleton’s Health Science program if you applied, or are looking to apply in the future. This program is ideal for students interested in medicine, biomedical research, global health, research and development and more! There are a multitude of post-secondary pathways that Health Sciences students are able to take, and this program helps to explore all those possibilities.
Overview
Carleton’s Bachelor of Honours Health Sciences is a 4-year program that will help students gain a strong foundation of scientific knowledge and methods that can be applied in a science, medicine-related spectrum, or socially. The fourth year is a capstone experience where students are able to choose from a variety of hands-on experiences like local, national or international research placements; or a divulge in a research thesis in addition to taking 1.5 credits from other program concentrations.
The program is divided into 5 concentrations of study that applying students can choose from which include: Biomedical Sciences, Disability & Chronic Illness, Environment/Health, Global Health, and Health Throughout the Lifespan.
The program is designed to prepare students for graduate education such as medical school, dental school, veterinary medicine etc., and gives students the ability to combine these concentrations in unique ways to cater to their interests.
Example: Biomedical Sciences
As an example, here is a map of what the Biomedical Sciences concentration will entail in terms of courses for the first two years:
Year 1:
- Fundamentals of Health Communications
- Foundations of Biology I & II
- General Chemistry I & II
- Elementary Calculus I
- Introduction to Ethics and Social Issues
- Introduction to Psychology I & II OR Introduction to Economics I & II
Year 2:
- Research Methods
- Cellular & Molecular Pathology
- Social Determinants of Health
- Microbiology and Virology
- Physical Biochemistry
- Cellular Biochemistry
- Introduction to Statistical Modeling I & II
This concentration gives students a strong foundation for genetic, biochemical, immunological, physiological and developmental studies of health. The concentration not only focuses on science but also on the social, cultural, psychological and environmental aspects of healthcare. A perfect concentration for students interested in research or medicine.
Requirements & Admission
Interested? Ensure you have taken/will be taking these courses as they will be considered for admission:
- MHF4U
- 2 of SBI4U, SCH4U, SES4& or SPH4U
- 3 best 4U/M courses
- MCV4U strongly recommended
Note: They will consider the highest mark for repeated courses.
This year, the grade range and expected cut-off range are 85–88%, with a total enrollment of 120 students.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Saving up to pay for university can be quite a daunting worry. Luckily, Carleton University offers an abundance of scholarships and bursaries for students. They have plenty of scholarships that require a short application to discuss students’ involvement like volunteering work, and some (like the ones pictured below) where students don’t need to submit anything and are automatically considered!
Opportunities
There are a variety of summer research opportunities for Health Sciences students and different awards such as the Dean Summer Research Internship, Health Sciences Research Internship and more that are also able to support you financially on your research journey.
And here are just some example career options you can pursue with this degree from Carleton:
- Health and Safety Officer
- Health Program Evaluator
- Health Researcher or Policy Analysis
- Midwifery
- Law
- Medicine
- Physiotherapy
- Teaching
- Social work
- And SO MUCH MORE!
Overall, Health Sciences have become one of the most popular undergraduate programs in Canada for students interested in healthcare. From a student’s perspective, the focus has been mainly on Queen’s University and McMaster University, however, there are countless other amazing programs fit for healthcare careers! The Ontario Youth Medical Society is dedicated to shining a light on these other incredible programs that may be ideal for countless students — including myself!
About the Author
Jenny Pham is a grade 12 student based in the small but large city of Mississauga, Ontario. She is currently working as a math & English tutor, a volunteer with Peel Health working at a long-term care center, a passionate MEDLIFE chapter founder and President, and an amateur writer looking to combine her passions for medicine and writing. And like many others around her, she’s a second-generation immigrant working towards a career in medicine and education.
