Program overview
As the demand for highly skilled professionals in the health science field increases, Athabasca University’s Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major will prepare you to pursue or further a professional career in areas such as health sciences, research and development, and biodiagnostics.
The program includes courses in
- physiology
- sexuality
- genetics
- health
- nutrition
Like other Bachelor of Science programs, this program has some courses with lab components. However, our labs are offered to promote flexibility for students. We have developed home lab kits for some of our science courses. In addition, some of our courses have virtual labs. A few labs do require on-site attendance, but we have made it as flexible as possible by condensing the lab and also by allowing students to complete multiple labs in one trip.
Why take the Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major?
The program will prepare you for the science-based world of today and the increasing technological demands of the future by offering you a diversity of courses from across the discipline and allowing the flexibility to choose courses in your area(s) of interest.
AU’s Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major may be used to meet the entrance requirements for pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, and pre-veterinary programs offered at other universities across Canada. Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. Check with your desired university for the entrance requirements.
Routes and options
The Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major is a equivalent to 4-year degree program. There are no set start dates – you can enroll at any time and register for courses right away.
For students in the Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major program wishing to combine 2 majors, all requirements of both majors must be fulfilled. The choice of major may restrict course selection or require the completion of more than 120 credits.
Available minors
You now have the option of combining the Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major with minors, which may enhance your studies by providing background in a complementary discipline or broadening your education to prepare for a career in emerging areas such as environmental health, sustainable architecture, finance, computing, or bioinformatics. Students can select from the following minors:
Post-diploma route
The post-diploma route is an option for students presenting a 2-or 3-year science or computing related diploma who wish to pursue a university degree to further their academic studies. For example, if you already have an approved science-related technician or technology diploma in allied health or nursing, you can take the shorter post-diploma route.
Please note: If you hold a science-related diploma that is more than 10 years old from an approved college or technical institute, you may gain admission to the Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major post-diploma program if a current resumé and letter from your supervisor/employer provides evidence of currency in the field since the diploma was awarded.
Completion times
Finish this program in as little as 2 years (post-diploma route) or 4 years (degree route) of full-time study. Or work at your own pace and take as long as you need. There is no time limit for completion.
Admission requirements
There are no formal admission requirements for this program. All you need is to be 16 or older. You can enrol at anytime and start right away, regardless of your previous education.
How to apply
If you’re applying for the post-diploma route and are a member of a recognized technological society (such as Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists, Canadian Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists, Canadian Association of Respiratory Therapists), please include a copy of your current membership and certification.
Transfer and advanced credit
Students holding a 2 or 3-year science or computing related diploma from an accredited college may receive a minimum block of 30 credits. Depending on the content of the diploma, up to a maximum of 60 credits may be transferred to the Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major post-diploma program.
Students without a major or minor route may also receive a block of 30 plus individual transfer credit up to a maximum of 60 or a block of 60 credits.
Program requirements
To complete the program you will need to fulfil all the requirements of the Bachelor of Science, Human Science Major.
Courses – program plans
Contact your student support and program advisor to help you design your program to fit your interests and goals.
Required courses
Detailed information about courses in this program can be accessed using the following links:
Tuition and fees
Once you have paid the initial application fee, tuition is pay-as-you-go for each course registration. Course fees vary depending on your location and other factors.
You can estimate your total program cost by multiplying the cost of a 3-credit course by the number of courses you need to take for the program. Remember that tuition costs may increase each year.
Program learning outcomes
As a result of completing this program, students should be able to
- Apply knowledge and skills through critical thinking and logical reflection and interpretation of scientific data and literature;
- Develop skills in quantifying and drawing conclusions from laboratory experiments.
- Report scientific knowledge and findings in written, visual and verbal forms and to communicate scientific arguments effectively;
- Demonstrate professionalism and appreciation of ethical practice in science in the real world.
In order to achieve these outcomes, students will
- exhibit insight and complex reasoning to engage in experimental design.
- develop critical thinking skills in the interpretation of scientific data and literature
- demonstrate a fundamental understanding of scientific and applied principles.
- readily see connections between scientific ideas, systematic procedures and data.
- perform experienced and independent skills in quantifying, calculating and drawing results of laboratory experiments.
- disseminate information at all levels of interaction by describing clearly the qualities of scientific materials, calculations and results.
- exhibit confidence in drawing conclusions from existing data.
- accurately portray, explain and interpret data calculation and results of scientific processes related to the discipline.
- consistently apply ideas and new insights to laboratory application, combining resources or finding evidence to support new conclusions.
- show leadership in teaching laboratory techniques to others within the discipline.
- portray evidence, data and interpretation in a convincing manner.
- show insight and capacity to illustrate, compare, contrast and explain scientific material orally.
- demonstrate knowledge of current best practices and ethical applications in the discipline.
- draw accurate conclusions from engagement of scientific endeavour with logical application of scientific method.
- achieve accurate insights through scientific inquiry in a dependable and consistent manner.
- usually produce good results from independent lab, field and practice situations related to the discipline.
- adeptly estimate and use measurement and calculation to reach useful conclusions.
- convey qualities of samples, specimens, environmental experiments and results accurately and in detail.
- show advanced insight and clever selection of needed equipment.
- provide needed resources, in useful and orderly ways, for scientific processes related to the discipline.
- create engaging, lively accounts of scientific processes and/or findings.
- demonstrate skilled, adept presentation of scientific ideas and practices in writing.
- use advanced, broad skills in oral presentation of scientific information and conclusions.
- skillfully wield computer software and allied equipment and supplies.
- take part in scientific endeavour through literature searches, conference attendance or other intervention in the related scientific disciplines.
Possible career options
- Technologist in a lab
- Critical Writer/Journalist in human science-related topics
- Health Services Co-ordinator
- More senior post in career (EMT, Medical Technician and other related positions)
- Researcher
Continuing education
At Athabasca University:
At other educational institutions*
- graduate studies
- medical/dental/veterinary school
- education: bachelor/master
- law
* Entrance requirements vary among educational institutions. It is the students’ responsibility to research the entrance requirements of other universities.