Bachelor of Science Human Science Major (4 years—120 credits)

Regulations effective September 1, 2015.

The Bachelor of Science Human Science major is offered by Athabasca University’s Centre for Science. The program is designed for students who are pursuing a concentration in Human Science. This program is particularly suited for individuals who wish to continue professional careers in health sciences, research and development, and biodiagnostics, to name several areas.

The BScHS degree major will enable students to customize their area of interest by taking courses from electives in human science and other disciplines. Students who hold an approved college diploma in a health-oriented field may be given up to 60 credits towards the BScHS Post Diploma route. See Human Science Major (4-year PD).

Athabasca University has developed program learning outcomes that describe the career options that may be available to you upon graduating.

 

Program Structure
Total credits in the program	120
Minimum Credits Required
Senior (300 or 400) level	75
Science credits	75
In senior (300 or 400) level science courses (12 credits at 400 level)	45
Arts and/or Applied Studies courses No more than 9 credits from any one discipline	24
Residency requirement. A minimum of 30 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University	30
Graduation with Distinction or Great Distinction. At least 24 credits must be obtained through Athabasca University in order to be considered.	24
Maximum Credits Allowed
In any one Science discipline	45
At the preparatory (100) level	6
Maximum Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) credits	30

 

Bachelor of Science Core Courses

Students in the BScHS degree major must complete the following core course requirements as they are specific to this major.

A total of 18 credits of laboratory science, selected from:

BIOL 204	Principles of Biology I	(3)
BIOL 207	Principles of Biology II	(3)
BIOL 230	Human Physiology	(6)
BIOL 320	Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates*	(3)
BIOL 325	Introductory Microbiology	(3)
BIOL 345	Ecology*	(3)
CHEM 217	Chemical Principles I	(3)
CHEM 218	Chemical Principles II	(3)
* If students use either BIOL 320 or BIOL 345 to meet the laboratory science requirement in the core course requirements, they cannot use the same course as a Human Science elective.

The 18 credits of laboratory science fulfill the 18 credits in junior (200) level laboratory science as outlined in the core course requirements for the Bachelor of Science degree program.

Six credits in Mathematics from:

MATH 215	Introduction to Statistics or	(3)
MATH 216	Computer-oriented Approach to Statistics
MATH 265	Introduction to Calculus I or	(3)
MATH 270	Linear Algebra I

 

Any university-level computer science (COMP) course

All of the following:

SCIE 326	Scientific Reasoning (may be used to satisfy the minimum senior-level science credit requirements).	(3)
PHIL 333	Professional Ethics** or	(3)
PHIL 371	Ethics: Science, Technology, and the Environment **
HIST 404	Historical Foundations of Modern Science**	(3)
ENGL 255	Introductory Composition** (*see note below)	(3)

** These core Arts courses will fulfill part of the minimum credits required in Arts and/or Administrative Studies.

 

*English Writing Skills Requirement

If you satisfy one of the following, you are not required to take ENGL 255. However, you must replace the three credits in order to satisfy the program’s credit requirement.

• have a grade of B- (70 per cent) or better in an Athabasca University English course above the preparatory (100) level;
• receive credit for an English course in which a grade of B- or better was achieved.

 

Human Science Major Required Courses (18 credits)
BIOL 230	Human Physiology or	(6)
BIOL 235	Human Anatomy and Physiology
BIOL 310	Biology of Human Sexuality	(3)
BIOL 341	Human Genetics	(3)
HLST 200	Introduction to Human Health I	(3)
NUTR 330	Introductory Nutrition or	(3)
NUTR 331	Nutrition for Health	(3)

Elective Courses (select 30 credits from the following)
ANTH 278	Human Evolution and Diversity	(3)
BIOL 320	Comparative Anatomy of the Vertebrates*	(3)
BIOL 345	Ecology*	(3)
BIOL 401	Cell Biology	(3)
BIOL 495	Biology Projects I	(3)
BIOL 496	Biology Projects II	(3)
CHEM 301	Introduction to Biochemistry	(3)
CHEM 330	Environmental Chemistry	(3)
CHEM 350	Organic Chemistry I	(3)
CHEM 360	Organic Chemistry II	(3)
CHEM 495	Chemistry Projects	(3)
CHEM 496	Chemistry Projects	(3)
HADM 379	Introduction to Epidemiology	(3)
HLST 301	Complementary and Alternative Therapies	(3)
HLST 320	Teaching and Learning for Health Professionals	(3)
NURS 328	Understanding Research	(3)
NUTR 405	Nutrition in Health and Disease	(3)
NUTR 406	Modern Concepts in Nutrition	(3)
NUTR 495	Nutrition Projects	(3)
NUTR 496	Nutrition Projects	(3)
PSYC 355	Cognitive Psychology	(3)
PSYC 387	Learning	(3)
PSYC 402	Biological Psychology	(3)
PSYC 304	Research Methods in Psychology* *Students who have obtained credit for PSYC 404 may not take PSYC 304.	(3)
* If students use either BIOL 320 or BIOL 345 to meet the laboratory science requirement in the core course requirements, they cannot use the same course as a Human Science elective.