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Health Studies (BHS)

The School of Health Policy and Management offers a broad perspective and teaches about all aspects of the health care system as well as about other factors, such as wealth and ethnicity, that influence the health of Canadians. Learning takes place not only in classroom settings but also through field placements. The faculty in the school are internationally recognized for their research and teaching.

The 120-credit general Honours BHS program offers a unique approach to health systems education. By incorporating a ‘social determinants of health’ framework, the program emphasizes the organization of health care and other systems, the diversity of Canadians, the role of communities, and fairness and social justice as integral considerations in the development of effective health care models. These issuess are examined through the study of the most recent developments in management practice, health planning, and use of information in health care.

The 120-credit general Honours BHS program allows students to complete pre-med and other pre-health professional course requirements. In addition, students can do a double major or major-minor in conjunction with many other York programs.

The School of Health Policy and Management offers an Honours BHS program in Health Studies and Specialized Honours BHS degrees in Health Management, Health Policy and Health Informatics.  Also available are Honours Minor programs in Health Management,  Health Informatics and Health Policy and a Cross-Disciplinary Undergraduate Certificate in Health Informatics as well as a Professional Certificate in Health Services Financial Management.

Program Description

DegreeMajorProgram Option(s)Offered by
Bachelor of Health Studies (BHS)Health StudiesGeneral Honours - 120 credits   OR   Ordinary - 90 creditsSchool of Health Policy & Management

Prerequisites for medical and other professional schools

A Health Studies degree provides an excellent comprehensive education plus all of the prerequisite courses required for medical or other professional schools.

Courses

All students, whether in the Specialized Honours options (Management, Informatics, or Policy) or the Honours Bachelor of Health Studies option, take the same core courses, including:

  • Health Management I
  • Health Informatics I
  • Health Policy: Power & Politics
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Health Care Law
  • Health Care Ethics

Students also have the opportunity to apply their classroom learning in the community through an experiential education course, Health Studies Project Management: Field Experience (HLST4900).

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