Course Offerings for 2020/21

An introduction to health issues pertinent to the individual and the community. Various health-related topics will be considered, such as defining health, determinants of health, risk factors and behaviour change and epidemiology.

Fall 2020

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: Registration status: Year 1 Honours BSc Health Sciences
• Exclusions: KP231

A continuation of Health Issues I, possible topics including: risk behaviours and health promotion, chronic and infectious disease, complementary and alternative medicine, global health care systems and health communication.

Winter 2021

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE100
• Exclusions: KP232

The various methods used in the collection and analysis of data in the field of health sciences are examined, including: research design, sampling, experiments and surveys. Reliability and validity may also be considered.

Fall 2020

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE101 
• Exclusions: KP261, PS291, PS295

The course is intended to develop an awareness and understanding of the Canadian healthcare system. Topics may include: the historical foundations of Medicare; responsibilities of the provincial and federal governments with respect to allocation of resources; funding mechanisms; models of healthcare delivery; evolving roles of healthcare professionals, interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams; occupational health and safety of healthcare professionals; the Personal Health Protection Act in the role of electronic health records; legislation, including the Ontario Health Care Consent Act, the Ontario Public Hospitals Act, and the Ontario Regulated Health Professionals Act.

Winter 2021

Credits: 0.5

• Prerequisites: Registration status: Year 2 Honours BSc Health Sciences

An introduction to the field of chronic disease epidemiology with a focus on the ways in which epidemiologic methods can enhance our understanding of chronic illnesses such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes. In this course, students will build upon their skills in research design, interpretation of statistical data and critical evaluation of the scientific literature. (Cross-listed as KP434)

Fall 2020

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE201 and MA241 or ST231 or KP290 and KP390.
• Exclusions: HE300, HS320, KP340k, KP434

Increasingly, there is evidence that societal factors may be the primary determinants of why people stay healthy or become ill. Much of the medical and epidemiological literatures on health ‘disparities’ have been descriptive in nature and fail to analytically account for increasing inequities in population health outcomes. This course moves beyond traditional ‘lifestyle’ explanations of health and wellness and provides students with a solid understanding of how social factors contribute to inequities in health care access and population health outcomes. We will examine how social exclusion, income, early life experiences, employment and working conditions, unemployment and employment insecurity, housing, food security, Aboriginal status, and social policy determine health. We also explore why the biomedical and lifestyle models of health are the primary ways that Canadians think about health, the policy implications of the current state of knowledge, and what can be done to inform change.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE201
• Exclusions: HS200

Introduction to Immunology introduces the responses, cells, mediators and structures of the immune system. Innate immunity, including inflammation and adaptive immunity will be discussed, focusing on how both arms of the immune system are activated. The respective effector mechanisms for innate and adaptive immunity will be described. The role of the immune system in health and disease will be introduced, topics covered may include: immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, hypersensitivity, transplantation and tumor immunity.

Students will advance and critically examine their knowledge, perspectives, biases, and practices in relation to Indigenous peoples’ health. This introductory course will include lectures, Indigenous guest presenters, activities, and critical self-reflection to facilitate learning about a) Indigenous determinants of health, b) cultural humility, and c) strengths-based and promising approaches to health practices, research, policies, and programming.

An examination of issues and controversies in human nutrition from nutritional science, physiological, metabolic and public health perspectives covering topics including; dietary assessment and planning, micro and macronutrients, antioxidants, phytochemicals, functional foods, food labelling obesity and weight management and dietary practices associated with disease prevention and management.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE201 and HN220 (or HE211 or BI216 or KP220)
• Exclusions: HE440D, KP332

This course takes a systematic approach to the anatomical study of the human integumentary, respiratory, lymphatic, autonomic, cardiovascular, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems. It will also provide an introduction to developmental anatomy of the heart.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: Registration Status: Year 3 or 4 Honours BSc Health Sciences and HN210 or HE210 or KP223 or BI210

The COVID-19 pandemic is already showing unparalleled health, social, and economic effects globally. This course has been developed in response to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Each lesson will explore the complexity of the effects of COVID-19 through an interdisciplinary lens, allowing students to learn how diverse disciplines view and understand the pandemic. Perspectives may include those from the fields such as virology, immunology, epidemiology, public health, economics, history, geography, communications studies, and psychology. This course is open to students in years 2, 3 or 4 across all faculties. 

Prerequisites: No prerequisite

A directed studies course is an irregular course that enables second and third year students to work on an independent project under the guidance of a faculty member. To apply, first speak to the instructor, then complete the Directed Studies application form (pdf). The Instructor must attach the course syllabus before it is submitted to the department and before it can be approved. For an accessible version of the form, contact the department.

For more information, see the Academic Advising FAQ.

Students will identify, investigate and discuss critical health issues by integrating a range of social and biomedical perspectives and working toward a cell-to-society understanding. Activities in class will include group work to develop colloquia on special topics, critical discussion of readings and films and some traditional lectures to provide core content. The course will culminate in a research project. Course evaluation will be focused on students’ ability to think critically about complex health problems and concrete solutions; participation in group work and class discussions; and proficiency in verbal and written communication.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE300 and HE301

A study of aging and health from a variety of perspectives including; bio-physiological, psycho-social, health-care system, cultural, legal, ethical and political. Topics may include; the aging process, falls, mental health, medication and co-morbidity, death and dying and others. There are several interactive/hands on components in the course

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE301, HE302
• Exclusions: KP431, HE440F

An examination of the practice of public health in Canada and internationally with emphasis on social and political impacts on the application of knowledge to practice. Models of health promotion, population health, health determinants and health behaviour will form the theoretical basis for exploration of public health research and practice.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE301, HE302
• Exclusions: HE440E

This course will examine nutritional aspects of selected chronic diseases affecting the Canadian population. Using a case-based approach, students will explore the role of diet in the etiology, prevention and treatment of nutrition-related conditions across the lifecycle including obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, anemia, osteoporosis and cancer. Emphasis will be placed on critical appraisal of epidemiological and clinical evidence, underlying physiological mechanisms, nutritional assessment methods and diet interventions. 

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE300, HE330

An examination of functional changes in cells, tissues and organs consequent to disease or injury. Topics may include the mechanisms of inflammation, hypertension, coronary artery disease, concussion, asthma, hepatitis, dysentery as well as other multi-organ conditions from environmental or other types of stress. (Cross-listed as BI416.)

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HN220 (or HE211 or BI216 or KP220)
  Exclusions: BI416, HE440B, BI496R

Viruses are the most numerous and ubiquitous replicating structures on Earth, and infect every form of life, from bacteria to humans. All viruses have a parasitic intracellular life cycle, and while some are incredibly pathogenic (HIV, influenza, West Nile), many more have no apparent negative effects on their hostesses health. In fact, it has been suggested recently that some viral infections are symbiotic, supporting their hostesses health. Viruses are dynamic, streamline units with whom we as humans have been evolving since the beginning of our existence. Biomedical virology will discuss these fascinating entities from a human health perspective. (Cross-listed as BI470)

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: BI338
• Exclusions: BI416, HE440B, BI496R

An examination of the physiological mechanisms by which regular physical activity diminishes the incidence and progression or effects reversal of various chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, cancers as well as the aging process. Exercise training effects on human musculo-skeletal and metabolic health will also be covered. An overview of the physiology of exercise and training adaptation related to functional and health improvements and exercise effects in healthy as well as in rehabilitation of various clinical populations are also included.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HN210 or KP221 and HN220 or KP222
• Exclusions: KP322
• Please see KP435

This course will provide a basic understanding of interactions between parasites and their hosts, and an appreciation of the scope and relevance of parasitism in terms of parasite biology and human disease. Lectures will cover the major groups of parasites, host invasion, strategies used by parasites to avoid the host immune system, the pathogenesis of the diseases they cause, their zoonotic potential, and some control and prevention options.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HN220 or HE211 or BI216 or KP220 and HE300

Human health and wellbeing are inextricably associated with access to fundamental human rights. When human rights (e.g., access to food and housing, experiencing forms of discrimination), are violated, various pathways to ill-health become evident. This course will cover the links between public health policies, political circumstances, and social and economic conditions on the health of individuals and populations using a human rights framework. Important domains of the health and human rights associations will be used to ensure that students have a broad understanding of key concepts, and are able to apply them in research methods, program development, policy analysis, healthcare delivery, and leadership positions.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE300, HE301

Why are some people who live in some countries so much healthier than others? This course will explore the individual, social and institutional factors that help to explain the unequal distribution of health and disease globally. The course will begin with an introduction to the language of global health: the burden of disease, health systems, health financing, and global health governance. It will then analyze the rationale for and modes of intervention to improve global health by exploring a number of current global health issues (topics will vary year to year to remain current). The course will incorporate knowledge and views from multiple academic disciplines (public health, economics, politics, epidemiology, sociology, etc.) and does not require any background knowledge but is designed for fourth-year students in the Department of Health Sciences. 

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: HE300

Human health is heavily influenced by the relationship between the environment and human disease outcomes. Cancer, a multifactorial disease, will be used as a model to study the interactions between genetic and external factors. This course will identify critical links between cancer and the environment through investigation of the hallmarks of cancer from a cell and molecular perspective, and environmental inputs that can cause cancer. There will be a focus on the molecular mechanisms of carcinogens, how scientists identify these compounds, and how to mitigate these risks. Students will use recent, cutting-edge scientific literature to evaluate the current cancer research landscape, and will explore mainstream media resources to understand how the enviornoment influences human health from a cell to scoeity approach.

• Credits: 0.5
• Prerequisites: BI236
• Exclusions: HS303

This course investigates the molecular biology behind diagnostic tests currently practised in the medical field. This will include an in-depth study of the molecular mechanisms that are the basis of these important and widely used procedures. The diagnostic techniques of focus will include those that test for infectious diseases (viral, bacterial, parasites, fungal), genetic diseases/conditions (inherited, mutations, epigenetics), oncological diseases and human identification (paternity, forensics). There will be special emphasis on current and clinically-relevant diagnostic tests such as those used for the COVID-19 pandemic, cystic fibrosis, malaria, epigenetic biomarkers, diabetes, and non-invasive, prenatal screening.   

A directed studies course is an irregular course that enables senior students to work on an independent project under the guidance of a faculty member. To apply, first speak to the instructor, then complete the Directed Studies application form (pdf). The instructor must attach the course syllabus before it is submitted to the department and before it can be approved. For an accessible version of the form, contact the department.

For more information, see the Academic Advising FAQ.

This two-semester course is an independent thesis in Health Sciences under the direct supervision of a faculty member. The research project will culminate in a formal report and an oral presentation. Students wishing to complete a thesis must apply to the program co-ordinator for admission to HE490* by May 1 of Year 3. For an accessible version of the application form, contact the department.

• HE490 application form (pdf)
• Credits: 1.0
• Prerequisites: Admission requires a minimum GPA of 8.00 and permission of the program coordinator.