Bachelor of Health Sciences

Carleton’s Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) is a wide-ranging and career-focused program that will provide you with the skills required to succeed in the rapidly changing worlds of medicine, biomedical research, and healthcare research. You will gain a strong foundation in the scientific knowledge and methods involved in the study of human health, along with the capacity to engage in broader multidisciplinary, multi-sector, and multicultural approaches to finding solutions to some of the most crucial health issues of our time.

The Carleton advantage

The BHSc program reflects Carleton’s strengths in such fields as science, global and international studies, journalism and evidence-based practices and policy, and architecture and the built environment. This emphasis on interdisciplinarity will provide you with the breadth of knowledge and experience that medical schools and employers look for.

The capital advantage

Carleton’s location in the nation’s capital has enabled the university to forge partnerships in the area of health with both the public and private sectors. There are numerous organizations, agencies, research institutes and hospitals in the region that together provide a knowledge base unique to Ottawa.

The program

The BHSc program offers an interdisciplinary foundation in health science that can prepare you for postgraduate education in biomedical research and professional fields like medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, as well as for careers in health-related fields like public health, global and environmental health law and policy, and health services and community healthcare.

The BHSc program offers five concentrations, which can be combined in unique and informative ways:

• Biomedical Sciences
• Global Health
• Environment and Health
• Health throughout the Lifespan
• Disability and Chronic Illness

Hands-on approach

All concentrations in the BHSc program provide a hands-on approach that includes laboratories, workshops, and seminars, beginning in the first year. Students can take advantage of programs offered at Carleton that include summer research internships, the co-curricular volunteer program, and international alternative break opportunities. The fourth year of the program provides a capstone experience with various options and hands-on experiences to choose from (pending satisfaction of academic requirements) that can advance your personal and professional goals.

Double concentration option

For those who would like to fuse two areas of study, it is possible to take a double concentration. For example, Biomedical Sciences can be combined with Global Health, if you wish to address new and emerging diseases. Likewise, you might wish to combine the concentrations in Health Throughout the Lifespan and in Disability and Chronic Illness to focus on issues relating to healthy aging. Taking a double concentration can add value to your degree when you enter the job market or when you apply to professional or postgraduate programs.

Future opportunities

The workplace

There is a great demand for highly-skilled workers in the health sector in Canada. The concentrations in the BHSc program are designed to prepare you for a diverse array of health careers but also provide excellent preparation for medical school and other professional training.

Professional programs

Many professional programs, such as teaching, medicine, and journalism, are interested in attracting well-rounded applicants from a variety of backgrounds. The Bachelor of Health Sciences provides a strong foundation for such programs.

Explore Health Sciences at Carleton University

• Biomedical Sciences
• Disability and Chronic Illness
• Environment and Health
• Global Health
• Health Throughout the Lifespan

Welcome to Carleton University, Canada’s Capital University!

Carleton University, Canada’s Capital University, is a dynamic and innovative university with a strong commitment to teaching, research and learning. Our academic programs, campus community, capital location and global possibilities provide countless opportunities for learning to happen both inside and outside of the classroom.

Carleton University is located in Ottawa, a G7 capital city, which offers opportunities you won’t find anywhere else. Known primarily as the seat of Canada’s federal government, Ottawa is that and so much more. It is home to over 130 embassies and high commissions from around the world, as well as numerous national organizations and museums. A large percentage of Canada’s major medical, clinical and life sciences research centres are located in the Ottawa area, as well as a technology industry comprised of over 1,900 companies.

Ottawa is also one of the most beautiful capitals in the world, with a great number of neighbourhood parks and tranquil green spaces, waterways that wind through the city, and historical and architectural landmarks. The magnificent Gatineau Park, which features 165 km of hiking trails, is located in the National Capital Region.

Situated on a beautiful campus just minutes from downtown, Carleton has earned a reputation as one of the foremost universities in the fields of international affairs, commerce, journalism, and high technology. The wide range of nationally and internationally renowned programs offer the flexibility to choose the degree that suits your interests.

The best learning environments unite theory and practice. Research shows that experiential learning contributes to student engagement, deeper learning, improved academic outcomes, and enhanced work and life skills. At Carleton, we strive to provide students with real-life experiences that bring the classroom to the world and the world to the classroom. We emphasize hands-on research, community engagement, work experience and immersive learning.

Many of our programs feature co-op or practicum options, allowing students to develop their skills in a workplace environment. We also encourage undergraduate research, entrepreneurship initiatives and Community Service Learning. Having the paid "real-world" experience serves to complement all that is taught in the classroom and opens doors of opportunity upon completion of the undergraduate degree.

Carleton has a long history of attracting international students to our welcoming and inclusive campus. Today the university has approximately 4,500 international students from 150 countries, creating a diverse and supportive academic community. We are committed to giving back through education while pursuing contributions to the common good. These founding values are at the heart of the university’s focus on research, community partnerships and teaching excellence.