Bachelor of Science in Human Science

As the demand for highly skilled professionals in the Health Science field increases, Athabasca University’s Bachelor of Science Human Science Major (BSc-HS) 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 BSc 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 (BSc-HS)?

The BSc-HS 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 BSc-HS 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.

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

• Completion of high school in an English-speaking country.
• Completion of 15 university credits from a recognized English-speaking university, or 1 year at a non-university post-secondary institution with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).

English is the language of instruction and communication in SCIS graduate programs.

Proficiency in English is an essential requirement for admission to SCIS graduate programs. Although working and studying online requires a different level of English language skills than does the classroom situation, students must nevertheless be able to communicate effectively with faculty, administration, and with other students.

For more information on the English Language Prociency Requirements for Graduate Studies please refer to the AU graduate calendar.

• Minimum score of 6 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
• Minimum score of 60% on the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL).
• Minimum score of 80 on the Michigan English Language Battery (MELAB) test.
• Minimum score of 59 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).
• Minimum score of 213 on the computer- or paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT), with 4.5 on the Test of Written English (TWE).
• Minimum score of 80 with an essay score of 20 on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT).
• Successful completion of AU’s English Language Proficiency Program with an overall average of 75% (GPA of 3.0).
• See the English Language Proficiency Requirements Policy for further details.

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.