Faculty of Health

General Information

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Office of the Dean, Faculty of Health 

443 Health, Nursing and Environmental Studies Building, 416-736-5124

Degree Programs: 

  • Bachelor of arts and bachelor of arts with Honours, majoring in global health 
  • Bachelor of arts with Honours, majoring in kinesiology and health science 
  • Bachelor of arts and bachelor of arts with Honours, majoring in psychology 
  • Bachelor of arts majoring in movement and health
  • Bachelor of health studies and bachelor of health studies with Honours, all majors 
  • Bachelor of science and bachelor of science with Honours, majoring in global health 
  • Bachelor of science with Honours, majoring in kinesiology and health science 
  • Bachelor of science and bachelor of science with Honours, majoring in psychology 
  • Bachelor of science in nursing with Honours, all streams   
  • Bachelor of science majoring in movement and health

Interdisciplinary Program: 

  • Bachelor of science and bachelor of science with Honours, majoring in neuroscience  

Certificates: 

  • Interdisciplinary Certificate in Aging
  • Certificate in Fitness Assessment and Exercise Counselling
  • Certificate in Psychological Methods and Data Analysis
  • Certificate in Digital Health
  • Counselling and Mental Health Certificate
  • Social Justice and Community Engagement: Sport, Physical Activity & Health
  • York-Seneca Rehabilitation Services Certificate Program

Organizational Structure: 

Dean: D. Peters, Vice-Dean, Learning Teaching & Academic Programs: K. Page-Cutrara, Associate Deans: M. Herbert

Department/School

School of Global Health

Global health challenges, including chronic and communicable diseases, do not recognize national borders. Public health crises or disease outbreaks in one part of the world, for example, could reach and impact the health and well-being of people in Canada or other parts of the globe within days, if not hours. Moreover, the health of the world's population is intertwined with broader issues, including wealth disparity, environmental degradation, government policy and human rights.

York's Global Health degree (BA and BSc), in the Faculty of Health, examines these and many other issues with a focus on preparing the next generation of health leaders with the knowledge and skills to improve health for people worldwide by helping to create conditions that allow for greater health equity. This undergraduate degree program, the first of its kind in Canada, aims to produce agents of change who will fulfil leadership and advocacy positions in education, research, medicine, health systems, law and business in both the public and private sectors locally, nationally and internationally.

The Global Health program offers courses leading to BA or BSc degree (Specialized Honours, Honours and Bachelor options). The Global Health BA or BSc degree will allow students to meet the requirements for post-secondary admission to professional schools and graduate programs.

Students in the BA/BSc Specialized Honours Global Health (120 credits) degree programs are required to take major courses worth 60 credits. In addition, students must choose a stream where an additional minimum of 15 credits from required elective courses must be completed. The five specialized honours streams are: global e-health; global health and the environment; global health law, policy, and governance; global health promotion and disease prevention; and global mental health. In the final year of study, students complete an 11-week practicum placement course in a setting relevant to their stream. This hands-on experience can be completed either within the Greater Toronto Area, or elsewhere in Canada, or internationally.

Students in the Honours BA/BSc Global Health (120 credits) degree program are required to take major courses worth 48 credits. In this program, students have the option of completing an Honours Double Major or an Honours Major and Minor.

A Minor in Global Health consisting of core courses worth 30 credits (but not more than 42 credits) is offered to students whose degree program allows completion of a Minor.

 

School of Health Policy & Management  

The School of Health Policy and Management offers a broad perspective on all aspects of the health care system and fosters an understanding of how factors, such as wealth and ethnicity, influence the health of Canadians. Learning takes place not only in classroom settings but also through experiential education and field placements. With backgrounds in social science, political science, computer science and the health professions, the faculty members in the school are internationally recognized for their research and teaching.

The School offers several undergraduate programs that prepare graduates to become agents of change in the Canadian health sector, where the demand for highly skilled project managers, digital health specialists, and policy analysts and more has never been higher.

The three main areas of study covered in our programs are health policy, health management and digital health. Health POLICY provides a strong interdisciplinary theoretical foundation drawing from political science, political economy, law, sociology, gender studies, and ethics to critically assess social, cultural and health systems and contribute to policy research, development and implementation at all levels of society and within health systems. Health MANAGEMENT provides a systems approach to understanding the organization and delivery of healthcare as well as how to approach problem solving and decision making to improve quality, safety, effectiveness, and equity in health systems. DIGITAL HEALTH provides a theory and application-based education in information management, digital health solutions, interoperable health information systems, and current debates in health informatics and digital health to support leading edge health systems. Considerations of health equity is a cornerstone of all our programs.

The Specialized Honours program in Health Policy, Management, and Digital Health (Specialized BHS) meets the growing demand for Health Studies graduates who have an inter-disciplinary understanding of the three areas of policy, management and digital health and are therefore well versed in the growing interconnectedness and complexity that increasingly characterizes health systems. Students can choose to focus on any or all three of areas of study. In the Specialized Honours program, learning takes place not only in classroom settings but also through field practicum opportunities with a range of health sector organizations.

The Honours program in Health Studies (BHS) offers students flexibility to combine Health Studies with other areas of learning or their interest, such as pre-med and other pre-health professional course requirements. Students can choose a double major or major-minor combination with many other York programs.

Additional programs offered include Honours Minor program in Health Policy, Management and Digital Health, a 90-credit Health Studies program, a Cross-Disciplinary Certificate in Digital Health, and an Interdisciplinary Certificate in Aging.

School of Kinesiology & Health Science  

Kinesiology and Health Science is the study of physical activity and its importance for human health, health science and society. The program addresses the continuum of human movement from the cellular level to the whole body. The curriculum presents broad and flexible offerings to the student. All students take a core of required courses encompassing the major areas of emphasis in kinesiology and health science. The core academic required courses include, biomechanics, exercise physiology, fitness and health, human anatomy, human physiology, nutrition, psychology of physical activity, research methods and statistics, sociocultural perspectives, and experiential courses where theoretical knowledge can be applied in a movement-based setting. Students may choose from a variety of academic elective courses to develop a highly specialized area of interest or to obtain a more general and broader program of study. The academic program combines lectures, experiential laboratories, tutorials, and field experiences, thereby coupling theory and technical knowledge with applied experiences. Students can apply for specialized certifications in the areas of athletic therapy, aging, or fitness assessment and exercise counselling.

 

School of Nursing  

The Bachelor of Science in nursing (BScN Honours) degree focuses on the development of the theoretical, scientific and philosophical knowledge. The role of nurses, through relational practice and by promoting and preserving health and well-being, is emphasized through both theory and self-reflective practicum experiences. Graduates will be prepared to practise collaboratively in a variety of settings to enhance individual, family, community and global health.

 

Department of Psychology  

The Department of Psychology offers a curriculum spanning introductory to advanced-level courses, leading to BA and BSc degree. Programs include 3-year (90 credit), and 4-year Honours or Specialized Honours (120 credit) options.

The curriculum begins with a broad introductory survey of various areas within psychology and their applications (HH/PSYC 1010 6.0). Courses are offered in multiple sections with varying mode of delivery formats to meet diverse student needs. The Department aims to serve students with interests ranging from curiosity to commitment.

Second-year courses provide foundational knowledge in contemporary psychology, statistics and methodology, and writing in psychology. The material in these foundational second-year courses provide an excellent foundation for student success in subsequent years in the psychology program, for many career paths, and for graduate school training. Intermediate-level courses offer a wide range of topics for in depth study. Advanced-level courses are typically offered in seminar format. Students are encouraged to select a wide range of courses and a high degree of flexibility is possible within the programs offered. For specific program requirements please consult the Faculty of Health Programs of Study section.

Enrolment in all psychology courses requires successful completion of HH/PSYC 1010 6.0 Introduction to Psychology (except HH/PSYC 2020 6.00, HH/PSYC 2021 3.00 and HH/PSYC 2022 3.00, which can be taken concurrently with HH/PSYC 1010 6.00). Courses typical meet for three hours a week over either a single term (three credit courses with course numbers ending in "3.00") or two terms (six credit courses with course numbers ending in "6.00").

Some 3000- and 4000-level courses require HH/PSYC 2020 6.00 (or equivalent) and HH/PSYC 2030 3.00 as prerequisites.

Students interested in pursuing graduate level research training or research-based careers are encouraged to complete Individual Research Projects conducted under faculty members’ supervision; students are responsible for securing their own supervisor for these projects.

Not all of the courses listed below will necessarily be offered in any given year or term. For details of courses to be offered in a give term, please consult the York University courses website.

A note about 4000 level courses: to be eligible to enrol in 4000-level psychology courses, students must be in an Honours Psychology program and have successfully completed at least 84 credits. Further, all 4000-level psychology courses have the following general prerequisites:

  • HH/PSYC 1010 6.00
  • HH/PSYC 2030 3.00;
  • one of HH/PSYC 2020 6.00 or HH/PSYC 2021 3.00.

Some 4000-level psychology courses have prerequisites in addition to the general prerequisites listed above. Prerequisites are strictly enforced.

Interdisciplinary Program

Neuroscience

A brain or nervous system illness or injury will affect one in three Canadians in their lifetime. Understanding the brain and nervous system to address neurological and mental health disorders is one of the most pressing scientific challenges of our time.

The interdisciplinary nature of York’s undergraduate program gives students access to renowned researchers working in many different areas of neuroscience. The program’s small size encourages collaboration amongst students, faculty members, and community partners as they investigate the development, structure, and function of the nervous system including the ways it can change – whether naturally or through human intervention.

York’s undergraduate Neuroscience program has several unique features. Based on their interests, students choose one of three entry pathways by selecting Biology, Kinesiology & Health Science, or Psychology as their home program. The adventure begins with a solid science curriculum in first year, including the keystone course Frontiers in Neuroscience.

Each year then builds on the successes of the prior year. Students experience a broad neuroscience foundation in second year. In third year, they develop their understanding by choosing courses from the three specialization streams (cellular/molecular, cognitive/behavioural, or systems neuroscience), and put it all together with a stimulating, research-based capstone course in fourth year.