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Health Sciences | Faculty of Health Sciences Simon Fraser University Calendar | Spring 2025

Health Sciences Minor

Admission Requirements

Students can apply for admission into the health sciences minor with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 and the following with a minimum grade of C-:

  • HSCI 130
  • BISC 101 or HSCI 100
  • one of HSCI 204, HSCI 207, HSCI 210, HSCI 211, HSCI 212, HSCI 214, HSCI 216, HSCI 220, HSCI 230

Minimum Grades

Students enrolling in HSCI courses must have a grade of C- or better in prerequisite courses and in the program's required courses.

Program Requirements

Students complete a minimum total of 31 units, including all of

HSCI 100 - Human Biology (3)

An examination of the biological processes that underlie human health and well-being, with emphasis on the evolutionary and ecological influences affecting human populations. Students with credit for BISC 101 may not take HSCI 100 for further credit. Breadth-Science.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Frank Lee
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 10:30–11:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 11:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
HSCI 130 - Foundations of Health Science (4)

How health, illness and disease are defined and measured for individuals and populations. Research strategies used to identify how health, illness and disease are distributed across human populations and how environmental, socio-economic, demographic, biological, behavioural and political factors influence individual and population health. Breadth-Social Sci/Science.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Robert Hogg
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D103 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D107 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D108 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
HSCI 204 - Perspectives on Human Health and the Environment (3)

An overview of environmental hazards and their impacts on human health. Methodological approaches to their detection, assessment, management, and mitigation. Prerequisite: HSCI 100 or BISC 101, HSCI 130, all with a minimum grade of C-. Students with credit for HSCI 304 may not take this course for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Ryan Allen
Bruce Lanphear
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby
HSCI 207 - Research Methods in Health Sciences (3)

Principles and applications in health sciences research methodology. Quantitative and qualitative methods. Research process and design. Appropriate approaches for diverse research questions. Research ethics, sources of data, sampling, measurement, data collection, initial data analysis techniques. Prerequisite: HSCI 130 with a minimum grade of C-. Corequisite: STAT 201 or 203 or 205. Students with credit for HSCI 307 may not take this course for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Rochelle Tucker
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 10:30 a.m.–12:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D103 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 6:30–7:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 1:30–2:20 p.m.
Burnaby
HSCI 230 - Evaluating Epidemiological Research (3)

Prepares students at a foundational level to evaluate and critique conclusions drawn from epidemiological research. Students will also experience the value and limitations of epidemiology as a tool for researching health and disease in populations. Prerequisite: 30 units, including HSCI 130 with a minimum grade of C-, or permission of the instructor. Students with credit for HSCI 330 may not take this course for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Travis Salway
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby

and two of

HSCI 210 - Special Topics in Health Sciences (3)

Selected topics in areas not currently offered within the undergraduate course offerings. Prerequisite: Will vary according to topic.

HSCI 211 - Perspectives on Cancer, Cardiovascular, and Metabolic Diseases (3)

An interdisciplinary overview of the major non-communicable diseases - cancers, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases - from a public health perspective. Review of biological mechanisms, risk factors, historical and cultural contexts, and global distribution. Prerequisite: HSCI 100 or BISC 101, HSCI 130, all with a minimum grade of C-.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Scott Lear
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Mon, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D103 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 6:30–7:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
D106 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 5:30–6:20 p.m.
Burnaby
HSCI 212 - Perspectives on Infectious and Immunological Diseases (3)

An integrated survey of infectious diseases and their social and economic causes and consequences. Infectious agents, including bacteria, protozoa, fungi and viruses -- how they spread, how they work, and how they can be stopped. Surveillance, prevention, and management of infectious diseases and epidemics. Prerequisite: HSCI 100 or BISC 101, HSCI 130, all with a minimum grade of C-.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Elizabeth King
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Fri, 8:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
Burnaby
D101 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D102 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 9:30–10:20 a.m.
Burnaby
D105 Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Thu, 8:30–9:20 a.m.
Burnaby
HSCI 214 - Perspectives on Mental Health and Illness (3)

An interdisciplinary overview of mental health and mental illness among populations. A review of the distribution and risk factors of mental illnesses as well as the historical and cultural context of their development. Prerequisite: HSCI 100 or BISC 101, HSCI 130, all with a minimum grade of C-.

HSCI 216 - Ecological Determinants of Human Growth, Development and Health (3)

Effects that social and ecological factors have on human growth, development and health. Challenges such as epidemics, natural catastrophes, industrialization, globalization, migration, poverty, war, global warming, etc, leading to evolution and adaptations. Relationships between socio-ecological challenges, their health consequences and related gene-population variations and effects on growth, development, sexual maturation, reproductive investment, and senescence and health. Prerequisite: HSCI 100 or BISC 101, with a minimum grade of C-.

HSCI 220 - Indigenous Experiences of Health (3)

An examination of Indigenous experiences of health and well-being that will encourage respectful, collaborative and ethical relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities. Students will learn about historical and ongoing impacts of colonization in Canada and continuous efforts of Indigenous communities to assert their own practices of health and well-being. Prerequisite: HSCI 130 with a minimum grade of C- or permission of the instructor. Students who have taken HSCI 210 under this topic in Spring 2022 and Fall 2022 may not take this course for further credit.

Section Instructor Day/Time Location
D100 Krista Stelkia
Nienke Van Houten
Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby

and at least 15 upper division HSCI units, of which at least seven upper division units used toward the minor must have been completed in Simon Fraser University courses.