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The Honours Health Science Program uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to the study of health, wellness and illness. It offers students an understanding of health from biological, behavioural and population-based perspectives, through the integration of foundational and health sciences.

The Honours Health Science Program is the only program in Ontario that draws on a full range of departments within health sciences, including clinical departments of Medicine, Pathology & Molecular Medicine, Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences and Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics. Exposure to health care practitioners and applied researchers will lend relevance and scope to the foundation sciences, which will form the basis of the students’ experiences.

  • Unique program that uses core Inquiry courses. This approach has been adopted by other programs at McMaster and universities around the world based on the work and accomplishments of the Honours Health Science Program.
  • McMaster is recognized internationally for expertise in the use of problem-based, self- directed learning and inquiry.
  • Prescribed set of exciting courses over a four-year program.
  • Core classes focus on issues in health care providing an integrative approach to the study of health related issues.
  • Courses use a variety of learning methods including Inquiry classes designed to develop skills basic to the systemic investigation of health issues. This ensures that beyond the program, the students will be smart consumers of scientific knowledge.
  • Facilitates interdependent and independent small group learning. Students collect and analyze data for discussion, critical evaluation and reconstruction in a small group.
  • Dynamic, dedicated and collaborative peer group.
  • Small class size allowing for greater contact with professors and increased opportunity for class participation – Learning is a contact sport.
  • Students may select electives from many areas of study and possibly graduate with a minor in another subject.
  • Students emerge from the program with skills that will facilitate learning and effective function in their university experience and future careers.
  • Equitable Admissions

Prerequisite course search

The Honours Health Sciences (Honours) Program requires a course that is not math, science or technology-based for admission to Level I. Please use the box below to search acceptable courses. NOTE: Co-op courses cannot be used for admission purposes. Please enter the first five characters of the Ontario secondary school course code (e.g. AMH4M) you would like to check. Applicants from other provinces / jurisdictions should contact the Admissions Office if they are unsure about the eligibility of a particular course.

Honours Health Sciences Project Courses let students explore one or more specialized areas of interest in preparation for a Level IV Senior Project/Thesis.

Health Sciences 4th year senior project and thesis courses offer students exciting research opportunities. Students will work under the guidance of faculty members and in collaboration with other research personnel to design, execute and analyze research questions on a problem of mutual interest. Most often, this reflects studies that received peer-reviewed funding at the time the student approaches potential supervisors. Students are not restricted to Health Sciences for their research in these projects/courses.

Find out more here.

Your Classes

What you’ll take:

  • Cellular and Molecular Biology (HTHSCI 1I06 A/B)
  • Introduction to Chemistry I (CHEM 1A03)
  • Introduction to Chemistry II (CHEM 1AA3)
  • Inquiry I: Introduction (HTHSCI 1E06 A/B)
  • Interdisciplinary Problem-Solving in Health (HTHSCI 1G02)
  • Praxis Pathways I (HTHSCI 1X01 A/B)
  • Introduction to Health and Safety (WHMIS 1A00)
  • 9 units of electives

Learn more about your requirements in BHSc I.

The curriculum in the Honours Health Science Program offers considerable flexibility, allowing students to explore a broad range of interests in different disciplines, or to cultivate an area of specific focus. Although most students opt to remain in the core program after first year, those with an interest can pursue the Child Health Specialization or concurrent certificates in Biomedical Sciences or Immunology, Microbiology, & Virology.

Students interested in global health have several flexible options to explore interdisciplinary perspectives in this exciting and dynamic field. With plenty of elective space, students in the Honours Health Science Program also have the opportunity to pursue a minor in many disciplines offered at McMaster.

Electives available in the HHSP stream:

Level II: 9 units
Level III: 18 units
Level IV: 12-21 units

For a full list of courses that can be available in this program, please consult the academic calendar.

Admissions