Release Date: April 24, 2006
Media Contact: Jim Duggleby, External Relations
E-mail: James.Duggleby@uregina.ca
Phone: (306) 585.5439
Mobile: (306) 536.4312
Fax: (306) 585.4997
New health studies degree unique in Western Canada
The University of Regina’s new undergraduate degree in health studies will prepare students to look beyond the medical system to meet the complex health care issues facing the country. The interdisciplinary bachelor of health studies (BHS) degree program focuses on the social, economic, and cultural determinants of health and how these factors influence beliefs, attitudes, and practices, as well as individual behaviour. The BHS is the only undergraduate health studies degree in Western Canada

The program is a collaboration between the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies at the U of R, and the First Nations University of Canada. It will also involve partnerships with provincial and national health-care agencies and providers, through fieldwork opportunities for students.

“As health issues continue to dominate public policy discussions, there is a growing need to understand all the aspects of health,” says U of R President Robert Hawkins. “Graduates from the bachelor of health studies program will benefit from the shared knowledge and expertise of the partners in this program, and will use this to contribute to and shape health care in the future.”

The BHS provides students with a broad perspective and includes courses that emphasize the social, psychological and biological determinants of health and illness. The program teaches the tools needed to critically evaluate health-related theory, research, or policy, and it explores alternative concepts of health and illness in different social and cultural contexts.

“Students in the BHS program will learn to go beyond the medical systems and address the issues of health from a broad social, economic and cultural perspective, which is consistent with the healthy living pillar in Canada’s primary health care model,” says U of R Dean of Arts Thomas Chase

“Our students will gain a solid foundation for careers in health-related professions, health policy or analysis, advanced research on health issues, or further education in health fields such as nursing, social work and medicine. It is part of the equation that will help create and sustain a health workforce and a healthy population,” says U of R Dean of Kinesiology and Health Studies Craig Chamberlin.

A key feature of the program is its emphasis on understanding indigenous health needs. All students take five indigenous health classes and may choose an additional four-course concentration in indigenous health.

First Nations University of Canada President Charles Pratt says the program will benefit aboriginal people: “Health issues are a particular concern for our First Nations communities and it is important that our modern health systems learn and adopt practices that recognize and meet cultural needs. This program takes us a step towards achieving those goals.”

The first students in the BHS program will start in fall 2006. Deadline for applications for the fall semester is June 1. For more details about the bachelor of health studies program or for an application form, go to http://kinesiology.uregina.ca/healthstudies or email health.studies@uregina.ca.


BACKGROUNDER:

Only undergraduate health studies degree in Western Canada.

Offered by the University of Regina as an interdisciplinary collaboration between:
• Faculty of Arts, University of Regina
• Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies, University of Regina
• First Nations University of Canada.

Looks beyond the medical system to understand the ways social, economic and cultural determinants of health shape individual beliefs, attitudes and practices, as well as individual behaviour.

Teaches tools to critically evaluate health-related theory, research, or policy, and explores alternative concepts of health and illness in social and cultural context.

Foundation for careers in health-related professions, health policy or analysis, advanced research on health issues, further education in nursing, social work and medicine.

Includes 15 credit hours of fieldwork experience.

Emphasizes indigenous health needs with five indigenous health classes and a choice of an additional four-course concentration in indigenous health.

Pre-requisite of 30 credit hours of pre-health studies and minimum average of 65%.

June 1 deadline for fall 2006 semester intake of first students.

General program inquiries to health.studies@uregina.ca or www.uregina.ca/kinesiology/healthstudies or contact the faculty/college directly:

Faculty of Arts
(306) 585-4137
arts.studentservices@uregina.ca

Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies
(306) 585-4360
Kinesiology@uregina.ca

First Nations University of Canada
(306) 790-5950 (ext. 3331)
science@firstnationsuniversity.ca