About

This program examines the issue of health and wellness, including mental health, from a variety of perspectives including how biological, cultural, social, and environmental contexts influence the health and well-being of the individual.


Quick facts
  • Four year degree
  • Full or part-time program
  • You can enter this program directly from high school
  • You can begin this program off-campus

What you will learn

You will learn about issues of health ranging from biological, psychological, cultural and environmental and how factors such as genetics, personality, attitudes and abilities influence healthy social and emotional development throughout the life span. You will study the role of cultural and community processes in health and healing and examine how groups interact with their environment in healthy and unhealthy ways.

A first-year schedule sample

This degree program is flexible and offers you the opportunity to take courses in many different subject areas. Here’s what a typical first-year schedule might look like:

Course Description

Fall Term
HLST 110a Introduction to Health Studies
BIOL 120a The Nature of Life
PSY 120a Biological and Cognitive Bases of Psychology
INDG 107d Introduction to Canadian Indigenous Studies
MATH 125b Mathematics for the Life Sciences

Winter Term
CHEM 112a General Chemistry I Structure Bonding and Properties of Materials
BIOL 121a The Diversity of Life
PSY 121a Social Clinical Cultural and Developmental Bases of Psychology
GEOG 120e Introduction to Global Environmental Systems
ENG 114c Literature and Composition Reading Culture

a Required course for the major
b One of the course options to complete the Quantitative Reasoning Requirement
c One of the course options to complete the English Language Writing Requirement
d One of the course options to complete the Indigenous Learning Requirement
e Optional course for the major

The Course and Program Catalogue has the complete and official listing of required classes and their descriptions for this program.

HLST 310: Theories and Applications in Health Studies
This is a problem-based learning course. It will involve a detailed examination of theories and research aimed at understanding a range of health-related issues. The course will involve critical and interdisciplinary analyses of efforts to apply theory and research to address past and current health issues.

ACB 310: Basic Human Anatomy
This course covers the structure and functions of the human body. All major body systems are surveyed via lectures and practical laboratory sessions that focus on the direct study of human tissues.

PSY 260: Health Psychology
Focuses on psychological theories and research related to the development, prevention and treatment of illness. Topics covered will include the effects of stress on health, coping with pain, the physician-patient relationship, patient non-compliance, and a variety of risky health behaviours such as substance abuse.

Opportunities
The program is designed to include current pre-requisites for the study of medicine at uSask's College of Medicine. Furthermore, graduates will be considered by the College of Nursing for the possibility of admission to a Post Degree BSN program.

Options
The Health Studies program is organized around three streams of study. You can choose to concentrate in one of the following streams:

(1) Biology, Development and Health concentrates on the biological and psychosocial processes influencing health.

(2) Individual, Society and Health focuses on how the individual and interactions between the individual and others within the immediate societal setting affects health.

(3) Culture, Environment and Health emphasizes the importance of cultural processes and environmental adaptation as factors affecting health.

(4) Changing Climates and Health looks at the effects climate change is having on the physical environment and how those changes affect human health.

Careers

Some career opportunities include:

  • Health educator
  • Health and social policy developer
  • Health and social program administrator
  • Researcher
  • Health care worker
  • Social services worker
  • Community worker
  • Counsellor
  • Public administrator

Tuition estimates

Canadian students International students
Tuition $7,919 $38,328
Student fees $1,121 $1,121
Books $1,500 $1,500
Total $10,540 $40,949

Tuition will vary depending on the type and number of classes you take in a year. This estimate reflects a typical amount you could expect to pay in your first year if you enroll in a full course load, the maximum number of courses allowed (2024-2025 Canadian dollar rates).
Student fees are used to fund specific student benefits, including health, vision and dental coverage, a bus pass, recreational programs and fitness centre access.
The cost of books and supplies varies widely depending on the courses you choose. It is recommended that you budget between $1,500-$2,500 per year.

Program options

These Bachelor of Arts and Science (B.A.& Sc.) Health Studies degrees are offered by the University of Saskatchewan's College of Arts and Science:

You should consult with an academic advisor in the college when you begin your studies to decide if you want a four-year or honours degree.

Admission requirements and deadlines

Deadlines

Start term Application DeadlineInternational Deadline
Winter
January 2025
Dec 1, 2024
Documents due: Dec 15, 2024
Sep 1, 2024
Documents due: Oct 1, 2024
Spring
May 2025
Apr 1, 2025
Documents due: May 1, 2025
Feb 1, 2025
Documents due: Mar 1, 2025
Summer
July 2025
May 1, 2025
Documents due: Jun 1, 2025
Mar 1, 2025
Documents due: Apr 1, 2025
Fall
September 2025
Aug 15, 2025
Documents due: Aug 15, 2025
May 1, 2025
Documents due: Jun 1, 2025
Winter
January 2026
Dec 1, 2025
Documents due: Dec 15, 2025
Sep 1, 2025
Documents due: Oct 1, 2025

Ready to apply?

A non-refundable application fee of $90 CAD is required before your application will be processed.

Explore related programs

If you are looking for graduate level (Master or Ph.D.) programs please consult our graduate students' website.

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