Course

Foundations of Health Science

Faculty
Health Sciences
Department
Health Information Management
Course Code
HSCI 1100
Credits
3.00
Semester Length
15 Weeks
Max Class Size
35
Method(s) Of Instruction
Lecture
Course Designation
None
Industry Designation
None
Typically Offered
To be determined

Overview

Course Description
Students will explore foundational issues in health science including how health , illness and disease are defined and measured for individuals and populations. Students will be introduced to research methods used to study the distribution and determinants of illness and disease in human populations.
Course Content
  • Definitions of health, illness, and disease
  • Determinants of health
  • Overview of Canadian healthcare system including medical ethics and the law
  • Regulations for health research in Canada
  • Introduction to epidemiology
  • Application and analysis of statistics in health care and service
  • Introduction to research methods
  • Introduction to First Nations health and global health issues
  • Introduction to health care economics and policy
Learning Activities

In this course, students engage in a variety of learning activities such as lectures, case study analysis, independent research, exercises, application and analysis of health statistics, participant presentations, classroom discussions and guest speakers.

Means of Assessment

The course evaluation is consistent with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. An evaluation schedule is presented at the beginning of the course. This is a graded course.  

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

  • Describe concepts of health, illness and disease from a variety of perspectives;
  • Define basic terminology associated with the scientific study of health;
  • Describe research methods used to study health, illness and disease in human populations;
  • Explain how various factors (such as demographic, genetic, biological, environmental, socioeconomic, behavioural and political) may act as potential determinants of health in individuals and populations;
  • Examine the manner in which sociocultural contexts and ethical values influence definitions, theoretical understandings, research strategies and solutions to problems involving health, illness and disease;
  • Explore strategies and methodologies required to address Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action pertaining to Indigenous health and wellness;
  • Explore concepts of cultural competence, safety, humility and diversity pertaining to health and wellness.
Textbook Materials

A list of required and optional textbooks, materials and electronic applications is provided for students at the beginning of each semester.

Requisites

Prerequisites

No prerequisite courses.

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer Details for HSCI 1100
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX HSCI 130 (3)
Capilano University (CAPU) CAPU KINE 261 (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) No credit
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC KINS 1XX (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR KNES 1XX (3)
Columbia College (COLU) COLU HSCI 1st (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU HSCI 1XXX (3)
LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV) LCV BIO 1XX (3)
North Island College (NIC) NIC IPH 101 (1.5) & NIC IPH 102 (1.5)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU HLTH 1XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) No credit
University Canada West (UCW) UCW SCIE 1XX (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC HHSC 101 (3)
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC HINF 140 (1.5)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU HLTH 1st (3)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum Seats
36
Currently Enrolled
5
Remaining Seats:
31
On Waitlist
0
Building
Coquitlam - Bldg. D
Room
D2010
Times:
Start Time
8:30
-
End Time
10:20
Building
Online
Room
ONLINE
Times:
-
Section Notes

HCSI 1100 001 has two sessions, one on Tuesdays from 0830 to 1020 in D2010 and one Asynchronous session with no meeting time.