Posted on July 25: Inquiry and small-group learning are hallmarks of health sciences program

[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/BHS.jpg” caption=”Bachelor of Health Sciences program”]McMaster enjoys a tradition of innovation across the University. In the Faculty of Health Sciences, they're demonstrating some of their innovative approaches to education through the Bachelor of Health Sciences (BHSc) Program.

Currently one of McMaster's most popular and premier programs, the honours program has grown to 300 students since it was first offered in September 2000. The program continues to enjoy much success, with more than 3,000 prospective students applying this year.

The growth in this program is one reason McMaster needs additional space. The University is building a new Centre for Learning & Discovery which will provide these and other health sciences students with specialized space to conduct classes in inquiry and small-group learning, hallmarks of this new program.

Students who are admitted to the program hold high averages in studies such as English, biology, chemistry and calculus, are involved in extracurricular activities and are interested in health issues. They are also well-rounded in their studies because the BHSc Program uses a unique interdisciplinary approach to the study of health. Students gain an understanding of health from biological, behavioural, and population-based perspectives.

McMaster's internationally known expertise in problem-based, self-directed learning is a big feature of the program. This approach provides students with skills that will facilitate learning now and later in their careers.

The program's assistant dean, professor of pathology and molecular medicine Del Harnish, states that the heavy emphasis on inquiry classes is the most unique and valuable aspect of the program. “Inquiry will be very valuable to these students in the long term. It will enable them to develop critical thinking skills and to take an active role in their own educations.”

The interdisciplinary dimension is another valuable aspect of the program, and one that Harnish would like to see developed further. Currently, students have the opportunity to select electives in any area of study.

Susan Denburg, associate dean academic, Faculty of Health Sciences, explains that “having the combined challenge of the Nursing Consortium and the new Bachelor of Health Sciences Program has encouraged us to think of new ways of developing and delivering undergraduate programs. This has resulted in creative interdisciplinary and cross-Faculty collaboration.”

Class sizes are small, allowing for more direct contact between professors and students. Third-year student Sean Park cites the small community of learners as crucial to the program experience. “My experience in the program or at McMaster would not be the same without my fellow students . . . Whenever I'm working on projects or extra-curricular activities with any of them, I quickly recognize the skills, experience, knowledge, and insight they bring to the table.”

What students will go on to in life is a big part of the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program. Pat Harris, associate registrar liaison, Office of the Registrar, says the BHSc Program garners a lot of interest from high school students, many of whom are interested in medicine and believe this program will be the best for them and/or “give them an edge” when applying to medical schools.
Although the curriculum and teaching philosophy are consistent with the requirements of many health care professional programs, including medicine, it is not a pre-med program.

“Ninety-eight per cent of our students in first year are interested in being physicians,” explains Harnish. “By third year, it's down to about sixty per cent.” Part of the goal of the program is to make students aware of other career opportunities in the health field. Some of these opportunities, beyond medicine, include dentistry, occupational therapy and physiotherapy, rehabilitation sciences, health administration, the pharmaceutical & insurance industry, and hospital and community agencies.

The program has made Park aware that other opportunities exist. “There are more directions possible than I thought. I still have no idea what I would like to do, but I am very interested in learning and education, alternative transportation and cycling, and some aspects of health and politics.”

McMaster's Bachelor of Health Sciences Program is the only program in Ontario that draws on the full range of departments within health sciences, including medicine, pathology and molecular medicine, psychiatry & behavioural neurosciences, and clinical epidemiology & biostatistics.

Other universities in Ontario offer similar programs but McMaster's is unique in that it is formally part of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Other academic institutions in Canada have used McMaster's program as a model to build their own BHSc programs.

Photo caption: Del Harnish, professor and assistant dean of the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program (back left), and students, (l-r) Andreanne Benidir, Stacy Deniz, Sean Park, Anusha Rayar and Rich Sztramko, study a plastic model of the human body. Photo credit: Chantall Van Raay

This story originally appeared in the March 2003 issue of the McMaster Review