BSc (Medical Sciences) Honours
Students who want a challenging program resulting in a broad background in medical sciences, including independent research experience, may want to enrol in the Honours program. An Honours degree in the Medical Sciences program aims to prepare students for future thesis-based graduate studies in a number of medically related fields. In addition to specific core course requirements with a minimum GPA of 3.0, students must identify a faculty member who has agreed to be their research supervisor. Students will have the flexibility to do their Honours research at a Dalhousie Research site of their choice (Faculty of Science, Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences, or other), subject to the approval of the Honours class coordinator. All students conduct an independent research project in their final year under the supervision of a faculty member. Students must attend weekly classes, submit a satisfactory Interim Report and thesis, and deliver a satisfactory symposium presentation of the thesis research in a Medical Sciences student research forum.
Students should consult with an advisor and choose their electives and selectives carefully in their second, third and fourth years to ensure that they are prepared for Honours and potentially graduate studies in their field of interest. Students with an Honours degree will also be well prepared for entry into professional schools.
Requirements
1000 Level
- BIOL 1010.03: Principles of Biology Part I or BIOL 1020.03: Introductory Biology I: Cells, Genetics and Evolution with BIOL 1011.03: Principles of Biology Part II or BIOL 1021.03: Introductory Biology II: Organismal Biology and Ecology or SCIE 1506.09 + 1507.09: Integrated Science
- CHEM 1011.03: Concepts in Chemistry: Structure and Reactivity and CHEM 1012.03: Concepts in Chemistry: Energy and Equilibrium
- MATH 1215.03: Life Sciences Calculus or MATH 1000.03: Differential and Integral Calculus I
- STAT 1060.03: Introductory Statistics for Science and Health Sciences or SCIE 1506.09 + 1507.09: Integrated Science
- PSYO 1011.03: Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience I: From Neuron to Person or PSYO 1031.03: Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience I: From Neuron to Person with PSYO 1012.03: Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience II: From Social Interaction to Psychopathology or PSYO 1032.03: Introduction to Psychology and Neuroscience II: From Social Interaction to Psychopathology, or SCIE 1506.09 + 1507.09: Integrated Science
- PHYC 1310.03: Physics In and Around You I or PHYC 1310 + 1320: Physics In and Around You I & II
- Writing course (6 credit hours) *
2000 Level
- BIOL 2020.03: Cell Biology
- BIOL 2030.03: Genetics and Molecular Biology
- CHEM 2401.03: Introductory Organic Chemistry: Structure, Concepts of Mechanisms and Spectroscopy and CHEM 2402.03: Introductory Organic Chemistry: Reactivity of Functional Groups
- BIOC 2300.03: Introduction to Biochemistry
- PHYL 2044.03: Human Systems Physiology
- PHYL 2041.03: Human Neurophysiology
- MICI 2100.03: Introductory Microbiology and Immunology (in-class or distance)
- PHIL 2805.03: Ethics and Health Care: Patient Care or PHIL 2810.03: Ethics and Health Care: Social Policy
- SOSA 2503.03: Health and Society
3000 and 4000 Level
21 credit hours of Selectives (see list below), including at least 3 credit hours of Advanced Selectives
Required standing for graduation:
GPA 3.0 in core courses
GPA 3.70 in core and selective courses for first class
* See Writing Course Requirements. Before selecting a writing course, students are encourged to consult the advising sheet available on the Medical Sciences program website, as some professional schools require an ENGL course as a prerequisite for entry.
List of Selectives and Advanced Selectives