Join us at Laurier

Becoming a Golden Hawk means more than just cheering on our (really good) varsity teams – it means being a student who cares about your community, who works hard in the classroom, and who takes advantage of all the learning opportunities that can happen outside the classroom, too.

Steps to Apply

Undergraduate Admissions Graduate Admissions

Steps to Apply

Undergraduate AdmissionsGraduate Admissions

Community Health (BASc)

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Study the biological sciences and their impact on public health while also gaining the comprehensive perspective offered by the BA in Community Health program. Learn to identify and promote interventions that reduce disease and injury, prolong life and improve public health. Graduate ready for many health-related careers or prepare to apply to graduate and professional postgraduate programs by tailoring your degree.

Apply Your Learning

Make the most out of your university career by taking advantage of all that Laurier has to offer you. Volunteer work, campus clubs, leadership programs, studying abroad, work experience – there are so many ways you can extend your classroom experience into the real world.

Here are just a few examples of the experiences you’ll get in the Community Health program:

  • Apply what you are learning in Biology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology through laboratory components in your courses.
  • Take the research-intensive course if you are interested in graduate studies, or the health-care practicum course to gain real-world experience to add to your resume.
  • Study abroad for an academic term.
  • Join the Health Studies Student Association and create opportunities for your fellow Health Studies students to engage with other students and professors.

Check out the Community Health Experience Guide.

 

2020 graduates who secured employment or went on to postgraduate studies

 

Laurier ranks in the top 6 percent of universities worldwide*

 

students who gained hands-on learning experiences at Laurier in 2019/20

*Center for World University Rankings (CWUR)

Admissions

Format: full time or part time      Duration: four years     Start: September (fall term) or May (spring term)     OUAC code: UAL
Ontario High School Admission Requirements
  • Minimum admission range: low 70s.
  • Competitive admission range based on last year’s admitted students: high 80s.
  • English at 60%.
  • Advanced Functions at 60%.
  • Biology at 60%.
  • Chemistry at 60%.
  • All prerequisite courses calculated in admissions average.
Canadian Admission Requirements (Outside of Ontario)

Students applying to this program from a Canadian province outside of Ontario are encouraged to review our course equivalents by province chart. This chart will show you what courses from your province are equivalent to the admission requirements listed under Ontario High School Admission Requirements.
International Admission Requirements

Students applying to this program from an international curriculum are encouraged to review our curriculum-specific requirements; you must also meet all program-specific requirements listed under the Ontario High School Admission Requirements section.

English-Proficiency Requirement

Laurier's language of instruction is English, and so we may require you to provide evidence of your English proficiency to help make sure you experience success in your academic courses.

Your three most recent years of full-time education must be in English without taking any ESL (English as a Second Language) courses. If you do not meet this requirement, you must provide evidence of your English proficiency.

We reserve the right to request an English-language test from any applicant.

If you do not meet Laurier's English proficiency requirement but are academically qualified for your program, you may be eligible for a conditional offer of admission.

Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) Program

The Laurier English and Academic Foundation (LEAF) program is an academic English program for Laurier applicants who have to prove English proficiency. If you have received an offer to Laurier with a condition to meet our English- proficiency requirement, you can meet that condition by successfully completing the LEAF program.
College Pathways

The Mohawk/Laurier Pre-Health Articulation Agreement aims to grant admission to those students who graduate from Mohawk College’s Pre-Health Certificate into Laurier’s Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in Community Health at our Brantford campus.

Learn more about our articulation agreement with Mohawk College.

Other Admission Requirements

Visit our admission requirements section to find specific requirements for university students, indigenous applicants, mature learners, homeschooled applicants, senior citizens, refugees, and more. 

Your Next Steps

Apply Now Strengthen Your Application Important Dates

Program Details

About the BASc in Community Health

In our Bachelor of Arts and Science (BASc) in Community Health program, award-winning educators and researchers integrate the latest advancements and knowledge into courses about the social and physical factors that influence the health status of communities. Communities are often defined by location but can also be defined by groups of people connected through identity or purpose.

In this program you’ll have the flexibility to conduct research and/or have experiential learning opportunities in a practicum placement allowing you to pursue your specific interests in community health.

In the BASc in Community Health you’ll acquire skills to make recommendations for community health and healthcare policy interventions that will improve the health status within communities.

Additionally, you’ll learn about health and disease from a biological perspective. By learning the foundational biology related to health, you’ll keep clinical career options open for you, such as careers in nursing, medicine, occupational therapy, chiropractic, and physical therapy. 

State-of-the-Art Facilities

You'll have the opportunity to work in our state-of-the-art laboratories. Laboratory courses are designed to have a maximum of 12 students per laboratory session. This design ensures an instructor-to-student ratio that fosters a positive learning environment with mentorship for all students.

Physical Forensics Specialization

In addition to our degree programs, the Department of Community Health offers a specialization in Physical Forensics for students in the BASc Community Health program. Knowledge of forensic science strengthens access to a broad range of careers related to work within healthcare, the justice system, or fields of social work and human rights.

Program Options and Courses

Options and Minors

Consider adding any of these popular options or minors which allow you to dive deeper into your major area of study or broaden your knowledge:

  • Criminology Minor
  • Human Rights and Human Diversity Minor
  • Leadership Option
  • Physical Forensics Minor
  • Psychology Minor

Check out other options to enhance your degree.

First-Year Courses

  • Academic Literacy: Social Sciences
  • Biological Diversity and Evolution
  • FUNdamentals of Chemistry I
  • FUNdamentals of Chemistry II
  • Introduction to Public Health
  • Modernity and the Contemporary World
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Unifying Life Processes
  • two elective courses

Sample First-Year Electives

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Leadership and Personal Development
  • White Collar Crime

Sample Upper-Year Courses

  • Epidemiology and Public Health
  • Human Anatomy and Physiology
  • Infection Control and Prevention

Similar Programs

Community Service-Learning

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Community Service-Learning (CSL) courses at Laurier integrate service in the community with what you are learning in your classes. Placements are approximately 10 weeks and take place on a weekly basis from the second week of classes to the final week, typically for two hours per week.

CSL placements consist of volunteering at a local community service, such as a soup kitchen or a children's treatment centre. It’s a great way to apply classroom knowledge and gain practical experience in your field of study. Build your resume, develop your network, and graduate with experience.

Interested? Learn more about Community Service-Learning.

Tuition and Scholarships

Getting a university education is an investment in your future.

At Laurier, we take financial health seriously by providing a wide variety of funding opportunities for you throughout your degree, such as scholarships and bursaries, and by equipping you with the skills to manage your finances effectively in the years to come.

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"The best part of this program is that you learn the social aspects regarding health and well-being, as well as the nitty-gritty science of how certain pathologies develop. There is so much knowledge and power in understanding that these two play a huge role in this thing we call health!"

Anna Graczyk, Community Health graduate

"There is no doubt in my mind that the Health Studies program has, and will continue to, contribute to my ability to be a competent, empathetic, and well-rounded health care provider as I move forward in my career."

Clare Flethcher, Community Health graduate

Your Career Awaits

It’s not only about the journey; it’s about the destination. Let us help you get to where you’re going.

Here are just some examples of our graduates' destinations. What’s yours?

Sample Career Options

Note: Additional training and education may be required.

  • biostatistician
  • epidemiologist
  • health educator/promoter
  • naturopath
  • nurse
  • occupational therapist
  • physician
  • physiotherapist
  • public health program manager

Explore more careers.

Support After Graduation

Alumni for life means that you have access to Career and Employment Support offered at Laurier for your entire career.

Brantford Campus

The Brantford campus is woven into the downtown core of the City of Brantford and is home to more than 3,000 students. Close to great walking and biking trails, you get the best of both worlds.

There are many ways to tour our Brantford campus, whether that's on a guided tour with one of our Laurier student ambassadors, on your own using virtual reality, or even on-demand through one of our pre-recorded tours. See our campus spaces and start to picture yourself at Laurier.

"The Health Studies Practicum course really gave me a chance to experience health care and see how what it’s like to work in the real world. It showed both the rewards and the difficulties of the healthcare field. I loved every minute of it."

Jacob Pearce, Community Health graduate

Interested in More Info?

Email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, call 519.884.0710 x3385 or see all contact information.

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