Academic Counselling Information

The information and links in this section are here to provide you with the resources needed to guide you through the BHSc degree @ Western. This information will help you to make the most of your university experience. Should you have questions, we have support available for you with Jeff Childerhose, Academic Counsellor. He is available for drop-ins and appointments and here to assist you with academic or personal issues that you may be experiencing or if you just need someone to talk to.

The School of Health Studies (Room 222, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Health Sciences Building) has counselling appointments available. Please stop by the office (HSB 222) or call 519-661-4119 to make an appointment. If you are unable to keep your appointment, please be sure to call the office to cancel.

Antirequisites

These are listed in the Academic Calendar under the course descriptions. It is absolutely critical you don't take antirequisite courses as you can't have credit for courses that have similar content. You need to be especially careful of HS 2610F/G, 2700a/b, 2801a/b, and 3801a/b (list of introductory stats courses). You cannot take antirequisite courses to avoid taking HS courses. Statistical Sciences 2037a is no longer an antirequisite to HS 3801a/b -- if you took Stats 2037a in 2010-11, you must take HS 3801a because Stats 2037a is NOT a substitute.

Substitution List for Health Studies electives

Students who first registraton at Western was prior to September 2011, may continue to use the list of substitutable courses below.

For Honors Specialization in HS, Specialization in HS, or Major in HS: Health Sciences courses at the 200-level, Anthropology 2211F/G, 2212F/G, 2216F/G, 2219F/G, 2290F/G, Biochemistry 2280a, Biology 2382b, 2581b, Chemistry 2213a/b, Economics 2169F/G, Epidemiology and Biostatistics 3330b, Geography 2430a/b, 3431a/b, Physiology 2130, 3120, Psychology 2030a/b, 2036a/b, Sociology 2179a/b, 2246a/b, 2247a/b, Women's Studies 2154.

For Health Promotion: Health Sciences courses at the 2000-level, Geography 2430a/b, 3431a/b, Psychology 2030a/b, 2035a/b, 2036a/b, Sociology 2169, 2246a/b, 2247a/b.

NOTE: Health Sciences 2000a/b (Healthology) may not be used towards a BHSc module nor can it substitute for a HS elective unless you are doing a Minor in Health Sciences.

Course Substitution for 2012-13 for REHAB SCI Modules (see below for 2011-12)

HEALTH SCIENCES

3091a-001: Special Topics -- Enabling Health & Well-being Through Occupation
3091b-001: Special Topics -- Health & Music Performance
4090b-002: Special Topics -- Guidelines for Physical Activity and Exercise in Older Adults
4091a-001: Special Topics -- Rehabilitation Psychology
4205a: Health Program Evaluation
4710a: Palliative & End of Life Care
4730F: Disease, Disability & Function

REHAB SCIENCES

3360a: Musculoskeletal Disorders in Rehabiitation Sciences (formerly HS 3091b)
3760a: Rehabilitation for Childhood Disorders (formerly HS 3090b-002)

Course Substitution for 2011-12 for REHAB SCI Modules

HEALTH SCIENCES

3091a-002: Special Topics -- Enabling Health & Well-being Through Occupation
3091b-001: Special Topics -- Health & Music Performance
4090b-003: Special Topics -- Guidelines for Physical Activity and Exercise in Older Adults
4091b-001: Special Topics -- Rehabilitation Psychology
4131b: Movement Disorders
4205b: Health Program Evaluation
4351b: Disease Mechanisms
4710a: Palliative & End of Life Care
4711a: Gerontolog in Practice
4730G: Disease, Disability & Function

REHAB SCIENCES

3360b: Musculoskeletal Disorders in Rehabiitation Sciences (formerly HS 3091b)
3760a: Rehabilitation for Childhood Disorders (formerly HS 3090b-002)
4810a: Evidence-Based Practice in Rehabilitation Sciences (formerly HS 4090a-001)

COMMUNICATION SCIENCES & DISORDERS

Students in a Rehab Sciences Program, may also enroll in these courses and they are listed in the timetable.

Past course outlines are available by clicking on the link at the top right.

Special Topics Courses for 2012-13

Second Year

HS 2090B section 001 – Introduction to Athletic Injuries
Students will be introduced to the most commonly occurring activity injuries. Initial treatments, guidelines for referral, return to sport, and preventative measures will be discussed.

Third Year

HS 3090A section 001 – Exercise Nutrition
This course investigates the important food/food components for individuals involved in chronic (regular) exercise programs and/or competition, i.e., athletes. The focus is on understanding how dietary needs are affected by regular, vigorous physical activity and the mechanisms responsible for any performance enhancement/decrement resulting from the supplementation of specific foods or food components.

HS 3090A section 002 – Cognitive Ergonomics
Cognitive ergonomics is concerned with mental processes, such as perception, decision- making, memory, reasoning, and response execution, as they affect interactions among humans and other elements of a work system. Relevant topics include skilled performance, attention, distraction, human error, work stress, risk perception, and Kansei engineering as these may relate to human-system design, safety and productivity. Assessment methodologies include hierarchical task analysis, cognitive task analysis, mental workload, human error identification/accident investigation, and situation awareness assessment.

HS 3091A section 001 – Enabling health & well-being through occupation
This course addresses the construct of ‘occupation’ as explored and understood within the field of occupational science and practice of occupational therapy. In this course, students will develop an understanding of the broad conceptualization of human occupation, which incorporates all that people do to occupy their time on a daily basis. Within the course, the construct of occupation will be addressed in relation to particular dimensions, such as time and place, and concepts, such as identity and justice. Students will develop and apply an occupational perspective to address contemporary issues and to consider the relationship between occupation and health and well-being.

HS 3090B section 001 – Rural Health Topics
This course provides an overview of health issues for various groups in rural areas. It will focus on Ontario, Canadian, and some international examples using a social determinants of health perspective. Other factors that affect rural health, such as policy and politics, culture, human resources, and health services, will also be addressed.

HS 3090B section 003 – Global Sport and Health Politics
A trans-national comparative examination of sport and health policy and politics. Topics will include but are not limited to sport for development and peace; international physical activity policies; the politics sport for disease prevention and health promotion (i.e. aids awareness, obesity); and sport for urban and community development. Students will critically examine sport and its role in international development, health promotion, and global politics.

HS 3091B section 001 – Health and Music Performance
In this course we will explore the relationship between health and music performance. This exploration will include factors that shape the performance of healthy musicians as well as health risks and illnesses that can be encountered by professional and amateur musicians. Social determinants of health and advocacy issues for musicians’ health will also be addressed. This course will contribute to your understanding of how health professionals, policy makers, funding agencies, arts management organizations, educators and musicians themselves can contribute to improved health outcomes in this special population. Throughout the course, cases, videos, readings and guest lectures will enhance your understanding of the complex interactions between health and music performance.

HS 3091B section 002 – Health Implications of International Migration
This course will address the global phenomenon of contemporary international migration. Focusing largely on the Canadian immigration context, the health implications of international migration will be explored from an interdisciplinary perspective. Topics will include the global circulation of skilled health professionals, as well as the challenges faced by newcomers attempting to integrate into receiving societies.

Fourth Year Courses

HS 4090A section 002 – Health Innovation and Leadership
This introductory course is designed to provide students with a broad understanding of leading innovation in the health care system in Canada. The course will provide students with “hands on” experience/exposure to health care system issues through guest speakers, debates, and in class assignments. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

Describe health system structure and organization including governance, organization of health services, and strategic management
Describe leadership concepts associated with innovation and the structure and function of the Canadian health care system
Identify health system issues and challenges that require leadership innovation including change management and organizational culture to support innovation.
Identify quality of health care outcomes, and accountability structures for health care delivery
Develop and implement a project plan for an identified health system innovation project

HS 4091A section 001 – Rehabilitation Psychology

The course will cover a range of applications of psychology in rehabilitation. Since the physical consequences of illness or injury are stabilized after acute medical treatment, psychology plays a unique role in the rehabilitation phase, where further progress may be determined by motivation and general psychological adjustments to recovery. These include the rehabilitation of traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, and sport injury. Also, topics such as pain management, cognitive retraining, and psychological adjustment to disability will be explored.

HS 4090B section 001 – Health Care Costs and Challenges
Spending on health care continues to grow at rates considerably faster than inflation. Many are now asking hard questions about value for money, and in particular, the quality of health care they are receiving for this increased spending. With increased accountable being placed on governments and health care organizations they are now challenged to evaluate their costs for service delivery and provide creative and innovative solutions to delivering effective, efficient and quality healthcare services.

HS 4090B section 002 - Guidelines for Physical Activity and Exercise for Older Adults
This course explores the scientific evidence base for derivation of physical activity/exercise recommendations for older adults. Content will include the epidemiology of the relationships of physical activity with health outcomes including prevention of: i) chronic diseases of aging and early mortality, and (ii) loss of functional independence. Analysis of exercise program interventions of both aerobic resistance training of older adults will be used to assess the physiological adaptations and disease and functional outcomes, and to serve as models of effective interventions.

HS 4091B section 001 – Health System Change Management
Calls for health system reform abound but how to change a system is rarely addressed. We build on classic change management theories, complexity science and social movement theories to analyze current, hot health system issues and to develop actionable change processes. Case method of learning, experiential exercises and lectures used.

HS 4092G section 001 – Health and Marginalized Populations
This is an advanced undergraduate course in health sciences that examines from critical perspectives, namely medical anthropology, feminism, and political-economy theory, a series of health issues that are experienced by a diverse array of marginalized populations. One of the primary objectives of this class is for students to develop an understanding of how macro (i.e., gender, political-economy, race, poverty) and micro (i.e., individual factors within the context of people’s daily lives) forces intersect to produce both marginality and particular health issues/experiences for people who are relegated to, or find themselves on, the margins of society.

Special Topic courses now with Permanent numbers

HS 3101B – Health Care Law (introduced as a special topic last year)
A survey of the law governing the provision of treatment, counseling and care in Ontario. Topics and issues may include capacity to consent, negligence, documentation, confidentiality, disclosure, mandatory reporting, and health information privacy legislation.

HS 4250A – Population Health Interventions (introduced as a special topic last year)
This course will be lecture/seminar style. It will focus on the theory, research, and methods of changing psychological, social, and environmental factors known to influence the health of the population. The specific focus will be upon understanding the population health approach and how to design, implement and evaluate population health interventions.

New Courses Being introduced this year

HS 4240G – Knowledge Translation in Health
Providing the latest research findings doesn’t mean that the research is actually being used! Professionals and organizations are constantly being encouraged to make decisions based on recent research findings, yet there is a large gap between what is known, what decisions are made and what gets implemented. The objective of this course is to have students gain an understanding of “how can we support the use of research”. In order to accomplish this, the course will address how knowledge is created, the process by which knowledge is implemented and how knowledge is exchanged and evaluated.

HS 4630 – Health Equity Models and Approaches
Examples of health inequity and inequality exist within our community and abroad. This course is designed to help students identify and understand current health inequity and inequality concerns. Furthermore students will learn about approaches and strategies that address health inequity and inequality locally and globally.

HS 4721B – Aging and Marginalized Populations
This course examines aging from the perspective of vulnerable, under represented and at-risk populations. Students will develop an understanding of the unique health experiences and challenges faced by older individuals who are relegated to, or find themselves on, the margins of society.

HS 4740A Chronic Disease Prevention
Chronic disease is a tremendous burden for our health care system and an economic burden for Canada. This course will examine the prevalence of chronic disease, key factors associated with the significant increase in chronic diseases, and strategies for primary prevention such as an active lifestyle, good nutrition, healthy weight, as well as secondary prevention of complications.

Procedures for Accommodation of Medical or Personal Issues

A Western Student Medical Certificate is required when a student is seeking academic accommodation. This documentation should be obtained at the time of the initial consultation with the physician. Students who visit Student Health Services will now use the Student Medical Certificate form. This documentation will be given to you at the time of your visit and should be given to your Faculty Academic Counsellor.