Bachelor of Health Science - good idea?

[jessikt]

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Hey again everyone,

So I was thinking of just continuing my Communication degree as I am about to enter my third year of university (but I have taken nearly ALL electives so far, so it doesn't really matter if I change my major) because it was recommended to me in another thread that I just finish up the communication degree because it could be beneficial to applying to vet school, but I just have no interest in those classes. I did however find that my school has a Bachelor of Health Science program that sounds really really interesting to me.

I guess my question is, does this sound like a good potential pre-vet degree? Would a degree like this be beneficial in applying to vet school?


Some sample classes:

ANP1105 Human Anatomy and Physiology I
ANP1106 Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIO1140 Introduction to Cell Biology
CHM1311 Principles of Chemistry
ENG1100 Workshop in Essay Writing
or
ENG1112 Technical Report Writing
HSS1101 Determinants of Health
PHI1101 Reasoning and Critical Thinking
PHI1370 Philosophical Issues in Health Care
or
PHI2396 Bioethics
PSY1101 Introduction to Experimental Psychology
SOC1101 Principles of Sociology
APA2121 Nutrition and Health
BAC2100 Microbiology and Immunology
HSS2101 Health Problems
HSS2102 Language, Communication and Health
HSS2121 History of Health Care
...

Thanks!!


(The degree is described on the website as:

Bachelor in Health Sciences Honours

This program provides general training in personal and public health while exploring our current healthcare system. This program is designed mostly for students interested in graduate studies in audiology, speech-language pathology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, as well as human kinetics or those planning a second undergraduate degree with university-level prerequisites, such as the program in medicine. This program could also enable more ambitious students to meet the requirements of a major in gerontology or a certificate in business administration. )

 

[dpcdoc]

For what it is worth, I earned a BS in Clinical Health Sciences from George Washington University and was accepted this cycle. I think it all depends on the strength of the rest of your package. Best of luck to you.

 

[charismarl]

I truly think you should pick a major that you are interested in and that, more importantly, you will excell in. If you look at the profile of accepted persons you will see about 50% of people accepted have Biology degrees but that the other 50% have very varied majors...everything from art history to anthropology. I myself have a biology degree because that's what I love and what I was interested in and having a very solid science background will likely help me out a bit in vet school; however, vet schools have pre-reqs for a reason...that's really all they think you need to have success at vet school. They do not require any specific type of major.

If you think you will do well (and truly numbers speak to admissions comittees), do whatever major you like the best. Just my $.02!

 

[twelvetigers]

I agree with charismarl - do what you like best. If it's health sciences, great. If it's French, that's fine too. Just take/do well in the pre-reqs and be prepared to explain why you chose to do [insert major here] instead of finishing the communications degree.

 

[david594]

Honestly, I would be a little bit wary of that major if you are hoping to graduate in 4 years ready to apply to vet school. If you have taken mostly Gen Ed's so far you are going to be in kind of rough shape if you are hoping to graduate in 2 more years with all your pre-reqs for vet school. Even if you were just taking pre-reqs, never mind other courses for a major.

"Principles of chemistry" being a 1 semester course also sounds more like an introductory course in chemistry for people who don't intend to go any farther with the subject. On the other hand for vet school you are going to need 2 semesters of gen chem, 2 semesters of orgo, and 1 semester of biochemistry and chances are this course would not be lining you up for that sequence.

Assuming no pre-reqs so far, you would still have:
2 semesters gen bio
2 semesters gen chem
2 semesters orgo
2 semesters physics
1 semester biochem
1 semester micro
1 semester genetics
1 semesters cell + molec
1 semesters statistics

That alone would be 3 full semesters of course work just in pre-reqs, never mind classes for an unrelated major. (not even taking into account the sequencing issues you have ahead of you like 5 semesters of sequential chemistry).

If you are hoping to graduate in 4 years, I think you would have to look for more of a pure science type major that encompasses a higher percentage of your pre-reqs as core courses to the major for that to be feasible.