1 Faculty of Science, Applied Science & Engineering Health Sciences Minor A proposal submitted to the Faculty of Science, Applied Science & Engineering Faculty of Arts Faculty of Business by Linda S. Nugent 1 (Former) Associate Dean of Health Sciences March 2005 Revised November 2005 1 This proposal has been reviewed by the BHS Curriculum Advisory Committee (2003-2005). Members of faculty on that Committee included: J. Buchanan (Nursing), L. Chalmers (Sociology), D. Flagel (Philosophy), D. MacAulay (Business), C. Thompson (Statistics & Computer Science; no longer at UNB), and A. Wilson (Psychology). Note: M. Kurak represented Philosophy during D. Flagel s sabbatical. Feedback from the Dean of Arts, Dean of Business, Dean of Science, Applied Science & Engineering as well as Chairpersons of departments directly impacted by the Minor was solicited in the fall of 2004.
2 NEW UNIVERSITY LEVEL PROGRAMMES GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF PROPOSALS I. PROGRAMME IDENTIFICATION 1. Institution The University of New Brunswick Saint John Campus 2. Faculty / School / Department Faculty of Science, Applied Science & Engineering 3. Programme name, level, credential Bachelor of Science, Applied Science & Engineering Health Sciences Minor 4. Proposed starting date September, 2006 II. PROGRAMME RATIONALE Health as a multidimensional concept should not be news to Canadians. In 1974, then Minister of Health, Marc Lalonde, released a federal working document entitled A New Perspective on the Health of Canadians in which he demonstrated the interconnectedness among human biology, environment, lifestyle, and the health care organization, and their impact on health. Three decades latter, the Canadian Public Health Initiative includes physical environment, income, and lifestyle as factors that affect health, and reinforces the implication of policy choices for health. Consequently, to be credible, a program of studies in the health sciences should provide opportunities for students 1) to engage in course work in the biological, physical, and social sciences, and 2) to benefit from study about health care structures and policy issues that can shape health. Such a comprehensive approach to the study of health sciences prepares students to assume greater responsibility for their own health and to participate from an informed stance in ongoing debates about changes to publicly funded Canadian health care. In light of the number of reviews by federally appointed commissions and provincial health committees (see for example, the Romanow and Kirby
3 Reports of 2002/ the New Brunswick Premier s Health Quality Council Report of 2002/ the N.B. Health Plan of 2004), these responsibilities will be part of students future as Canadians. Although students at UNB Saint John can currently take an occasional course related to physical, social, or behavioral health, these courses emphasize a single perspective of health rather than benefit from the understanding available through an interdisciplinary perspective. Similarly, faculties offering health-related courses operate in isolation of one another. The Health Sciences Minor has the potential to build ongoing dialogue across disciplines that could lead to the identification and pursuit of common areas of health research. III. PROGRAMME STRUCTURE Programme of Study Health Sciences Minor: Admission to the Minor is available to those students who have successfully completed 60 ch of course work and earned an average grade of C or better in all courses. Application to the Minor is normally made in the second year of a student s program for admission in year 3. The Minor consists of 24 ch of course work, a maximum of 12 ch to be taken at the lower level, and a minimum of 12 ch to be taken at the upper level. Courses in the Health Sciences Minor must be selected from the health, physical, social, and behavioral sciences (see pp.4-5). A grade of C or better must be achieved in each course taken for the Minor. To earn the Health Sciences Minor, students must successfully complete the health science course requirements of HSCI 2001, HSCI 4144 plus a minimum of 6 ch in each of two of the following groupings: 1) physical sciences, 2) social sciences / humanities / business or 3) behavioral sciences. Students must successfully complete a minimum of 3ch in the remaining category. Students must select the Minor in consultation with the Undergraduate Coordinator for Science, Applied Science & Engineering, and this should normally be done at the same time as they declare a Major.
4 Required Courses for the Minor Health Sciences Grouping The required introductory course provides an orientation to health generally and to different models of health specifically. It is the foundation for the subsequent HSCI eligible courses from the physical, social and behavioral sciences and to the upper level course in health science. Lower Level Course HSCI 2001: Introduction to Health 3ch (3C) Introduces the concept of health and its multidimensional nature. Examines health and its determinants, including those policy decisions that shape it. Draws from the contributions of the behavioural, physical and social sciences and the economic and political processes that influence health. Introduces the Canadian Health Care system and compares it to those utilized in other developed countries. Considers interdisciplinary aspects of health Amidst the rising costs of health care is an increased interest in ways to improve and maintain the health of Canadians, and not just treat them once ill. For example, the Canadian Public Health Initiative, created in 1999, has a twofold mission: (1) to enhance our understanding of factors related to health, and (2) to contribute to policies that would positively influence the health and wellness of Canadians (CIHI, 2004, p. iii). As part of the Canadian Institute of Health Information, the Initiative is predicated on the assumption that patterns of health (and illness) are largely a consequence of how we learn, live and work. Consequently, an introductory course of this nature is relevant and timely in contemporary society. Upper Level Course HSCI 4144: Issues in the Canadian Health Care System 3ch (3C) The overall purpose of this course is to facilitate an understanding of the organization of the health care system in Canada and the issues facing it. An historical context for the emergence of this public system and the influence of Canadian values in shaping and maintaining it provide the context of the course. The economic and political processes through which health care issues are identified and addressed are introduced, and health issues are situated amidst other social programs and policies in need of reform. An indepth exploration of key challenges, such as home care, and pharmacare, that occupy current public debate is provided, as are the contributions and positions of providers and consumers of health.
5 Elective Courses Physical Sciences, Social Sciences / Humanities / Business & Behavioral Sciences Groupings Eighteen credit hours (18 ch) are to be selected from the following list of HSCI-eligible courses in the physical, social and behavioral sciences. Of the 18 ch, a minimum of 6 ch must be successfully completed from two of the groupings, and a minimum of 3ch, from the third grouping. Unless otherwise indicated, students in the Minor will be admitted to these HSCI-eligible courses when they have met the disciplinary prerequisites for the courses, and b) they have completed HSCI 2001 with a grade of C or better and have obtained permission from the instructor. Physical Sciences Grouping Lower Level BIOL 1205 Biological Principles Part II 3ch BIOL 1411 Anatomy & Physiology 1 3ch BIOL 2015 Introductory Genetics 4ch (3C 3L) BIOL 2831 Pathophysiology 1 3ch CHEM 1842 Chemistry for Health Sciences 3ch CHEM 2441 Organic Chemistry for Biological Sciences 3ch Upper Level BIOL 3251 Introductory Microbiology 3ch BIOL 3132 Advanced Biochemistry 3ch STAT 3264 Statistics for Biology II 3ch Social Sciences / Humanities / Business Grouping Lower Level SOCI 2376 Sociology of Health, Illness & Healing 3ch ECON 2213 Poverty, Inequality & Income Redistribution 3ch PHIL 1053 Introduction to Logic 3ch POLS 1201 Introduction to Canadian Politics 3ch BA 2001 Business Communication 3ch Business course as approved by Faculty advisor 3ch Upper Level PHIL 3133 Health Care Ethics 1 3ch PHIL 3134 Health Care Ethics 11 3ch SOCI 4555 Gender & Organization 3ch POLS 3501 Contemporary Issues in Public Policy 3ch
6 Behavioral Sciences Grouping Upper Level PSYC 3033 Health Psychology 3ch PSYC 3293 Psychology of Aging 3ch PSYC 3343 Human Sexuality 3ch PSYC 3752 Drugs & Behavior 3ch FOR STUDENTS ENROLLED IN THE HEALTH SCIENCES MINOR: These courses cannot be double counted. That is, any course taken to fulfill the requirements of the Health Sciences Minor cannot be counted towards the requirement of any other Major or Minor program. PLEASE NOTE: The list of HSCI-eligible courses is updated annually, and the updated list is available from the Undergraduate Coordinator for Science, Applied Science & Engineering, and in the UNB calendar. Students seeking credit for courses not on this list must have written approval from the Undergraduate Coordinator for Science, Applied Science & Engineering prior to enrolling in the course. HSCI Minor students are responsible that they have completed the appropriate prerequisites for their HSCIeligible electives. IV. HUMAN AND PHYSICAL RESOURCE IMPLICATIONS 1. Considering the first five years of the programme, describe the extent to which current resources in the following areas would be used. Academic & Support Staff: The office of the Dean of Science, Applied Science & Engineering will assume administrative responsibility for the HSCI Minor. Existing faculty will teach the HSCI-eligible electives as part of their regular load for their disciplines. Since HSCI 2001, Introduction to Health, is a new course to the campus, a stipend will need to be available for the course. Provision of this stipend is a priority of the Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering. Sociology of Health & Illness will be given when there are resources available. A stipend for HSCI 4144 will be provided beginning in Year 3/4 of the program by the Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering if it is required to cover the additional demands on this course from students in the minor. Library: Several faculty at UNB Saint John are pursuing health-related research. Their interests coupled with the ongoing development of the BHS programme options, and resources currently used for the HSCI-eligible courses suggest that there are library holdings in the area of Health Sciences. The addition of text and journal resources may be necessary to support the introductory course and to accommodate course delivery to potentially greater numbers of students.
7 Classroom, Office & Laboratory Space: The only impact is the additional classroom scheduling for HSCI 2001 and a second section of HSCI 4144. Equipment: Not applicable. Other 2. What additional resources in these same areas will be needed during this time period, and at what time during the period? Teaching the introductory course will require one new stipend per year beginning in year one. As outlined above, a second stipend will be required on an ongoing basis. Normally, both stipends will come from the Office of the Dean of Science, Applied Science & Engineering. If the program develops to the point where multiple sections are required, stipends will be made available as allowed by standard budget processes. The introductory course will require $300.00 per year to cover the usual expenses associated with offering a course. Library resources for most of the courses in the program exist and are ongoing. Library resources for the introductory course will primarily be funded out of existing resource allocations to Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering departments associated with the Health Sciences Minor. An additional start-up of $1000 would support the introductory course. 3. What effect would the use of existing resources and of additional resources as described in response to 1 and 2 above have on the resources that would be available to other programmes? The existing and additional resources allocated to Health Sciences will establish a programme that will complement and enhance students opportunities at UNB Saint John. Specifically, it will a) provide a mix of relevant courses for students seeking admission to careers such as Pharmacy, Medicine, Dentistry; b) educate students to make informed decisions about their own health and to critically appraise public policies that shape health care delivery, and c) facilitate exchanges about health-related interests across faculties. No. 4. Are other programmes being eliminated or reduced in scope to liberate resources for the new programme? 5. Is it anticipated that there would need to be significant increases in resource allocations to the programme beyond the first five years?
8 No. Any future expansion of the programme would be dependent upon student enrolment and an ongoing commitment in the area of Health Sciences (generally) on the Saint John campus. V. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS 1. What would the full costs and incremental costs of the programme be for the first five years, broken down by major cost areas: - academic salaries One stipend will be required annually. This stipend is to be provided from the Office of the Dean of Science, Applied Science & Engineering. Additional stipends will only be required if enrollment capacity require additional sections to be added. - other salaries No. - equipment Not applicable - library acquisitions There is a need for an initial allocation of $1000. Additional resources will be allocated from within the Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering as available. - space Nil. 2. How does the institution anticipate that these costs will be covered? These costs will be covered through operational funds for the Faculty of Science, Applied Science and Engineering. 3. Does the institution anticipate receipt of additional income related to the introduction of the proposed programme, through fees, special grants or from other sources? Although the Health Sciences Minor will expand the opportunities available to students at UNB Saint John and may strengthen capacity to retain students, no additional income related to the introduction of the Health Sciences Minor is anticipated at the present time. The ongoing reputation of the programme
9 coupled with its uniqueness in the Maritime region, may mean that students who normally do not register at UNB Saint John may do so. 4. Is additional capital or operating funding through the annual government budgetary process required for the programme to be implemented, and if so, how much would be required? Not required. VI. THE NEED FOR THE PROGRAMME See section above Programme Rationale. In addition to complementing the four year BHS degree programme for professionals in Radiography, Nuclear Medicine, Radiation Therapy and Respiratory Therapy, and both the Basic and Post-diploma Nursing programmes, this new programme is testimony to UNB s commitment to the health care agenda of this province. It will mean that students in the Arts, Business and the Physical Sciences can pursue study in health sciences. Clientele: It is expected that there will be general interest in the Minor initially, and that the interest will grow as its availability is established on campus. While the Minor will expand students programme options, it is expected that this will play a bigger role in student retention than in attracting new students. What is the anticipated job market for students who complete the Minor? The Minor, in and of itself, will not give rise to particular career opportunities. Its successful completion, however, may enhance an undergraduate students marketability or positively impact their application to graduate or health professional programs. Specific examples would include: 1) a BBA and Health Sciences Minor, 2) the Health Sciences Minor and an application to pharmacy or physiotherapy. Any there accreditation requirements? No. VII. REVIEW PROCESS
10 1. Submission to the Departments of Nursing, Biology, Physical Sciences, Computer Science and Applied Statistics, Social Sciences, Humanities & Languages and Psychology for information and feedback. Submission to the Curriculum Committees of the Faculty of Science, Applied Science & Engineering (SASE) for approval concurrent with distribution to the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Business for information and comments. Once approved, the courses for the Health Sciences will be listed in the UNB calendar and updated annually. Submission to the SASE Faculty Council for approval. Submission by the Faculty of SASE Curriculum Committee to the Senate Curriculum Committee. Submission to Senate for approval. Submission to Board of Governors for approval. Submission to Maritime Provinces Higher Education Council for approval.