Course Requirements
Course Maps
The Medical Sciences Program has a number of options for completing your degree. Please consult the course maps listed below for academic planning and guidance. Note that these are intended as tools to help you plan and ensure you are meeting your degree requirements, but not the only options for how to structure your degree. Please reach out to Kate Strapps, Medical Sciences Advisor, if you would like to discuss further options and course plans.
BSc-MedSci Major Honours Core Curriculum Map (Updated March 2026) [PDF - 101 kB]
BSc-MedSci Major Option with BIOC 3501 (Updated March 2026) [PDF - 121 kB]
BSc-MedSci Major Option with MICI 3115 (Updated March 2026) [PDF - 116 kB]
BSc-MedSci Major Option with PHYL 3520 (Updated March 2026) [PDF - 120 kB]
BSc-MedSci Major Option with PSYO/NESC 3180 (Updated March 2026) [PDF - 119 kB]
MedSci 90 Credit Hour (Updated March 2026) [PDF - 73 kB]
Core Courses
Course requirements for the 120 credit-hour major and the 120 credit-hour honours degrees in Medical Sciences are listed below. Please contact the Medical Sciences Advisor, Kate Strapps, for support with academic planning.
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - MEDICAL SCIENCES
(120 CREDIT HOURS) - MAJOR
| 1000 Level | Course Options |
Biology (Part 1) |
BIOL 1010.03 OR BIOL 1020.03 OR BIOA 1002.03 (Truro Campus) OR |
Biology (Part 2) |
BIOL 1011.03 OR BIOL 1021.03 OR BIOA 1003.03 (Truro Campus) OR |
Chemistry (Part 1) |
CHEM 1011.03 OR CHEM 1021.03 OR CHMA 1000.03 (Truro Campus) |
Chemistry (Part 2) |
CHEM 1012.03 OR CHEM 1022.03 OR CHMA 1001.03 (Truro Campus) |
| Mathematics | MATH 1215.03 OR MATH 1000.03 OR MTHA 1000.03 (Truro Campus) |
| Statistics | STAT 1060.03 OR MATH 1060.03 OR STAA 2000.03 (Truro Campus) OR |
Psychology (Part 1) |
PSYO 1011.03 OR PSYO 1031.03 OR |
Psychology (Part 2) |
PSYO 1012.03 OR PSYO 1032.03 OR |
| Physics |
We don't recommend that students complete this course in their first year of study Please reference course maps at the top of this page for academic planning purposes |
| Writing Course Requirements | 6.00 credit hours of approved writing requirement course(s)
Normally, 6.00 credit hours is required but select 3.00 credit hour courses will fulfill the full writing course requirements (i.e., SCIE 1111.03 OR ENGL 1111.03 for BSc students only)
It's recommended that students complete the writing requirement early in their programs, preferably in their first year of study
Please refer to the "Writing Course Requirements" section under "General Degree Requirements" in the Dalhousie University Academic Calendar for the complete list of courses that qualify as approved writing requirement course(s)
|
| Elective(s) | See note below** |
| 2000 Level | Course Options |
| Cell Biology | BIOL 2020.03 |
| Genetics & Molecular Biology | BIOL 2030.03 |
| Organic Chemistry (Part 1) | CHEM 2401.03 |
| Organic Chemistry (Part 2) | CHEM 2402.03 |
| Human Neurophysiology | PHYL 2041.03 |
| Human Systems Physiology | PHYL 2044.03 |
| Microbiology & Immunology | MICI 2100.03 |
| Social Determinants of Health | EPAH 2010.03 |
| Biochemistry | BIOC 2300.03 |
| Philosophy (Ethics) | PHIL 2805.03 OR PHIL 2810.03 |
| Selective(s) | See note below* |
| Elective(s) | See note below** |
| 3000 & 4000 Level | Course Options |
| Students in the major may choose one of the following courses: | MICI 3115.03 OR NESC 3180.03/PSYO 3180.03 OR PHYL 3520.03 OR BIOC 3501.03 |
| Pharmacology | PHAC 3030.03 |
| Human Anatomy | ANAT 3010.03 |
| Pathology | PATH 3000.03 |
| Epidemiology | EPAH 4010.03 |
| Capstone | SCIE 4005.03 |
| Selective(s) | See note below* |
| Advanced Selective(s) | See note below* |
| Elective(s) | See note below** |
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - MEDICAL SCIENCES (120 CREDIT HOURS) - MAJOR
*24.00 credit hours of Selectives, 3.00 credit hours of which must be Advanced Selectives
**21.00 credit hours of electives are required for your degree, including the writing requirement
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - MEDICAL SCIENCES WITH HONOURS
(120 CREDIT HOURS)
| 1000 Level | Course Options |
Biology (Part 1) |
BIOL 1010.03 OR BIOL 1020.03 OR BIOA 1002.03 (Truro Campus) OR |
Biology (Part 2) |
BIOL 1011.03 OR BIOL 1021.03 OR BIOA 1003.03 (Truro Campus) OR |
Chemistry (Part 1) |
CHEM 1011.03 OR CHEM 1021.03 OR CHMA 1000.03 (Truro Campus) |
Chemistry (Part 2) |
CHEM 1012.03 OR CHEM 1022.03 OR CHMA 1001.03 (Truro Campus) |
| Mathematics | MATH 1215.03 OR MATH 1000.03 OR MTHA 1000.03 (Truro Campus) |
| Statistics | STAT 1060.03 OR MATH 1060.03 OR STAA 2000.03 (Truro Campus) OR |
Psychology (Part 1) |
PSYO 1011.03 OR PSYO 1031.03 OR |
Psychology (Part 2) |
PSYO 1012.03 OR PSYO 1032.03 OR |
| Physics |
We don't recommend that students complete this course in their first year of study Please reference course maps at the top of this page for academic planning purposes |
| Writing Course Requirements | 6.00 credit hours of approved writing requirement course(s) Normally, 6.00 credit hours is required but select 3.00 credit hour courses will fulfill the full writing course requirements (i.e., SCIE 1111.03 OR ENGL 1111.03 for BSc students only) It's recommended that students complete the writing requirement early in their programs, preferably in their first year of studies Please refer to the "Writing Course Requirements" section under "General Degree Requirements" in the Dalhousie University Academic Calendar for the complete list of courses that qualify as approved writing requirement course(s) |
| Elective(s) | See note below** |
| 2000 Level | Course Options |
| Cell Biology | BIOL 2020.03 |
| Genetics & Molecular Biology | BIOL 2030.03 |
| Organic Chemistry (Part 1) | CHEM 2401.03 |
| Organic Chemistry (Part 2) | CHEM 2402.03 |
| Human Neurophysiology | PHYL 2041.03 |
| Human Systems Physiology | PHYL 2044.03 |
| Microbiology & Immunology | MICI 2100.03 |
| Social Determinants of Health | EPAH 2010.03 |
| Biochemistry | BIOC 2300.03 |
| Philosophy (Ethics) | PHIL 2805.03 OR PHIL 2810.03 |
| Selective(s) | See note below* |
| Elective(s) | See note below** |
| 3000 & 4000 Level | Course Options |
| Immunology | MICI 3115.03 |
| Pharmacology | PHAC 3030.03 |
| Human Anatomy | ANAT 3010.03 |
| Pathology | PATH 3000.03 |
| Epidemiology | EPAH 4010.03 |
| Honours | SCIE 4901.03 AND SCIE 4902.03 |
| Selective(s) | See note below* |
| Advanced Selective(s) | See note below* |
| Elective(s) | See note below** |
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE - MEDICAL SCIENCES WITH HONOURS (120 CREDIT HOURS)
*21.00 credit hours of Selectives, 3.00 credit hours of which must be Advanced Selectives
**21.00 credit hours of electives are required for your degree, including the writing requirement