Purpose

The Pre-Health Science program will provide students with the opportunity to explore and study subjects related to Health Science programs at Vancouver Community College (VCC) and other institutions.  Students will gain an appreciation of professional roles and responsibilities in the health care system, and will gain the knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to help them be successful in a health science career path that is most suited to them.  The goal of the program is to prepare individuals for success in their chosen health science career program.

Two seats will be held in each of the following VCC’s Health Sciences program for those students who have successfully completed the Pre-Health Sciences program AND who have met that program’s English Language Proficiency, Math and other requirements.  If more than two graduates apply into one of these programs, the two students with the highest GPA will be selected. This will apply only in the year of program completion and not in future years.  Students must apply at least two months prior to the program start date to be considered.  Those who are not eligible for the two retained seats will be assessed in the same way as all other applicants:

• Practical Nursing
• Health Care Assistant
• Medical Laboratory Assistant
• Pharmacy Technician
• Occupational/Physical Therapist Assistant
• Health Unit Coordinator
• Certified Dental Assisting
• Dental Reception Coordinator

Students wishing to enter the Practical Nursing program, who successfully complete the Pre-Health Sciences Biology 1 with at least a 68%, and the Pre-Health Sciences Biology 2 with at least a 68%, will not be required to take BIOL 1602 which is a program pre-requisite for the Practical Nursing program.  This applies for 3 years after completion of the Pre-Health Sciences program.  

Students wishing to enter the Health Unit Coordinator program, who have successfully completed PREH 1115, Medical Terminology, will not have to take HLUC 1100 Medical Terminology in the Health Unit Coordinator program. 

Duration

The program will be 8 months (32 weeks), full time.  Students must complete the program within 3 years from the time they start.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

1. Select a Health Sciences career path aligned with their interests

2. Use computers and other technological tools to perform related tasks

3. Apply a variety of Math, Biology, and Chemistry concepts to health related situations

4. Collaborate with others in ways that contribute to effective working relationships and support an understanding of Interprofessional collaboration

5. Communicate clearly in written, spoken and electronic form in relation to health studies

6. Utilize problem solving and critical thinking skills that are essential for success in health sciences programs

7. Develop depth and breadth of knowledge through the exploration of multiple health sciences courses and an elective course

Admission Requirements

• Grade 12 graduation, or equivalent, or those pending completion of Grade 12 with permission of the Dean of Health Sciences, or delegate;
• English 12 with a B grade or higher, or equivalent, or those currently enrolled in English 12, or equivalent, with permission of the Dean of Health Sciences, or delegate AND English Language Proficiency: http://www.vcc.ca/applying/registration-services/english-language-proficiency-requirements/;
• Biology 12 with a C+ grade or higher, or VCC BIOL 0983 & 0993, or equivalent;
• Chemistry 11 with a C+ grade or higher, or equivalent;
• Pre-Calculus 11 with a C grade or higher, or Foundations of Math 11 with a C grade or higher, or equivalent. If a C in Pre-calculus 11 or a C in Foundations of Math 11 was not achieved, applicants must write the VCC Basic Arithmetic Assessment and score 80% or higher.

Program Requirements

Plan of Study Grid

First Year
Term One		Credits
BIOL 1125	Pre-Health Sciences Biology 1	2.5
MATH 1105	Appl Math for Hlth Sciences 1	2.5
CHEM 1130	Chemistry for Health Sciences	2.5
PREH 1100	Info Systems for Hlth Sciences	2.5
PREH 1105	Hlth Care Sys & Hlth Care Team	2.5
PREH 1110	Info & Research Fundamentals	1
PREH 1115	Medical Terminology	2.5
	Credits	16
Term Two
BIOL 1225	Pre-Health Sciences Biology 2	2.5
MATH 1205	Appl Math for Hlth Sciences 2	2.5
ENGL 1100	English 1	3
PREH 1200	Career Planning	1
PREH 1205	Communicating for Success	2.5
PREH 1210	Interprofessional Collaboratio	2.5
Elective: Students will be able to choose from post-secondary level courses within Vancouver Community College or transfer post-secondary credits from another institution. The course must be at least 45 hours and must be from a recognized, credentialed institution.		3
	Credits	17
	Total Credits	33

Evaluation of Student Learning

Students will be evaluated using a variety of methods including, but not limited to, tests, exams, written assignments, group projects, oral presentations.  Attendance and participation is expected for all classes.  In order to receive the Pre-Health Sciences certificate, students must achieve at least a C- in each course and have an overall average of C or above in the entire program.    

In order to be granted seats in any other Health Sciences program, students must apply and meet the admission requirements specified for those programs.  

Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)

PLAR will be considered on a course by course basis. 

Transcript of Achievement

The evaluation of learning outcomes for each student is prepared by the instructor and reported to the Student Records Department at the completion of semesters.

The transcript typically shows a letter grade for each course. The grade point equivalent for a course is obtained from letter grades as follows:

Grading Standard

Transcript of Achievement

Grade	Percentage	Description	Grade Point Equivalency
A+	90-100		4.33
A	85-89		4.00
A-	80-84		3.67
B+	76-79		3.33
B	72-75		3.00
B-	68-71		2.67
C+	64-67		2.33
C	60-63		2.00
C-	55-59		1.67
D	50-54	Minimum Pass	1.00
F	0-49	Failing Grade	0.00
S	70 or greater	Satisfactory – student has met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards	N/A
U		Unsatisfactory – student has not met and mastered a clearly defined body of skills and performances to required standards	N/A
I		Incomplete	N/A
IP		Course in Progress	N/A
W		Withdrawal	N/A
Course Standings
R		Audit. No Credits	N/A
EX		Exempt. Credit Granted	N/A
TC		Transfer Credit	N/A

Grade Point Average (GPA)

1. The course grade points shall be calculated as the product of the course credit value and the grade value.

2. The GPA shall be calculated by dividing the total number of achieved course grade points by the total number of assigned course credit values. This cumulative GPA shall be determined and stated on the Transcript at the end of each Program level or semester.

3. Grades shall be assigned to repeated courses in the same manner as courses taken only once. For the purpose of GPA calculation of grades for repeated courses, they will be included in the calculation of the cumulative GPA.