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Medical Sciences Degree Planner

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Medical Sciences 

All built directly into one degree, the BSc in Medical Sciences connects the faculties of Science, Medicine, and Arts and Social Sciences to prepare you for post-graduate programs, including entrance exams and interviews, for a number of careers in the biomedical sciences. Complete your undergraduate degree as a major, or consider completing an honours degree and/or earning one or more certificates if certain courses are taken as part of the program.


Your Major Map: Medical Sciences

The Medical Sciences Major Map highlights academic and co-curricular opportunities and provides an overview of how students can customize their degree. Students are encouraged to connect with advising supports at Dalhousie and use the Academic Calendar and Timetable to create their course plan.


Where your degree can take you

A BSc in Medical Sciences builds the foundation that medical schools, pharmacy schools, dentistry programs, nursing programs, and many other health-related professional programs across Canada require.

As much as this program prepares you for a post-graduate health-related profession, and writing admission tests such as the MCAT, DAT, OAT, GRE, the skills and knowledge acquired through this program can be applied to, but are not limited to career paths in:

Medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, occupational therapy, veterinary medicine, research, government and regulatory affairs, education, law, non-profit organizations, and consulting among many more. 


Core competencies gained

Discipline-related skills: 

  • A solid background in basic sciences such as biology, chemistry, mathematics, statistics, biochemistry, etc.   
  • Knowledge of core biomedical disciplines for success in medically-related professional degree programs such as medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, etc. 
  • An understanding of the theory and practice of medicine, how our society addresses health problems, and the current ethical dilemmas faced by those in the health field

Transferable skills: 

  • Academic writing and presentation skills
  • Critical thinking, synthesis, and analytical skills
  • Communication skills
  • Numeracy skills
  • Time/project management
  • Leadership and teamwork
  • Basic statistical analyses
  • Research skills
  • Laboratory techniques

Possible careers and employment

Medical science Alumni can be employed within a variety of industries and have multiple career path options. These are influenced by the student's elective courses, experiential learning choices and certificates. Some of the options below will typically require additional or graduate-level training*, while some can be pursued following the completion of baccalaureate program only.

  • Doctor*
  • Dentist*
  • Pharmacist*
  • Veterinarian*
  • Nurse*
  • Physiotherapist*
  • Researcher*
  • Lawyer*
  • Optometrist*
  • Radiological technician
  • Medical claims specialist
  • Nuclear medicine technician
  • Ultrasound technician
  • Medical laboratory technician
  • Community health worker
  • Social worker*
  • Hospital administrator
  • Public health administrator
  • Government researcher or administrator
  • Teacher/professor*
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