The Bachelor of Applied Health in Paramedicine combines occupational content provided by the Paramedicine Diploma programs at Holland College (or any two-year CMA-accredited paramedicine program) with foundational science courses, senior specialized courses in the life sciences, and advanced capstone paramedicine courses at the University of Prince Edward Island.
It is designed for paramedics interested in enhancing their science knowledge as well as their research and communication skills, thus increasing access to post-graduate opportunities (e.g., Master's degree programs) and improving job prospects.
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Note: Current UPEI students should refer to Student Planning in myUPEI and the UPEI Academic Calendar governing their entry year, and speak to an academic advisor about course requirements. The course structure presented for this program is a recommended, unofficial progression for prospective students.
Note: As per Academic Regulation 1h, all undergraduate degree programs require successful completion of IKE-1040 (new for students beginning or returning after re-application in Fall 2022); one of UPEI-1010, UPEI-1020, or UPEI-1030, and a Writing Intensive Course.
While at UPEI, students in the Bachelor of Applied Health in Paramedicine program will take 20 courses. Of these, 16 are required (core) courses and the rest will be electives. The core courses will primarily be in Biology, with four advanced courses in Paramedicine:
- Five 1000-level courses:
- First Year Experience (UPEI 1010 or UPEI 1020 or UPEI 1030)
- Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology (BIO 1310)
- General Chemistry I (CHEM 1110)
- Indigenous Teachings of Turtle Island (IKE 1040)
- Introductory Statistics (STAT 1210) OR Introduction to Probability and Statistics (STAT 1910)
- Four 2000-level courses
- Cell and Molecular Biology (BIO 2210)
- Microbiology (BIO 2060)
- Human Genetics (BIO 2240)
- Human Biochemistry (BIO 2250)
- Two 3000-level courses:
- Research Methods and Communications in Biology (BIO 3310)
- Medical Microbiology (BIO 3750)
- Five 4000-level courses:
- Basic and Clinical Immunology (BIO 4750) OR Medical Biology (BIO 4050)
- Health Promotion, Planning and Evaluation (PARA 4010)
- Disaster Medicine and Crisis Response (PARA 4020)
- Methods in Evidence-based Clinical Practice (PARA 4030)
- Current Issues in Paramedicine (PARA 4040)
Four elective courses from the list of recommended electives. Two of these electives must be from Science.
After completing their first year of study, students with an average of 75% or above may apply to complete an Honours thesis and enrol in Advanced Research and Thesis in Paramedicine (PARA 4900).
Course sequence
Year 1
- Biology 1310 (Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology)
- Biology 2060 (Microbiology)
- Biology 2210 (Cell Biology)
- Biology 2240 (Human Genetics)
- Biology 2250 (Human Biochemistry)
- Chemistry 1110 (General Chemistry I)
- IKE 1040 (Indigenous Teachings of Turtle Island)
- Paramedicine 4010 (Health Promotion, Planning, and Evaluation)
- UPEI 1010, OR UPEI 1020, OR UPEI 1030 (First Year Experience)
- 1 Elective (recommended from the list below)
Year 2
- Biology 3310 (Research Methods and Communications in Biology)
- Biology 3750 (Medical Microbiology)
- Biology 4050 (Medical Biology) OR 4750 (Basic and Clinical Immunology)
- Paramedicine 4020 (Disaster Medicine and Crisis Response)
- Paramedicine 4030 (Methods in Evidence-based Clinical Practice)
- Paramedicine 4040 (Current Issues in Paramedicine)
- Statistics 1210 (Introductory Statistics) OR 1910 (Introduction to Probability and Statistics)
- 3 Electives (for a total of 120 semester hours of credit) OR Paramedicine 4900 (Advanced Research and Thesis in Paramedicine) AND 2 Electives (for a total of 126 semester hours of credit for the Honours designation)
Electives
Students complete the degree requirements by choosing four electives. Two of these electives must be from Science. Students are encouraged to take two electives from the same discipline (e.g., Psych 1010 and 1020) as these are set up to be taught in the first and second semesters. It will also make it easier to select electives in the same discipline the following year. NOTE: Approved students may register for Paramedicine 4900 (Advanced Research and Thesis in Paramedicine) in which case they require fewer electives in their second year and will be eligible to graduate with a Bachelor of Applied Health in Paramedicine with Honours.
List of recommended electives
- Business 1010 - Introduction to Business
- Business 1710 - Organizational Behaviour
- Biology 1320 - Organisms and Their Environment
- Chemistry 1120 - General Chemistry II
- Chemistry 2430 - Organic Chemistry
- Foods and Nutrition 1010 - Concepts and Controversies in Nutrition
- Foods and Nutrition 2110 - Introductory Nutrition I
- Foods and Nutrition 2120 - Introductory Nutrition II
- Kinesiology 1010 - Introduction to Kinesiology
- Philosophy 1050 - Technology, Values, and Science
- Philosophy 1110 - Critical Thinking
- Physics 1210 - Physics for Life Sciences I
- Physics 1220 - Physics for Life Sciences II
- Psychology 1010 - Introduction to Psychology I
- Psychology 1020 - Introduction to Psychology II
The Honours program in Paramedicine is designed to provide research experience at the undergraduate level. It is available to students with a strong academic background who intend to continue studies at the postgraduate level in Paramedicine or some related field, or to students who intend to pursue a career where research experience would be an asset.
Admission to the Honours program requires students to have a combined minimum average of 75% (CGPA of 3.0) in all courses taken in the first year of study; and a combined minimum average of 75% (CGPA of 3.0) in all previous Biology courses taken. Students interested in doing the Honours degree should consult with the Associate Program Director, Paramedicine, as early as possible and apply to the program no later than March 31 of the student's third year of study.
Note: Detailed information for students on the Honours program is available from the Associate Program Director, Dr. Aaron Sibley, at asibley@upei.ca.
This is an articulated degree. To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Applied Health in Paramedicine, applicants must have graduated from Holland College with a diploma in Primary Care Paramedicine (two years; PCP) or a post-graduate certificate in Advanced Care Paramedicine (three years; ACP).
Graduates from other public institutions with two-year Accreditation Canada accredited paramedicine programs may also be eligible to apply to this program. All applicants must achieve a minimum grade of 70% in their diploma program to be eligible for admission to the program.
Refer to the UPEI Academic Calendar for more information.
UPEI has about 250 faculty members—exceptional scholars, teachers, and mentors, with more being hired each year as we open new, progressive, and unique programs. But the story isn’t just in the numbers. It’s in the quality of our people.
Dr. Trevor Jain, director of UPEI’s Bachelor of Science in Paramedicine program, is the recipient of the Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians’ (CAEP) 2023 Emergency Physician of the Year (East-Urban) Award and the 2023 Dr. Alan Drummond Advocacy Award.
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