Coordinator: Trevor Jain

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) 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.

While at UPEI, paramedics in the BSc. program will take 20 courses. Of these, 15 are required (core) courses and the rest will be electives. The core courses will primarily be in Biology, with four advanced courses in Paramedicine:  NOTE: As per Academic Regulation #1 h), all undergraduate degree programs require successful completion of IKE-1040, one of UPEI-1010, 1020 or 1030, and a Writing Intensive Course.

-3 first year courses: First Year Experience, Introductory Biology I (Introduction to Cell & Molecular Biology), Introductory Chemistry I (General Chemistry I);
-5 second year courses: Cell Biology, Microbiology, Human Genetics, Human Biochemistry, Introductory Statistics or Introduction to Probability and Statistics;
-2 third year courses: Research Methods & Communications, Medical Microbiology; and
-5 fourth year courses: Basic & Clinical Immunology or Medical Biology; Health Promotion, Planning & Evaluation; Disaster Medicine & Crisis Response; Critical Appraisal of Health Care Literature in the Acute Care Environment; and Current Issues in Paramedicine.

Paramedics will take five elective courses to complete this program. Two of these electives must be from Science (Chemistry, Nutrition, Kinesiology or Physics) or Social Science areas (Business, Psychology or Philosophy).

Students with an average of 75% in second year may apply to complete an Honours thesis and enrol in Paramedicine 4900 – Honours Thesis in Paramedicine.

COURSE SEQUENCE:

YEAR I
Biology 1310 (Introduction to Cell & Molecular Biology)
Biology 2060 (Microbiology)
Biology 2210 (Cell Biology)
Biology 2240 (Human Genetics)
Biology 2250 (Human Biochemistry)
Chemistry 1110 (General Chemistry I)
Paramedicine 4010 (Health Promotion, Planning and Evaluation)
UPEI 1010/1020/1030 (First Year Experience)
2 Electives (recommended from the list below)

YEAR 2
Biology 3310 (Research Methods and Communications in Biology)
Biology 3750 (Medical Microbiology)
Biology 4050 (Medical Biology) OR Biology 4750 (Basic and Clinical Immunology)
Paramedicine 4020 (Disaster Medicine and Crisis Response)
Paramedicine 4030 (Critical Appraisal of Health Care Literature in the Acute Care Environment)
Paramedicine 4040 (Current Issues in Paramedicine)
Statistics 1210 (Introductory Statistics) OR 1910 (Introduction to Probability and Statistics)
2 Electives or Paramedicine 4900 (Honours Research & Thesis)
1 Final Elective

ELECTIVES:
Students complete the degree requirements by choosing five electives. Two electives must be from one of the Sciences or Social Sciences/Humanities listed below. 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, and sometimes summer. It will also make it easier to get into electives in the same discipline the following year. NOTE: Students may also register for Paramedicine 4900 (Honours Thesis in Paramedicine) in which case they would need two fewer electives in their second year and then they may graduate with an Honours degree.

Students must take a minimum of two of these courses (Note: Some courses have pre-requisites):
Business 1010 – Introduction to Business
Business 1710 – Organizational Behaviour
Biology 1320 – Introduction to Organisms
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

PARAMEDICINE COURSES

4010 HEALTH PROMOTION, PLANNING AND EVALUATION
This course discusses the concepts of health and illness with an emphasis on understanding the origins, factors and conditions that determine health throughout the lifespan. Students are introduced to the practice of critical evaluation of systems used in health promotion and planning through reading published, literature, writing and class discussions.
PREREQUISITE: Registration in the BSc. Paramedicine program
Three semester hours a week

4020 DISASTER MEDICINE AND CRISIS RESPONSE
This advanced course introduces students to the practice of medicine within the disaster environment. Students learn how to plan and mitigate crisis response to both anthropogenic and natural disasters. Using modules, topics cover modelling of disaster predictions, organization of EMS before, during and after a disaster, disaster medicine principles and disaster management within the hospital environment.
PREREQUISITE Registration in the BSc. Paramedicine program
Three semester hours a week

4030 CRITICAL APPRAISAL OF HEALTH CARE LITERATURE IN THE ACUTE CARE ENVIRONMENT
This course introduces students to the practice of Evidence Based Medicine. Students will learn the skills to formulate a clinical question, search and critically evaluate the medical literature, and develop an answer to the question. Students will participate in “journal club” style rounds, and be expected to complete a project answering a clinical scenario of their choice.
PREREQUISITE: Registration in the BSc. Paramedicine program. Biology 3310 should be taken at least concurrently.
Three semester hours a week

4040 CURRENT ISSUES IN PARAMEDICINE
This course gives students an opportunity to explore in depth topics shaping paramedicine today and in the future. The current issues explored include such topics as: pre-hospital airway management, extended scope of practice, advanced life support, trends in trauma management and others. Students learn though evaluation of current medical literature and discussion of topics, some of which will be selected by participants.
PREREQUISITE: Registration in the BSc. Paramedicine program. Biology 3310 should be taken at least concurrently.
Three semester hours a week

4900 ADVANCED RESEARCH AND THESIS IN PARAMEDICINE
This is a 12 semester-hour course required of all Honours students. It is intended to provide the student with research experience by giving them an opportunity to design, carry out, evaluate and write up a research project in an approved scientific fashion, while working under the direction of an advisor. This course prepares students who intend to take up further studies at a post-graduate level or for a career where research experience would be an asset.
PREREQUISITE: Acceptance to the Honours Program in Paramedicine
Twelve semester hours a week