Coordinator: Trevor Jain

The Bachelor of Applied Health in Paramedicine (and Bachelor of Applied Health in Paramedicine with Honours) combine occupational content provided by the paramedicine diploma programs at Holland College (or another eligible two-year Accreditation Canada-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, students in this 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:

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.

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)

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 & Clinical Immunology (BIO 4750) or Medical Biology (BIO 4050)
• Health Promotion, Planning & Evaluation (PARA 4010)
• Disaster Medicine and Crisis Response (PARA 4020)
• Methods in Evidence Based Clinical Practice (PARA 4030), and 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 4900.

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
IKE 1040 (Indigenous Teachings of Turtle Island)

Paramedicine 4010 (Health Promotion, Planning and Evaluation)
UPEI 1010 OR 1020 OR 1030 (First Year Experience)
1 Electives (see 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 (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 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
Part I
Psychology 1020 – Introduction to Psychology
Part 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 METHODS IN EVIDENCE BASED CLINICAL PRACTICE
This course introduces students to the practice of Evidence Based Medicine with a focus on prehospital and emergency care. Students will learn the skills to formulate a clinical question, search and critically evaluate the medical literature, apply their knowledge to a clinical scenario. 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 Bachelor of Applied Health in Paramedicine program. Biology 3310 should be taken at least concurrently.
Three 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