Bachelor of Health Science in Respiratory Therapy

at Dalhousie University Canada

Engineering touches everyone's lives in countless ways. The opportunities in engineering are virtually limitless, allowing you to pursue a career in almost any field, in any industry, in any location around the world.

If you thrive in a smaller campus environment with average class sizes of 20 to 30 people, consider doing the first two years of your degree on our Truro campus. After completing your first two years (and earning an Engineering diploma), you will move to the Halifax campus to complete the final two years of your degree.

CIVIL ENGINEERING
Civil engineers provide a major contribution to society. They design and construct the infrastructures we use every day, from the roadways we travel on to the power stations that provide our homes with electricity.

Areas of focus
Students who choose to complete a degree in Civil Engineering will choose one of two distinct areas of focus:

• Option 1: Infrastructure
  • Students who choose structural engineering and materials will focus on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructures, including buildings, bridges, highways, airports, power plants and tunnels and the materials that will ensure their resiliency and sustainability. This stream allows students to choose technical electives from any of the sub-disciplines in Civil Engineering.
• Option 2: Earth and Environment
  • With a focus on water and wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and environmental systems analysis, students will learn to identify and design solutions to mediate and mitigate human impacts on the environment. Students in this option may choose to specialize in the Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences courses that are directly relevant to the Civil Engineering profession.

What will I learn?
Whether you choose to focus your studies by declaring a major, or customize your degree to meet your career goals, you'll learn the basic business disciplines of marketing, accounting, finance, business management and organizational behaviour. You'll also gain valuable IT skills as you learn to work with spreadsheet programs, database packages, and other software applications used in statistical analysis, financial projections, and market research.

Our business school has been judged to be among the best in the world with the accreditation of its programs by AACSB International (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). This accomplishment distinguishes Dalhousie as an internationally benchmarked, premium business school ranking among the world’s top-tier institutions.

Dalhousie offers one of the few accredited commerce co-op programs in Canada. The Commerce Co-op program is accredited by Co-operative Education and Work Integrated Learning (CEWIL) Canada for a six year period expiring December 2024. Achieving these accreditation standards ensures that the programs have a credible and valuable co-op educational strategy.

Sample courses:

• Business in a Global Context
• Business Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
• Production/Operations Management

WHY STUDY BIOCHEMISTRY & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AT DAL?
With a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, you’ll study the building blocks of life. Learn from professors who are conducting exciting research in evolutionary and genome biology and the metabolic basis of disease and cancer. At Dalhousie, you’ll set yourself up for a career in an emerging field at the forefront of discovery in medicine and biotechnology.

What will I learn?
Biochemistry and Molecular Biology are the molecular basis of life. You’ll get a deeper understanding of the biological function of large molecules such as proteins and DNA and interpret complex processes that define all living organisms.

You'll begin with foundation courses in biology and chemistry. Then, after an introduction to biochemistry theory and laboratory skills, you'll begin specialization in areas of biochemistry and molecular biology.  In fourth year, you'll have the opportunity to complete an honours project, gaining experience in hands-on laboratory research. Students will also have the opportunity to complete work terms through the co-op education program.

Chemical principles govern most aspects of life, from the food we eat to the technology we take for granted. Understanding chemistry helps us protect our environment and influence people’s daily lives. As a Dalhousie chemistry student, you’ll notice the dedication our award-winning faculty have to teaching and mentoring students.  

What will I learn?
Studying chemistry at Dalhousie involves training in the four major branches of chemistry: inorganic, organic, analytical and physical. Through courses and labs you’ll acquire a range of skills from organizing large bodies of information, to quantitative analytical skills. You’ll learn to describe your work clearly, both orally and in writing. You’ll learn how to reliably generate data, and asses the meaning of your results.

First-year students begin by taking foundation courses in chemistry, physics and math. These courses will give you the background for more in-depth studies in topics such as materials science, chemistry of living systems and quantum mechanics and chemical bonding.

Students who want a challenging program have the opportunity to complete an honours degree in their fourth year by conducting an independent research project. Co-op Education opportunities are also available to students who wish to put learning into practice and gain career-related experience while completing their degree.

At Dalhousie's Faculty of Agriculture in Truro, N.S., expert faculty and leading researchers guide students through a program that blends science and economics. You'll learn to see issues from a global perspective and develop the leadership skills to succeed.

What will I learn?
Agricultural Economics brings together elements of mathematics, management and the social sciences as part of a wide-ranging educational experience. Learning from respected faculty, researchers and guest lecturers from the agri-food industry, students form an understanding of food production, public policy, trade opportunities and international food aid, among other topics.

Materials engineering is indispensible in supplying materials to any industrialized nation. Materials engineers look at how materials are made; how and why certain materials are chosen for the manufacturing of different products like computers or cars; and how materials can be improved. 

Metals and materials are found in every aspect of society today. Materials have always been central to the advancement of civilization so it is not surprising that entire eras are named after them (bronze age, iron age). The importance of developing new, advanced materials is truly a global issue with societal demands for things such as more fuel efficient vehicles and faster computer processors reaching all time highs. Materials Engineers are the driving force behind such developments, having an unsurpassed understanding of the respective structure, properties and processing of materials. Consequently, graduates are employed in practically all industries. Principals amongst these are primary metal production, automotive, aerospace, government research establishments and consulting firms. Literally all graduates find immediate employment - historically, over 70% have secured full time positions before the start of their final academic term. These niche individuals are highly respected within the companies that they work for and many advance into upper managerial and executive positions.

WHY STUDY HEALTH SCIENCES AT DAL?
We’re a nationally accredited school that offers a Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) in four professional disciplines: Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Radiological Technology, and Respiratory Therapy. We also offer Medical Laboratory Technology in the Post Diploma program. We’re the only fully integrated four-year university-based program of this kind in Canada.

RESPIRATORY THERAPY
Who are Respiratory Therapists?
Respiratory therapists (RTs) are highly skilled health care professionals who help people with their breathing. RTs care for patients by evaluating, treating and maintaining heart and lung function. They treat all age groups, from newborns to the elderly.

Where do Respiratory Therapists work?
Respiratory therapists work in a variety of hospital and/or community settings:   

• Intensive care units
• Emergency departments
• Operating rooms
• Neonatal nurseries
• Outpatient clinics
• Sleep labs
• Home care
• Smoking cessation programs
• Medical equipment sales
• Education and research

How do I become a Respiratory Therapist?
The School of Health Sciences offers a four year Bachelor of Health Science (BHSc) degree program, which includes theory and practice. Students will take core professional development courses with a  concentration on respiratory therapy specific skills. A diploma option is possible after completion of Year 3.   The program curriculum offers the necessary competencies to challenge the national certification examination administered by the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care (CBRC).

Examples of Courses in the Program

• Anatomy & Physiology
• Cardiopulmonary Physiology
• Respiratory Disease and Therapeutics
• Human Pregnancy and Fetal/Newborn Development 
• Mechanical Ventilation 
• Foundations of Health Care Practice
• Health Care Ethics
• Statistics
• Research Methods

Engineering touches everyone's lives in countless ways. The opportunities in engineering are virtually limitless, allowing you to pursue a career in almost any field, in any industry, in any location around the world.

If you thrive in a smaller campus environment with average class sizes of 20 to 30 people, consider doing the first two years of your degree on our Truro campus. After completing your first two years (and earning an Engineering diploma), you will move to the Halifax campus to complete the final two years of your degree.

CIVIL ENGINEERING
Civil engineers provide a major contribution to society. They design and construct the infrastructures we use every day, from the roadways we travel on to the power stations that provide our homes with electricity.

Areas of focus
Students who choose to complete a degree in Civil Engineering will choose one of two distinct areas of focus:

• Option 1: Infrastructure
  • Students who choose structural engineering and materials will focus on the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructures, including buildings, bridges, highways, airports, power plants and tunnels and the materials that will ensure their resiliency and sustainability. This stream allows students to choose technical electives from any of the sub-disciplines in Civil Engineering.
• Option 2: Earth and Environment
  • With a focus on water and wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and environmental systems analysis, students will learn to identify and design solutions to mediate and mitigate human impacts on the environment. Students in this option may choose to specialize in the Earth Sciences and Environmental Sciences courses that are directly relevant to the Civil Engineering profession.

Gain a deep understanding of the theory, design and application of computer science by exploring a wide range of areas including software development, algorithms, networking and artificial intelligence.

By the end of your degree, you will have the knowledge and skills to build, influence and evaluate technology. You’ll not only become a strong programmer but will master the skills needed to create new and innovative technologies that can shape how we will use computers and interact with each other in the future.

Top reasons to study Computer Science at Dalhousie

1. Develop the foundational knowledge and technical skills to build, influence and evaluate the technology of the future.
2. Get an accredited degree through our honours program, designed to provide you with a more challenging degree that prepares you for graduate school.
3. Gain work experience through co-op placements with companies like IBM, Twitter, and the Ocean Tracking Network and earn up to $10,000 per work term.
4. Learn along-side award-winning profs, leading innovative research in AI, Blockchain, Graphics, VR, Data Science, Web Systems, and more.
5. Be a part of a strong community of students, staff and professors and benefit from our dedicated resources and supports, student societies and dynamic learning spaces.

The Bachelor of Commuity Design (BCD) is a three-year program that explores ways in which people can work towards creating and maintaining healthy and sustainable communities. Our BCD Brochure gives you an overview of the degree.

If you are eager to make changes in the world, the BCD will help you develop the knowledge and skills to allow you to analyse issues facing communities, such as food security, just cities, sustainable transportation, and affordable housing. You will learn how to develop solutions to these pressing concerns in communities of different sizes. Our students care about the future of communities, are committed to sustainable urban sysems, and want to learn how to develop better designed environments. They are interested in protecting environmentally-sensitive landscapes and heritage neighbourhoods, and want to give commmunities the tools to make their own choices. Our students become part of our community, a close-knit network of faculty, alumni, employers, and community-based organizations.