Courses
Course List
- Note: Courses listed below may be found by searching course code in the most recent version of the McMaster Undergraduate Academic Calendar
- BIOLOGY 1A03 – Cellular & Molecular Biology
- BIOLOGY 1M03 – Biodiversity, Ecosystems & Humanity
- BIOLOGY 2B03 – Cell Biology
- BIOLOGY 2C03 – Genetics
- CHEM 1A03 – Introductory Chemistry I
- CHEM 1AA3 – Introductory Chemistry II
- ENVSOCTY 1HB3 – Populations, Cities & Development
- ENVSOCTY 2HI3 – Health and Place
- ENVSOCTY 3HP3 – Population Health and Aging
- HLTHAGE 1BB3 – Introduction to Aging and Society
- HLTHAGE 3D03 – Perspective on Disability, Chronic Illness and Aging
- HLTHAGE 3E03 – Ethical Issues in Health and Aging
- HLTHAGE 3N03 – Aging & Mental Health
- HTHSCI 3QA3 : Qualitative Research Methods in Health
- LIFESCI 2L03 – Living Systems Laboratory
- LIFESCI 2N03 – Human Nutrition for the Life Sciences
- LIFESCI 3L03 – Laboratory Methods in Life Sciences
- LIFESCI 4W03 – Advanced Topics in Nutrition
- MOLBIOL 3M03 – Fundamental Concepts of Development
- MOLBIOL 4K03 – Research Advances in Biology of Aging
- PSYCH 1X03 – Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
- PSYCH 1XX3 – Foundations in Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour
- PSYCH 2AA3 – Child Development
- PSYCH 2E03 – Sensory Processes
- PSYCH 2NF3 – Clinical Neuropsychology
- PSYCH 3AG3 – Aging
- PSYCH 3GG3 – Essentials of Developmental Psychology
- STATS 2B03 – Statistical Methods for Science
- SOCWORK 1AA3 – So You Think You Can Help? Introduction to Social Work I
Course Map (Option 1)
- The first aging pathway is focused more on biology, nutrition, and the environment.
- There are three journeys through this pathway.
- Journey one begins with BIOLOGY 1A03, BIOLOGY 1M03, CHEM 1A03 and CHEM 1AA3 in level I. BIOLOGY 1A03 and 1M03 lead to BIOLOGY 2C03, whereas CHEM 1A03, CHEM 1AA3, and BIOLOGY 1A03 together lead to BIOLOGY 2B03. BIOLOGY 2B03 leads to MOLBIOL 3M03, which satisfies the Laboratory Skills requirement in the Life Sciences Program. Alternately, BIOLOGY 2B03 and BIOLOGY 2C03 lead to MOLBIOL 4K03 in level IV.
- Journey two begins with LIFESCI 2N03 in level II, which leads to LIFESCI 4W03 in level IV.
- Journey three begins with ENVSOCTY 1HB3 in level I, which leads to ENVSOCTY 2HI3 in level II or ENVSOCTY 3HP3 in level III.
- Finally, LIFESCI 2L03 leads to LIFESCI 3L03, which also satisfies the Laboratory skills requirement.
Course Map (Option 2)
- The second aging pathway is focused more on the social sciences, including psychology, social work, and health and aging.
- There are four journeys through this pathway, with supplementary courses in level III.
- Journey one begins with SOCWORK 1AA3 in level I, which leads to SOCWORK 4L03 in level IV.
- Journey two begins with PSYCH 1X03 in level I, which leads to PSYCH 2AA3 in level II, which leads to PSYCH 3AG3 in level III.
- Journey three begins with PSYCH 1XX3 in level I, which leads to PSYCH 2NF3 and PSYCH 2E03 in level II, which, together with STATS 2B03, lead to PSYCH 3GG3 in level III. PSYCH 3GG3 can also lead to PSYCH 3AG3.
- Journey four begins with HLTHAGE 1BB3 in level I, which leads to HLTHAGE 3D03 and HLTHAGE 3N03 in level III.
- The following courses can be taken independently in level III: HTHSCI 3QA3 and HLTHAGE 3E03.
- Each of the level III HLTHAGE courses, including 3D03, 3E03 and 3N03, satisfy the Communication Skills requirement for the Life Sciences Program.
Sample Transcript – Aging
Below is an example of what your transcript might look like if you pursue the Aging pathway. The transcript includes all Life Sciences program requirements as well as 12 courses from the Aging pathway.
| Legend |
|---|
| Course List A: Communication Skills |
| Course List B: Laboratory Skills |
| Course List C: Experiential Learning |
| Course List D: Life Sciences Course List (LSCL) |
| Course List E: Knowledge Transfer/Seminar |
| Aging Pathway |
| Elective (E) |
| Course | Level | Term | Course List |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOLOGY 1A03 – Cellular and Molecular Biology | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| CHEM 1A03 – Introductory Chemistry I | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| MATH 1LS3 – Calculus for Life Sciences I | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| PSYCH 1X03 – Introduction to Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour | 1 | 1 | N/A |
| ENVSOCTY 1HB3 – Population, Cities and Development | 1 | 1 | Aging Pathway |
| BIOLOGY 1M03 – Biodiversity, Evolution & Humanity | 1 | 2 | N/A |
| CHEM 1AA3 – Introductory Chemistry II | 1 | 2 | N/A |
| PHYSICS 1A03 – Introductory Physics | 1 | 2 | N/A |
| PSYCH 1XX3 – Foundations of Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour | 1 | 2 | N/A |
| HLTHAGE 1BB3 – Introduction to Aging and Society | 1 | 2 | Aging Pathway |
| LIFESCI 2A03 – Research Methods in Life Sciences | 2 | 1 | N/A |
| LIFESCI 2L03 – Living Systems Laboratory | 2 | 1 | N/A |
| BIOLOGY 2B03 – Cell Biology | 2 | 1 | N/A |
| LIFESCI 2N03 – Human Nutrition for Life Sciences (E) | 2 | 1 | Aging Pathway |
| PSYCH 2H03 – Human Learning & Cognition (LSCL) | 2 | 1 | Aging Pathway |
| LIFESCI 2AA3 – Introduction to Topics in Life Sciences | 2 | 2 | N/A |
| BIOLOGY 2C03 – Genetics | 2 | 2 | N/A |
| ENVSOCTY 2HI3 – Health and Place (LSCL) | 2 | 2 | Course List D: Life Sciences Course List (LSCL) |
| PSYCH 2AA3 – Child Development (LSCL) | 2 | 2 | Aging Pathway |
| PSYCH 2E03 – Sensory Processes (LSCL) | 2 | 2 | Aging Pathway |
| HLTHAGE 3N03 – Aging and Mental Health | 3 | 1 | Course List A: Communication Skills |
| PSYCH 3AG3 – Aging (LSCL) | 3 | 1 | N/A |
| STATS 2B03 – Statistical Methods for Science | 3 | 1 | N/A |
| LIFESCI 3EP3 – Life Sciences Applied Placement | 3 | 1 | Course List C: Experiential Learning |
| Elective | 3 | 1 | N/A |
| MOLBIOL 3M03 – Fundamental Concepts of Development | 3 | 2 | Course List B: Laboratory Skills |
| PSYCH 3GG3 – Essentials of Developmental Psychology (LSCL) | 3 | 2 | Aging Pathway |
| ENVSOCTY 3HP3 – Population, Health and Aging (E) | 3 | 2 | Aging Pathway |
| HLTHAGE 3D03 – Perspectives on Disability, Chronic Illness and Aging | 3 | 2 | Course List A: Communication Skills |
| Elective | 3 | 2 | N/A |
| LIFESCI 4W03 – Advanced Topics in Nutrition | 4 | 1 | Course List E: Knowledge Transfer/Seminar |
| MOLBIOL 4K03 – Research Advances in Biology of Aging (E) | 4 | 1 | Aging Pathway |
| LIFESCI 4EP6A – Life Sciences Advanced Placement (E) | 4 | 1 | Course List C: Experiential Learning |
| Elective | 4 | 1 | N/A |
| Elective | 4 | 1 | N/A |
| HTHSCI 3QA3 – Qualitative Research Methods in Health (E) | 4 | 2 | Aging Pathway |
| Elective | 4 | 2 | N/A |
| LIFESCI 4EP6B – Life Sciences Advanced Placement (E) | 4 | 2 | Course List C: Experiential Learning |
| Elective | 4 | 2 | N/A |
| Elective | 4 | 2 | N/A |
Activities
Sample Experiential Courses
- Placement Examples: Nursing homes, McMaster Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE), Physiotherapy clinics.
- Research Examples: McMaster Institute for Research on Aging (MIRA)
On Campus
Student-Led Clubs/Groups On Campus
- McMaster Arts for Seniors (MAfS) hosts weekly arts and crafts sessions at multiple long-term care homes in Hamilton, where students teach and assist older adults with crafts one on one. The volunteers interact directly with seniors, build connections, and encourage independence through the art that they help create.
- GeriActive Outreach (GO) provides education on topics of healthy aging through interactive events and outreach programs.
- McMaster Alzheimer’s Society is dedicated towards improving the quality of life for those in our community that are both, directly and indirectly, affected by Alzheimer’s disease, while aiding in advancing the search towards finding a cure. Our goal is aimed at promoting and raising awareness and funds to support Alzheimer’s research and programs for people living with dementia.
Co-Curricular Involvement
- McMaster Physical Activity Centre of Excellence (PACE) offers community exercise and wellness programs for individuals over 55, with specialised programs for individuals with heart disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury, or who are cancer survivors. They seek volunteers during the academic year.
In The Community
- Hamilton Council on Aging seeks volunteers for committees, social events and more.
- Health TAPESTRY seeks volunteers to visit older adults clients in their homes, acting as a connector to help connect clients to the health care system and the community.
- YWCA Active Living Centre 55+: Volunteers bring their own skills and interests to the centre and lead an appropriate activity for the group (e.g., game of cards, music appreciation).
Careers
Exploring Careers Using O*NET
-
- Search www.onetonline.org in Google
- Click on the main link
- Go to the “Occupation Quick Search” bar on the main page: https://www.onetonline.org/find/quick?s=
- Enter keywords relating to your interests (examples on next section)
- A list of jobs that incorporates the keywords will appear
- Click on a job that interests you to view a summary report and learn more
Sample Keywords
| Pathway | Example Keywords |
|---|---|
| Public & Global Health (example 1) | Community, Health, Wellness, Epidemiology, Global |
| Public & Global Health (example 2) | Communicate, Analyze, Knowledge Translation, Research |
| Drugs, Humans & the Environment (example 1) | Pharmaceuticals, Environment, Ecosystem, Toxicology |
| Drugs, Humans & the Environment (example 2) | Research, Analysis, Sustainability |
| Science & Law (example 1) | Policy, Law, Science, Patents, Ethics |
| Science & Law (example 2) | Critical-thinking, Debating, Analysis, Communication |
| Aging (example 1) | Geriatrics, Rehabilitation, Therapy, Wellness |
| Aging (example 2) | Ethics, Empathy, Communication, Community Engagement |
| Health Management (example 1) | Health, Organizations, Economics |
| Health Management (example 2) | Communication, Adaptability, Leadership |