Health & Society I

Step 1: Begin Your First Year In Health & Society I (Direct Entry)

What Health & Society I Really Means

Health & Society I is a social-science-based program, not a clinical or medical one. Rather than focusing on diagnosis or treatment, you’ll examine how health is shaped by social structures, public policy, community contexts, and lived experience across the lifespan.

This program is a strong starting point if you’re interested in health, aging, mental health, social policy, or community well-being – and want to explore these issues through critical inquiry and real-world contexts.

Admission At A Glance

OUAC Application Code: MLH
Anticipated Admission Average: Mid-80s
Target Enrolment: 60 students

Ontario Admission Requirements:

Six 4U/M courses, including: English 4U

No supplementary application required.

Planning ahead? We’re here to help.

Use McMaster’s tuition and fees estimator to get a clear, easy view of your first-year costs – so you can plan with confidence.

Step 2: Your First-Year Curriculum & Exploration

See Health Differently - Through Society, Community & Experience

Your first year in Health & Society I introduces you to how social forces shape health and well-being – from community supports and public policy to lived experience across the lifespan. Using a social-science lens, you’ll explore how health, aging, mental health, and social systems intersect in real-world contexts.

You’ll engage with big questions around community care, inequality, and social responsibility, while building skills that help you think critically about health and society. Through experiential learning and class discussions, you’ll begin developing the tools to understand complex social issues and their impact on well-being.

At the same time, Health & Society I gives you a strong foundation in core themes and the flexibility to explore other interests across the Social Sciences and beyond – preparing you for the course structure that follows.

Your Core Level I Courses

These three courses form the foundation of your first year in Health & Society I, grounding you in the social dimensions of health, aging, and lived experience:

  • HLTHAGE 1BB3 – Introduction to Aging and Society
  • HLTHAGE 1CC3 – Introduction to Mental Health and Illness
  • HLTHAGE 1ZZ3 – Inquiry: Introduction to Health and Society (exclusive to Health & Society I students)

Together, these courses help you understand how aging, mental health, and social systems intersect – and how personal experiences and broader social structures shape health outcomes across the lifespan.

Additional Level I Course Requirements

Alongside your core Health & Society courses, you’ll have space to explore other areas that interest you.

In your first year, you’ll complete:

This flexibility lets you shape your first year around what you’re curious about – whether that’s community health, social policy, psychology, culture, or exploring connections across disciplines.

Step 3: End Of First Year: Choose Your Health, Aging & Society Pathway

Moving Into Upper-Year Health, Aging & Society

At the end of your first year in Health & Society I, you do not need to apply to continue into the standard Honours BA Health & Society program. Students in this gateway are automatically placed into Honours Health & Society unless they decide to pursue a different upper-year option.

If you’re interested in a specialization, a different major, or a combined degree, you’ll submit an application during the Level II Program Selection period – the same time all Social Sciences students choose their upper-year programs.

Upper-Year Health, Aging & Society Degree Options You Can Apply To

You may apply to any of the following pathways at the end of your first year:

These pathways let you shape your degree around what matters most to you – whether that’s aging, mental health, social policy, community well-being, or interdisciplinary work across the Social Sciences.

Eligibility Requirements for Level II Programs

Minimum Units Completed

You’ll need to complete at least 24 units in Level I to be eligible for Level II admission.

Most students take 15 units per term (up to a maximum of 30 units per year).

Social Sciences Course Requirements

You must complete at least 18 units of Social Sciences courses in Level I — this includes your required HLTHAGE courses plus additional Social Sciences electives.

These requirements make sure you have the foundational background needed for upper-year study in health, aging, mental health, social policy, and related areas.

Step 4: Choose Your Path: Degree, Specialization & Co-op Options

Information Box Group

Explore The Options That Match What You Care About

After your first year in Health & Society I, you’ll choose the upper-year pathway that best reflects your interests, goals, and the kind of impact you want to make. McMaster offers a range of options that explore how health, aging, mental health, and social systems shape people’s lives – all grounded in a strong social-science perspective.

Honours Social Gerontology (BA) Learn more

A flexible, interdisciplinary degree that examines how aging is shaped by social, cultural, political, and economic forces. It’s a great fit if you want to understand the lived experiences of older adults and the systems that support – or fail to support – people across the life course.

Good for:

  • Students who want a social-science lens on aging and community well-being
  • Those interested in community care, social policy, or gerontology
  • Students who want room for electives or an interdisciplinary approach to studying aging

Honours Health & Society (BA) Learn more

A program that explores how health is shaped by social determinants, identity, culture, inequality, and access to care. This program helps you understand health beyond the biomedical model and explore how lived experiences, communities, and systems influence well-being.

Good for:

  • Students interested in community health, health equity, or social determinants of health
  • Those who want to examine health through a social-science lens
  • Students considering work in policy, advocacy, or community-based organizations

Honours Social Gerontology - Specialization In Mental Health & Addiction (BA) Learn more

A program that brings together aging studies with focused learning in mental health and addiction. You’ll explore how stigma, service systems, and lived experience shape the well-being of older adults – and how social conditions influence care, treatment, and support.

Good for:

  • Students interested in aging populations and mental-health systems
  • Those who want to understand how social factors and lived experience affect care for older adults
  • Students considering pathways in community mental health, aging services, or policy and advocacy

Honours Health & Society - Specialization In Mental Health & Addiction (BA) Learn more

This specialization looks at mental health and addiction through a social-science lens, exploring how identity, culture, policy, inequality, and lived experience shape people’s well-being. You’ll examine the systems that support care, the barriers that limit access, and the social conditions that influence stigma and treatment.

Good for:

  • Students passionate about mental health, addictions, or community support
  • Those who want to understand how social structures and policy impact care
  • Students considering careers in social services, community mental health, or advocacy

Combined Honours Social Gerontology & Another Subject (BA) Learn more

This combined option lets you study aging alongside another Social Sciences or Humanities discipline – such as Sociology, Indigenous Studies, or Political Science. You’ll connect insights about aging with broader social, cultural, and political themes, creating an interdisciplinary degree shaped around your interests.

Good for:

  • Students who want to link aging with community, culture, or policy
  • Those interested in interdisciplinary study across the Social Sciences
  • Students who value flexibility and want a degree that reflects multiple areas of interest

Combined Honours Health & Society & Another Subject (BA) Learn more

This combined option lets you study Health & Society alongside another discipline in the Social Sciences or Humanities, creating a broader, interdisciplinary degree shaped around what you care about. You’ll explore health through multiple lenses – from community and culture to policy and social systems – while connecting themes across two fields.

Good for:

  • Students interested in interdisciplinary health studies
  • Those who want to link health with community engagement, culture, or social issues
  • Students drawn to policy analysis, advocacy, or work that spans multiple areas of study

Health, Aging & Society BA (General / Non-Honours) Learn more

A three-year degree that offers a broad introduction to health, aging, and society without the added intensity of the Honours stream. This pathway gives you a strong foundation in key themes while keeping more space in your schedule for electives and exploring different areas of interest.

Good for:

  • Students seeking a shorter, flexible degree
  • Those who want more room for electives or interdisciplinary exploration
  • Students looking to build a foundation in health, aging, and social issues without the Honours workload

Co-op, Experiential Learning & Community Placements

Many Health, Aging & Society pathways offer opportunities to gain hands-on experience through practicums, internships, and community-engaged learning. These placements connect what you learn in class to real-world settings in health, aging, and community support.

Good for:

  • Students who want practical experience in community health, social services, or aging-related organizations
  • Those interested in policy, advocacy, or systems-level work
  • Students who learn best by working directly with people and communities

Step 5: Planning & Support – What To Do In First Year

Information Box Group

Your first year in Health & Society I is your chance to explore your interests, build confidence in the classroom, and start shaping the direction you want to take in upper years. Here are some ways to make the most of your first year and set yourself up for success.

Connect With Academic Advising Early

The Faculty of Social Sciences’ advising team is here to support you as you plan your first year – from choosing electives to preparing for Level II. Advisors can help you understand your options, stay on track with requirements, and make choices that fit your interests.

Advising can help you:

  • Plan your first-year schedule: make sure your Social Sciences and elective choices keep you eligible for all Level II options.
  • Check specialization requirements: especially if you’re considering Mental Health & Addiction or a Combined Honours pathway.
  • Choose electives intentionally: advisors can help you pick courses that match your interests or keep multiple pathways open.

Meeting with an advisor early – and again before Level II Program Selection – is one of the best ways to feel confident about your next steps.

Use Your Flexibility To Explore

Health & Society I gives you space to explore through Social Sciences electives and open electives. This flexibility is especially helpful if you’re still figuring out what interests you or want to keep several upper-year pathways open.

Your electives are a chance to:

  • Try out disciplines like Indigenous Studies, Sociology, Political Science, or Social Psychology
  • Build complementary skills in areas such as community engagement, culture, or policy
  • Stay eligible for multiple Level II programs by meeting Social Sciences course requirements

Exploration is part of the process – your first year is the perfect time to test what resonates with you.

Think Ahead About Your Pathway

You don’t need to decide your upper-year program right away, but it helps to start noticing what topics or courses excite you most. Your first-year choices can support the directions you may want to take later.

Consider how your interests might guide your path:

  • Mental Health & Addiction: choose electives that deepen your understanding of mental health, community care, or social systems.
  • Combined Honours options: explore courses in the second subject you might want to pair with Health & Society or Social Gerontology.
  • Co-op or community-engaged learning: look for electives that build skills in communication, research, or social policy.

Using your electives strategically helps you stay eligible for a wide range of Level II options – and positions you to pursue the pathway that feels right for you.