New interdisciplinary course introduces health professions to U of A students

Tim Konoval, assistant teaching professor of interdisciplinary health

This January, the College of Health Sciences at the University of Alberta is launching a groundbreaking interdisciplinary course, INT D 100: Your Future in Health: Pathways and Possibilities. 

Designed in consultation with Online and Continuing Education, INT D 100 is open to all undergraduate students across the university who are interested in exploring various career paths in health and contemporary issues facing the health system. The first of its kind at the U of A, this interdisciplinary health course brings together perspectives from a number of health disciplines to provide students with a broader understanding of health and a look into the many careers available in the health sector.

INT D 100 also gives students a look at complexities and opportunities facing the health system now and in the future. Topics such as understanding health inequities, Indigenous health, climate change and new health technologies are covered.

The new course is offered asynchronously online, allowing students to learn at their own pace.

"INT D 100 is an introductory exploration of all things health," says Tim Konoval, assistant teaching professor of interdisciplinary health in the College of Health Sciences Office of Education and the designer and instructor for INT D 100. "It emphasizes the many, diverse and upcoming careers across the health system. The course will introduce students to multiple conceptualizations of health and enable them to broaden their perspective by considering the whole population along with environmental, physical and social determinants of health through ecological and systems thinking approaches."

From students considering a career in medicine, to students interested in health management and policy, to data-minded students curious about how AI will shape the future health system, INT D 100 will act as a stepping stone.

"This course is for anyone," Konoval explains. "There are no prerequisites, so any student can take this course. Ideally, it’s for a student that might be interested, even just a bit, in a career in health, but that is not a requirement."

Engaging with real-world health professionals

One of the intriguing parts of INT D 100 will be giving students real-world insights through the Shaping Health Podcast. Throughout the course, students will have the opportunity to hear from more than 20 health professionals discussing their career journeys, skills, opportunities, and the roles they play within the health system.

This component gives students a clearer picture of working life within the health sector.

Inside the course

INT D 100 will cover four modules, each focusing on a different aspect of health:

1. Understanding Health: This module introduces students to definitions, models, cultural understandings and the social determinants of health, emphasizing systems thinking to develop a holistic view of health.
2. Broadening Health: Students will explore health beyond the individual, gaining insights into the health system, health inequities and various population-level issues.
3. Supporting Health: This module covers the systems and technological innovations that support and aim to improve health, such as learning health systems, big data and AI, and introduces emerging health professions.
4. Challenges in Health: The final module addresses challenges and opportunities for change within the health system, including climate change, mental health and misinformation and examines their impact on individual, population and system health.

"A big feature of the course is the diverse, flexible learning experiences embedded into each week," says Konoval. "Students will watch short video lectures from world-renowned health experts each week, covering topics like AI in health, climate change and mental health, which are very relevant to understanding the health system of tomorrow."

Students making their course selections for the winter semester are urged to consider the unique insights INT D 100 offers. This course may also help some students decide on a career path going forward.

For more information and to enroll in INT D 100: Your Future in Health: Pathways and Possibilities, visit the course description in the U of A calendar.