M2014 Bachelor of Health Sciences

The course develops through three themes: Personal and professional development, Population, communities, health and illness and Scientific basis of health care practice. These themes are interwoven in units throughout the course, structured in three parts: Part A. Foundation studies, Part B. Health science study and Part C. Elective study.

Theme 1. Personal and professional development

These studies will develop your understanding of the roles, responsibilities and expectations of health professionals and the personal and professional attributes you will need in the workplace. These include communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, critical thinking, ethical and legal issues, and reflective practice. You will also learn about research methodologies and the application of research to the field of health.

Theme 2. Population, communities, health and illness

The focus of these studies is the social, environmental and behavioural contexts of ill health, disease and injury and broad societal issues such as health promotion, the application of epidemiology and statistics in the assessment of health risk in populations, public health, community diversity, population and global health. You will also develop a sound understanding of evidence-based practice.

Theme 3. Scientific basis of health care practice

These studies provide the foundation scientific knowledge of human systems and technology that you will require to become an expert in your area of health science

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

This course comprises 144 points structured in three parts: Part A. Foundation studies (12 points), Part B. Health science study (72 points) and Part C. Elective study (60 points).

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Foundation studies (12 points)

You must complete:

• BMA1011 Foundation of anatomy and physiology for health practice 1
• BMA1012 Foundations of anatomy and physiology for health practice 2

Part B. Health sciences study (72 points)

You must complete:

• HSC1100 Research and evidence in health
• HSC1200 Public health and prevention
• HSC1300 Human health and disease
• HSC1400 Healthcare systems
• HSC2100 Current health challenges
• HSC2200 Health across the lifespan
• HSC2300 Health promotion and disease prevention
• PBH2001 Foundations of epidemiology
• PBH3005 Social and behavioural sciences*
• PBH3002 Communicable disease prevention and control
• PBH3009 Chronic disease prevention and control
• PBH3012 Translating research into practice*

*Note: From 2025, students must complete HSC3100 instead of PBH3005, and HSC3200 instead of PBH3012. PBH3012 will no longer be offered from 2025. PBH3005 will continue to be offered and M2014 students can choose to take this unit as an elective in Part C.

Part C. Free Elective study (60 points)

You must complete 60 credit points of electives chosen from across the faculty or from any discipline across the University (including to complete a minor from another course), as long as you have the required prerequisites, co-requisites and meet any other restrictions. You may need permission from the owning faculty to enrol in some units taught by other faculties. You should also be aware of travel and timetabling limitations.

Electives must be undergraduate units, and no more than four level 1 elective units (24 credit points) may be completed. Undergraduate units have codes which commence with the numbers 1-3, for example XXX1234, XXX2234, XXX3234. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code.

Part C. Elective study - Double degree Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Health Sciences (12 points)

For students who are enrolled in the double degree Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Health Sciences (A2017), 48 credit points worth of units are cross credited from the Bachelor of Arts towards the Bachelor of Health Sciences as electives. In order to complete the requirements of Part C, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Health Sciences (A2017) must complete two units (12 points) from the following:

• PBH3008 Global and public health
• PBH3010 Health data in practice
• PBH3011 Biostatistics for Health
• FOR3001 Principles of forensic medicine