Paramedics are often the first contacts for a patient and provide emergency health care and transport.
Gain a strong foundation in clinical and paramedic sciences. You’ll explore all areas of paramedic practice including human pathophysiology, behavioural health, pharmacology, clinical leadership, and legal and ethical practice.
Gain a strong foundation in clinical and paramedic sciences. You’ll explore all areas of paramedic practice including human pathophysiology, behavioural health, pharmacology, clinical leadership, and legal and ethical practice.
Our program is delivered by experienced paramedics to provide you with clinical knowledge, skills and practice. Gain hands-on experience through real-life simulations in our specialised paramedic labs. From your first year, you’ll complete 12 weeks of clinical placements with the Queensland Ambulance Service and with an additional 2 weeks of clinical placement in other health care facilities to give you the extra knowledge and experience to confidently start working on road. You may be required to undertake some of your clinical placements outside the region or in a rural area within Queensland.
Graduate ready to work as an Advanced Care Paramedic or go after opportunities to clinically advance to an Intensive Care or Critical Care Paramedic. Choose to work within aero medical, rescue and retrieval, remote and rural health care and clinical education. You’ll also be eligible to apply for membership of Paramedics Australasia and the Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedics.
Inherent academic requirements
The Inherent Academic Requirements (IARs) of a program are the fundamental skills, capabilities and knowledge that students must be able to demonstrate in order to achieve the essential learning outcomes of the program, while maintaining the academic integrity of that program.
You should look carefully at the inherent academic requirements for the Bachelor of Paramedic Science when considering applying, and think about whether you might experience challenges in meeting them. If you think you might experience challenges related to your disability, health condition or for any other reason, you should discuss your concerns with a University Disability Adviser or Faculty staff.
Post-admission requirements
To be eligible to commence clinical placement you must provide evidence of having met all mandatory requirements by the Friday of Week 13 of Semester 1. Failure to do so will prevent you from commencing Clinical Placement and will delay the completion of your studies.
Go to the Paramedic Science - Clinical Practicums page to find out more about Clinical Placements and mandatory requirements.
You will be required to purchase the student paramedic uniform which includes shirt, trousers, boots, belt, personal protective equipment and soft shell jacket before going on placement. The approximate cost of the full uniform set is $550. You will also be required to purchase other items of personal medical equipment such as a stethoscope and sphygmomanometer.
Career opportunities
Ambulance paramedic, pre-hospital emergency care, aeromedical, rescue and retrieval, remote and rural healthcare, clinical education.
Membership
Paramedics Australasia; Student Paramedics Australasia (SPA); Australian and New Zealand College of Paramedics
Program structure
Introductory courses (10)
COR109
LFS103 Introductory Bioscience
LFS112 Human Physiology
LFS122 Human Anatomy
PAR101 Paramedic Professional Studies
PAR102 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Clinical Foundations
PAR103 Paramedic Foundation Practicum 1
PSY103 Applied Psychology in Health Care
PUB112 Public Health Foundations
SCI110 Science Research Methods
Advanced courses (14)
BIM263 Introduction to Pharmacology
HLT221 Human Pathophysiology
HLT301 Contexts of Practice: Mental Health Care
PAR201 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Community Paramedicine
PAR202 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Medical
PAR203 Paramedic Clinical Practicum 2
PAR211 Cardiac and Respiratory Emergencies
PAR212 Paramedic Primary Healthcare - Trauma
PAR222 Legal and Ethical Practice in EMS (Emergency Medical Services)
PAR301 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Maternal and Neonatal Health
PAR302 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Substance Use and Toxicology
PAR311 Leadership in Clinical Practice
PAR312 Paramedic Clinical Practicum 3
PAR321 Paramedic Primary Healthcare: Transition to Practice
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
To undertake Clinical practicum in Queensland with QAS and other health care facilities, you must meet the Mandatory Requirements by Week 13 of Semester 1.
For more information about Clinical practicum and the Mandatory Requirements checklist refer to Paramedic Science – Clinical Practicum.
Program notes
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods, including case studies, essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests, clinical scenarios (OSCA’s) and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods.
- The Study Overseas Program is not currently available to paramedic students.
- Students will be required to cover all additional costs associated with this program. Information outlining the current requirements will be made available to all prospective applicants, and students will be provided more detailed information on starting the program.
- Some courses within this program must be completed over the Summer and Winter Semesters and require students to commit to full-time unpaid employment.
- Not available to international students on a Student Visa.
- Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression