Help create healthier lives
Want to help shape the future of health? In this degree, you’ll learn about the current and future health issues facing communities, both locally and globally. You’ll also develop the practical skills you need to improve population health and wellbeing through your choice of one of five extended majors, including Applied Health Promotion, Health Communication, Applied Environmental Health, Prosthetics and Orthotics, and Indigenous Health and Wellbeing.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
- Please refer to the English Language Requirements for the Prosthetics and Orthotics extended major.
- ^Prosthetics and Orthotics Semester 1 commencement only
- ^Prosthetics and Orthotics Semester 1 commencement only
Want to help shape the future of health? In this degree, you’ll learn about the current and future health issues facing communities, both locally and globally. You’ll also develop the practical skills you need to improve population health and wellbeing through your choice of one of five extended majors, including Applied Health Promotion, Health Communication, Applied Environmental Health, Prosthetics and Orthotics, and Indigenous Health and Wellbeing.
In this program you will:
- Gain a strong foundation in health science
- Understand the current and future health needs of the community
- Develop the problem-solving skills you need to help tackle health issues
- Gain workplace experience in your area of specialisation
Career opportunities
- Health promotion officer
- Environmental health officer
- Clinical prosthetist and/or orthotist
- Health policy development
- Project development and management
- Health communication specialist
- Technician
Membership
As a Health Science student or graduate, you may be eligible to become a member/associate member of professional associations and bodies relevant to your extended major area of study. These include:
- Australian Health Promotion Association Public Health Association of Australia
- Environmental Health Australia
- Indigenous Allied Health Australia
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association
- Rural Health Workforce Australia
- Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association (AOPA) Inc.
Program structure
Introductory courses (7) 84 units
COR109 Strategic Management
HLT140 Project Management
PUB104 Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility
SCI110 Advanced Strategic Management
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
LFS103 Managing Organisational Change ^
CMN130 Small Business and New Venture Management *
^Must complete if enrolled in Applied Environmental Health, Applied Health Promotion, Prosthetics and
Orthotics or Indigenous Health and Wellbeing extended major
* Must complete if enrolled in the Health Communication extended major
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
PUB112 Quality Management ^
HLT150 Leadership and Team Dynamics *
^ Must complete if enrolled in Applied Environmental Health, Applied Health Promotion, Health
Communication or Indigenous Health and Wellbeing extended major
* Must complete if enrolled in the Prosthetics and Orthotics extended major
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
PUB102 Managing Organisational Change ^
LFS122 Leadership and Team Dynamics *
^ Must complete if enrolled in Applied Environmental Health, Applied Health Promotion, Health
Communication or Indigenous Health and Wellbeing extended major
* Must complete if enrolled in the Prosthetics and Orthotics extended major
Developing and Graduate courses (13) 156 units
HLT205 Communication and Thought
PLUS select 12 courses (144 units) from your chosen extended major:
- Applied Health Promotion
- Applied Environmental Health
- Health Communication
- Indigenous Health and Wellbeing
- Prosthetics and Orthotics (additional courses required in place of elective courses - see below ∇)
Elective courses (4) 48 units ∇ #
PLUS select 4 elective courses (48 units) from the undergraduate elective course options, with the exception of WPL310 Theories of Counselling: From Freud to Integrative Practice and WPL320 Group Processes and Practice
∇ Note for students enrolled in the Prosthetics and Orthotics extended major:Due to pre requisite and external accreditation requirements, in place of electives students will be required to undertake the following courses:
LFS112 Introductory Counselling Skills
HLT102 Introduction to Psychology A
SPX201 Introduction to Psychology B
SPX231 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
# Note for students enrolled in the Applied Environmental Health extended major: You are encouraged to consider courses from the following list when selecting electives however, only one (1) elective course can be at 100 level to meet program requirements.
HLT150 Cognitive Behaviour Therapy: Skills and Applications
SCI105 Strengths Based Counselling: Collaborative Approaches
ENP101 Counselling for Crisis, Trauma and Loss
PUB252 Positive Psychology for Counselling
INT370 Counselling Development and Supervision 1
ENS253 Counselling Development and Supervision 2
ENS305 Counselling Placement 1(SCI105 is a pre-requisite for this course)
HRM311 Counselling Placement 2
# Note for students enrolled in the Applied Health Promotion extended major: You are encouraged to consider courses from the following list when selecting electives however, only one (1) elective course can be at 100 level to meet program requirements.
SUS101 Developmental and Family Counselling
INT230 Introduction to Human Development
CMN276 Social Research
CMN231 Understanding Cultural Diversity
SCS201 Ethical Practice in the Helping Professions
HLT341 Communication and Thought
HRM311 Think Health
INT370 Introduction to Behavioural Health
SCS235 Science Research Methods
# Note for students enrolled in the Health Communication extended major: You are encouraged to consider courses from the following list when selecting electives however, only one (1) elective course can be at 100 level to meet program requirements.
SUS101 Introductory Bioscience
CMN140 Introduction to Journalism
CMN204 Public Health Foundations
CMN308 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
HLT242 Environment and Health
HRM311 Human Anatomy
INT370 Health Research and Evidence
SCS235 Workplace Learning I
# Note for students enrolled in the Indigenous Health and Wellbeing extended major: You are encouraged to consider courses from the following list when selecting electives however, only one (1) elective course can be at 100 level to meet program requirements.
SUS101 Workplace Learning II
PUB272 Human Physiology
INT370 Introduction to Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice
HRM311 Functional Anatomy
PUB210 Motor Control and Learning
SCS235 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Health Promotion Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Environmental Health Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Health Promotion Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Environmental Health Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Epidemiology and Public Health Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Epidemiology and Public Health Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Health Communication Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Health Communication Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Prosthetics and Orthotics Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory level (100 coded) courses
Program notes
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute
- Hold a valid Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA), throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for PSBA to issue the card. Note: students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the work place learning component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
- Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state / territory authority)
- Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa. Please refer to the English language requirements
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.