Harness the power of food to improve the health of others
Our hands-on program is designed to get you involved with food, understand the science behind food and the way the human body uses it. Taught by Accredited Practising Dietitians, you’ll learn about nutrition and food in a specialised teaching kitchen.
Previously the SC353 Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics
- International students should apply for the Bachelor of Nutrition, which provides a pathway towards careers in nutrition research, public health and community nutrition, food industry, health education and nutrition consultancy.
Our hands-on program is designed to get you involved with food, understand the science behind food and the way the human body uses it. Taught by Accredited Practising Dietitians, you’ll learn about nutrition and food in a specialised teaching kitchen.
This is the perfect program for anyone who wants to improve people’s lives through food.
In this program you will:
- Learn in a specialised teaching kitchen
- Role play clinical consultations
- Work with a real client to give them a nutrition assessment
- Gain experience in medical nutrition therapy, public health nutrition, and food service systems
After you complete two years of full-time study, choose to take an embedded honours stream to focus on a research area of interest.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking Work Integrated Learning placement students must obtain a Blue card, complete a National Criminal History check and a QLD Health orientation package and may be required to complete first aid and CPR training. Students must also provide evidence of Hepatitis B immunisation, and evidence of vaccination for the diseases measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and pertussis — refer to Program Requirements.
Students will be required to undertake some placements outside the Sunshine Coast region in metropolitan and regional/rural centres. Expenses for these and other placement requirements are to be incurred by the student. Placements in fourth year are undertaken on a full-time basis.
Refer to the Dietetics - Placement page for further information.
Career opportunities
- Clinical dietitian
- Sports nutrition
- Private practice
- Community nutrition
- Public health nutrition
- Food service management
- Nutrition consultancy
- Research and education
Graduates are eligible to become members of:
- Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program upon graduation
Program structure
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
LFS103 Special Research Project
LFS112 Workplace Learning I
NUT102 Introductory Bioscience
NUT110 Human Physiology
PUB112 Food in Society
SCI105 Introduction to Dietetics
SCI110 Public Health Foundations
PLUS select 1 course from:
HLT140 Chemistry
SCS130 Science Research Methods
SPX101 Think Health
SUS101 Introduction to Indigenous Australia
Developing and Graduate courses (17) 192 units
BIM202 Introduction to Sport and Exercise Science
LFS203 Foundations of Sustainability
LFS251 Medical Genetics
NUT201 Integrated Physiology
NUT202 Biochemistry
NUT205 Food Studies
NUT212 Nutrition Assessment
NUT232 Public Health Nutrition
LFS303 Principles of Nutrition
NUT301 Nutritional Biochemistry
NUT302 Pathophysiology
NUT306 Advanced Public Health Nutrition(6 units)
NUT309 Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
NUT312 Nutrition Communication
NUT351 Sport and Exercise Nutrition
NUT361 Food Service Systems
NUT400 Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
PLUS one (1) of the following pathways:
Pass-Level Pathway courses (6) 96 units
NUT401 Counselling and Communication Skills for Dietetics(24 units)
NUT402 Nutrition and Dietetic Skills(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Nutrition and Dietetics Research and EvaluationΔ
NUT404 Medical NutritionTherapy PlacementΔ
NUT405 Food Service Placement
PUB361 Community and Public Health Nutrition
Honours Pathway courses (6) 96 units
NUT333 Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Management
NUT402 Epidemiology and Biostatistics(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Nutrition and Dietetics Research ProposalΔ
NUT404 Medical NutritionTherapy PlacementΔ
NUT405 Food Service Placement
NUT410 Community and Public Health Nutrition(24 units)
Δ refer to Program notes
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete requirements listed below
In order to commence clinical placement you must:
- 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 clinical practice 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)
- Show evidence of vaccination for the vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) of: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chickenpox), Pertussis (Whooping Cough)(please note: this is included in the DTPA - Diptheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough - combined vaccination).
- Complete an orientation package, (a Queensland Health [QH] requirement) before undertaking any placement which involves QH. The package can be completed online
Program notes
- For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Health Institute
- Preparing for study at SCHI
- Cross-institutional study is not permitted for the Bachelor of Dietetics
- 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
- Students wishing to study less than 4 courses per semester should contact the Program coordinator
- NUT402 , NUT403 and NUT404 MUST be completed together consecutively over a minimum of 100 days of full time placement. Semester of enrolment in these courses will be determined by the Program Coordinator
- 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
- 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
- Not available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.