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
LFS103 Plant Diversity and Ecology
HLT140 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and Ecology
PUB104 Coastal and Marine Ecology
SCI110 Microbiology
HLT150 Food Safety Laws and Regulations
PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:
PUB112 Genetics ^
LFS112 Biosecurity *
^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 Statistics with Teeth: Understanding Ecological Data ^
LFS122 Calculus II and Linear Algebra *
^ 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 (156 units)
HLT205 Discrete Mathematics
PLUS select 1 extended major (144 units) from:
- 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 Applied Mathematics and WPL320 Introductory Bioscience
∇ 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:
HLT102 Think Health
SPX201 Introduction to Behavioural Health
SPX231 Science Research Methods
PUB252 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
# Note for students enrolled in the Applied Environmental Health extended major: You are encouraged to consider courses from the following list when selecting electives.
PUB252 Public Health Foundations
INT370 Human Physiology
ENS253 Environment and Health
HRM311 Human Anatomy
# 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 Health Research and Evidence
INT230 Workplace Learning I
CMN276 Workplace Learning II
CMN231 Introduction to Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice
SCS201 Functional Anatomy
HLT341 Motor Control and Learning
HRM311 Health Promotion Assessment and Planning
SCS235 Health Promotion Assessment and Planning
# 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 Politics and the Media
CMN140
CMN204
HLT242
HRM311
INT370
CMN252
# 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.
SUS101
PUB272
INT370
HRM311
PUB210
SCS235
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.