Bachelor of Dietetics | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Dietetics

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

Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013121
Minimum selection threshold
ATAR - 81.45 OP - 9 Rank - 82
UniSC program code
SC302
Commence
Semester 1 only
Duration
4 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
Blended Learning
Recommended prior study
English, Maths B or C, at least one science subject
Fee type 2020
  • Commonwealth supported places
Total courses
31
Total units
384
Footnotes
  • 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

COR109 Exploring Business Research
LFS103 Discovering Management
LFS112 Communication and Thought
NUT102 Introduction to Data Science
NUT110 Creative Problem Solving with Programming
PUB112 Introduction to Systems Design
SCI105 Introduction to Computer Networks
SCI110 Database Design

Developing and Graduate courses (17) 192 units

BIM202 Systems Analysis and Design
LFS203 ICT Industry Project
LFS251 ICT Professional Practice
LFS303 Project Management
NUT201 Communication and Thought
NUT202 Introductory Bioscience
NUT205 Human Physiology
NUT212 Food in Society
NUT232 Introduction to Dietetics
NUT301 Public Health Foundations
NUT302 Chemistry
NUT306 Science Research Methods(6 units)
NUT312 Medical Genetics
NUT351 Integrated Physiology
NUT361 Biochemistry
NUT400 Pathophysiology

PLUS select 1 course from:
NUT308 Food Studies(6 units)
NUT309 Nutrition Assessment(6 units)

PLUS one (1) of the following pathways:

Pass-Level Pathway courses (6) 96 units

NUT401 Public Health Nutrition(24 units)
NUT402 Principles of Nutrition(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Nutritional BiochemistryΔ
NUT404 Advanced Public Health NutritionΔ
NUT405 Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
PUB361 Nutrition Communication

Honours Pathway courses (6) 96 units

NUT333 Food Service Systems
NUT402 Medical Nutrition Therapy 1(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Counselling and Communication Skills for DieteticsΔ
NUT404 Nutrition and Dietetic SkillsΔ
NUT405 Complementary Nutrition
NUT410 Sport and Exercise 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

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.