Bachelor of Health Science | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Health Science

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.

Study location
  • Sunshine Coast
Refer to the program footnotes
CRICOS code
088888E
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2^
Program length (full-time)
3 years
Annual tuition fee 2020
A$25,000
Estimated total tuition fee *
$75,000
Footnotes
  • 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

Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013321
Minimum selection threshold
ATAR - 57.25 OP - 17 Rank - 65
UniSC program code
SC367
Commence
Semester 1 or Semester 2^
Duration
3 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
Blended Learning
Recommended prior study
English; Maths A, B or C; at least one of the sciences
Fee type 2020
  • Commonwealth supported places
Total courses
24
Total units
288
Footnotes
  • ^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 Functional Anatomy
HLT140 Introduction to Clinical Trial Coordination
PUB104 Biochemical Pharmacology
SCI110 Clinical Embryology

PLUS select 1 course (12 units) from:

LFS103 Medicinal Organic Chemistry ^
CMN130 Pharmaceutical and Food Microbiology *
^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 Microbial Pathogenesis ^
HLT150 Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology *

^ 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 Special Research Project A ^
LFS122 Special Research Project *

^ 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 Workplace Learning I

PLUS select 12 courses (144 units) from your chosen extended major:

Elective courses (4) 48 units  #

PLUS select 4  elective courses (48 units) from the undergraduate elective course options, with the exception of WPL310 Workplace Learning II and WPL320 Communication and Thought

 ∇ 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 Think Health
HLT102 Introduction to Behavioural Health
SPX201 Science Research Methods
SPX231 Introductory Bioscience

# 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 Introduction to Journalism
SCI105 Public Health Foundations
ENP101 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
PUB252 Environment and Health
INT370 Human Anatomy
ENS253 Health Research and Evidence
ENS305 Workplace Learning I(SCI105 is a pre-requisite for this course)
HRM311 Workplace Learning II

# 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 Human Physiology
INT230 Introduction to Prosthetic and Orthotic Practice
CMN276 Functional Anatomy
CMN231 Motor Control and Learning
SCS201 Indigenous Wellbeing Foundations
HLT341 Chemistry
HRM311 Urban Design & Town Planning Principles and Practice
INT370 Health Promotion Assessment and Planning
SCS235 Politics and the Media

# 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 Geographic Information Science and Technology
CMN140 Environmental Chemistry
CMN204 Leadership and Team Dynamics
CMN308 Foundations of Sustainability
HLT242 Foundations of Practice: Identifying Occupational Therapist Skills in Practice
HRM311 Foundations of Practice: Identifying Occupational Therapist Skills in Practice
INT370 Social Media
SCS235 Communication Campaign Planning

# 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 International Community Development and Global Justice
PUB272 Indigenous Wellbeing Research
INT370 Leadership and Team Dynamics
HRM311 Politics and the Media
PUB210 Social Justice, Welfare and the State
SCS235 Foundations of Sustainability

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 288

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.