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Monash University

Bachelor of Health Science

Course code: 3882 ~ Course abbreviation: BHSc ~ Total credit points required: 144 ~ 3 years full-time, 6 years part-time ~ Managing faculty: Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

Study mode and course location

On-campus (Peninsula)

Off campus (Peninsula)

Course description

The Bachelor of Health Science is an innovative, flexible, three-year degree in the public health/social sciences that equips students for careers in health sector, community and social services and government (including international).

Students can elect major sequences from health promotion, health policy and management. In addition, students may select a minor sequence in bioscience.

All students undertake a foundation year in applied and social sciences. Study covers areas of research, communication, health systems and the biological and sociological determinants of health. In second year core units include studies in legal and ethical frameworks for health, epidemiology and public health, and health policy, and students choose their major stream. In third year students take core units in research methods and community partnerships plus their major stream and elective units.

Course objectives

On successful completion of the BHSc, it is expected that the student will be able to: demonstrate the knowledge, skills and technical competency appropriate for an entry level practitioner in professional fields of health promotion or health policy and management; value research and be skilled at accessing, critically appraising and applying the best available evidence to the professional fields of health promotion or health policy and management; develop health promotion knowledge and skills, and management skills for improved utilisation of the resources required to advance population health and wellbeing; recognise population health and wellbeing issues associated with social and cultural diversity and the skills and resources required for working across diverse populations; demonstrate awareness of equity, and health, and human rights and social justice; demonstrate awareness of the determinants of illness, health and wellbeing; integrate knowledge of relevant public policy and health and social care systems into practice; demonstrate critical awareness of the relationships between population health and wellbeing, and the policy and institutions framing health and social care systems, and a capacity to utilise this awareness in the advancement of population health and wellbeing; and achieve a broad education based on independent learning, critical thinking, problem-solving and evaluation.

Special requirements

Police checks

Organisations that host clinical and community placements require students to have current Police and Working with Children checks regarding their suitability to undertake such placements. All enrolled and prospective students are advised that they will be required to obtain Police and Working with Children checks prior to undertaking their course. Working with Children checks are valid for five years and are available free. Police checks must be applied and paid for annually. However, in some community partnered programs there may be a requirement to have a police check renewed every six months.

Health requirements

In order to meet health requirements for working in the healthcare facilities and for the protection of other students, and themselves, students may need to comply with certain precautionary procedures. These may consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and having x-rays where the evidence indicates that these are appropriate.

Vaccinations

The faculty recommends that all students accept responsibility for having up-to-date immunisations before commencing this course. Recommended immunisations include diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, tuberculosis and hepatitis B.

Course structure

Course requirements

To qualify for the Bachelor of Health Science, students must complete the following units:

Core units

First year
Semester 1
Semester 2
Second year
Semester 1
  • HSC2031 Epidemiology and public health
  • HSC2061 Legal and ethical frameworks
  • Major sequence 1
  • Elective
Semester 2
  • SRH2002 Indigenous health and wellbeing
  • HSC2042 Population health and diversity
  • HSC2092 Community partnerships and capacity building
  • Major sequence 2
Third Year
Semester 1
  • HSC3021 Research methods in health science
  • Major sequence 3
  • Major sequence 4
  • Elective
Semester 2
  • HSC3082 Health policy and politics
  • Major sequence 5
  • Major sequence 6
  • Elective

Major sequences

Health promotion

Students select 6 of the following:

  • HSC2051 Health promotion 2
  • HSC2052 Management in the health sector
  • HSC2062 Communicating health
  • HSC3011 Contemporary health challenges
  • HSC3052 Health promotion in primary and clinical settings
  • HSC3062 Health promotion evaluation
  • MGW1010 Managing people and organizations
  • Plus 3 electives
Health policy and management

Students select 6 of the following:

  • HSC3071 Public health policy
  • MGW1010 Managing people and organizations
  • MGW2230 Organisational behaviour
  • MGW2430 Human resource management
  • MGW2511 Quality management
  • MGW3130 Organizational change and development
  • Plus 3 electives

Minor sequence in bioscience of 4 units (24 points)

In addition to the major sequence taken, a sequence can be taken in bioscience. The four units (24 points) making up the minor sequence replace HSC1051 and HSC1092 from the compulsory core units and any two electives.

Additional health science elective units

  • HSC2012 Drugs, ethics and community
  • HSC2091 E-health
  • HSC2401 Foundations of pharmacology for health sciences
  • HSC3301 Introduction to clinical trials

Site visits and placements will be attached to some units. A compulsory three day inter-professional education block each semester that will involve learning together with students enrolled in other health science courses (physiotherapy, occupational therapy, nursing, social work, paramedic) around structured academic content focussed on collaboration and teamwork.

Contact details

Telephone: +61 3 9904 4466, email: healthsciences@med.monash.edu.au or visit http://www.med.monash.edu.au/healthsciences/