ObjectivesThe multidisciplinary course is designed to equip students with generic skills necessary for employment in the health industry and prepare them for the increasingly complex context of health care. Learning outcomes It prepares students for a variety of roles, particularly in the areas of advanced life support (paramedic), disability, health administration/management, health education/promotion, the life sciences, nutrition and occupational health and safety.
Entry requirementsDomestic students Prerequisites: None You can qualify for undergraduate courses through: * year 12 qualifications * mature age entry (STAT) * TAFE/VET qualifications * higher education transfers. Flinders also offers a range of special access schemes. International Students English language requirements
Academic titleBachelor of Health Sciences
Course descriptionThe Bachelor of Health Sciences provides graduates with the skills they need to work in the Health Industry.
This course combines health-related topics with specialised studies in 1 of 5 streams:
* Management: fills the niche between learning about business and studying the healthcare system - the mix you need to run modern health organisations.
* Health Education and Promotion: suits people interested in working for community health groups, self-help groups and hospital-based health promotion units.
* Life Sciences: includes topics in neuroscience, biochemistry and genetics, and can lead on to postgraduate studies and laboratory work, including lateral entry into the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietitics.
* Disability Studies: suits people interested in working in human resource management, administration and management, policy advice, community development, welfare and advocacy.
* Nutrition: can lead to work as a nutritionist in governmental and non-governmental health promotion agencies or to postgraduate studies in Dietetics or lateral entry into the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics.
The flexible course caters for a wide range of careers, yet equips graduates with transferable, generic industry skills.
What will I study?
Refer to the program of study.
Why study Health Sciences at Flinders?
* Our Faculty of Health Sciences has a reputation for achievement and innovation in teaching and research. It is recognised nationally and internationally for its research in the areas of medical and clinical sciences, nursing, midwifery and Aboriginal health.
* We have strong partnerships with affiliated health care institutions and industry and our research outcomes are of direct benefit to practice, industry values and commercialisation outcomes.
* We place a strong emphasis on rural and remote health in our teaching programs and are widely acknowledged as a leader in this field. We have established Clinical Schools or Departments of Rural Health in locations as diverse as Darwin and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, the Riverland and South East regions of South Australia, and South Western region of Victoria.
* We are a major distance education provider in health-related programs, particularly in nursing and public health, and are innovative in our use of modern technologies to enhance its teaching through flexible delivery.
Combined degree options
Combine with
Duration (full-time equivalent)
Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) 4 years
Bachelor of Education (Middle School)
4 years
Bachelor of Education (Secondary)
4 years
Bachelor of Nursing
4 years
Refer to Health Sciences combined degrees for further information.
Career opportunities
What can I do with my Bachelor of Health Sciences degree?
Study a language
Flinders also offers all students the opportunity to major in a language in conjunction with any undergraduate course. The Diploma in Language is designed to provide students with competence in a chosen language that adds greater portability to their qualifications. You will complete a total of one extra year of study and graduate with both your chosen degree and the Diploma in Language. You can apply for this at time of enrolment.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences requires three years of full-time study (or the equivalent part-time). The course is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.
The Bachelor of Health Sciences can also be taken in a combined degrees program with:
* Bachelor of Nursing (four years full-time or the equivalent)
* Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) (four years full-time or the equivalent)
* Bachelor of Education (Middle School) (four years full-time or the equivalent)
* Bachelor of Education (Secondary) (four years full-time or the equivalent)
The combined degrees program in Health Sciences and Nursing allows a student to meet the requirements for nursing registration as well as complete a Bachelor of Health Sciences specialty stream in Health Education and Promotion, Health Management, Disability Studies, or Mental Health Nursing with endorsement as a mental health nurse.
The combined degrees program with Commerce fulfils the requirements of the Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) enabling students to complete sufficient core topics to qualify as an accountant. It also allows students to complete the award of the Bachelor of Health Sciences by providing the equivalent of all core topics and a specialty stream in Health Management.
Students in the Health Management, Life Sciences, Disability and Community Rehabilitation, and Health Education streams may take elective topics from the Globalisation program. This option is not available to students in the combined degrees programs or Paramedic stream.
An Honours year is also available to students who have completed the Bachelor of Health Science or another qualification which the Faculty Board (upon recommendation of the Honours Committee) agrees is equivalent; and achieved a GPA of at least 5 in the ordinary degree. Honours can be taken in two semesters full-time or in four semesters part-time.
PROGRAM OF STUDY [November, 2008]
To qualify for the Bachelor of Health Sciences a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, including compulsory core topics and the program for one of the six optional streams as set out below.
The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.
Except with the permission of the Course Committee, a student may not proceed to higher year core topics unless they have satisfactorily completed the previous year's core topics.
All students undertake a set of core topics plus the program for one of six streams:
* Disability and Community Rehabilitation
* Health Education/Promotion
* Health Management
* Life Sciences
* Nutrition
* Paramedic
CORE TOPICS
First Year
HLTH1003
Legal/Ethical Aspects and Health Care #
4.5
HLTH1004
Human Bioscience *
4.5
HLTH1302
Introduction to Health Professions
4.5
HLTH1303
Reforming Health Care: Policy, Politics and the Professions
4.5
HLTH1304
Communication for Health Practitioners
4.5
# Students undertaking the Paramedic stream undertake HLTH3207 Emergency Law and Ethics (6 units) in their Third Year of study.
* Students undertaking the Life Sciences or Nutrition streams are not required to take this topic.