
  • flinders.edu.au
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Library
Flinders University Logo Flinders University Logo
  • New students

    Getting started

    • New students - Start here
    • Accept offer
    • Orientation
    • Mentoring programs
    • Credit transfer
    • Ready2Go?
    • Find your college
    • Your FAN
    • Okta

    Higher degree by research

    • Apply for a higher degree by research
    • Start your higher degree by research
    • HDR online induction
    Student System
    Orientation planner
    Compass
  • My course

    My course

    • Course rules & topics
    • Manage your enrolment
    • Timetables
    • Readings
    • Textbooks
    • Exams, assessments and results
    • GPA calculator
    • Graduation
    • Internal transfer
    • Prizes and awards
    • Summer topics
    • Transnational Education (TNE) Students
    • Academic integrity
    • Graduate qualities

    Careers and opportunities

    • Student placements (WIL)
    • Careers & employability
    • Horizon Professional Development Award
    • Study abroad
    • Apply for honours year
    • Further study
    • Apply for a higher degree by research

    Higher degree by research

    • HDR home
    • Degree management
    • Progression and milestones
    • Examinations and completions
    • HDR development
    • Events and awards
    FLO
    Student System
    Compass
    Inspire
  • Support & services

    Health & wellbeing

    • Health services
    • Counselling services
    • Disability services
    • Oasis Student Community Wellbeing Centre
    • Sport & fitness
    • HDR Progression Support

    Study & learning

    • Academic advocacy
    • Studiosity online support
    • Learning Lounge
    • English language support
    • Study guides
    • Library
    • FLO Help
    • Student Learning Support Service
    • Elite athletes study support
    • Defence reserves study support

    Other support & services

    • Indigenous student services
    • International student services
    • Careers and employability
    • Legal advice
    • Financial advocacy
    • Financial support and scholarships
    • Flinders Connect

    IT & technology

    • Student systems and software
    • Email
    • Wi-Fi (eduroam)
    • Computers and printers on campus
    • Multi-factor authentication
    View all support & services
    Ask Flinders
    Flinders Support Network
  • Uni life

    Campuses and facilities

    • Bedford Park campus
    • Tonsley campus
    • Victoria Square campus
    • Regional SA locations
    • Northern Territory campuses
    • Campus security
    • Accommodation
    • Flinders University Museum of Art (FUMA)

    Student news

    • Ping! all student newsletter
    • Empire Times Magazine
    • Student Stories

    Get involved

    • Get involved overview
    • Clubs & societies
    • Sport & fitness
    • FUSA events
    • Join the Student View Group
    • Join the student association (FUSA)
    • Become an Inspire mentor
    • Become a wellbeing ambassador
    • The Good Vibes Experiment
    • Flinders Learning Experience Conversations

    Colleges

    • College of Business, Government and Law
    • College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
    • College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
    • College of Medicine and Public Health
    • College of Nursing and Health Sciences
    • College of Science and Engineering
  • Finance & admin

    Finance and fees

    • Financial advice, emergency loans and grants
    • Scholarships
    • Fees, payments and refunds
    • Student Services & Amenities Fee (SSAF)
    • Domestic student financial assistance
    • International student financial assistance
    • Financial advocacy

    Admin & documents

    • Government compliance
    • My eQuals
    • Transcripts
    • AHEGS
    • Testamurs
    • Student ID cards
    • Justice of the Peace
    • Important dates
    • Policy

    Insurance

    • Student travel insurance
    • Student insurance
    Student System
    Online payments
    Ask Flinders
  • Feedback & rights

    Feedback

    • Ideas & feedback
    • Student Evaluation of Teaching (SET)
    • Success report

    My rights & policies

    • Safety on campus
    • Student policies and procedures
    • Equal opportunity & diversity
    • Work, Health and safety (WHS)

    Complaints

    • Complaints and appeals
  • flinders.edu.au
  • Staff
  • Students
  • Library
  • You have no saved courses.

    Continue to explore your course options.

     
    Explore our courses

    Your saved courses

    {{{courseName}}}
    mail_outline
    delete
    View all saved courses
  • Quick links 
    • Compass
    • Flinders dashboard (Okta)
    • Calendar and key dates
    • Ask Flinders
    • Student System
    • Flinders Learning Online (FLO)
    • Email login
    • Parking: Bedford Park
    • Campus map: Bedford Park
    • Policy library
    • Campus bus
    • Shop Flinders merchandise

 

Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry

My course 2019 Course rules Undergraduate course rules Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry

2019 Course rules

    Overview Associate degrees and diplomas Bachelor degrees Honours Graduate certificates Graduate diplomas Masters degrees Doctorates Course rule search results

Related Links

     Course information page  Study Planner

The Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry is a double degree offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences and requires 5 years of full-time study (or up to eight years part-time).

  • Admission requirements
  • Course aims
  • Learning outcomes
  • Program of study

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Knowledge of Stage 2 chemistry, mathematics and physics or equivalent is assumed.

There are specific sub-quotas for rural and remote and Indigenous applicants.

In addition to the direct entry places (for which applicants apply through SATAC) applicants who have completed a prescribed program of study in the Bachelor of Medical Science with a minimum GPA of 5 may apply for admission to Year 2 of the double degree. Ranking for admission to Year 2 will be based on combined scores from a structured interview and the applicant’s GPA in the first year of the Bachelor of Medical Science and is managed by an internal Flinders University process. The interview will count for 35% of the overall selection ranking, with the remaining 65% to be based on GPA.

The course is not available to international applicants.

Course aims

The overall aim of the double degree is to prepare the graduate for beginning clinical practice as an optometrist in a range of urban, rural and remote settings; to be a well-informed health professional; and to acquire critical skills in appraising scientific and clinical information.  In addition the course is designed to produce graduates who as medical scientists are specialists in the area of vision science and possess well-developed skills to undertake a range of careers within the medical sciences.  Students also gain the specialist knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes necessary to be registered by the Optometry Board of Australia as an optometrist.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the double degree are expected to be able to:

  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamental science underpinning the fields of medical science and their science discipline and have a range of transferable professional skills
  • demonstrate a thorough understanding of the factors that influence sight and the visual system
  • undertake basic medical research utilising specialist skills and knowledge in at least one major area of science
  • contribute to developing and/or evaluating new treatments and strategies for health problems by employing specialist skills in a major area of science; and appreciate the cross-disciplinary nature of the medical sciences and work, as appropriate, with other health professionals
  • select and perform common diagnostic and therapeutic optometric procedures
  • identify and treat eye dysfunction and diseases within the scope of optometric therapeutic practice
  • communicate clearly and effectively with patients and other health professionals
  • meet the registration requirements of the Optometry Board of Australia.

Program of study

To qualify for the double degree of Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry, a student must complete 180 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

Students who fulfil the requirements of the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science) award according to the course rule, and have a GPA of no less than 5 in the 2nd and 3rd year topics completed, will be permitted to progress to the Master of Optometry. Students who fulfil the requirements of the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science) but do not have a GPA of 5 or more may exit with the Bachelor of Medical Science (Vision Science) award.

However, the Dean (Education) may, under certain circumstances and subject to specific conditions, permit students to continue if they show evidence of fitness for candidature.

Not all topics are necessarily available in a given year.

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life  (4.5 units)
 HLTH1003  Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care  (4.5 units)
 MDSC1102  Skills for Medical Scientists 1  (4.5 units)
 MMED1005  How Your Body Works: Human Physiology and Structure  (4.5 units)
 PHYS1702   Physics for the Health Sciences  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

 CHEM1101  Chemical Structure and Bonding  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1201  General Chemistry  (4.5 units)

Plus:

 CHEM1202  Chemistry for the Life Sciences  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL2771  Biochemistry  (4.5 units)
 MMED2931  Human Physiology  (4.5 units)
 MMED2933  Fundamental Neuroscience  (4.5 units)
 MMED2934  Introduction to Human Molecular Genetics  (4.5 units)
 MMED2935  Human Immunology and Infectious Diseases  (4.5 units)
 OPTO2001  Skills for Optometry Practice  (4.5 units)
 OPTO2002  Optics for the Eye and Vision  (4.5 units)
 OPTO2003  Communication for the Consulting Room  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

 MMED3937  Pathophysiology for Medical Science  (4.5 units)
 MMED3934  Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology  (4.5 units)
 MMED3940  Ocular Pharmacology and Therapeutics  (4.5 units)
 OPTO3001  Knowledge of Health and Illness for Optometrists 1  (9 units)
 OPTO3002  Ocular Anatomy and Histology  (4.5 units)
 OPTO3003  Clinical Skills for Optometrists 1  (4.5 units) 
 OPTO3006  Normal Eye and Vision  (4.5 units)

Core – Year 4 Master of Optometry topics

36 units comprising:

OPTO8001  Knowledge of Health and Illness for Optometrists 2  (9 units)
OPTO8002  Ophthalmology (4.5 units)
OPTO8003  Clinical Skills for Optometrists 2  (4.5 units)
OPTO8004  Optometry 1  (4.5 units)
OPTO8007  Clinical Placements 1  (13.5 units)

Core - Year 5 topics

36 units comprising:

OPTO8005  Optometry 2  (4.5 units)
OPTO8008  Clinical Placements 2  (13.5 units)
OPTO8006  Optometry 3  (4.5 units)
OPTO8009  Clinical Placements 3  (13.5 units)

Prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory academic progress for the purposes of the University’s Policy on Student Progress may be constituted by:

  • the award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or;
  • failure to complete the course within eight consecutive years

Flinders University Logo

Sturt Rd, Bedford Park
South Australia 5042

Student help and requests

  • Glossary
  • Flinders website
  • Staff Portal

Follow Flinders

Facebook - Flinders University Twitter - Flinders University YouTube - Flinders University Instagram - Flinders University LinkedIn - Flinders University

Brand SA logo Innovative Research University logo Indigenous communities

Website feedback and requests

Disclaimer

Accessibility

Privacy

CRICOS Provider: 00114A      TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12097      TEQSA category: Australian University

Last Updated: 01 Nov 2019
Fearless Logo

This website uses cookies

Flinders University uses cookies to ensure website functionality, personalisation, and for a variety of purposes described in the website privacy statement. For details about these cookies and how to set your cookie preferences, refer to our website privacy statement.

You consent to the use of our cookies if you proceed.

Accept and continue