Bachelor of Clinical Sciences, Doctor of Medicine

The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences, Doctor of Medicine may be taken as a double degrees program in not less than six years full-time.

The program is offered by the College of Medicine and Public Health and requires completion of a total of 216 units of study.

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

Admission requirements

Applicants must have completed Year 12 (or equivalent) and must not have a record of study at higher education level.

Domestic applicants must sit a selection test and their final ranking is determined by combining scores from the test and an applicant's academic performance in their Year 12 studies.

International applicants must achieve a minimum Year 12 (or equivalent) score. Applicants who meet the minimum Year 12 (or equivalent) score will be invited to participate in an interview. Selection for a place in the course will be made on the basis of performance in the interview.  Should there be more eligible applicants than places available for the course, selection will be based on a rank score combining their Year 12 (or equivalent) qualification score and their interview score.

In the first two years of the program of study, all students must pass all topics and gain a Grade Point Average of 5 (Credit) or above, in order to be eligible to progress to the MD component.

Course aims

This course aims to:

• provide a foundation in the basic sciences
• integrate basic science and clinical disciplines and recognise the importance of exposure to the principles, practice and findings of medical research
• provide a structured approach to the acquisition of clinical skills and competencies through laboratory and simulated learning and early patient contact made possible by the physical location of the School within the Flinders Medical Centre and the integration of patient care teaching and research in that environment
• give students the opportunity to undertake clinical learning in diverse hospital and community environments in Adelaide, country South Australia, western Victoria and the Northern Territory
• recognise the importance of basing medical practice on a social and community view of health and illness
• support the advocacy of patient care and service as a central focus in medical practice
• ensure students gain an understanding of the professional roles and responsibilities of doctors and experience in group learning and developing collegial relationships.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of the course will be able to:

• demonstrate a thorough understanding of the fundamental sciences as an appropriate basis for the practice of medicine;
• practice with cultural safety and humility in a diversity of settings including Indigenous communities;
• apply an integrated understanding of knowledge derived from the physical, biological, behavioural and social sciences and its application to medical and other health practice to meet the health care needs of patients, communities and populations;
• show proficiency in clinical and communication skills across the diversity of patients and with the awareness of personal limitations;
• demonstrate clinical practice that accounts for individual and community concepts of health and illness based on social, psychological, behavioural and cultural dimensions;
• apply health promotion and disease prevention principles to clinical practice to support patient’s health decisions and self-management regarding health, illness, injury and disability;
• work in collaboration to form partnerships with patients, carers, colleagues and others interested in the health care of patients or communities;
• understand and work within the legal and ethical frameworks which govern medical practice;
• understand the primary determinants of health and illness in individuals, communities and populations with development of skills to assess public health problems and resolve these with communities;
• apply skills in assessing and interpreting evidence to inform clinical practice;
• demonstrate personal and professional behaviour consistent with standards of medical practice required for competent, safe patient and community care;
• develop lifelong  learning skills necessary for professional development, adaptability to available resources and new technologies and the skills to teach others;
• understand systems in clinical governance, patient safety, resource allocation and health care delivery in relation to the role of the clinical practitioner;
• participate in a structured and collaborative inquiry process with a commitment to pursuing better health outcomes; and
• commit to improving quality if care through the application of patient safety and quality principles.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences, Doctor of Medicine, a student must complete 216 units according to the following program of study:

• The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component of 72 units (students must achieve a GPA of 5 or above);
• The Doctor of Medicine component of 144 units (students must achieve a grade of P or better; or NGP, in each topic).

The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component must include:

YEAR 1 

36 units of core topics including:

Option A (Health Sciences focus)# OR 
Option B (Medical Science focus)

#Students who select Option A in Year 1 MUST select Option A in Year 2. Students who select Option B in Year 1 MUST select Option B in Year 2.

Core - Year 1 - Option A (Health Sciences)

 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)
 HLTH1306  Contemporary Health Issues in Australia  (4.5 units)
 MMED1005  How Your Body Works: Human Physiology and Structure  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

HLTH2101  Critical Social Analysis of Health  (4.5 units)
MMED2934  Introduction to Human Molecular Genetics  (4.5 units)
MDSC1102  Skills for Medical Scientists  (4.5 units)

Select CHEM1101 & CHEM1102 or CHEM1201 & CHEM1202

 CHEM1101  Chemical Structure and Bonding  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Modern Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1201  General Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1202  Chemistry for the Life Sciences  (4.5 units)

Core - Year 1 - Option B (Medical Science)

 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)

Plus one of:

MMED1007  Histology: The Building Blocks of the Human Body  (4.5 units)
NUTD1106  Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health  (4.5 units)
PSYC1108  The Psychology of Surviving and Thriving  (4.5 units)

Select CHEM1101 & CHEM1102 or CHEM1201 & CHEM1202

 CHEM1101  Chemical Structure and Bonding  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Modern Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1201  General Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1202  Chemistry for the Life Sciences  (4.5 units)

YEAR 2 

36 units comprising core and elective topics; core topics include

Option A (Health Sciences focus) OR 
Option B (Medical Science focus)

Students can select an elective of their choice on approval of the Course Coordinator.

Core - Year 2 - Option A (Health Sciences)

 BIOL2771  Biochemistry  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2772  Molecular Biology  (4.5 units)
 HLTH2101  Epidemiology for the Social Determinants of Health  (4.5 units)
 HLTH2105  Health: A Psychological Perspective  (4.5 units)
 MMED2008  Communication for Improved Patient Care  (4.5 units)
 MMED2931  Human Physiology  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 - Option A (Health Sciences)

 DSRS3234  Case Management and Support Coordination  (4.5 units)
 NUTD1106  Nutrition, Physical Activity and Health  (4.5 units)
 PARA1007  Contemporary Approaches to Lifestyle Management  (4.5 units)

Core -Year 2 - Option B (Medical Science)

 BIOL2771  Biochemistry  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2772  Molecular Biology  (4.5 units)
 MDSC2000  Skills for Medical Scientists 2  (4.5 units)
 MMED2008  Communication for Improved Patient Care  (4.5 units)
 MMED2931  Human Physiology  (4.5 units)

Elective - Year 2 - Option B (Medical Science)

 BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2761  Virology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3761  Foundations in Microbiology  (4.5 units)
 BTEC2002  Legal, Ethical and Social Aspects of Bioscience  (4.5 units)
 MMED2932  Integrative Human Physiology  (4.5 units)
 MMED2933  Fundamental Neuroscience  (4.5 units)

Doctor of Medicine

The Doctor of Medicine component must comprise the program of study described in the MD course rule.

The double degrees must be completed within nine consecutive years.

Normally, no topic in the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component may be attempted more than once.

Progression to the Doctor of Medicine component of the double degrees program is subject to a student passing all topics and gaining a Grade Point Average of 5 or better in the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences component.

A student who is not eligible to progress to the Doctor of Medicine component will be permitted to transfer to either the Bachelor of Health Sciences or the Bachelor of Medical Science.

A student who withdraws from the double degrees program after successfully completing the first three years will be awarded the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences.

Specific rules relating to Years 3-6 of the double degrees - ie the MD component - may be found in the MD course rule.