Bachelor of Health Sciences (Life Sciences major)

No further student intake

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (Life Sciences major) is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

• 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.  

Course aims

This major sequence of study aims to develop graduates who have knowledge of mammalian cell and molecular biology, biochemistry and physiology with a detailed understanding of one of these knowledge domains. The major aims to develop a range of skills in both written and oral communication and the importance of ethics in addressing medical issues. 

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of the course, graduates should be able to:

• have a sound knowledge of mammalian cellular and molecular biology, and biochemistry
• have a comprehensive understanding of human anatomy and physiology at the individual organ and system level and the integration between body systems
• have an understanding of how alterations to normal body systems can contribute to disease
• be able to source, understand and be appropriately critical of scientific literature
• be able to assess core scientific knowledge to develop new strategies to research biological and medical problems
• have developed practical skills which enable them to conduct problem or enquiry driven research within a team-based context
• have effective written and oral communication skills in presenting medical and life sciences knowledge to lay audiences and the scientific community
• have a detailed knowledge of the current state of knowledge in at least one significant field of medical and life science
• value integrity and the importance of ethics in addressing medical problems.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Life Sciences major) a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the following program of study.

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 years core topics.

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

 BIOL1101  Evolution of Biological Diversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL1102  Molecular Basis of Life  (4.5 units) 
 CHEM1202  Chemistry for the Life Sciences  (4.5 units)
 HLTH1003  Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care  (4.5 units)
 HLTH1004  Human Biosciences  (4.5 units)
 HLTH1305  Australian Healthcare System(s): Concepts and Controversies  (4.5 units)
 HLTH1306  Contemporary Health Issues in Australia  (4.5 units)

Plus one of:

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

Core - Year 2 topics

31.5 units comprising:

 BIOL2771  Biochemistry  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2772  Molecular Biology  (4.5 units)
 ENVS2712  Environmental Change and Human Health (4.5 units)
 HLTH1304 Communication and Interprofessional Communication (4.5 units)
 HLTH2101  Critical Social Analysis of Health   (4.5 units)
 HLTH2105  Health: A Psychological Perspective  (4.5 units)
 MMED2931  Human Physiology  (4.5 units)

Plus 4.5 units of Option topics from the Option - Year 2 & 3 topics list.

When choosing Year 2 Option topics please ensure you include any topics as a prerequisite for Year 3 topics.

Core - Year 3 topics

13.5 units comprising:

 HLTH3102  Qualitative Methods for Social Health Research  (4.5 units)
 HLTH3105  Quantitative Methods for Social Health Research  (4.5 units)
 HLTH3106  Health Work Internship  (4.5 units)

Options - Year 3 topics

When choosing Year 3 Option topics please ensure you have completed prerequisite topics.

Students must select 13.5 units from one of the Specialisations - Year 3 listed below;

Plus

9 units from the Option - Year 2 & 3 topics list below.

Specialisation - Year 3 topics

Specialisation - Year 3 Biochemistry & Molecular Biology topics

13.5 units selected from:

 BIOL3762  Protein to Proteome  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3771  DNA to Genome  (4.5 units)
 BTEC3002  Medical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
 MMED3933  Biochemistry of Human Disease  (4.5 units)
 MMED3935  Human Molecular Genetics  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 Biomedical Technology topics

13.5 units selected from:

 ENGR2732  Biomechanics  (4.5 units)
 ENGR2742  Biomedical Instrumentation  (4.5 units)
 ENGR3741  Physiological Measurement  (4.5 units)
 ENGR7701  Advanced Biomechanics  (4.5 units)
 ENGR7702  Biomaterials  (4.5 units)
 ENGR7771  Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 Microbiology topics

13.5 units selected from:

 BIOL2761  Virology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3761  Foundations in Microbiology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3782  Advanced Microbiology: Microbial Ecology and Infectious Disease  (4.5 units)
 BTEC3003  Industrial and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 Pharmacology & Toxicology topics

 BTEC3002  Medical Biotechnology  (4.5 units)
 MMED3934  Principles of Pharmacology and Toxicology  (4.5 units)
 MMED3936  Human Pharmacology and Therapeutics  (4.5 units)

Specialisation - Year 3 Physiology & Neuroscience topics

 MMED3931  Advanced Neuroscience  (4.5 units)
 MMED3930  Sensory and Motor Systems  (4.5 units)
 MMED3932  Body Systems  (4.5 units)

Option - Year 2 & 3 topics

 BIOL2702  Genetics, Evolution and Biodiversity  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2722  Disease and Immunology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL2761  Virology  (4.5 units)
 BIOL3761  Foundations in Microbiology  (4.5 units)
 BTEC2001  Bioscience: from the Bench to the Community  (4.5 units)
 BTEC2002  Legal, Ethical and Social Aspects of Bioscience  (4.5 units)
 CHEM1102  Modern Chemistry  (4.5 units)
 MDSC3100  Point-of-Care Testing: Application, Management and Effectiveness  (4.5 units)
 MMED2932  Integrative 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)