Bachelor of Health Sciences (Therapy Studies Major)

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 anatomy and physiology, communication and social and behavioural determinants of health. This major aims to cover the pre-requisite topics required for direct application to Masters programs in Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy, with a detailed understanding of one of these knowledge domains.

Learning outcomes

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

have an understanding of body structures and function such as anatomy and physiology, human biology, including in-depth knowledge of the musculos keletal system;
have an understanding of how alterations to normal body systems can contribute to disease;
source, understand and be appropriately critical of medical and social science research and theoretical literature;
have developed practical skills which enable them to conduct problem or enquiry driven social research within a team-based context;
have effective written and oral communication skills in presenting social, and medical knowledge to lay audiences and the scientific community;
have an understanding of the impact of the social environment at both the theoretical and practical level, and the way in which it impacts on the social determinants of health including health behaviours;
have developed practical skills in communicating within a therapeutic environment; and
be aware of a range of other medical and health professions working within the interprofessional space.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Therapy Studies 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 year’s core topics.

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Therapy Studies major) should choose one of two specialisations:

Occupational Therapy specialisation
Physiotherapy specialisation

Bachelor of Health Sciences (Therapy Studies major), Occupational Therapy specialisation

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 Bioscience (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

36 units comprising:

ENVS2712 Environmental Change and Human Health (4.5 units)
HLTH1304 Interpersonal 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)
OCCT2001 Introduction to Occupational Science (4.5 units)
REHB2001 Neuroscience for Therapists (4.5 units)
REHB2002 Rehabilitation Studies 1 (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

36 units comprising:

DSRS3222 Counselling (4.5 units)
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)
MMED3932 Body Systems (4.5 units) Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4.5 units)
MMED3941 Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4.5 units)
OCCT3002 Understanding Disease and Disability (4.5 units)
REHB3001 Rehabilitation Studies (4.5 units)

Bachelor of Health Sciences (Therapy Studies major), Physiotherapy specialisation

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

Plus one of:

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

Core - Year 2 topics

36 units comprising:

ENVS2712 Environmental Change and Human Health (4.5 units)
HLTH1304 Interpersonal 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)
REHB2001 Neuroscience for Therapists (4.5 units)
REHB2002 Rehabilitation Studies (4.5 units)
HLPE2533 Exercise Prescription and Physiology (4.5 units)

Core - Year 3 topics

36 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)
MMED3932 Body Systems (4.5 units)
MMED3941 Human Musculoskeletal Anatomy (4.5 units)
PHYT3001 Introduction to the Science of Physiotherapy (4.5 units)
PHYT3003 Pain, Posture and Movement (4.5 units)
REHB3001 Rehabilitation Studies (4.5 units)

Every effort has been made to ensure the information published on the Course Rule pages is accurate at the time of publication. Flinders University reserves the right to amend its curriculum without prior notice, and will update the Course Rules to reflect any amendments at the earliest opportunity.