Global Utilities

La Trobe University
University Handbook 2010

Health Sciences

Bachelor of Health Sciences – Bendigo (HBHSB), Melbourne (Bundoora) (HBHS)

For students who commenced the course in 2009. Pre-2009 students should refer to the next entry for the Bachelor of Health Sciences.

Division of Health Studies: (03) 9479 1750

Coordinator: Mr Rick Hayes

Tel: (03) 9479 3290

Duration: 3 years

This flexible course provides students with the opportunity to develop a broad understanding of the field of health sciences while pursuing areas of interest within the human biosciences, occupational health or public health domains.

Course structure

Students must complete 120 credit points at each year level. The pass degree is designed to be completed in three years of full-time study or an equivalent period of part-time study. To qualify for the pass degree a student must complete subjects to the value of 360 credit points.

In first year, students will undertake an interdisciplinary common year in which students enrol in subjects with peers across the Faculty of Health Sciences. The focus is on basic human biosciences and factors influencing health and on developing an understanding of the roles of health professionals in the health and welfare sectors. Public health subjects cover the fields of disability and rehabilitation and health promotion. Students are required to complete the six core subjects listed below, plus subjects at least to the value of 30 credit points from any faculty of the university, or from the Faculty of Health Sciences. Any prerequisites must be satisfied.

In the second year, students are required to select a major from one of the following areas:

  • Human Physiology and Anatomy (Bundoora campus)
  • Public Health (Bendigo and Bundoora campuses)
  • Ergonomics, Safety and Health (Bundoora campus)
  • Environmental Health (Bendigo campus)

In third year, students continue to study subjects from their chosen major. The course also allows for some elective choice, from elsewhere in the University, at both second and third years.

The degree may be awarded as a pass degree, a double degree with the Bachelor of Arts (see the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences section), Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of International Development or as a degree with honours. The double degrees with the Bachelor of Commerce, Bachelor of International Relations and Bachelor of Media Studies will not be available in 2010.

To qualify for the honours program in the Bachelor of Health Sciences, a student must normally have completed the requirements for the pass degree and achieved academic results of a high standard.

Graduates may apply to continue their studies at a postgraduate level in areas such as community health, ergonomics, gerontology, health promotion, human biosciences, public health, and rehabilitation.

First year (new intake from 2009)
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 HBS1HBA Human Biosciences A 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT1IPA Interprofessional Practice A 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT1PHW Perspectives of Health and Wellbeing 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE1IDH Individual Determinants of Health 15
TE-SEM-2 HBS1HBB Human Biosciences B 15
TE-SEM-2 HLT1IPB Interprofessional Practice B 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE1SDH Social Determinants of Health 15
TE-SEM-2 Elective1 can be taken from anywhere in the University 15

Key: 1. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they satisfy any prerequisites when choosing an elective

Stream: Ergonomics Safety and Health
Second year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 HBS2WDH/HBS3WDH Work-related determinants of health 15
TE-SEM-1 HBS2WDP/HBS3WDP Principles of workstation, equipment and information design 15
TE-SEM-2 HBS2WSP/HBS3WSP Workload stress & performance management 15
TE-SEM-2 HBS2PDW/HBS3PDW Principles of managing physically demanding work 15
TE-SEM-1/2 Electives students must take 60 cps of second or third-year subjects from any faculty of the University 60
Third year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 OCT3OHS Introduction to Occupational Health and Safety Principles and Legislation 15
TE-SEM-1 One of a specified set of electives 15
TE-SEM-2 HBS3MSD Prevention of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders 15
TE-SEM-2 OCT3OHC Screening and monitoring in occupational health and safety 15
TE-SEM-1/2 Electives students must take 60 cps of third-year subjects from any faculty of the University 60

Stream: Human Anatomy and Physiology

(For current 1st year BHSc students applying to enroll in the physiology and anatomy stream (2010), students will attain automatic entry if they have achieved a pass in BOTH in HBS1HBA & HBS1HBB with a mark of 60 C in either of the subjects).

Second year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 HBS2ALL Anatomy: Lower limb 20
TE-SEM-1 HBS2HPA Human Physiology A 20
TE-SEM-2 HBS2ATL Anatomy: Trunk and Upper Limb 20
TE-SEM-2 HBS2HPB Human Physiology B 20
TE-SEM-1/2 Electives students must take 40 cps of second-year subjects from any faculty of the University in semesters one and two 40
Third year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 HBS3APA Advanced Physiology A 30
TE-SEM-2 HBS3APB Advanced Physiology B 30
TE-SEM-1/2 Electives students must take 60 cps of third-year subjects from any faculty of the University in semesters one and two 60

Stream: Public Health

Second year
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 PHE2HED Health Education Development 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT2PHP Principles of Public Health Practice 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT2EHI Environmental Health Issues 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT2IEP Integrating Evidence into Practice 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE2AHR Applied Health Research 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE2LCI Living with Chronic Illness 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE2CHP Community Health Promotion 15
TE-SEM-2 Elective To be chosen from approved list 15
Third year (not offered in 2010))
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 PHE3EPI Epidemiology 15
TE-SEM-1 HLT3HPE Health Promotion Planning and Evaluation 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE3HCS Health Care Systems 15
TE-SEM-1 Elective Taken from anywhere in the University 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE3PFP Participatory Field Placement (Bundoora only) 15
or
TE-SEM-2 HLT3FE Field Experience (Bendigo only) 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE3GHI Global Health Initiatives 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE3LMH Law and Management for Health 15
TE-SEM-2 Elective HLT3BRH To be chosen from approved list (Bundoora only) Rural Health (Bendigo only) 15
Honours
Teaching period Subject code Subject title Credit points
TE-SEM-1 PHE4THA Thesis Preparation 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE4RMH Research Methods in Health 4 15
TE-SEM-1 PHE4AIH Advanced Issues in Health 15
TE-SEM-1 Elective Taken from anywhere in the University 15
TE-SEM-2 PHE4THA Thesis 60

In addition to the above core Health Sciences subjects, there are other relevant subjects available for Bachelor of Health Science students from within the School of Human Biosciences and the School of Public Health, that can be taken as electives.

Please contact the Division of Health Studies for information on first year electives.

Honours year

The honours program requires an additional year of full-time study, or an equivalent period of part-time study, in the schools of Public Health and Human Biosciences subjects listed below. To qualify, a student must normally have achieved the requirements for the pass degree and demonstrated academic excellence in a subject area relevant to one of the contributing schools. Students contemplating honours are encouraged to undertake appropriate research methods elective subjects in the second and third years.

School of Public Health Honours program (120 credit points) (HHHS)

In the School of Public Health, the honours program involves four major components, PHE4THA Thesis Preparation (15 credit points) and PHE4THB Thesis (60 credit points) consisting of a 10,000 to12,000-word thesis, completion of two coursework components PHE4RMH and PHE4AIH (15 credit points each), and an elective from the School’s postgraduate diploma electives to the value of 15 credit points.

School of Human Biosciences Honours program (120 credit points) (HHHS)

The honours year provides students with specialised training in practical research. As well as providing the setting for a disciplined approach to research in the laboratory, the School will provide training in methods of oral and written communication of research results at an advanced level. The program normally involves supervised research projects, although coursework may be applicable in some circumstances. The assessment for the honours year is two 15-minute seminars, a literature survey, an analysis of a scientific paper, a thesis of 10,000 to 12,000-words and the supervisor’s assessment. Students undertake subject HBS4HPA (120 credit points) Honours in Human Physiology and Anatomy all year.

Credit for TAFE diplomas

Up to 12 months’ (120 credit points) advanced standing (credit) may be granted for certain TAFE diplomas to students entering the Bachelor of Health Sciences. The advanced standing may be granted as a mixture of specified and unspecified credit, depending on the applicant’s background. Where possible, candidates who have completed subjects related to the Bachelor of Health Sciences subjects (determined by the course coordinator) will be granted specified credit. Advanced standing will be granted only to students who meet normal admission requirements. The completion of a designated TAFE diploma does not guarantee entry to the course.

Details of the designated TAFE diplomas that attract 120 credit points of credit in the Bachelor of Health Sciences are available from the course administrator, telephone (03) 9479 2558.