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Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Dietetic Practice

Course code/s: Melbourne (HZHSDP)

The Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Dietetic Practice is a four-year combined degree for those seeking a career in nutrition and dietetics. This degree provides professional training to develop specialist skills related to the professional practice of nutrition and dietetics. The course provides a background in hospital dietetic practice, community and public health and food service components, and a focus is placed upon evidence-based practice in nutrition and dietetics.

Dietitians have a key role in the nutrition management of diseases and conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, gastrointestinal disorders, obesity, malnutrition, food allergy and intolerance. Dietitians are active in the prevention of many diseases and conditions through nutrition education, health promotion and advocacy. They may work independently or as members of health care teams. Dietitians are also involved in research, food industry and health services management.

The course aims to prepare graduates for entry-level roles in all areas of dietetics, including patient/client care in hospitals, private practice, community nutrition and public health and food service companies. Dietitians also work in a range of other fields including research, teaching and training, management, writing, media, marketing, public relations and the food industry (including product development, food regulation, safety, consumer nutrition education and nutrition marketing).

The Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Dietetic Practice will be submitted to the Dietitian Association of Australia (DAA) for accreditation. Once accreditation is finalised, graduates will be eligible for full membership of the DAA and the Accredited Practising Dietitian program.

Course structure

Students in this course will undertake a first year that is primarily in common with other students enrolled in the Faculty, with the exception of a chemistry subject in first semester and a dietetics-specific subject in second semester. The first year, an interdisciplinary year, focuses on human biosciences and factors influencing health, as well as developing an understanding of the roles of health professionals in the health and welfare sectors.

In second year students further develop physiology and biochemistry foundations, as well as develop skills in evidence-based practice, and nutrition and food science. In third and fourth years, students will acquire and apply knowledge of food, food science and nutrition, develop practical skills of dietetic management of health and disease and develop skills in research and evidence-based practice in dietetics.

Students will undertake professional practice placements over 100 days during the final 18 months of the course. Clinical placements often occur outside normal University semester periods. Students are required to undertake placements in a variety of settings, including 60 days of individual dietetic case management (medical nutrition therapy), 20 days of community care and 20 days of food service management.

First year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	CHE1GEN	General Principles of Chemistry
or			15
TE-SEM-1	CHE1CHF	Chemistry Foundations
plus
TE-SEM-1	HBS1HBA	Human Biosciences A	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE1IDH	Individual Determinants of Health	15
TE-SEM-1	HLT1IPA	Interprofessional Practice A	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE1SDH	Social Determinants of Health	15
TE-SEM-2	HBS1HBB	Human Biosciences B	15
TE-SEM-2	HLT1IPB	Interprofessional Practice B	15
TE-SEM-2	DTN1FFU	Food Fundamentals	15

Second year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	BCH2IBM	Introduction to Biochemistry and Molecular Biology	15
TE-SEM-1	HBS2PAT	Pathophysiology	15
TE-SEM-1	DTN2PNU	Principles of Human Nutrition	15
TE-SEM-1	HLT2IEP	Integrating Evidence into Practice	15
TE-SEM-2	BCH2MBC	Metabolic Biochemistry and Cell Biology	15
TE-SEM-2	HBS2PTB	Human Physiology Theory B	15
TE-SEM-2	DTN3NDS	Nutrition and Disease	15
TE-SEM-2	DTN3FSC	Food and Society	15

Third year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	DTN4CPA	Community and Public Health Nutrition A	15
TE-SEM-1	DTN4FSI	Food Science	15
TE-SEM-1	DTN4LPN	Lifespan Nutrition	15
TE-SEM-1	DTN4DPS	Dietetic Practice Skills	15
TE-SEM-2	DTN4CPB	Community and Public Health Nutrition B	15
TE-SEM-2	DTN4EPI	Nutritional Epidemiology and Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-2	DTN4DPA	Dietetic Practice Theory and Case Management A	30

Fourth year

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	DTN5DPB	Dietetic Practice Theory and Case Management B	30
TE-SEM-1	DTN5FSM	Food Service Management Theory and Practice	30
TE-SEM-2	DTN5DPC	Dietetic Practice Theory and Case Management C	30
TE-SEM-2	DTN5CPC	Community and Public Health Nutrition C	30