Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Occupational Therapy Practice
Course code/s: Albury-Wodonga (HZHSOW), Bendigo (HZHSOB), Melbourne (HZHSOT), Mildura (HZHSOM), Shepparton (HZHSOS)
NOTE. For students enrolled at the Albury-Wodonga, Mildura and Shepparton campuses: the first year will be taught at your respective campus and the second, third and fourth years are taught at the Bendigo campus.
Course Coordinator: Dr Mary Kennedy-Jones ph (03) 9479 5666 email m.kennedy-jones@latrobe.edu.au
Course Duration: 4 years
The course is a combined Bachelor and Masters-level education with undergraduate studies in health sciences over four years. Students develop knowledge about human occupation and professional skills in assessment and treatment, the therapeutic use of occupations, intervention techniques, the design of equipment and adaptation of environments. Supervised clinical placements enable students to develop a sound basis for professional practice in broad range of health and other services in which occupational therapists are employed. The course is accredited by Occupational Therapy Australia and the World Federation of Occupational Therapists.
Course structure
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 of this year 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.
In the second year of study students are introduced to concepts of participation in occupation through a service learning subject in local schools and further explore human biosciences and public health aspects of human health. Studies include sociology of health and illness and integrating research evidence into practice. Students also take one elective from anywhere in the University in years one and two of the course.
In both years three and four, students study occupational therapy through a curriculum centred on a hybrid model of problem-based learning (PBL). PBL is an instructional strategy in which students learn, through contextualised problems, and strive to find meaningful solutions to the range of complex human problems manifest in health care settings. During these two years, students will undertake placements in clinical settings.
| 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 | elective can be taken from anywhere in the University | 15 |
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-SEM-1 | PSY1EFP | Experimental Foundations of Psychological Science | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | HBS2ALU | Anatomy: Vertebral Column, Lower and Upper Limb | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | HLT2IEP | Integrating Evidence into Practice | 15 |
| TE-SEM-1 | elective1 | elective can be taken from anywhere in the University | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | PSY1CFP | Clinical Foundations of Psychological Science | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | HBS3PAN | Pathophysiology, Anatomy and Neurosciences | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | OCT3PDC2 | Participation in Diverse Communities through Service Learning | 15 |
| TE-SEM-2 | SOC2SHI | Sociology of Health and Illness | 15 |
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-W06-13 | OCT4HOB | Humans as Occupational Beings | 30 |
| TE-W15-26 | OCT4ECA | Occupational Therapy: Enabling Change A (Adult) | 30 |
| TE-W29-32 | OCT5PPA | Professional Practice A | 15 |
| TE-W33-45 | OCT5ECB | Occupational Therapy: Enabling Change B (Adult) | 30 |
| Teaching period | Subject code | Subject title | Credit points |
|---|---|---|---|
| TE-W07-10 | OCT5ECC3 | Occupational Therapy: Enabling Change C (Children) | 15 |
| TE-W18-25 | OCT5PPB | Professional Practice B | 30 |
| TE-W05-09 | OCT5ECD | Occupational Therapy: Enabling Change D (Youth) | 15 |
| TE-W10-13 | OCT5ERA | Evidence Review | 15 |
| TE-W27-36 | OCT5MSP | Macro Strategies for Advanced Professional Practice | 30 |
| TE-W38-45 | OCT5PPC | Professional Practice C | 30 |
Key: 1 It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they satisfy any prerequisites when choosing an elective
2 This subject can be taken in semester 1 instead and the elective taken in semester 2
3 Not available in 2013
Honours
Students who have achieved results of a high standard may be selected into the Honours program. Eligibility for honours is determined by a system which weights the results achieved in third year subjects. The honours course runs over three teaching periods, commencing in the first period of the fourth year. Students eligible for admission into Honours will be informed prior to the commencement of the program.
For more information and the course structure, please see the course entry for the Bachelor of Health Sciences and Master of Occupational Therapy Practice (Honours) in this Handbook.