Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (BHlthMedSc)
Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (BHlthMedSc)
Program Code
BHMS
Program Faculty
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences
Academic Year
2025
These Program Rules should be read in conjunction with the University's policies (https://www.adelaide.edu.au/policies).
Overview
The Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences provides general foundation studies in a broad range of areas in the Health and Medical Sciences, while also enabling students to specialise in one particular area of study as they progress through the degree.
The Clinical Trials Major will develop the expertise needed to design, develop and conduct clinical trials in hospitals, research organisations/institutes and pharmaceutical companies.
The Medical Sciences Major will provide an understanding of how the human body functions in health and disease, and how treatments for disease are developed. An understanding will be gained of the fundamental medical science disciplines of anatomy, physiology, and pathology.
The Neurosciences Major will provide an understanding of how the nervous system regulates the body and behaviour with a view to finding ways to prevent or cure neurological disorders.
The Nutritional Health Major will explore the body’s mechanical and physiological responses to food including how energy and nutrients from the food we eat is used.
The Public Health Major will provide the skills to measure the health of populations, understand how social, cultural and economic factors influence contemporary health problems in Australia and internationally, and develop practical skills in health promotion and health educational strategies.
The Reproductive and Childhood Health Major will provide knowledge about fertility, conception, pregnancy and birth. The key health issues that affect children and adolescents will also be considered.
The Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences is an AQF Level 7 qualification with a standard full-time duration of 3 years.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate an understanding of the foundational concepts/principles in selected disciplinary and inter-disciplinary areas in Health and Medical Sciences, with an in-depth knowledge of cutting-edge theoretical concepts and/or technical skills in relation to a specific major sequence of study.
- Design and conduct a quantum of de novo/original research/experimental work as part of a small team, cognisant of safe and ethical practices.
- Communicate effectively the outcomes of analytical investigations including: 3.1 evaluation/review of literature 3.2 de novo/original research/experimental work.
- Demonstrate career-readiness and leadership appropriate for engaging in professional practice through: 4.1 operating collaboratively or independently 4.2 applying critical analysis and problem-solving skills 4.3 information/digital literacy 4.4 global and intercultural awareness.
- Discuss and evaluate contemporary issues relating to Health and Medical Sciences, with cognisance of relevant ethical, social, cultural, political, economic and environmental influences.
- Demonstrate an aptitude for inter-personal engagement through: 6.1 self-reflection 6.2 self-management 6.3 negotiation 6.4 inter-cultural understanding.
Conditions
Condition of Enrolment
Immunisation: Prior to any clinical placement, students will need to provide evidence of immunisation status. Students are required to have the appropriate level of immunisation required by the Immunisation Guidelines for Health Care Workers in South Australia Policy Guideline for tuberculosis (TB) screening and criminal history clearances (CHC), Prescribed Communicable Infections (PCI) screening, including recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines.
Interruption of program: Students must apply for permission from the Program Director or Delegate before taking a Leave of Absence. Any extension of the leave without approval will result in the loss of place in the program but an application may be made to be re-admitted to the program subject to the admission procedures in place at the time.
Program Maximum Duration: As specified in Table 1 of the Coursework Academic Programs Policy, this program must be completed within a Maximum Duration which includes any periods of non-enrolment, leave of absence or approved study at other institutions for credit towards a Program.
Academic Program Rules for Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences
There shall be a Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences.
Qualification Requirements
To qualify for the degree of Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences, the student must complete satisfactorily a program of study consisting of the following requirements with a combined total of not less than 72 units, comprising:
- Level I courses to the value of no more than 30 units, of which at least 12 units are Health and Medical Science courses, and which may include the Core courses and Closed electives
- Level II Health and Medical Science courses to the value of at least 12 units, which may include the Core courses and Closed electives
- Level III Health and Medical Science courses to the value of at least 24 units, which must include Closed electives
- Core courses to the value of 6 units
- One major from the following:
- Clinical Trials (27 units)
- Medical Sciences (27 units)
- Neurosciences (27 units)
- Nutritional Health (27 units)
- Public Health (24 units)
- Reproductive and Childhood Health (27 units)
- Broadening Electives to the value of 9 units
- Additional elective courses to complete a total of 72 units for the program, which may include Closed and Open electives.
Core Courses
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Core Courses
To satisfy the requirements for Core Courses students must complete courses to the value of 6 units.
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 1002 Create. Communicate. Connect with Health and Medical Sciences 3 HLTH SC 2105 Reflect. Research. Resolve Questions in Health 3
Major
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Clinical Trials Major
To satisfy the requirements for Clinical Trials Major students must complete courses to the value of 27 units.
Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 1102 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA 3 Level II
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 2104 Essential Understanding of Disease and Treatment 3 PUB HLTH 2007 Epidemiology for Health and Medical Sciences 3 Level III
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3008A Research Placement (Clinical Trials) Part 1 3 HLTH SC 3008B Research Placement (Clinical Trials) Part 2 3 or
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3015 Work Integrated Learning (Clinical Trials) 6 and
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3101 Clinical Trials Management: Principles and Practice 3 PHARM 3102 Drug Discovery & Development 3 PHARM 3103 Drug Action and Therapeutics 3 PUB HLTH 3009 Experiments with Humans 3 -
Medical Sciences Major
To satisfy the requirements for Medical Sciences Major students must complete courses to the value of 27 units.
Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 1102 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA 3 Level II
Courses to the value of at least 6 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 2009 Musculoskeletal Anatomy 3 HLTH SC 2104 Essential Understanding of Disease and Treatment 3 PHYSIOL 2510 Physiology IIA: Heart, Lung & Neuromuscular Systems 3 Level III
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3009A Research Placement (Medical Sciences) Part 1 3 HLTH SC 3009B Research Placement (Medical Sciences) Part 2 3 or
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3016 Research Integrated Learning - Hlth & Medical Sci 6 or
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3017 Assisted Reproductive Technology - Research Integrated Learning 6 and
Courses to the value of at least 12 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 3003 Applied Human Anatomy 3 HLTH SC 3201 Human Motor Behaviour and Learning 3 PATHOL 3100OL Topics in Forensic Sciences 3 PATHOL 3101 Essentials of Pathology 3 PATHOL 3104 Investigative Cell Biology 3 PATHOL 3200 Neurological Diseases 3 PHARM 3102 Drug Discovery & Development 3 PHARM 3103 Drug Action and Therapeutics 3 PHYSIOL 3103 Integrated and Applied Systems Physiology 3 PHYSIOL 3104 Cellular & Systems Neurobiology 3 PHYSIOL 3120 Neuromotor Control of Human Movement 3 PHYSIOL 3200 Advanced Exercise Science 3 -
Neurosciences Major
To satisfy the requirements for Neurosciences Major students must complete courses to the value of 27 units.
Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 1102 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA 3 Level II
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PHYSIOL 2510 Physiology IIA: Heart, Lung & Neuromuscular Systems 3 and
Courses to the value of 3 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 2006 Foundations of Human Neuroanatomy 3 HLTH SC 2104 Essential Understanding of Disease and Treatment 3 Level III
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3010A Research Placement (Neuroscience) Part 1 3 HLTH SC 3010B Research Placement (Neuroscience) Part 2 3 or
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3016 Research Integrated Learning - Hlth & Medical Sci 6 and
Courses to the value of at least 12 units from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3201 Human Motor Behaviour and Learning 3 PATHOL 3200 Neurological Diseases 3 PHARM 3012 Assessment and Treatment of Addiction 3 PHARM 3101 Biological and Psychosocial Factors in Addictions 3 PHYSIOL 3104 Cellular & Systems Neurobiology 3 PHYSIOL 3120 Neuromotor Control of Human Movement 3 PSYCHIAT 3200 Fundamentals of Biological Psychiatry 3 -
Nutritional Health Major
To satisfy the requirements for Nutritional Health Major students must complete courses to the value of 27 units.
Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 1102 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA 3 Level II
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 2100 Fundamentals in Human Nutrition 3 PHYSIOL 2520 Physiology IIB: Systems & Homeostasis 3 Level III
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3011A Research Placement (Nutritional Health) Part 1 3 HLTH SC 3011B Research Placement (Nutritional Health) Part 2 3 or
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3016 Research Integrated Learning - Hlth & Medical Sci 6 and
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value FOOD SC 3029WT Nutrition Health and Metabolism 3 HLTH SC 3100 Exercise, Nutrition & Metabolism 3 HLTH SC 3200 Life Span Nutrition 3 and
Courses to the value of up to 3 units may be taken from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value FOOD SC 3505WT Public Health Nutrition III 3 PUB HLTH 3007 Nutrition: Ideology, Individuals & Industry 3 -
Public Health Major
To satisfy the requirements for Public Health Major students must complete courses to the value of 24 units.
Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PUB HLTH 1001 Health and Illness in Populations 3 Level II
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PUB HLTH 2007 Epidemiology for Health and Medical Sciences 3 PUB HLTH 2200 Social Foundations of Health II 3 Level III
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3012A Research Placement (Public Health) Part 1 3 HLTH SC 3012B Research Placement (Public Health) Part 2 3 or
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3014 Work Integrated Learning (Public Health) 6 and
Courses to the value of up to 9 units taken from the following:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value PUB HLTH 3008 Health care systems: structure, policy and people 3 PUB HLTH 3009 Experiments with Humans 3 PUB HLTH 3010 Practical Epidemiology in Health Sciences 3 PUB HLTH 3122 International Health III 3 PUB HLTH 3124 Health Promotion III 3 -
Reproductive and Childhood Health Major
To satisfy the requirements for Reproductive and Childhood Health Major students must complete courses to the value of 27 units.
Level I
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 1102 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA 3 Level II
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 2109 Biology and Development of Human Tissues 3 PUB HLTH 2007 Epidemiology for Health and Medical Sciences 3 Level III
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3013A Research Placement (Reproductive & Childhood Health) Part 1 3 HLTH SC 3013B Research Placement (Reproductive & Childhood Health) Part 2 3 or
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3016 Research Integrated Learning - Hlth & Medical Sci 6 or
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3017 Assisted Reproductive Technology - Research Integrated Learning 6 and
All of the following courses must be completed:
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value HLTH SC 3006 Reproductive Health Matters 3 HLTH SC 3103 Infant, Child and Adolescent Health 3 OB&GYNAE 3001 Reproductive Biology 3 PAEDIAT 3000 Biology of Childhood Growth, Development & Health 3
Electives
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Electives
To satisfy the requirements for Electives students must complete courses to the value of 27 units.
At least 24 units of the total 48 units at level I and II must comprise of courses offered by the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (this includes core courses).
Students may take any courses from the Closed or Open Electives.Level I
If completing 30 units at Level I, courses to the value of at least 12 units must be completed from the following
OR
If completing 24 units at Level I, courses to the value of at least 9 units must be completed from the followingClosed Electives -
Students may take electives offered by the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences as listed.Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 1102 Human Anatomy and Physiology IA 3 ANAT SC 1103 Human Anatomy and Physiology IB 3 HLTH SC 1000OL Introduction to Forensic Sciences 3 HLTH SC 1001 Essentials of Neuroscience 3 HLTH SC 1005 Principles of Human Health and Disease 3 PSYCHOL 1000 Psychology IA 3 PSYCHOL 1001 Psychology IB 3 PSYCHOL 1004 Research Methods in Psychology 3 PUB HLTH 1001 Health and Illness in Populations 3 PUB HLTH 1003 Communication for Health Sciences 3 PUB HLTH 1004 21st c. Infectious disease epidemiology & control 3 PUB HLTH 1006 Saving lives or respecting rights? An introduction to health ethics 3 and
Courses to the value of up to 15 units may be taken from the following:
Open Electives -
Students may take electives offered by the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics or Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology that are available.Level II
If completing 24 units at Level II, courses to the value of at least 9 units must be taken from the following courses must be completed
OR
If completing 18 units at Level II, courses to the value of at least 6 units from the following courses must be completed.
Courses to the value of at least 6 units from the following:
Closed Electives -
Students may take electives offered by the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences as listed.
Subject/Catalogue Course Title Unit Value ANAT SC 2006 Foundations of Human Neuroanatomy 3 ANAT SC 2009 Musculoskeletal Anatomy 3 ANAT SC 2109 Biology and Development of Human Tissues 3 ANAT SC 2110 The Neuroscience of Human Behaviour and Cognition 3 HLTH SC 2100 Fundamentals in Human Nutrition 3 HLTH SC 2104 Essential Understanding of Disease and Treatment 3 HLTH SC 2108 Precision Medicine: Disease, Treatment & Prevention 3 PHARM 2400 Foundations of Pharmacology 3 PHYSIOL 2510 Physiology IIA: Heart, Lung & Neuromuscular Systems 3 PHYSIOL 2520 Physiology IIB: Systems & Homeostasis 3 PSYCHOL 2004 Doing Research in Psychology 3 PSYCHOL 2005 Foundations Health & Lifespan Development 3 PSYCHOL 2006 Foundations of Perception & Cognition 3 PSYCHOL 2007 Psychology in Society 3 PUB HLTH 2007 Epidemiology for Health and Medical Sciences 3 PUB HLTH 2009 Introduction to Counselling Theory and Practice 3 PUB HLTH 2200 Social Foundations of Health II 3 and
Courses to the value of up to 12 units may be taken from the following:
Open Electives -
Students may take electives offered by the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics and Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology that are available.
At least 24 units of the total 48 units at Level I and Level II must comprise of courses offered by the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (this includes the core courses).Level III
Courses to the value of at least 6 units from the following:
Closed Electives -
Students must take electives offered by the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences as listed.
-
Broadening Electives
To satisfy the requirements for Broadening Electives students must complete courses to the value of 9 units.
Broadening electives are to be chosen from outside the major area of study.