Program Overview

Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle)

The Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) is a foundation degree for students who wish to pursue a career in health, naturopathic medicine, or lifestyle medicine. This course allows students to develop an understanding of health science, social science, lifestyle medicine, clinical science, scientific enquiry, and naturopathic medicine.

Course Overview

The World Health Organisation estimates a projected shortfall of 18 million health care workers by 2030, which has resulted in rebuilding the health care workforce as a core global health priority. To practice as a Clinical Naturopath, students must successfully complete the Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) and the Southern Cross University Master of Naturopathic Medicine. The total full-time duration for this clinical training program is four years.

Learning Outcomes and Graduate Attributes

The course learning outcomes include:

• Intellectual rigour: Interpret evidence-based clinical-decision making frameworks appropriate for contemporary health and lifestyle contexts
• Creativity: Use initiative and problem-solving skills to respond creatively to intellectual, professional, environmental, and social challenges
• Ethical practice: Function within applicable professional competencies, scope of practice, codes of conduct, codes of ethics, laws, and policies
• Knowledge of a discipline: Apply health and lifestyle philosophies, theories, and frameworks in applicable professional contexts
• Lifelong learning: Use reflection to guide professional development and to be a self-directed and life-long learner
• Communication and social skills: Demonstrate and apply well-developed verbal and written communication skills applicable to diverse settings with high academic and professional integrity
• Cultural competence: Demonstrate respect and responsiveness to socio-cultural preferences, needs, and values of individuals and groups in diverse settings

Placements, Work Experience, and Study Hours

This course includes 52 hours of Work Integrated Learning (WIL). Elective units may include additional WIL hours. WIL is a vital part of professional experience and comes with specific expectations and responsibilities.

Specialisations, Majors, and Minors

The Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) provides a direct pathway into the Master of Naturopathic Medicine. The 24 units of study in this course centre around three themes:

• Profession and Principles: professional contexts in naturopathic medicine
• Practitioner and Practice: exercise physiology, introductory pharmacology, nutritional medicine, botanical medicine, manual and mind-body medicine
• Patient and Population: introduction to science for health professionals, human anatomy, human physiology, biological chemistry, and human metabolism

Availability

The course is available at the following locations:

• Gold Coast: Term 1, Term 3
• Lismore: Term 1

Career Outcomes

Graduates are eligible to apply for membership with the Complementary Medicine Association and Massage & Myotherapy Australia.

Requirements

To meet the University's minimum English Language Proficiency requirement, an applicant must satisfy one of the following criteria:

• Satisfactory completion of at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed in English
• Completed at least two years of full-time equivalent combined secondary and/or tertiary and/or vocational education taught and assessed solely in English
• The IELTS (academic module) minimum overall score of 6.5 and a minimum score of 6.5 in each of the four components
• The PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 59 and a minimum score of 59 in each of the four communicative skills
• The TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 79 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 20 listening, 19 reading, 24 writing, and 20 speaking

Course Structure

The course progression is in the recommended order students should complete their course. It is essential to follow this to ensure meeting the course requirements.

Core Units

The core units include:

• The Reflective Learner and Health Science Scholar
• Introduction to Science for Health Professions
• Introducing Health Psychology
• Introductory Anatomy and Physiology
• Integrated Anatomy and Physiology
• Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples
• Biochemistry
• Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Foundations
• Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners
• Exercise Physiology
• Introductory Pharmacology
• Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Ethics and Law
• Nutritional Medicine
• Botanical Medicine
• Massage and Mind-body Medicine
• Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
• Practice-Based Health Research
• Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Integumentary and Gastrointestinal systems
• Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 3: Musculoskeletal and Nervous systems
• Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 4: Cardiovascular and Respiratory systems
• Health Promotion and Project
• Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 5: Urogenital and Endocrine systems
• Counselling Theory and Practice

Note

This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) that requires students to meet mandatory fit-to-practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit-to-practice deadline will result in the cancellation of WIL, and students will not be permitted to continue in this unit. Full details are available on the Faculty WIL page.