Program Overview

Master of Osteopathic Medicine

The Master of Osteopathic Medicine is designed to develop a critical evaluation of the theory and practice of osteopathy, as well as to produce primary care health practitioners who are able to meet complex challenges and think rigorously and independently.

Overview

There is a growing demand for osteopaths as more people seek the kind of holistic and preventative approaches that are integral to this system of diagnosis and manual therapy, used to treat musculoskeletal and other functional disorders of the body. As a student, you will undertake substantial clinical practice of 610 hours under the supervision of an experienced practitioner at Southern Cross University's state-of-the-art Health Clinic or in other settings. Graduates will be eligible to register as practitioners of osteopathic medicine.

Career Outcomes

The Master of Osteopathic Medicine is the second stage of a professional-entry-level program that aims to produce graduates who are eligible to register as practitioners of osteopathic medicine. The first stage is Southern Cross University's Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies), or an equivalent award from another institution. Southern Cross University is seeking to increase the number of graduate osteopaths in order to meet community demand. Osteopathy Australia estimates a national shortage of osteopaths that will remain in effect for the foreseeable future.

Professional Accreditation

The Master of Osteopathic Medicine is accredited by the Osteopathy Board of Australia. Graduates may apply to become a registered osteopath. Graduates of the course are eligible for professional membership with Osteopathy Australia (OA). Osteopathic services are recognised under all state government statutory workers compensation schemes and motor vehicle accident compensation schemes; under Medicare's Chronic Disease Management Plan items; Departments of Veterans Affairs rebates and most private health insurance schemes.

Requirements

To be considered for admission, applicants shall have completed the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies) at Southern Cross University, or completed an award at another institution deemed by the Course Coordinator to be equivalent to the above. To meet the University's minimum English Language Proficiency requirement, an applicant must have achieved:

• Successful completion of the Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies) at Southern Cross University or equivalent award accepted for admission taught and assessed solely in English in one of the Recognised Countries
• The IELTS (academic module) with a minimum overall score of 7 with a minimum score of 7 in each of the Listening, Reading and Speaking components and a minimum score of 6.5 in the Writing component
• The OET with a minimum score of B in each of the Listening, Reading and Speaking components and a minimum score of C+ in the Writing component
• The PTE Academic with a minimum overall score of 66 and a minimum score of 66 in each of the Listening, Reading and Speaking communicative skills and a minimum score of 56 in the Writing communicative skill
• The TOEFL iBT with a minimum total score of 94 and the following minimum score in each section of the test: 24 listening, 24 reading, 24 writing, and 23 speaking
• The Cambridge (C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency) minimum score of 185 with a minimum overall score of 185 in Listening, Reading and Speaking and a minimum score of 176 for Writing

Course Structure

To be eligible to receive the Master of Osteopathic Medicine, students must complete the equivalent of 12 units (144 credit points), comprising all core units. The course includes:

• Osteopathic Manual Therapy 6
• Work Integrated Learning in Osteopathic Medicine 1
• Health Research
• Paediatric Management in Osteopathic Practice
• Small Business and Entrepreneurship for Allied Health, Fitness and Sport
• Work Integrated Learning in Osteopathic Medicine 2
• Osteopathic Manual Therapy 7
• Health Research Project A
• Work Integrated Learning in Osteopathic Medicine 3
• Osteopathic Integration and Transition to Practice
• Health Research Project B
• Evidence Translation and Implementation in Health Care

Fees and Scholarships

The annual tuition fee for the Master of Osteopathic Medicine is $26,000 ($3,250 per unit) for both domestic and international students. Scholarships are available for students, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars each year. Eligibility for scholarships is not limited to top-performing students or those facing financial challenges, but also includes individuals from diverse backgrounds and with different accomplishments.