Program Overview

Introduction to Complementary Medicines in Contemporary Society

The Complementary Medicines in Contemporary Society unit (CSA120) is designed for students who want to understand, debate, and critically analyze the use and place of complementary medicines in healthcare today. This unit pulls together the disciplines of sociology, law, and complementary medicine.

Unit Details

• Unit name: Complementary Medicines in Contemporary Society
• Unit code: CSA120
• Credit points: 12.5
• College/School: Health
• School of Pharmacy and Pharmacology
• Discipline: Pharmacy, Law, Sociology, and Criminology
• Coordinator: Doctor Vanni Caruso
• Available as an elective: Yes
• Delivered By: University of Tasmania
• Level: Introductory

Sustainable Development Goals

The Unit Coordinator has identified that this unit aligns with the following UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Availability

• Location: Online
• Study period: Semester 1 and Semester 2
• Attendance options: Online
• Available to: Domestic and international students

Key Dates

• Study Period: Semester 1 and Semester 2
• Start date: 23/2/2026 for Semester 1, 6/7/2026 for Semester 2
• Census date: 17/3/2026 for Semester 1, 28/7/2026 for Semester 2
• WW date: 20/4/2026 for Semester 1, 31/8/2026 for Semester 2
• End date: 14/6/2026 for Semester 1, 25/10/2026 for Semester 2

Learning Outcomes

• Explain what Complementary Medicines are and discuss changes in their use over the last 30 years, with a particular focus on Australia.
• Identify and analyze the role of different types of evidence in influencing decision-making by Australian consumers about their use of Complementary Medicines.
• Assess the role of ethics and the law in regulating the availability, safety, and advertising of Complementary Medicines in Australia and more broadly.

Fee Information

• Field of Education:
• Commencing Student Contribution: $1,192.00
• Grandfathered Student Contribution: $1,192.00
• Approved Pathway Course Student Contribution: Not applicable
• Domestic Full Fee: $2,862.00

Requisites

Mutual Exclusions

You cannot enroll in this unit as well as the following:

• XBR120

Teaching

• Teaching Pattern: This unit is offered online, and students are expected to complete approximately 10 hours of independent learning per week.
• Assessment: Online quizzes (20%), Analysis (40%), Reflection (40%)
• Timetable: View the lecture timetable and the full unit timetable

Textbooks

• Required: No required reading materials.
• Recommended: Recommended readings will be provided by your Unit Coordinator via the Reading List link in MyLO or the Reading List on the University Library website.

Note

Please check that your computer meets the minimum System Requirements if you are attending via Distance/Off-Campus. Units are offered in attending mode unless otherwise indicated (that is, attendance is required at the campus identified). A unit identified as offered by distance, that is, there is no requirement for attendance, is identified with a nominal enrolment campus. A unit offered to both attending students and by distance from the same campus is identified as having both modes of study.