The Diploma of Health Sciences is a highly flexible pathway which can be tailored to your individual needs and areas of interest. This level of flexibility may increase your employment opportunities and is an excellent choice if you are interested in health administration and/or health management.
Health Science graduates have successfully entered other postgraduate programs within the same field.
After completion, students may be eligible to apply for entry into Curtin master programs in public health (food science, health information management, health promotion, occupational health and safety, public health and sexology), occupational therapy, pharmacy, physiotherapy and speech pathology.
Bachelor of Science (Health Sciences)
Students must complete the following core units and one elective:
Students must complete the following core units and three elective units.
Semester 1
Code | Title |
FPHP1000 | |
HSF1000 | |
IPSY1000 | |
Semester 2
Code | Title |
EPD1001 | |
ICHB1006 | |
*Service taught units are units where Curtin College students join Curtin University students in the same classroom. Such units are taught by university staff and Curtin College students will be enrolled as Curtin University students. Curtin University Policies and Processes will apply to these units.
Semester 1
Code | Title |
IHSC1003 | Imagining Health in Social and Cultural Contexts |
FNP1000 | Food and Nutrition Principles |
FCB1007 | Fundamental Chemistry for Biosciences |
ISA1001S | Integrated Systems, Anatomy & Physiology |
Semester 2
Code | Title |
IHSC1003 | Imagining Health in Social and Cultural Contexts |
FCB1007 | Fundamental Chemistry for Biosciences |
| ISA1001S | Integrated Systems, Anatomy & Physiology |
| IP1000 | Introduction of Pathophysiology |
FPSY1000 | Foundations of Psychology |
| BB1002 | Brain and Behaviour |
FA1002 | Functional Anatomy |
Stage 2 Units – 25 Credit Points Each
Students critically appraise public health and clinical epidemiological research literature and perform basic statistical analysis. You will encounter basic statistical and graphical description and analysis of epidemiological and biomedical data with appropriate graphs, tables, and summary measures; statistical inference and statistical hypothesis testing applied to problems in health and clinical medicine using parametric and non-parametric tests; calculation of common epidemiological measures of disease frequency and association such as incidence rate, prevalence, attributable risk, risk ratios and odds ratio; role and significance of inferential statistics such as confidence intervals and probability values.
Introduction to ethical decision making in the context of professional health practice. Application of academic standards and development of skills required for studying at university. Introduction to professional requirements which impact on the safety and quality of client centred service/care when working in a health setting. Examination of differences in Australian and international health systems. Students will learn the value of diversity in inter-professional practice through working in teams. Students will reflect on their learning and begin to develop lifelong learning skills.
Anatomical organisation of the body and the relationships between body systems and cells. Human requirements for metabolism and life. The structure and function of the body. Basic control and interactions of the circulatory, respiratory, digestive and excretory systems. Primary defence against microorganisms. Mechanisms for growth, repair and reproduction.
In this unit students will examine culture and diversity within local, national and global, Indigenous populations; impacts of specific policies and historical events on Indigenous Australians and their effects on health and health care access. Students will analyse health outcomes of Indigenous Australians and explore underlying social determinants, and how health professionals can work collaboratively in consultation with Indigenous individuals, families, communities and organisations.
Broad outline of the nature, methods, and fields of psychology. Introduction to psychology and methodological issues related to the study of human beings and the relevance of both for interactions with individuals and groups. Introduction to social psychology, personality, development, 1earning, memory and motivation.
Stage 2 Units – 25 Credit Points Each
Examination of the structural and functional organisation of the central nervous system. Maturational and evolutionary brain development. Introduction to the basic methods used to study brain structure and function. lnter-relationships between physiological functioning and behaviour, with special reference to sensory processes and perception, learning and memory, motivation and emotion, sleep and arousal, and language.
Background to the study of nutrition and food science. Australian food and nutrition system, sustainability and security. Global and Australian public health nutrition priorities and strategies. Factors influencing food habits. Past and present Australian food habits. Introduction to food sources and metabolic functions of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins and minerals, and the recommended dietary intakes for these nutrients. Introduction to nutritional status measurement and nutritional standards of reference. Collection, analysis and evaluation of food intake data.
Development of foundation competencies in understanding neuromusculoskeletal anatomy of the trunk, upper and lower limbs as a basis to understanding normal human movement.
Broad outline of the study of mental processes. Introduction to perception, thinking, language, intelligence, consciousness, psychological disorders, and psychological therapies.
An introduction to sociological and anthropological perspectives on health, illness and disability in society; biomedical and social models of health. Understanding of health and illness for nurses and allied health professionals in social and cultural contexts; traditional healing systems. Marginalised populations: understanding the intersections of cultural heritage, socio-economic status, gender, sexuality, and disability and their impact upon health. Cultural security, safety and competence. Health of migrants, refugees and internally displaced peoples; historical and contemporary context in Australia and globally. Humanitarian health care delivery and disaster relief; human rights, social justice and health; community development in national and international settings.
This unit will introduce students to the pathophysiological basis of common chronic diseases involving the blood, cardiovascular, respiratory, nervous, endocrine, urinary and gastrointestinal systems using a case based learning approach. Students will evaluate responses to trauma, minor infections and disease. Inflammation will be present as the major theme bringing pathophysiology of the organs systems together.