Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences

Are you fascinated by the human body?

Do you want to help tackle important health issues facing our world today?Studying health and medical sciences is mentally stimulating and hands-on.

It’s about fighting disease through scientific research and actively promoting wellbeing.Our Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences ranks first in South Australia for teaching quality, and third in Australia for overall education experience*.

The Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences is a three-year degree. In the first year students will learn the fundamentals of human anatomy and public health, and there is a focus on the development of communication and learning skills. In the second year students will gain in-depth knowledge in selected subject areas including pathology, physiology, pharmacology, health promotion and epidemiology and students will develop problem solving and group work skills by investigating global health challenges. In the third year students will gain extensive hands-on and workplace experience by completing a major in their chosen field. The Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences is the only degree in South Australia that draws on all disciplines within health sciences including Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing, Psychology and Public Health, so students have the flexibility to select one of seven different majors spread across two different streams: Medical Health or Lifespan Health. The Medical Health stream offers majors in: Clinical Trials Medical Sciences Neurosciences The Lifespan Health stream offers majors in: Nutritional Health Public Health Reproductive and Childhood Health. This degree structure facilitates students concentrating on one specialised health-related area, as well as facilitating study in complementary areas through broadening electives, and provides an opportunity for an international study component.

Academic Program Rules

The Calendar is a comprehensive handbook of the University's academic program rules.

Areas of Specialisation

Students have the flexibility to select one of seven different majors spread across two different streams: Medical Health or Lifespan Health. Medical Health majors Clinical TrialsAre you interested in working with patients to advance human health? Clinical research is the process by which new therapies (medications, biological agents, and devices) are tested with patients prior to approval and marketing. The Clinical Trials major will allow you to acquire the expertise needed to design, develop, lead and conduct clinical trials in hospitals, research organisations/institutes and pharmaceutical companies. Medical SciencesAre you keen to learn how our bodies work? Our bodies are complex but amazing biological machines. The Medical Sciences major will enable you to understand how the human body functions in health and disease, and how treatments for disease are developed. You will gain an understanding of the fundamental medical science disciplines of anatomy, physiology, and pathology. NeurosciencesAre you fascinated by the inner workings of the brain? Neuroscience is a rapidly growing, interdisciplinary field that explores how our 100 billion plus nerve cells grow, connect and function. The Neurosciences major will equip you with an understanding of how the nervous system regulates the body and behaviour with a view to finding ways to prevent or cure neurological disorders. Lifespan Health majors Addiction and Mental HealthAre you keen to understand the link between addiction and mental health? Drug addiction changes the brain in fundamental ways. The Addiction and Mental Health major will give you an understanding of the scientific basis of substance abuse and mental health, and review interventions (pharmacological, psychosocial, and public health) used in addiction and mental health fields. Nutritional HealthAre you passionate about nutrition, diet and healthy eating? Consuming the right food can promote good health and impact on the development of diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. The Nutritional Health major will explore our body’s mechanical and physiological responses to food including how we use energy and nutrients from the food we eat. Public HealthAre you keen to promote optimal health through individual and community change? In the Public Health major, you will learn how 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. Reproductive and Childhood HealthAre you fascinated by the creation of new life? Reproduction is a fundamental process of life, but reproductive success (the birth of a baby that will enjoy a long and healthy life) is a multistep process that begins well before fertilisation. The Reproductive and Childhood Health major will equip you with knowledge about fertility, conception, pregnancy and birth. You will also learn about key health issues that affect children and adolescents.

Example Study Plan

Below is an indicative study plan for the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences. Indicative study plan Year 1    HLTH SC 1002 Create. Communicate. Connectwith Health Sciences Electives (7) Year 2         HLTH SC 2105 Reflect. Research.Resolve Questions in Health Major (2) Electives (5) Year 3 Major Research Project (extends over the year) Major Courses (4) Electives (2)

For those who are based in Adelaide, we will be offering a blended delivery mode that combines face-to-face with remote learning in as many courses as possible, taking into consideration social distancing and hygiene. All lectures will continue to be delivered online for the remainder of the year, with some exceptions.

For our students who are studying offshore for the remainder of the 2020 Academic Year, the University will continue to offer high-quality access to the learning resources remotely. This includes all lectures, tutorials and other support material. Students will be advised in advance if there are course components that cannot be provided in remote mode and, wherever possible, offered alternative courses.

Career Readiness

This degree has been developed in consultation with industry partners and employers who are seeking graduates with a broad range of skills and an understanding of health. Students will be given the foundation to develop the professional skills required to succeed in a future career in the health industry. Career opportunities for the Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences graduates vary depending on specific interests and the major selected, but may include:

• Medical/research/clinical/nutrition scientists in research institutes, hospitals, diagnostic and pathology laboratories, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and universities.
• Health information and promotion officers, health policy advisors and planners; community health workers.
• Further Masters and Postgraduate study to gain qualification in other health professions, eg Medicine, Nursing or Physiotherapy.

The University of Adelaide Careers Service prepares, inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry.

Graduate Attributes

Adelaide Graduate Attributes

1. Deep discipline knowledge
2. Critical thinking and problem solving
3. Teamwork and communication skills
4. Career and leadership readiness
5. Intercultural and ethical competency
6. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence

Potential careers

Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Speech Therapist, Community Services Officer, Pharmacologist, Physiologist, Microbiologist, Forensic Anthropologist, Immunologist, Indigenous Health Officer, Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Technician, Medical Research, Medical Scientist, Medical Technician, Biomedical Scientist, Ministerial Adviser, Biostatistician, Molecular Biology, Neuroscientist, Non Government Organisation Worker, Clinical Scientist, ...