Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced)

Want to tackle humanity’s greatest health challenges?

Aspire to be outstanding in your field?

The Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences (Advanced) is a distinctive degree for students who want to excel.

Providing general foundation studies in a broad range of areas in Health and Medical Sciences, the degree structure requires students to undertake a major, leading to an in-depth understanding in one specialised health-related area. The degree offers majors in one of two streams. 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 The degree structure permits students to complement this focus with a choice of broadening electives, as well as providing an opportunity for an international study experience. Unique to this degree are three courses which will develop skills for professional engagement in the workplace, as well as fostering leadership and initiative: Clinical Skills and Simulation Hacking Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health

Academic Program Rules

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

Areas of Specialisation

Students are required to undertake a major in one of two streams: Medical Health and 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

Indicative study plan Year 1  Clinical Skills and Simulation Electives (7) Year 2  Hacking Health Major (2) Electives (5) Year 3 Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health Major Research Project (extends over the year) Major courses (4) Electives (1) Clinical Skills and Simulation: Assess, troubleshoot, propose and perform the correct treatment and procedures in a given scenario using high tech manikins and actors. This course is designed to develop and demonstrate knowledge and skills in observation, communication, clinical reasoning and procedural skills. Students will assess, troubleshoot, propose and perform correct treatments and procedures in a range of different health scenarios using state of the art technology. Hacking Health: Collaborate with healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, and clinicians), industry professionals and patients to investigate and co-create solutions to pressing healthcare challenges. In this course, Advanced students will partner with students from across the Faculty (Medicine, Dentistry, Nursing etc.), healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, researchers), industry professionals and even patients to investigate and co-create solutions to pressing healthcare challenges through the use of emerging technology. Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Health: An introduction to problem identification, solution design and entrepreneurial opportunities within the complex world of healthcare. This course will equip students with the knowledge and skills required to bring their Hacking Health ideas to fruition. Students will understand the concepts of entrepreneurship and innovation in health, and demonstrate an awareness of the challenges and opportunities to improve healthcare delivery

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 (Advanced) 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 a health profession such as Medicine, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Nutrition and Dietetics etc.

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

Microbiologist, Physiologist, Forensic Anthropologist, Immunologist, Pharmacologist, Sports Nutritionist, Laboratory Manager, Laboratory Technician, Medical Research, Medical Scientist, Medical Technician, Biomedical Scientist, Ministerial Adviser, Biostatistician, Molecular Biology, Neuroscientist, Non Government Organisation Worker, Clinical Scientist, Clinical Studies Coordinator, Occupational Health and Safety Manager, Occupational Health and Safety Officer, Occupational Health and Safety Professionals, ...