Course summary

The World Health Organisation estimates a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030 – building the health workforce is a global health priority.

The Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) is a foundation degree for students who wish to pursue a career in health, naturopathic medicine, or lifestyle medicine.

To practice as a Clinical Naturopath, students must successfully complete the Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) and the Southern Cross University Master of Naturopathic Medicine. The total full-time duration for this clinical training program is four years. This is the only four-year program in Naturopathic Medicine offered in Australia where students will graduate with a Masters degree.

This course allows students to develop an understanding of health science, social science, lifestyle medicine, clinical science, scientific enquiry and naturopathic medicine. Students will also develop a theoretical and practical understanding of health promotion through undertaking a work-integrated health placement or professional engagement with Aboriginal communities.

This degree provides graduates with a solid foundation in evidence-based practice and a deep understanding of naturopathic medicine’s philosophical foundations of preventing ill-health, improving patient health outcomes, supporting a patient’s innate ability to heal and addressing the underlying causes of illness.

This is the only undergraduate Naturopathic Medicine degree in Australia offering Commonwealth Supported places (HECS-HELP).

The World Health Organisation estimates a projected shortfall of 18 million health workers by 2030 – building the health workforce is a global health priority.

The Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) is a foundation degree for students who wish to pursue a career in health, naturopathic medicine, or lifestyle medicine.

To practice as a Clinical Naturopath, students must successfully complete the Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) and the Southern Cross University Master of Naturopathic Medicine. The total full-time duration for this clinical training program is four years. This is the only four-year program in Naturopathic Medicine offered in Australia where students will graduate with a Masters degree.

This course allows students to develop an understanding of health science, social science, lifestyle medicine, clinical science, scientific enquiry and naturopathic medicine. Students will also develop a theoretical and practical understanding of health promotion through undertaking a work-integrated health placement or professional engagement with Aboriginal communities.

This degree provides graduates with a solid foundation in evidence-based practice and a deep understanding of naturopathic medicine’s philosophical foundations of preventing ill-health, improving patient health outcomes, supporting a patient’s innate ability to heal and addressing the underlying causes of illness.

This is the only undergraduate Naturopathic Medicine degree in Australia offering Commonwealth Supported places (HECS-HELP).

The Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) provides a direct pathway into the Master of Naturopathic Medicine.

The 24 units of study in this course (including 23 core units and 1 elective unit) centre around three themes:

  • Profession and Principles: professional contexts in naturopathic medicine 1-2; language and learning in your discipline.
  • Practitioner and Practice: exercise physiology; introductory pharmacology; nutritional medicine; botanical medicine; manual and mind-body medicine; clinical studies in naturopathic medicine 1-5; work-integrated health placement (elective); working with Aboriginal communities I (elective).
  • Patient and Population: introduction to science for health professionals; human anatomy; human physiology I and II; biological chemistry and human metabolism; psychology and sociology for health professionals; introduction to evidence for health science practitioners; health promotion and wellness; counselling theory and practice; practice-based health research.

Course Learning Outcome

Interpret evidence-based clinical-decision making frameworks appropriate for contemporary health and lifestyle contexts

Use initiative and problem-solving skills to respond creatively to intellectual, professional, environmental and social challenges

Understand and function within applicable professional competencies, scope of practice, codes of conduct, codes of ethics, laws and policies

Demonstrate broad and coherent understanding of health and lifestyle philosophies, theories and frameworks in applicable professional contexts

Demonstrate a body of knowledge and skills derived from the physical, biological, behavioural, clinical and social sciences

Use reflection to guide professional development and to be a self-directed and life-long learner

Demonstrate and apply well-developed verbal and written communication skills applicable to diverse settings with high academic and professional integrity

Collaborate effectively with a diverse range of individuals, groups and interdisciplinary teams

Demonstrate respect and responsiveness to socio-cultural preferences, needs and values of individuals and groups in diverse settings

Display social responsibility to others in the community and within the broader healthcare setting

This course includes a professional placement, with the choice of either a work-integrated health placement or professional engagement with Aboriginal communities.

There are regulatory requirements that students must meet before commencing professional placements.

Graduates may be eligible to apply for membership of the Complementary Medicine Association.


Course overview

Course code

3007319

Course abbreviation

BHSc(HlthLifest)

Credit points

288

Equivalent units

24

Duration

3 years full-time; 6 years part-time

Duration

3 years full-time

Availability details

Domestic

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Gold Coast Term 1 N/A N/A
Lismore Term 1 N/A N/A

Fee information

Commonwealth supported


International

Location Teaching period Annual Fees CRICOS
Gold Coast Term 1 $29,360 ($3,670 per unit) 108299A
Lismore Term 1 $29,360 ($3,670 per unit) 108299A

Course requirements

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

To be eligible to receive the Bachelor of Health Science (Heath and Lifestyle), students must complete the equivalent of 24 units (288 credit points) comprising:

  • 23 core units (276 credit points), and
  • 1 option unit (12 credit points).

Exit Awards

Students may be eligible to exit with the Diploma of Health after completing the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points) comprising the first eight units.

Professional Experience Learning

This course includes professional experience learning. Pre-requisites to meet national and state-based regulatory requirements, as detailed on Faculty of Health Professional Experience page must be met prior to attending professional experience placement. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements apply to this course as defined on the Student Equity & Inclusion website. Students who have a disability or health condition which may impact on their ability to meet these requirements are encouraged to visit the Student Equity & Inclusion website for further information and contact details. 

 


Schedule of units

Title Note
Core Units
HLTH1004 - The Reflective Learner and Health Science Scholar
HLTH1001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions
PSYC1009 - Introducing Health Psychology
HBIO1009 - Introductory Anatomy and Physiology
HBIO1010 - Integrated Anatomy and Physiology
INDG2001 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples
BIOL2007 - Biochemistry
NATM2004 - Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Foundations
Students are eligible to exit with the Diploma of Health following completion of the above 8 units
STAT2001 - Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners
HLTH2002 - Exercise Physiology
PHAR2001 - Introductory Pharmacology
NATM2005 - Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Ethics and Law
NUTR2001 - Nutritional Medicine
NATM2001 - Botanical Medicine
NATM2003 - Massage and Mind-body Medicine
NATM2002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
WELF1003 - Counselling Theory and Practice
NATM5001 - Practice-Based Health Research
NATM3001 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Integumentary and Gastrointestinal systems
PBHL2002 - Health Promotion
NATM3002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 3: Musculoskeletal and Nervous systems
NATM3003 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 4: Cardiovascular and Respiratory systems
NATM3004 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 5: Urogenital and Endocrine systems
Choose one of the following option units:

Course progressions

Your course progression is in the recommended order you should complete your course in. It is important that you follow this to ensure you meet the course requirements. For further assistance see How to Enrol in Units using My Enrolment.

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Browse uni-wide elective units by selecting Uni-wide elective in the advanced filter of the Unit search.

Browse shared majors and their units at Shared majors

Title Note

Complete units in the following order to satisfy the Requirements of the Award

First Year

HLTH1004 - The Reflective Learner and Health Science Scholar
HLTH1001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions
PSYC1009 - Introducing Health Psychology
HBIO1009 - Introductory Anatomy and Physiology
HBIO1010 - Integrated Anatomy and Physiology
NATM2004 - Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Foundations
BIOL2007 - Biochemistry
INDG2001 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples
Students are eligible to exit with the Diploma of Health following completion of the above 8 units

Second Year

NUTR2001 - Nutritional Medicine
PHAR2001 - Introductory Pharmacology
NATM2005 - Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Ethics and Law
NATM2001 - Botanical Medicine
HLTH2002 - Exercise Physiology
STAT2001 - Foundations of Evidence for Health Science Practitioners
NATM2002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
NATM2003 - Massage and Mind-body Medicine

Third Year

PBHL2002 - Health Promotion
NATM5001 - Practice-Based Health Research
NATM3001 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Integumentary and Gastrointestinal systems
NATM3002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 3: Musculoskeletal and Nervous systems
NATM3003 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 4: Cardiovascular and Respiratory systems
WELF1003 - Counselling Theory and Practice
NATM3004 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 5: Urogenital and Endocrine systems
NATM3005 - Work-integrated Health Placement
OR
INDG2005 - Working with Aboriginal Communities I (Professional Engagement)
OR
PBHL3001 - Health Promotion Project