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Master of Naturopathic Medicine

Masters by Coursework

Course snapshot

Domestic snapshot

  • Course abbreviation

    MNatMed

  • Course code

    1209350

  • Credit points

    192

  • Equivalent units

    16

  • Indicative Fee

    Commonwealth supported

Overview

The Master of Naturopathic Medicine prepares students for entry into professional naturopathic medicine practice.

Naturopathic medicine practitioners are primary healthcare providers with the knowledge and skills to assess, plan, manage and prevent disease and dysfunction across the lifespan. Naturopathic medicine practice is underpinned by a patient-centred, holistic, integrated and evidence-based approach, with a focus on promoting health and wellbeing, avoiding harm, and addressing the underlying causes/risks of ill-health.

Graduates of the Master of Naturopathic Medicine will develop a clear scope of practice across diverse clinical settings, a strong focus on patient-centred care, a solid understanding of the role of naturopaths within healthcare teams and the contemporary healthcare landscape, knowledge and skills in clinical reasoning, critical thinking, research methods and evidence-based practice. This course includes professional experience placements of 510 hours. 

The Master of Naturopathic Medicine has two graduate-level entry points. 

Students with an eligible degree in a health-related field who want to pursue a career in naturopathic medicine may apply for this degree. The total full-time duration of the Master of Naturopathic Medicine for these students is two years. 

Graduates of the Southern Cross University Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) receive eight units of advanced standing into this Master of Naturopathic Medicine as part of our 3+1 pathway to become a clinical naturopath. The total full-time duration for this clinical training program is four years (3-year Bachelor and 1-year Masters).

Course Learning Outcome

GA1: Intellectual rigour

Apply evidence-based clinical-decision making frameworks, using traditional knowledge, research evidence, established theories and critical thinking, to contemporary Naturopathic Medicine practice across a range of health settings.

GA2: Creativity

Critically and creatively evaluate and respond to actual and potential health problems impacting individuals, families and communities in alignment with naturopathic principles and philosophies.

GA3: Ethical practice

Understand and function within applicable professional competencies, scope of practice, codes of conduct, codes of ethics, laws and policies with a high level of academic and professional integrity.

GA4: Knowledge of a discipline

Apply a specialised, integrated body of knowledge derived from the physical, biological, behavioural, clinical and socio-cultural sciences across a range of healthcare settings and populations.

Apply proficient clinical skills that enable competent and safe practice as a naturopathic medicine practitioner.

GA5: Lifelong learning

Critically reflect on current skills, knowledge, attitudes and practices to direct scholarly inquiry and ongoing personal and professional development.

GA6: Communication and social skills

Apply expert verbal and written communication skills that drive appropriate patient and population outcomes across diverse settings.

Facilitate collaboration between a diverse range of individuals, groups and interdisciplinary teams.

GA7: Cultural competence

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

Display social responsibility and advocacy for others in the community and within the broader healthcare setting.

This course includes professional experience placements of 510 hours. There are regulatory requirements that students must meet before commencing professional experience placements. All professional experience learning hours must be completed and professional behaviour and conduct must be demonstrated.

The Master of Naturopathic Medicine prepares students for practice as a clinical naturopath. The course enables students to develop knowledge and skills in naturopathic practice, with a strong focus on naturopathic philosophy, herbal medicine, nutritional medicine, lifestyle medicine, mind-body medicine, integrative health care, evidence-based practice and patient-centredness.

The 16 units of study in this course, including 15 core units and 1 elective unit, centre around three key themes:

Profession and Principles will be discussed in Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 1-3 units.

Practitioner and Practice knowledge and skills will be developed across a range of discipline-building units:

  • Pre-clinical units include Nutritional Medicine, Botanical Medicine and Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1-7
  • Professional clinical placement units include Clinical Naturopathic Placement 1-3
  • Elective units include Fundamentals of Clinical Hypnosis and Small Business and Entrepreneurship for Allied Health, Fitness and Sport.

Patient and Population will be discussed across several core and elective units:

  • Core units include Practice-based Health Research
  • Elective units include Health Research Project A, Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts, plus Evidence Translation and Implementation in Health Care.

Graduates of the Southern Cross University Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) will receive 8 units of advanced standing into the Master of Naturopathic Medicine.

Location Teaching period UAC code QTAC code
Gold Coast Term 1, Term 3 N/A N/A
Lismore Term 1, Term 3 N/A N/A

Career Outcomes

This course has been approved by the following associations:

  • Australian Natural Therapist Association (ANTA)
  • Australian Naturopathic Practitioners Association (ANPA)
  • Australian Traditional Medicine Society (ATMS)
  • Complementary Medicine Association (CMA)
  • Naturopaths and Herbalists Association of Australia (NHAA)

This course has been accredited by Australian Register of Naturopaths and Herbalists (ARONAH).

Requirements

We encourage you to apply for the courses you most want to study. If you are not eligible to enter your chosen course right now, our team will work with you to find the best pathway option.

Before applying, make sure you double check all entry requirements, gather required documentation and review the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, noting any specifics listed below.

Entry requirements

An applicant for admission to the Master of Naturopathic Medicine must have completed:

  1. the Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) at Southern Cross University; or
  2. a Bachelor degree in a clinical health discipline or equivalent, such as Nursing, Osteopathy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Chiropractic or Medicine; or
  3. study and professional experience determined by the Course Coordinator to be equivalent to a or b..

To meet the University’s minimum English Language Proficiency requirement an applicant must satisfy one of the following criteria:

  1. completed Year 12 in Australia or comparable senior secondary study in another country as set out in the ELP Senior Secondary Study Schedule; or
  2. achieved:
    1. an International English Language Test System (IELTS) Academic test score equal to or above IELTS 7.0 with no band less than 7.0; or
    2. a Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic overall test score equal to or above 68 with no communicative score less than 68; or
    3. a Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based (TOEFL iBT) overall test score equal to or above 96 with no reading/listening score less than 24, no writing score less than 27 and no speaking score less than 23; or
    4. an SCU College English Language Exit Test Score equal to 7.0.  Applicants who enrol via this pathway will need to separately meet the English language requirements of registration to practice.

The ELP IELTS Equivalency Schedule does not apply to this course.

Language requirements

English language requirements apply to International applicants and other applicants whose previous study was undertaken in a language other than English. The minimum English language requirements for such applicants for entry to this course are as follows

CategoryScore
Overall Score or equivalent7.0
Reading7.0
Writing7.0
Listening7.0
Speaking7.0

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Master of Naturopathic Medicine, students must complete the equivalent of 16 units (196 credit points) comprising:

  • 15 core units (180 credit points) and
  • 1 option unit (12 credit points).

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.

Course structure

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.

Unit Code Unit Title Available Credit points Notes

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

First Year

NUTR2001 Nutritional Medicine
Term1,2,3
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term1
Term1
Online
Term2,3
Term2,3
Pre-requisites BIOL1004 - Biological Chemistry and Human Metabolism OR BIOL2007 - Biochemistry OR be admitted to course: 1209350 - Master of Naturopathic Medicine OR 1209310 - Master of Integrative Medicine
Enrolment information On-campus students will be required to attend workshops online, and tutorials on-campus. Online students will be required to attend workshops and tutorials online.
NATM2001 Botanical Medicine
Term1,3,5
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term1,3
Term1,3
Online
Term5
Term5
Pre-requisites PHAR2001 - Introductory Pharmacology OR Admitted to 1209350 - Master of Naturopathic Medicine OR 1209310 - Master of Integrative Medicine
Enrolment information Online enrolment is only available for students admitted to the Master of Integrative Medicine. All other students must enrol into Lismore (weekly) or Gold Coast (intensive) classes. Students are required to attend on-campus classes and/or participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of chemistry and pharmacology is desirable.
NATM2002 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
Term2,4
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term2,4
Term2,4
Lismore
Term4
Term4
Pre-requisites NUTR2001 - Nutritional Medicine AND NATM2001 - Botanical Medicine
Enrolment information Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is required.
NATM3001 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Integumentary and Gastrointestinal systems
Term1,3
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term1,3
Term1,3
Pre-requisites NATM2002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
Enrolment information Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which may require attendance on-campus. Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is required.
NATM3002 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 3: Musculoskeletal and Nervous systems
Term2,3
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term2,3
Term2,3
Pre-requisites NATM2002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
Enrolment information Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which may require attendance on-campus. Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is required.
NATM3003 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 4: Cardiovascular and Respiratory systems
Term2,4
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term2,4
Term2,4
Pre-requisites NATM2002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
Enrolment information Please note this unit has assessments scheduled in Week 7 which may require attendance on-campus. Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is required.
HLTH5009 Practice-Based Health Research
Term4,5
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term4,5
Term4,5
Pre-requisites Admitted to 1207235 - Master of Osteopathic Medicine OR 1209240 - Master of Advanced Naturopathic Medicine OR 1008440 - Graduate Certificate in Advanced Naturopathic Medicine; OR 192 credit points in 3007319 - Bachelor of Health Science (Health and Lifestyle) OR 3007229 - Bachelor of Midwifery; OR 60 credit points in 1209350 - Master of Naturopathic Medicine
NATM5010 Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 1 and 2: Foundations and Conduct
Term5
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term5
Term5
Enrolment information Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Students will be required to attend on-campus classes and complete 8 observational clinical placement hours. This unit contains professional experience learning that requires students to meet mandatory compliance requirements prior to attending. Failure to comply by the compliance deadline may result in failure of the unit. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.

Second Year

NATM3004 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 5: Urogenital and Endocrine systems
Summer Term
Term3
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Summer Term
Term3
Summer Term
Term3
Pre-requisites NATM2002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
Enrolment information Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is required.
NATM5008 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 6: Cancer and Haematological System
Term1,3
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term1,3
Term1,3
Pre-requisites NATM3001 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 2: Integumentary and Gastrointestinal systems AND NATM3002 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 3: Musculoskeletal and Nervous systems AND NATM3003 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 4: Cardiovascular and Respiratory systems AND NATM3004 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 5: Urogenital and Endocrine systems
Enrolment information Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of human anatomy and physiology is required.
NATM5009 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 7: Multi-morbidity and Complex Cases
Term2,4
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Term2,4
Term2,4
Pre-requisites NATM5008 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 6: Cancer and Haematological System
Enrolment information Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities. Prior knowledge of human anatomy and physiology, botanical medicine and nutritional medicine is required.
NATM6007 Clinical Naturopathic Placement 1
Dual Term4
Term2
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Dual Term4
Term2
Dual Term4
Term2
Lismore
Dual Term4
Term2
Dual Term4
Term2
Pre-requisites NATM5008 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 6: Cancer and Haematological System
Enrolment information Students will be required to attend on-campus classes and complete 170 clinical placement hours. Students who enrol in this unit in Term 2 will undertake the placement hours during Terms 2 and 3. This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
NATM6008 Clinical Naturopathic Placement 2
Dual Term3
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Dual Term3
Dual Term3
Lismore
Dual Term3
Dual Term3
Pre-requisites NATM5009 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 7: Multi-morbidity and Complex Cases AND Must have completed or be currently enrolled in NATM6007 - Clinical Naturopathic Placement 1
Enrolment information Students will be required to attend on-campus classes and complete 170 clinical placement hours. This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
1 unit from: (Option Units)
NATM6009 Clinical Naturopathic Placement 3
Dual Term4
12
Location Domestic International
Gold Coast
Dual Term4
Dual Term4
Lismore
Dual Term4
Dual Term4
Pre-requisites NATM5009 - Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 7: Multi-morbidity and Complex Cases AND NATM6007 - Clinical Naturopathic Placement 1
Enrolment information Students will be required to attend on-campus classes and complete 170 clinical placement hours. This unit contains Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activities that require students to meet mandatory fit to practice obligations prior to attending. Failure to comply by the fit to practice deadline will result in the cancellation of your WIL activity. Full details are available at www.scu.edu.au/healthplacements.
NATM5011 Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 3: Transition to Practice
Term4
12
Location Domestic International
Online
Term4
Term4
Enrolment information Students are required to attend on-campus classes and participate in online activities.

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
Core Units
NATM5010 Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 1 and 2: Foundations and Conduct
NUTR2001 Nutritional Medicine
NATM2001 Botanical Medicine
NATM2002 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 1: Assessment, Microbiology and Immunity
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
HLTH5009 Practice-Based Health Research
NATM3004 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 5: Urogenital and Endocrine systems
NATM5008 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 6: Cancer and Haematological System
NATM5009 Clinical Studies in Naturopathic Medicine 7: Multi-morbidity and Complex Cases
NATM6007 Clinical Naturopathic Placement 1
NATM6008 Clinical Naturopathic Placement 2
NATM5011 Professional Contexts in Naturopathic Medicine 3: Transition to Practice
NATM6009 Clinical Naturopathic Placement 3

Unit Code Unit Title Notes
HLTH5010 Evidence Translation and Implementation in Health Care
HLTH1003 Small Business and Entrepreneurship for Allied Health, Fitness and Sport
MHNS5004 Supporting Behaviour Change in Mental Health Contexts
HLTH6007 Health Research Project A
CMPL5001 Fundamentals of Clinical Hypnosis