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School of Public Health

Health Sciences

This program offers a highly flexible pathway for students with an interest in health sciences to design a program to meet their individual interests and needs.

What is Health Sciences?

This course offers studies in the broad areas of health sciences and population health. The general studies option will provide you with the opportunity to combine studies in a number of health areas and choose one subject area for in-depth learning. The health management option will give you an awareness and understanding of current health issues and organisations, management theory, health law, resource management and information technology, and will provide the flexibility to undertake study in other areas. Professional practice placements may also be available to help reinforce your learning.

Following their first year of study, students are able to select a major in either Environmental Health or Health & Safety

Choose your own Adventure!

About one-third of your course will be made up of core units in the areas of human biology, health science communication, epidemiology and biostatistics, health and society, public health practice, and systems for managing health and illness. The remaining two-thirds of your course is chosen in consultation with an academic advisor to suit students' interests and country of origin. The balance between core and optional units shifts across the course with more core units studied in the first year to prepare you for greater focus on your selected study area in later years. Individual programs are developed around core units in psychology, human biology, communication, and epidemiology.

About our Health Sciences Program

A variety of medical science units will be made available to you, including studies of anatomy, physics, cell biology, animal biology, chemistry, physiology, pathophysiology, work and environmental physiology, food and nutrition and neuroscience. Health management units will allow you to study management, information systems, accounting, marketing, occupational rehabilitation and workers' compensation, organisational behaviour, human resource management, health practice administration, organisational strategy and change, strategic management, finance, law and industrial relations. A choice of units in other areas of health, such as alcohol and other drug use, psychology, sociology, Indigenous health, health promotion, nutrition, physical activity and health, cancer and injury control, media and advocacy, professional practice, sexology, and evaluation, will allow you to develop a good general background in population health.

General Information

Professional Placements

A professional practice placement is also offered at the end of third year. This may be taken in Australia or a study tour scholarship may enable overseas experience.

Recognition of Prior Learning

If you have previously worked or studied in this field, you are encouraged to contact the Faculty to discuss eligibility for recognition of prior learning.

Courses offered

Undergraduate Courses

Higher Degree by Research - Master & Doctoral Programs

Career Opportunities

Graduates may be employed in administrative and staff development positions in a variety of health care settings. The option of health management is particularly suitable for people working in administrative positions where they have no formal qualifications or for health professionals where their original qualification is not of degree status, such as nursing, paramedical, dental therapy or medical laboratory techniques. The degree provides greater job opportunities and job diversity for graduates. Many graduates choose to continue study at postgraduate level in the area of health administration, health services management or in graduate entry programs. The degree is recognised throughout Australia and overseas, with graduates working in Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia.

Graduates may want to consider additional postgraduate study. Upon completion of a postgraduate diploma or a professional masters degree there are a number of study options that students can undertake. Students pursuing studies by higher degree may apply for scholarships. Information about Australian and International student scholarships, and closing dates, can be found on the Curtin Scholarship website.

Information & Resources

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