Bachelor of Health Sciences

On successful completion you will be able to:

1. Apply knowledge of human body, individual and community determinants of health and disease, and medical lifestyle interventions using evidence-based practice and research.
2. Apply methods and technologies to identify, conceptualise, analyse and interpret data relevant to health, wellbeing and clinical issues.
3. Develop professional, ethical, and sustainable solutions to health, wellbeing and medical issues via working independently and collaboratively in teams .
4. Reflect critically on personal and professional development needs.
5. Evaluate various social, cultural and community perspectives to foster engagement, and understand the diverse challenges individuals and communities face in maintaining and enhancing their health and wellbeing
6. Appraise and analyse emerging developments in the field of health sciences in order to maintain professional skills and the capacity to evaluate new evidence and applications.
7. Produce and effectively communicate health - related information with a broad range of local, national and international audiences using contemporary technologies and across a range of media and styles.
8. Analyse, synthesise and evaluate available research to develop practical and innovative solutions to contemporary health, wellbeing and clinical issues.

If you’re passionate about making a positive difference, La Trobe’s Bachelor of Health Sciences will give you the skills and confidence to build a rewarding career in this diverse field. Whether you want to work with individual people or whole populations, you’ll have the opportunity to fine-tune your skills and get the real-world experience that’ll set you apart

Look at health from every angle. While we often measure health through the body, we can also examine the way our minds, our society and our environment – not to mention our political structures – affect the health of every individual, family and community. You’ll learn how to use data as a powerful tool to improve the health of everyday people and develop the research skills to make a real impact.

Design your own study program and carve your unique path in the world of health. In this highly flexible degree, you can choose to major in a range of fascinating areas of health sciences, including human physiological sciences (Melbourne only), medical and exercise science (Bendigo only), psychological science, public health and more.

Delve deeper into subjects you’re fascinated in, with the option to take up to two majors if you want to develop broad expertise and keep your career options open. You’ll also have the option to study an open access major or minor from across the university to gain extra skills and explore your passions.

Learn from expert academics with strong ties to the health industry. Be mentored in the areas you’re passionate about and take the opportunity to get real-world experience at leading organisations via internships at La Trobe’s partners. Develop your professional networks when you connect with diverse industry leaders.

Gain deep knowledge of the most impactful areas of the health sciences and build a meaningful career. Through your studies, you can aspire to make positive differences at local, national and international levels. You’ll learn the skills employers are searching for. Hone your abilities in critical thinking, problem-solving, communication, research, leadership and teamwork, then use them to address the biggest issues in health and wellbeing.

You’ll graduate ready to make a positive impact on health policy and practice – for both current and future generations.

You’ll learn:

• Professional scientific thinking

Learn how science contributes new knowledge and finds solutions to problems in our society.

• Lab and fieldwork skills

Learn how to collect data and use specialist technical skills to develop new findings in the laboratory and in the field.

• Problem-solving

Learn to develop solutions to complex scientific problems.

• Collaboration

Collaborate and work effectively in teams to solve problems and achieve shared goals.

• Professional conduct

Learn about ethical conduct when working as a scientific professional and how to promote and communicate your professional identity to potential employers and peers.

• Communicating as a professional scientist

Gain experience communicating to a range of audiences, both in written and verbal formats.

Recommended study pattern

This degree is an Open Access pathway course, which means there is a recommended series of subjects that, once successfully completed, can be credited towards this degree. To commence the pathway for this degree, simply select subjects identified within the Entry requirements field. 

Students who wish to enrol in a part time load are recommended to enrol in two subjects per study period. Please refer to the La Trobe University Handbook to review the full structure.

Students who are studying and want to take a break (minimum one study period) must submit a leave of absence covering the relevant dates.

Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:

LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module

ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education

Award requirements

To qualify for the award of Bachelor of Health Sciences, students must complete 24 subjects (360 credit points) as follows:

• 4 core subjects

• 8 major subjects

• 12 elective subjects

Students who have been accepted in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) are required to complete the following 2 modules in their first study period as a CSP student:

LTU0AIM Academic Integrity Module

ABS0WOM Wominjeka La Trobe: Indigenous Cultural Literacy for Higher Education

Choose your subjects

Majors

Students must complete a course related major sequence consisting of 8 subjects (120 credit points) from the following majors:

• Environmental Health
• Health Promotion
• Health, Wellbeing and Performance
• Psychological Science
• Public Health
• Rehabilitation Counselling

Electives

Students can complete an additional major (detailed above), minors (detailed below) or elective subjects.

Students may wish to complete a course related minor sequence consisting of 4 subjects (60 credit points) from the following minors:

• Cognitive and Development Psychology
• Culture, Society, Gender and Health
• Psychological Science

Exit points

Upon completion of Level one (120 credit points), students have the option to exit with a Diploma in Health (HDH).*

*Please note that if you are a past La Trobe student who has discontinued study, or if you have been absent without leave, you are not eligible to apply for an alternative exit retrospectively. 

Degrees are usually made up of core subjects and electives. Some degrees include a choice of majors, so you can focus your studies on a specialisation.

This list is a general overview. Download the full Degree Guide for more information.

• Level one core subjects

• Level two core subjects

• Public Health

• Rehabilitation Counselling

• Health Promotion

• Health, Wellbeing and Performance

• Psychological Science

• Environmental Health

• Cognitive and Developmental Psychology

• Culture, Society, Gender and Health

• Psychological Science

• Level one elective subjects

• Level two elective subjects

• Level three elective subjects

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Successful completion of two of the following three Open Access Pathway subjects:

• PHE1UHW Understanding Health and Wellbeing
• PAM1HSF Human Structure and Function
• STM1001 Making Sense of Data

Demonstrate proficiency equivalent to Year 12 prerequisites

Satisfy the academic requirements by completing the STAT multiple choice if you:

• are not currently studying an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent)

• have no prior secondary school (Year 12), VET studies, HE studies or relevant work experience that can be considered for entry, or

• do not meet the minimum academic requirements for the program.

Refer to the La Trobe University STAT page for further information.

La Trobe University will consider applications for advanced standing, or credit for prior study. Credit may be applied to a current degree if you have undertaken previous tertiary study and completed and passed subjects similar in content and standard to those offered at La Trobe, from either another recognised tertiary institution or a different La Trobe course.

Note: Applications for credit will not be considered until you have successfully been admitted to a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) in a La Trobe course offered through OUA.

Assessing whether you should apply for credit for subjects in your course:

Credit may be granted for relevant subjects. The following steps will help you to decide which subjects you wish to apply for:

1. Identify subjects within your course that you think align with subjects you have already studied and have completed within 8 years of your La Trobe University course commencement year.
2. Provide subject outlines with detailed information for each subject that you wish to submit for assessment for credit, identifying which subject within your course that you have identified as a match. Include subject learning outcomes/objectives and subject content for each subject.
3. Provide your academic transcript for your previous studies.

*Note that a subject studied can only be used once for credit