Allied Health

In our new Bachelor of Health Science, students can select to major in either podiatry or speech pathology. The course develops an understanding of the theoretical and practical components of these disciplines, and prepares students for professional practice as podiatrists or speech pathologists. The course will be taught by dedicated professionals, both academic and clinical, who have a wide range of work experience. The University is seeking accreditation for the course from the Australian and New Zealand Podiatry Accreditation Council (ANZPAC) and from Speech Pathology Australia.

Arts

Committed to producing graduates with skills and knowledge relating to critical and creative thinking; independence of mind; understanding of social, cultural and historical systems and practices; practical skills in language, and highly developed research skills.

Business Management

Contemporary and flexible undergraduate and postgraduate courses are offered in a wide range of disciplines, from accounting and human resources through to marketing and international sports management. Students can gain a broad range of skills or specialise with single or double majors, and an honours option is also available in the Bachelor of Business. Double degrees are offered with arts and law and research-based masters, DBA and PhD programs are also available across a wide range of business topics.

Clinical Sciences

The Bachelor of Clinical Science is a clinically oriented health science degree. It is suitable as a first degree for those who plan postgraduate professional studies in medicine or allied health, including osteopathic medicine. Majors are: Ageing; Complementary Medicine; Ecosystem Management; Human Nutrition; Human Structure and Function; Naturopathic Studies; Osteopathic Studies; Pedorthic Studies; Foot Care; Psychology

Contemporary Music

Focuses on studies in music industry; professional studies; music education and performance in the areas of bass guitar, drums, guitar, keyboards, and voice. Professional music industry-related skills are developed together with music performance, ensemble playing, composition, recording and production. Excellent facilities are available for recording, music production and concert performance.

Education

See Teaching and Education below.

Engineering

This four-year degree will equip students with the relevant skills and knowledge to provide a professional service in civil engineering, and in particular, those skills of most relevance in regional and rural communities. The course will prepare graduates for work involving the planning, design, construction and maintenance of facilities such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, pipelines and water supply and waste water treatment plants.

Core studies include hydrology, soil mechanics, structural and applied mechanics, calculus, algebra, physics, chemistry, hydraulic engineering, transport engineering, design of structures, water catchment management, project management and professional ethics. Students can choose to study units such as land degradation and rehabilitation, ecotechnology for water management and environmental information analysis.

▲ top

Environmental Science and Management

Offers degrees in marine science, in forestry, and in environmental science with specialisation in coastal management, environmental resource management, and fisheries and aquaculture management. Designed for people who are passionate about wise use of our environment, these courses prepare students for a wide range of career opportunities.

▲ top

Exercise Science and Sport Management

Offers studies in sport and exercise science, surfing studies, and exercise science and nutrition. Committed to producing graduates suitable for employment in areas including sport and exercise science, the health and exercise industry, sport management and sport administration, or for further study in exercise physiology.

▲ top

Indigenous Studies

Aims to communicate and generate understanding of Indigenous world views by exploring past and contemporary relationships between cultural diversity and identity, people and place, species and environments. Grounded on the principles of respect, responsibility and accountability, a range of course options offer Indigenous and non-Indigenous students the opportunity to pursue interests in spirituality, healing, cultural expression, politics, law, personal and community empowerment.

▲ top

Information Technology

Our information technology (IT) courses are professionally accredited by the Australian Computer Society and equip students with the high level of skill required to enter the IT industry. Disciplines include programming, systems analysis and design, database development, networking and communications theory, computer security, multimedia applications development and the management of technology. An honours option is also available in the Bachelor of Information Technology.

▲ top

Law and Justice

Our Bachelor of Laws degree (LLB) is the primary academic degree required to qualify as a lawyer in Australia. The LLB is often taken as part of a double degree with Arts, Business, Contemporary Music, Legal and Justice Studies, Social Science, or Sport and Exercise Science. The Associate Degree in Law (Paralegal Studies) provides specialised training for para-professional staff in the legal industry. The Bachelor of Legal and Justice Studies provides a strong foundation for those who want to work in Law other than as a lawyer. Our degrees are fully articulated so that students who perform successfully may apply to move into the LLB. We also offer postgraduate studies by research.

▲ top

Media

Committed to graduating students who are technologically adaptable, critical, creative, entrepreneurial and work-ready for an evolving, cross-media marketplace. Media students gain both practical and theoretical skills with majors in screen production, journalism, media design, and media and society. Excellent technical facilities are available for production at our Lismore campus, including digital workstations and labs, radio and multi-camera television studios, and location recording equipment. Professional placements and arts business skills are core aspects of study in the Bachelor of Media, and the degree has strong links to the region’s creative industries community. The degree is moving to external delivery, enabling most units to be studied from any location.

▲ top

Midwifery

The discipline of Midwifery is founded on respect for women and valuing of their place in society and in childbearing. Midwifery practice focuses on working in partnership with women in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenting, and enhancing primary health in each woman and her family’s life. The new Bachelor of Midwifery prepares graduates for entry into professional midwifery practice with skills, attitudes and knowledge to provide high quality care through safe and effective woman centred midwifery practice.

▲ top

Natural and Complementary Medicine

The Bachelor of Naturopathy, introduced in 1995, was the first undergraduate degree in complementary medicine at an Australian university. The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Complementary Medicine and Naturopathic Studies) provides the foundation to enter a career in industry or private enterprise as advisors. However in order to enter private practice, further clinical studies are necessary.

▲ top

Nursing and Public Health

Focuses on undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education for nurses and other health care professionals. The undergraduate degree, Bachelor of Nursing, provides eligibility to become a registered nurse in Australia. Postgraduate degrees including the Master of Clinical Practice (by coursework) and Master of Public Health aim to develop leaders in health care, with specialty streams available for a large range of health care workers including: medical practitioners, nurses, allied health and complementary health care professionals. Strong research awards available at Honours, Master and PhD levels. Provision of the most up to date technologies and resources ensures a rewarding student experience.

▲ top

Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapists provide services to people whose ability to cope with every-day life is impaired by developmental deficits, the ageing process, physical injury, psychological or social disability. The Bachelor of Occupational Therapy provides students an understanding of the theoretical and practical components of the field, with a focus on general and specialist knowledge and skills. Occupational Therapists find work in a wide range of settings including public and private hospitals, vocational rehabilitation centres, tertiary education centres and private practice.

▲ top

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a holistic system of diagnosis and manual therapy used to treat musculo-skeletal problems and other functional disorders of the body. In Australia, Osteopaths are registered as primary care practitioners. For students interested in pursuing a career in osteopathy, five years of education and training is required. The first component is the three year Bachelor of Clinical Sciences with a double major in Osteopathic Studies and Human Structure and Function. The second component is a two year Master of Osteopathic Medicine offered by Southern Cross University (or equivalent).

▲ top

Psychology

The scientific study of human behaviour and experience, including cognitive processes and emotion. A diverse discipline, with a focus ranging from the study of individuals through to the behaviour of people in social contexts and communities. Courses are designed to meet the accreditation requirements of the Australian Psychological Society/APAC, and registration requirements of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. Courses are available at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

▲ top

Social Sciences

Focused on professional learning in a variety of educational, private industry, public sector and other workplace or community settings, including public, private and community-based organisations. Offering a diverse range of multidisciplinary undergraduate and postgraduate awards in the fields of counselling, social welfare studies, community studies, government and policy studies and community development (emergency management).

▲ top

Social Welfare

The Bachelor of Social Welfare provides the theoretical and practical foundation for work in the human services industry. During their studies, students will gain skills in case management, community development, counselling, social research, policy work, advocacy, and grief and loss counselling. A particular emphasis will be placed on social justice and human rights as the basis for social welfare practice.

▲ top

Teaching and Education

Committed to producing graduates with relevant discipline knowledge, curriculum expertise and pedagogical knowledge, as well as highly developed practical skills, to undertake employment in early childhood education (birth–8 years), primary education (K–Yr 6), secondary education, technology education and tertiary education. Postgraduate courses offer flexible professional learning opportunities for teachers and other educators in high priority areas including educational information technology, educational leadership, and vocational education and training. In addition to course work postgraduate courses, the School also offers Professional Doctorate (EdD) and PhD awards. An interdisciplinary research centre attached to the School of Education supports a range of research projects with and for children and young people. A further research centre with a focus on policy and practice in higher education also exists to support graduate students.

▲ top

Tourism and Hospitality Management

The School of Tourism and Hospitality Management is one of Australia’s longest running providers of tourism and hospitality education, offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate business management degrees, delivered on‑campus, by distance education and online.

The School’s undergraduate degrees prepare graduates for careers in international tourism and hospitality management, hotel and resort management, convention and event management, sport tourism management and gaming management. Our hotel management degree offered at The Hotel School Sydney is a partnership between Southern Cross University and Mulpha Australia. The School’s internship program is a significant component of all undergraduate degrees, allowing students to gain valuable practical industry experience. International exchange opportunities are available for students to spend a session studying with one of our overseas partner institutions, gaining valuable global experience.

The School offers postgraduate coursework degrees at Masters level in tourism and hotel management, convention and event management and, in partnership with Le Cordon Bleu, a Master of Gastronomic Tourism. It also offers Honours programs and research degrees at both the Masters and PhD level. In undertaking research degrees students will have the opportunity to work with eminent academics on topics important to the study of tourism and hospitality. Supervisory staff are research-active scholars who are well‑published and respected in their respective fields.

▲ top

Visual Arts

One of Australia’s leading visual arts courses with the focus on contemporary art practice, offering theory and studio based study. Major offerings available in Arts Industry/Technology and Arts Industry/Media Arts, with specialisations in painting, printmaking and three-dimensional studies, supported by minor strand studies in digital art and design, drawing, photography, and art theory. Core studies in first semester provide experience in the broad range of studio options for all students followed by a selection of specialisations in continuing semesters, while providing substantial flexibility to move between studio areas. The University’s Next Art Gallery complements the studio studies with an art industry interface, offering gallery and curatorial experience to participating students.

Updated: 02 April 2013