Master of Clinical PracticeInformation for students commencing 2013
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About this Course
The Master of Clinical Practice is focused on professional development to give current allied health practitioners a broad overview of latest developments in various fields of clinical science. The course is practical and allows students to build on existing work experience. The content, activities, flexible delivery options and assessment methods reflect the developing needs of busy professionals.
The course can be completely based on twelve taught units, allowing students to follow their interests across a range of clinical science specialisations. Alternatively, the structure of the course allows students to undertake major employment-based projects as a key element of the degree. These double-weighted units allow students to focus on issues relevant to their professional roles and workplace needs.
Career Opportunities
This course gives health practitioners from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to expand the range and scope of their knowledge of health service delivery by undertaking studies in areas of interest to them. The course has been developed for individuals with a background in a health science discipline such as nursing, pharmacy, medicine, or other allied health, including complementary medicine.
Completion of the degree provides graduates with enhanced career opportunities within mental health and aged care facilities, community outreach organisations, area health services, professional associations, hospitals and local, state and federal policy-making agencies.
Major Areas of Study
Specialisations include:
- Healthy ageing and aged care
- Lifestyle medicine
- Mental health nursing
- Perioperative nurse-surgeon’s assistant.
The degree can also be completed without a specialisation by undertaking a selection of units in accordance with the award rules.
Please note: specialisations and units are offered subject to availability.
Course Structure and Units (Subjects)
Important - Please contact the University for confirmation of the course structure prior to acting on this information. The University accepts no liability for any loss suffered by reason of reliance on this information.
To qualify for the Master of Clinical Practice, a total of 144 credit points (usually 12 units) must be completed.
This course offers intermediate awards (early exit points) at Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma levels.
Please note that some majors and units may not be available at each location. Unit availabilities are published for each study period and vary from year to year. Please contact the School for further information.
For course rules and a full list of units, please refer to the Specific Award Rules below.
Course Summary
| Total Units: |
Award Abbreviation: |
2013 ATAR equivalent/OP: |
Master — 12
Graduate Diploma — 8
Graduate Certificate — 4 |
MClinPrac
GradDipClinPrac
GradCertClinPrac |
N/A |
| UAC Course Code |
QTAC Course Code |
CRICOS Course Code |
| N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
Teaching Methods
This course is primarily delivered online and there are no on-campus attendance requirements. Course materials are provided. Units have a dedicated website on the MySCU online environment, which is accessible upon enrolment. Academic staff are available by phone and email for student consultation. Students are expected to have computer and internet access.
Learning Resources
MySCU is a student’s point of entry to a range of online services and resources that support study and student life. The portal includes unit learning sites and information sites where students can access resources, communication tools and useful links that are integral to their studies.
The web-based program Blackboard Collaborate delivers advanced on-line learning environments for students and lecturers to communicate and collaborate through virtual meeting spaces and classrooms. They can share files, presentations, and applications. If the session is recorded, students can view it afterwards.
Learning materials include the provision of unit information guides, study guides and books of readings. Students may need to purchase or access prescribed text books.
The SCU library provides a wide range of services including librarian assistance, print and electronic resources, a document delivery service, catalogues, databases, ebooks, ereadings, and full-text journal literature.
The Academic Skills Development team supports student learning by offering online and on-campus academic skills workshops, email, phone, and one-on-one support.
Assessment Methods
Assessments vary for each unit and generally comprise assignment tasks. Few units have an examination. Units are graded fail, pass, distinction, high distinction. Research units are assessed by outputs and are graded as either satisfactory or unsatisfactory.
Equipment and Facilities
General campus resources are available including access to computer laboratories for individual study purposes.
How to Apply
Direct Applications
Apply Online
The following applications to study can be made online, directly to SCU:
- Undergraduate courses by distance education and all honours courses
- All postgraduate by coursework courses
- Higher degrees by research
Online applications for the Master of Clinical Practice involve four key steps:
- Register your details to create an account or login to access your applications
- Select the exact course you want to apply for
- Answer the questions and submit documents
- Submit your application
Once registered you can exit and return to your application at any time.
Advanced Standing
Recognition of Previous Study
Advanced standing may be granted to a student for tertiary studies successfully completed within the last ten years in accordance with the Specific Award Rules.
We recommend that you apply for advance standing at the same time as you apply for admission into this course, because the amount and type of credit awarded will determine your study plan.
For more details and how to apply please visit the Advanced Standing website.
Master of Public Health
Other Providers
The following specialisation is in collaboration with the College of Nursing:
Specific Award Rules
See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.
4.1 Admission to Candidature
- Admission to the Master Award: As an alternate to Rule 2 Section 3 Clause (20)a of the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, applicants for admission to candidature in the Master of Clinical Practice may be selected where one or more of the following has been satisfied:
- have completed the SCU Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice in the equivalent specialisation; or
- have completed the SCU Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice in the equivalent specialisation; or
- can demonstrate academic or professional standing considered by the School Board to be equivalent to the requirement in Rule 2 Section 3 Clause (20)a or 4.1(a)(i or ii); and
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- Have been born in one of the countries listed in Schedule A attached to Rule 2 Section 1 Clause (7) and have completed at least one year of full-time (or equivalent) study at the level of AQF diploma (or equivalent) or above and the language in which that qualification was taught was English; or
- An applicant must be able to demonstrate proof of English proficiency by obtaining an overall band score of not less than 6.5 in the International English Language Testing System (including a minimum score of 6.0 in the sub-bands) or equivalent TOEFL or comparable test as determined by the Academic Board.
- All applicants for admission to candidature to the Master of Clinical Practice with a specialisation in Mental Health Nursing are required to:
- hold a Bachelor of Nursing or Registered Nurse equivalent qualification; and
- have a minimum of one year postgraduate nursing experience; and
- be currently registered in Australia; and
- be currently employed in a practice setting equivalent to the specialisation or as acceptable to the School Board.
- All applicants for admission to the Master of Clinical Practice with a specialisation in Perioperative Nurse Surgeon’s Assistant, in addition to Rules 4.1(a) and (b), are also required to provide evidence of an accredited peri-operative nursing certificate from an institution approved by School Board and a minimum of three years’ full-time experience in the perioperative area, or have a minimum of five full-time years’ experience in a perioperative area within the past ten years.
- All applicants for admission to candidature to the Master of Clinical Practice with a specialisation in Healthy Ageing and Aged Care or Lifestyle Medicine must provide evidence of at least one year’s experience in an area of activity relevant to the area of specialisation and/or as acceptable to the School Board.
- All applicants for admission to candidature to the Master of Clinical Practice without specialisation, can refer to Rule 2 Section 3 Clause (20)a of the University’s Rules Relating to Awards and/or Rule 4.1(a) of the Specific Award Rules.
4.2 Requirements for an Award
- To be eligible for the award of Master of Clinical Practice with a specialisation a candidate shall successfully complete not less than twelve (12) units comprising:
- four (4) units listed in Part A of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules; and
- four (4) units of a specialisation listed in Part B of the Schedule of Units; and
- four (4) equivalent units listed in Part C of the Schedule of Units, including the unit CMM03260 Graduate Studies Project I.
- To be eligible for the award of Master of Clinical Practice without specialisation, a candidate shall successfully complete not less than twelve (12) units comprising:
- four (4) units listed in Part A of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules; and
- eight (8) equivalent units selected from Part C of the Schedule of Units, including the unit CMM03260 Graduate Studies Project I.
- To be eligible for the award of Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice with a specialisation a candidate shall successfully complete not less than 8 units comprising:
- four (4) units listed in Part A of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules; and
- four (4) units of a specialisation listed in Part B of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules.
- To be eligible for the award of Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice without specialisation a candidate shall successfully complete not less than eight (8) units comprising:
- four (4) units listed in Part A of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules; and
- four (4) units from Part C of the Schedule of Units attached to these rules.
- To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice with a specialisation a candidate shall successfully complete not less than four (4) units comprising:
- four (4) units of a specialisation listed in Part B of the Schedule of Units attached to these Rules.
- To be eligible for the award of Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice without specialisation a candidate shall successfully complete not less than four (4) units comprising:
- any four (4) units from Part A and Part C of the Schedule of Units attached these Rules.
- A candidate who while enrolled for the Master of Clinical Practice with a specialisation has completed the requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice with that same specialisation or the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice with that same specialisation may elect to be awarded the Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate in that same specialisation following withdrawal from candidature for the Masters award.
- A candidate who while enrolled for the Master of Clinical Practice without specialisation has completed the requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice or the Graduate Certificate in Clinical Practice may elect to be awarded the Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate following withdrawal from candidature for the Masters award.
4.3 Advanced Standing
- Candidates may be granted advanced standing in accordance with Rule 2 Section 4 of the University’s Rules Relating to Awards. In exceptional cases, additional advanced standing for up to two (2) units towards the Master of Clinical Practice may be granted by the School Board, which shall notify the Academic Board in all cases.
- Notwithstanding Rule 4.3(a), candidates for the Master of Clinical Practice who have completed all the requirements for the Graduate Diploma of Clinical Practice may be granted advanced standing for up to eight (8) prescribed units.
- Notwithstanding Rule 4.3(a), candidates for the Master of Clinical Practice who have completed all the requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Clinical Practice may be granted advanced standing for up to four (4) prescribed units.
Schedule of Units