SCU - Diploma of Health

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Course summary

Looking for a pathway to a career as a health professional? The one-year Diploma of Health equips you with foundational knowledge and skills in a range of health disciplines such as sport and exercise science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, biomedical science, osteopathic studies, podiatry and pedorthics.

The course is a pathway to linked Bachelor degrees. Graduates are guaranteed entry into the following degree programs: Bachelor of Biomedical Science, Bachelor of Pedorthics, Bachelor of Podiatry; Bachelor of Speech Pathology; Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science, Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies), and Bachelor of Psychological Science and may receive up to one year of credit towards their chosen degree depending on the study stream chosen. (Please note that locations vary for Southern Cross undergraduate degrees in health sciences, check the individual course you are interested in for more details about where it is offered.)

This course is offered through SCU College, which understands that students have diverse experiences and ways of learning. The College supports your study success and connects you to your peers through additional workshops to develop academic and study skills.

Domestic snapshot

Duration	Location	Session
1F/2P	Coffs Harbour	1
Gold Coast	1
Online	1

Duration

Location

Session

1F/2P

Coffs Harbour

Gold Coast

Online

International snapshot

Major areas of study

Students select a stream of study to prepare them for further study in one of the following disciplines: sport and exercise science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychological science, biomedical science, osteopathic studies, podiatry, and pedorthics.

Please note: the biomedical science and osteopathic studies streams are not currently offered at Coffs Harbour. All streams are available at the Gold Coast.

Learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.

Graduate Attribute	Course Learning Outcome
Intellectual rigour	Exercise critical judgment and creative thinking to identify problems and contribute to their solutions in defined health settings
Creativity	Exercise critical judgment and creative thinking to identify problems and contribute to their solutions in defined health settings
Ethical practice	Apply ethical and sustainable values and practices within defined health settings
Knowledge of a discipline	Apply theoretical and technical knowledge and skills within defined contexts within the field of health.
Lifelong learning	Demonstrate responsibility and accountability for own learning and work in defined health contexts.
Communication and social skills	Communicate information, concepts and solutions, individually and/or in a team, with an awareness of diverse cultural perspective's within defined health contexts.
Cultural competence	Communicate information, concepts and solutions, individually and/or in a team, with an awareness of diverse cultural perspective's within defined health contexts.

Assessment methods

Assessment tasks vary from unit to unit and can include essays, reports, audio or video presentations, class participation, individual and group work, online quizzes, case analyses, and examinations. Assessment items are in accordance with learning outcomes and designed to ensure that all the graduate attributes are assessed throughout the course. The performance criteria, grading standards and due dates for assessment tasks are included in each Unit Information Guide. Students receive timely feedback on their assessment submissions.

Teaching methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Our online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Career opportunities

Related courses

Type

Detail

Course code

2125150

Course abbreviation

DipH

Credit points

Equivalent units

Duration

1 year full-time; 2 years part-time

Availability details

Location	Session	UAC code	QTAC code
Coffs Harbour	1	335051	059251
Gold Coast	1	335072	059171
Online	1	N/A	N/A

Streams available at the Gold Coast: Biomedical Science, Osteopathic Studies, Sport and Exercise Science, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Psychological Science, Podiatry and Pedorthics.

Streams available at Coffs Harbour: Sport and Exercise Science, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology, Psychological Science, Podiatry and Pedorthics.

Only Psychological Science is available online over 3 sessions of study.

Indicative ATAR/OP

N/A

Fees

Commonwealth supported

Type	Detail
Course code	2125150
Course abbreviation	DipH
Credit points	96
Equivalent units	8
Duration	1 year full-time; 2 years part-time
Availability details
Admission Requirements	Qualification equivalent to Australian Year 12 with the required entry grade. Refer to the Course Structure tab for specific admission requirements.

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 study environment Blackboard Learn delivers an advanced online learning environment for students and lecturers to communicate and collaborate through virtual meeting spaces, classrooms, and discussion boards. They can share files, presentations and applications. If a tutorial or lecture is recorded, students can view it afterwards.

Learning materials include the provision of unit information guides, study guides and readings. Students may need to purchase or access prescribed text books.

The SCU Library provides a wide range of services that include face-to-face and online help, and access to print and electronic resources.

The Academic Skills team supports student learning by offering online and on-campus academic skills workshops, assignment reviews and small group or one-on-one face-to-face, phone or Skype consultations during business hours 9am to 4.30pm. Appointments can be made via the MySCU Hub 'Connect Now' button or on the Academic Skills home page. Students can also book appointments online in Career Hub.

The Studiosity service provides online after-hours study support for SCU students. This service is available from 4pm to midnight Sunday to Friday via the 'Connect Now' button on MySCU Hub or from a link in nominated unit learning sites. The Studiosity service offers generic writing feedback and live online chat assistance for foundational concepts and study skills.

Equipment and facilities

Southern Cross University provides students with modern well equipped teaching spaces such as lecture theatres, classrooms, and studios or laboratories tailored to meet the needs of specific study disciplines. Contemporary audiovisual equipment is standard in most teaching venues, and students have access to computer labs for individual study purposes.

Course structure

See the University’s Rules Relating to Awards, in conjunction with the Specific Award Rules listed below.

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Diploma of Health, students must complete the equivalent of 8 core units (96 credit points) from one Stream.

Schedule of units

Title

Level of learning

Note

Students should select 1 Stream from the following

Occupational Therapy Stream

	Title	Level of learning	Note
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	NUT00214 - Food and Nutrition in Health	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
	CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples	Intermediate

Note 3

Podiatry and Pedorthics Stream

	Title	Level of learning	Note
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Note 3

Speech Pathology Stream

	Title	Level of learning	Note
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Note 3

Sport and Exercise Science Stream

	Title	Level of learning	Note
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
	NUT00214 - Food and Nutrition in Health	Introductory
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Note 4

Biomedical Science Stream

	Title	Level of learning	Note
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	SCI10002 - Science in Society	Introductory
	PHY71030 - Introductory Physics and Maths for Health Sciences	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Note 2

Osteopathic Studies Stream

	Title	Level of learning	Note
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	CMM71001 - Health Promotion and Wellness	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Note 2

Psychological Science Stream

	Title	Level of learning
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BHS11001 - Introduction to Psychology I	Introductory
	BHS11004 - Contemporary Issues in Psychology	Introductory
	BHS11002 - Introduction to Psychology II	Introductory
	BHS11003 - Methods and Concepts in Psychology	Introductory
	CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System	Introductory
University wide elective (introductory level)

Note 1

Course progressions

Students should use course progression information to select units specific to their course and enrol in these units using My Enrolment

Occupational Therapy

	Title	Level of learning
	Students must enrol in core College units in their first session of study: EDU10010 and HEA10001
Session 1, Year 1
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
Session 2, Year 1
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	NUT00214 - Food and Nutrition in Health	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
	CUL00408 - Health and Indigenous Australian Peoples	Intermediate

Podiatry and Pedorthics

	Title	Level of learning
	Students must enrol in core College units in their first session of study: EDU10010 and HEA10001
Session 1, Year 1
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
Session 2, Year 1
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
Session 3, Year 1
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Speech Pathology

	Title	Level of learning
	Students must enrol in core College units in their first session of study: EDU10010 and HEA10001
Session 1, Year 1
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
Session 2, Year 1
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
Session 3, Year 1
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Osteopathic Studies

	Title	Level of learning
	Students must enrol in core College units in their first session of study: EDU10010 and HEA10001
Session 1, Year 1
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
Session 2, Year 1
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	CMM71001 - Health Promotion and Wellness	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
Session 3, Year 1
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Sport and Exercise Science

	Title	Level of learning
	Students must enrol in core College units in their first session of study: EDU10010 and HEA10001
Session 1, Year 1
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	BHS10581 - Psychology and Sociology for Health Sciences	Introductory
Session 2, Year 1
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	NUT00214 - Food and Nutrition in Health	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
Session 3, Year 1
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Biomedical Science

	Title	Level of learning
	Students must enrol in core College units in their first session of study: EDU10010 and HEA10001
Session 1, Year 1
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BIO01302 - Human Anatomy	Introductory
	SCI10002 - Science in Society	Introductory
Session 2, Year 1
	BIO71002 - Human Physiology I	Introductory
	PHY71030 - Introductory Physics and Maths for Health Sciences	Introductory
	MAT71004 - Introduction to Evidence for Health Science Practitioners	Introductory
Session 3, Year 1
	BIO71003 - Human Physiology II	Introductory

Psychological Science

	Title	Level of learning
	This Stream is offered at the Gold Coast campus, Coffs Harbour campus and Online.
	Students must enrol in core College units in their first session of study: EDU10010 and HEA10001
Session 1, Year 1
	EDU10010 - Language and Learning in your Discipline	Introductory
	HEA10001 - Introduction to Science for Health Professions	Introductory
	BHS11001 - Introduction to Psychology I	Introductory
	BHS11004 - Contemporary Issues in Psychology	Introductory
Session 2, Year 1
	BHS11002 - Introduction to Psychology II	Introductory
	BHS11003 - Methods and Concepts in Psychology	Introductory
	CMM10580 - The Australian Health Care System	Introductory
	University-wide elective (introductory level)

Notes

Note 1:	This Stream is offered at the Gold Coast campus, Coffs Harbour, and Online. Students may receive up to 8 units of advanced standing into the Bachelor of Psychological Science.
Note 2:	This Stream is only offered on the Gold Coast campus. Students may receive up to 6 units of advanced standing into the Bachelor of Biomedical Science or Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies).
Note 3:	This Stream is only offered at the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses. Students may receive up to 7 units of advanced standing for the Bachelor of Occupational Therapy, Bachelor of Speech Pathology, and Bachelor of Podiatry; and up to 6 units of advanced standing into the Bachelor of Pedorthics.
Note 4:	This Stream is only offered at the Gold Coast and Coffs Harbour campuses. Students may receive up to 6 units of advanced standing into the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science.

This course is available to:

Australian/Domestic students

Where and when do you want to study?

Coffs Harbour

Gold Coast

Online

Notice

The information on this page may be subject to change over time. Please check this web page again before acting and see our disclaimer

From the 1st of June, 2017, the term 'Distance Education' has been replaced with 'Online'