Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (Honours)

at University of South Australia - City East Campus Australia

Occupational therapists empower people to live full and rewarding lives, every day. With UniSA, you'll learn how to help people overcome constraints caused by injury or illness, as well as emotional, developmental, environmental, societal, age-related and psychological limitations.

What you'll learn

The first year will focus on core health subjects including anatomy, physiology, and an introduction to occupational therapy practice and evidence.

From second and third year, you‘ll focus on the application of your skills in mental health, occupation rehabilitation, chronic conditions, community focus, primary health care and participatory community practice.

In addition to field placements, you‘ll attend workshops in a range of industry settings. You’ll also have the opportunity to visit regional settings in your third year, on the annual Country Road Trip.

Throughout your degree you’ll be exposed to many different hands-on activities, such as:

• Splint making
• Dressing adaptation for people with self-care impairments
• Wheelchair measurement tutorials
• Home modification and assistive technology plans
• Adult neurological rehabilitation techniques
• Completing skill demonstrations to become familiar with real-life occupational therapy scenarios

Radiation Therapists work alongside Radiation Oncologists and Medical Physicists to plan and deliver radiation treatment, primarily to cancer patients. Using dedicated radiotherapy treatment planning software, Radiation Therapists model radiation dose and operate radiation equipment to accurately deliver high energy ionising radiation treatments.

What you'll learn

Using dedicated radiotherapy treatment planning software, Radiation Therapists model radiation doses and operate radiation equipment to accurately deliver high energy ionising radiation treatments. You’ll learn these techniques and practices through this degree.

During your first year, you’ll focus on basic sciences at the core of the study and practice of medical radiation science. The curriculum covers anatomy, physiology, pathology and radiation physics. These core subjects offer an introduction to medical radiation and the scientific principles surrounding it.

Applying these concepts to professional practice occurs through clinical placements, which begin in your second year and continue through third and fourth years.

Start your unstoppable career in the world of human health and wellbeing, with a double degree in exercise and sport science, combined with nutrition and food science.

The exercise and sport science component will equip you with expertise on the impact of exercise and physical activity on the biological, physiological, psychological and social aspects of human life. The nutrition and food sciences component will give you hands-on experience in innovating foods; promoting and managing diets and lifestyles; and conducting meaningful research for enhanced wellbeing. 

With this double degree your career opportunities are diverse. You could be at the forefront of innovation in the food and nutrition industries, with opportunities to go into scientific and advisory roles. You could also design, deliver and assess exercise and physical activity programs to improve the health and wellbeing of clients, their performance, or to prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes and arthritis. Further study opportunities may include a Master of Research (Health Sciences) or Master of Health Services Management.

What you'll learn

Through theoretical and practical learning, you’ll become an expert in all aspects of exercise and sport science, and graduate with the skills needed to design, implement and evaluate exercise and physical activity programs.

The exercise and sport science component prepares you to provide exercise advice, deliver strength and conditioning services, biomechanical analyses, and skill acquisition knowledge to enhance the physical and mental wellbeing of generally healthy individuals, ranging from children to elite athletes to older persons.

The nutrition and food sciences component will teach you to understand diets and lifestyles for optimum health and the associations between nutrient intake, energy output and obesity. You’ll also learn how to manage and improve nutrition and diet related to physical activity and lifestyle changes, and how to maximise physical performance for healthy active people.  

During the first two years you’ll learn about nutrition and study exercise and sport science courses, which will give you a solid foundation in:

• Human anatomy and physiology
• Fundamental movement skills
• Skill acquisition
• Chemistry and biology

The third and fourth years have a strong practical focus. You'll develop critical thinking and practice-based skills through learning about:

• Exercise prescription and delivery
• Relationship between food bioactives, functional foods and medicines
• Developing personalised dietary and exercise plans to manage weight
• Nutrition for sports, exercise and activity

What you'll learn

The Master of Physiotherapy (Graduate Entry) will teach you to assess, treat and prevent human movement disorders across various areas of practice, including sport, musculoskeletal, cardiorespiratory, and neurological conditions in people of all ages.

The beginning of the degree will cover topics in evidence-based practice, clinical reasoning skills, professional practice skills, the mechanisms and management of pain; and the theory, assessment, and management for cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neurological conditions. A central component of this master’s degree in clinical placements, which commence in the second half of your first year of study, in the area of acute care.

This master's degree will help health or medical professionals looking to develop their leadership, management and business skills.

What you'll learn
This master’s degree will expand your knowledge and skills in management, administration, leadership, project management, strategic management, financial management and more.

Through a unique blend of health and business courses, you'll learn to:

• Provide the overall strategic direction and management for a service, facility, organisation or centre.
• Work in senior levels of management influencing high-level organisation, financial and administrative decisions.
• Prepare for leadership roles in health within Australia and internationally.
• Develop and strengthen project management processes to plan, manage, execute and deliver successful projects.
• Develop competencies in designing rigorous quantitative research to inform healthcare knowledge, practice, and policy.
• Undertake administrative operations such as reporting and budget planning.
• Understand business analytics, the accounting environment and health economics within organisations.

This double degree is for students who want to combine their passion for health and exercise with their interest in nutrition.

Through theoretical and practical learning, you’ll become an expert in all aspects of nutrition and food sciences. Most importantly, you’ll be ready to improve the nutritional and physical health, fitness and wellbeing of the community.

You'll learn from world-class industry experts in an environment full of opportunities for practical learning; and have the opportunity to complete a work placement with valuable industry experience. You can also tailor your degree to align with your career goals by choosing a primary stream in either Health and Physical Education, or Exercise and Sport Science.

What you'll learn

This double degree offers a strong blend of theoretical, practice-based and industry learning.

During your first year of study, you'll develop a strong foundation in: 

• Physiology
• Health and physical activity
• Nutrition and food sciences
• Chemistry
• Motor development and ageing
• Group and team psychology
• Evidence based practice and research methods

From your second year, you can choose to tailor the human movement component of the degree using the electives to suit your career goals, through primary streams in Health and Physical Education or Exercise and Sport Science.

In addition to studying core subjects in your final years, the stream subjects focus on areas like exercise prescription, exercise delivery, fitness and lifestyle management, and outdoor leadership. Alternatively, you can opt not to study a stream, and instead choose to study a broad range of elective subjects to give you a multi-disciplinary perspective. 

In the new Bachelor of Biomedical Science, you’ll explore the complex world of human health and disease under the guidance of industry experts.

In this three-year program, immerse yourself in biomedical research and gain skills to be used in clinical trials. Develop advanced knowledge in physiology, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics. You’ll get to learn alongside internationally-recognised researchers in cancer biology, vaccine development, genetics and neuroscience.

What you'll learn
Along with fundamental knowledge in biomedical sciences, you can choose pathways into further study in biomedical research and other health professions. Throughout your degree, you’ll:

• Explore the complex world of human health and disease.
• Learn advanced skills in biochemistry, immunology, genetics, pharmacology, cancer biology.
• Learn skills which can be applied to clinical trials research.
• Study core courses in chemistry, biology and anatomy, and develop advanced knowledge in physiology, biochemistry, immunology, pharmacology, molecular biology, genomics and bioinformatics.
• Benefit from a flexible learning environment with face-to-face and online courses.
• Gain research experience, which forms a great foundation for pathways in bioinformatics, genomics, and clinical trials.

You will gain a strong understanding of the construction industry and its key stakeholders. Your studies will focus on building processes and technology, construction law, and building regulations and codes. This qualification fulfils the educational requirements for building surveyor accreditation by the Australian Institute of Building Surveyors and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

This qualification is available online only. It is not available to international students studying in Australia under a student visa and can only be studied from your home country.

The graduate diploma is offered as part of a suite of two programs (graduate certificate and graduate diploma). Each qualification extends to the next. If you decide to exit having completed the first four courses, you will receive the Graduate Certificate in Building Surveying.

What you'll Learn
You will gain a strong understanding of the construction industry and its key stakeholders. During your studies you will focus on:

• The complete building lifecycle, including building and asset management and maintenance
• The Australian legal system and the key principles of construction law
• Common legal issues experienced on construction projects and the paths available for resolution
• Fire technology
• The scientific principles of building surveying in the design and operation of building developments

This honour's degree is for students who have successfully completed a relevant bachelor’s degree in biomedical science, pharmacy, pharmaceutical science, nutrition and food sciences, natural sciences or laboratory medicine.

You’ll develop and extend your research skills and specialist knowledge. The intensive research experience you’ll get from the Bachelor of Biomedical Research (Honours) will confidently prepare you for a career in research or further studies, such as a PhD.

What you'll learn

You’ll have the opportunity to work closely with researchers and contribute to the development of knowledge in your area of specialisation. You’ll learn transferable skills such as research training, reporting, communication and presentation skills, data analysis and high-level project management skills.

During the first six months you’ll explore research methodologies, research hypotheses and proposals. You’ll also gain an awareness of ethical research practice.

During the final six months you’ll be required to analyse, understand and contextualise your research results. You’ll then prepare a written thesis and present your findings during a research seminar.
 

In the only degree of its kind in South Australia you’ll learn to diagnose and treat disorders of the foot and lower limb. If you’re interested in working with people and promoting wellbeing, this is the degree for you.

Healthy feet are an important part of the body’s holistic health, and many of us at some point in our lives will experience foot problems. In the Bachelor of Podiatry, there’s a major focus on practical skills for keeping feet healthy every day, as well the ability to diagnose and manage illness and disability. You’ll get the opportunity to practice these skills within a vast range of industry organisations.

What you'll learn

You’ll gain an advanced understanding of both the theoretical and practical aspects of podiatry, as well as the physical, biological, and social sciences relevant to working in healthcare. The curriculum covers the scope of a podiatrist’s practice, including paediatrics, diabetes, sports injuries, musculoskeletal problems, treatment of the elderly, and general foot care.

During the first year, you’ll cover topics to give you an introduction to health sciences including:

• human anatomy
• human physiology
• biomechanics
• disease groups and conditions

You’ll develop advanced communication skills and explore the assessment and treatment of common problems. The second year will expand your knowledge in clinical sciences, including skills to enable comprehensive and holistic assessment and management of patient conditions. During your third and fourth years, you’ll work on your clinical practice skills, including surgery (and other orthopaedic management), paediatrics, wound management, high-risk foot management, chronic pain and sporting injuries.

Practical learning is a major focus, so your training will take place in our on-campus podiatry clinics, as well as during external placements in metropolitan and rural South Australia. You’ll also get the opportunity to fine-tune your podiatry skills with 3D printed feet, created as part of a world-first podiatry training initiative.