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Bachelor of Health Science (Public and Environmental Health)

This course has been discontinued - the information is provided for continuing students.

  • This information is for local students.
  • This course is not available to international students.
    Am I a You are a local student if:
    you are an Australian citizen, or
    you are a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), or
    you are an Australian permanent resident.
    You are an international student if:
    you are not an Australian citizen, and
    you are not a New Zealand citizen (excluding TAFE courses), and
    you are not an Australian permanent resident.    local or an international student    ?

Overview

Students who are planning to commence in 2010, please refer to Bachelor of Health Science (Public and Environmental Health) course information.
The Bachelor of Health Science (Public and Environmental Health) is a multidisciplinary course aimed at equipping graduates with a wide range of skills, knowledge and attributes in order to assist in the protection of the environment and the health of people living in it. Areas of study include science, law, communication, health policy and promotion, food and water safety, risk assessment, emergency and disaster management and sustainability. The course has strong links with industry and very high employment outcomes. It is also an accredited course in Victoria for Australian students seeking a career as an environmental health officer.
DurationThree years full-time.
Campus and intakes  Calendar
Hawthorn -February, July
Study modeFull-time
Part-time (day)
Course codeH069
Fees
Swinburne offers domestic undergraduate studentsCommonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of an Australian permanent resident visa are classified as domestic students. All other students are considered international students.
HELP
The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. HELP consists of:
  • HECS-HELP (previously HECS) – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students. It provides students with a loan to cover their student contribution amount. Students are eligible for a 20% discount if they choose to pay all, or at least $500, of their student contribution up-front.
  • FEE-HELP (previously PELS) – is available to eligible fee paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $81,600 from 1 January 2008). The FEE-HELP limit is indexed on 1 January each year.
  • OS-HELP – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students, who wish to study overseas, with a loan to cover expenses such as accommodation and travel.
Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.
For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au

Career opportunities

Gradutes may qualify to work as environmental health officers or obtain positions in the areas of health promotion, policy development, communicable disease investigation, immunisation, sustainability, or public and community health planning.
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Course in detail

On this page: course description and units of study.

Course description

Students who are planning to commence in 2010, please refer to Bachelor of Health Science (Public and Environmental Health) course information.
The Bachelor of Health Science (Public and Environmental Health) is a multidisciplinary course aimed at equipping graduates with a wide range of skills, knowledge and attributes in order to assist in the protection of the environment and the health of people living in it. Areas of study include science, law, communication, health policy and promotion, food and water safety, risk assessment, emergency and disaster management and sustainability. The course has strong links with industry and very high employment outcomes. It is also an accredited course in Victoria for Australian students seeking a career as an environmental health officer.

Units of study

Stage 1
Semester 1
HAS100 Sociology 1A (Introductory Sociology) 
HES1490 Introduction to Chemistry *
HES1610 Concepts of Biology
HES1710 Philosophy and Practice of Public and Environmental Health
Semester 2
HBSL100 Introductory Law
HMS102 Introduction to Statistics
HBSH101 Behaviour and Communication in Organisations
HES1716 Health Policy and Planning
Stage 2
Semester 1
HES2631 The Microbial World
HES2700 Food Science
HES2710 Health and Environmental Law 1
HES2725 Food Safety Principle and Practice 1
Semester 2
HES2636 Microbes in the Environment
HES2705 Water Science
HES2715 Built and Sustainable Communities
HES2735 Communicable Disease Control
Stage 3
Semester 1
HSW050   Industry-Based Learning
Semester 2
HSW055   Industry-Based Learning
Note that this optional IBL program is not available to international students.
Stage 4
Semester 1
HES4701 Research Skills Project
HES4710 Environmental Health Services Evaluation
HES4720 Environmental Management
HES4730 Food Safety Principle and Practice 2
Semester 2
HES4705 Research Project
HES4716 Health and Environmental Law 2
HES4725 Occupational Health and Safety**
HBSH400 Administration and Management
* May be replaced by HES1510 Chemistry 1 for students with Year 12 chemistry.
**  May be replaced by HBSG200 New Venture Development and Management or other approved elective.
Careers in the Curriculum (CIC)
In addition to the above, students must complete a compulsory unit HAC0001 Careers in the Curriculum to be awarded the degree. Careers in the Curriculum (CIC) is an innovative unit designed to assist Swinburne students to enhance their employability and career prospects. It is usually undertaken in the second year of your course and is compulsory for all undergraduate students who commence their course from 2007 onwards. Students studying CIC will not incur a HECS or fee debt for the unit as the cost will be met by the university as part of an initiative to enhance students' career skills. 
Final Year Experience - Major Projects
As part of the Swinburne Model for Professional Learning, all incoming undergraduates from 2007 will undertake 25 credit points of
professionally focused final year major projects within their programs of study. Entry with advanced standing may require alternate study sequences to be undertaken.
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Graduate outcomes

On this page: aims and objectives, career opportunities, professional recognition and graduate attributes.

Aims and objectives

The course has the following objectives:
  • to produce a professional graduate who is able to communicate the role of public and environmental health management to the community and deploy environmental health principles in adding value to community health and quality of life.
  • to develop in students a mastery of the basic theoretical and practical principles of public and environmental health management and their relationship to human behaviour, social health and the environment.
  • to produce a professional graduate who has a thorough understanding of environmental health methodology and the ability to interpret and apply it competently and appropriately in the relevant professional context and setting.
  • to instill the graduate with an appreciation of the role of the environmental health practitioner in society, a sense of resourcefulness, originality, impartiality and a well-developed culture of community service and ethics.
  • to develop self-educative skills, flexibility of mind, and an inherent recognition of the need to research and keep abreast of technological, financial, social and political change
  • to develop graduates who are able to communicate with and relate confidently to a wide range of professionals and others who interface with public and environmental health practice
  • to develop graduates who are able to participate in the education of society in matters of community health
  • to develop the management skills required to administer and deliver a range of public and environmental health services to an increasingly informed society
  • to assist students to demonstrate the necessary academic strengths and motivation to seek and obtain entry to a wide range of postgraduate programs relevant to public and environmental health management
  • to meet the accreditation requirements for public and environmental health undergraduate degree programs set by the Australian Institute of Environmental Health

Career opportunities

Gradutes may qualify to work as environmental health officers or obtain positions in the areas of health promotion, policy development, communicable disease investigation, immunisation, sustainability, or public and community health planning.

Professional recognition

Membership of The Australian Institute of Environmental Health.

Graduate attributes

Students are expected to develop a number of graduate attributes during this course, resulting in graduates who are:
  • capable in their chosen professional, vocational or study areas
  • operate effectively and ethically in work and community situations
  • adaptable and manage change
  • aware of environments in which they will be contributing
  • entrepreneurial in contributing to innovation and development within their business, workplace or community
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Course experience

On this page: IBL (industry based learning) and Swinburne Abroad.

Industry learning

Industry-Based Learning (IBL) is an optional program in which students are placed in paid, supervised employment relevant to their studies as part of their degree. IBL gives you practical experience to add to your academic studies and is aimed at increasing a your employability upon graduation. All IBL placements are subject to availability of places. It is not available to international students holding a student visa. For further information visit: www.swinburne.edu.au/lss/ibl

Swinburne Abroad

Swinburne offers International Exchange Programs as well as other Education Abroad Programs to help internationalise your degree. International Exchange is an academic program allowing you to study at a Swinburne Partner Institution for one or two semesters during your degree. Swinburne's Partner Institutions offer many relevant subjects as well as a secure base to explore a different culture. Your studies while on exchange can be credited towards your Swinburne degree, provided they are relevant and approved by Swinburne. For further information visit the Swinburne Abroad website.
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On this page: entry requirements, pathways, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning

Entry requirements

Entry requirements

Successful completion of an appropriate Victorian Year 12 or its equivalent, such as an interstate or international Year 12 qualification.

2009 VCE Prerequisites: Units 3 and 4 - a study score of at least 20 in English (any) and in Mathematics (any). Middle-band: re-ranking based on study scores in Biology, Chemistry or Specialist Mathematics.

All Non-Year 12 students (NONY12) should refer to the VTAC website at: www.vtac.edu.au 

Pathways

An advanced credit transfer system, known as the Pathways program, is in place at Swinburne. Through Pathways, students with one or more of a wide range of post-secondary qualifications (both local and international) can gain entry into a course with advanced standing. Certain subject requirements must be met and an acceptable standard of results achieved in order to gain admission and for maximum credit to be granted. For further information refer to 'Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways//

Credit transfer

Applicants with prior tertiary studies that satisfy part of the academic requirements of this course may be granted ‘credit’ and/or entry into the course with ‘advanced standing’. University policies apply and applicants are assessed on a case-by-case basis. For further information refer to ‘Swinburne Pathways: Credit Transfer Guide’ at: http://www.swinburne.edu.au/corporate/marketing/pathways//

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is a process where a student may be granted credit or partial credit towards a qualification in recognition of skills and knowledge gained through work experience, life experience and/or formal training. Further details for students considering Higher Education courses: http://www.swin.edu.au/corporate/registrar/ppd/files/stuinf.htm
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Apply

On this page: how to apply, course fees, scholarships and find out more.

How to apply

Applications must be made through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

VTAC code: 34051 (CSP), 34053 (Int. Fee)

For further information, visit the VTAC website at: www.vtac.edu.au

In addition to making an application through VTAC, all applicants must complete the Application for Interview Form available on Swinburne's Public and Environmental Health website at: www.swinburne.edu.au/health_enviro and return it to:
 
Program Manager Public & Environmental Health
Swinburne University
PO Box 218, Hawthorn 3122
 
by the end of November.

Applicants lodging an application with VTAC after the end of November must contact the faculty office on (03) 9214 8372 for application details.

Course fees

Swinburne offers domestic undergraduate studentsCommonwealth Supported Places (CSP). Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens or holders of an Australian permanent resident visa are classified as domestic students. All other students are considered international students.
HELP
The Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a suite of income contingent loans for Australian citizens and holders of Australian permanent humanitarian visas. HELP consists of:
  • HECS-HELP (previously HECS) – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students. It provides students with a loan to cover their student contribution amount. Students are eligible for a 20% discount if they choose to pay all, or at least $500, of their student contribution up-front.
  • FEE-HELP (previously PELS) – is available to eligible fee paying undergraduate and postgraduate students. It provides students with a loan to cover their tuition fees (lifetime maximum $81,600 from 1 January 2008). The FEE-HELP limit is indexed on 1 January each year.
  • OS-HELP – is available to eligible Commonwealth supported students, who wish to study overseas, with a loan to cover expenses such as accommodation and travel.
Note: New Zealand citizens and holders of other Australian permanent resident visas do not have access to HELP loans. These students must pay their student contributions or tuition fees up front without a discount.
For further information on your support and study options visit the 'Going to Uni' website at: http://www.goingtouni.gov.au

Scholarships

For information about scholarships at Swinburne visit: http://www.swin.edu.au/scholarships

Find out more

Tel: 1300 ASK SWIN (1300 275 794)
Email: study@swinburne.edu.au
 
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