Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion/Bachelor of Commerce
2027 Deakin University Handbook
| Year | 2027 course information |
|---|---|
| Award granted | Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion / Bachelor of Commerce |
| Deakin course code | D379 |
| Course credit points | 32 |
| Course version | 1 |
| Faculty | Faculty of Health |
| Course information | For students who commenced from 2027 onwards |
| Campus | Offered at Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Duration | 4 years full-time or part-time equivalent |
| Course map - enrolment planning tool | The course map for students commencing from Trimester 1 2027 will be available soon Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central. |
| Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition | The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7 |
Course sub-headings
- Course overview
- Indicative student workload
- Professional recognition
- Career opportunities
- Participation requirements
- Mandatory student checks
- Pathways
- Course learning outcomes
- Course rules
- Course structure
- Work experience
- Third party arrangements
- Other learning experiences
- Fees and charges
Course overview
Combine public health expertise with commercial insight in Deakin’s Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion/Bachelor of Commerce. This double degree prepares you to address complex health challenges while applying business strategy across the health, business and community sectors. Graduates can register with the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), with Deakin the only Victorian university to hold this accreditation.
Build a strong understanding of the social and environmental factors that influence health while developing commercial skills in areas such as marketing, management, finance or economics. You will learn to design and evaluate health initiatives, analyse data to inform decisions and communicate effectively with diverse audiences. With practical experience and a globally recognised commerce qualification, you will graduate ready to drive better health outcomes in complex professional contexts.
Indicative student workload
As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include lectures, seminars, practicals and online interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.
Professional recognition
Gain the professional recognition you need to make your mark in health or business sectors, or where the two intersect.
Deakin’s Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion is fully accredited by the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE). This accreditation enables our health promotion graduates to register with the IUHPE as a registered Health Promotion Practitioner (HPP), securing you global as well as Australian recognition.
Graduates may also be eligible to become members of the Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) and obtain professional accreditation as a Health Promotion Practitioner with the Australian Health Promotion Association (AHPA).
Deakin Business School holds the prestigious and globally recognised AACSB and EQUIS accreditations, which attest to quality, academic and professional excellence, ongoing improvement, innovation and graduate employability.
- Deakin's accounting major enables students to apply for the:
- CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
- Associate membership for the CPA Program
- IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
- Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). - Students who complete the finance major are recognised through the CFA Institute University Affiliation Program.
- The financial planning major satisfies the Financial Adviser Standards (FAS) education standards, meaning students can provide financial advice in Australia and are eligible for financial planning certification programs including:
- the Financial Adviser Association of Australia (FAAA) CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER®.
Students should consult the professional body or a course adviser to identify additional requirements for membership.
Note: All information regarding professional recognition is accurate at the date of publication. Enquiries regarding accreditation and professional membership should be directed to the School of Health and Social Development or Deakin Business School in order to ascertain the current status of accreditation at any future point in time beyond publication. Representations about accreditation apply only to the course, and the relevant professional body retains discretion as to whom they admit as members of their association. Deakin University cannot exercise any control over membership of an external body.
Career opportunities
With Deakin the #1 Victorian university for graduate employment, you will graduate confident and ready to make a real difference across both the business and health sectors. Job growth in health continues to rise, driven by global challenges like obesity, heart disease, diabetes, food access, sedentary lifestyles and ageing populations. By combining studies in health and commerce, you will gain a unique mix of skills. You will learn how to understand and respond to complex health issues, while also developing the business knowledge to lead teams, manage programs and shape strategy. This powerful combination prepares you for a wide range of rewarding roles where you can improve lives and strengthen communities. You will also have the skills to help organisations deliver services that are efficient, scalable and built to last.
You could pursue careers such as:
- Health Promotion Officer
- Community Development Officer
- Social Planning Officer
- Health Educator
- Women’s Health Officer
- Health Policy Developer
- Planning Officer
- Health Researcher
- Partnerships Coordinator
- Program Evaluator.
The health units in this double degree will equip you to address real world challenges such as healthy eating, physical activity, mental health, social inclusion, chronic illness and women’s health. Your choice of commerce major, whether it is economics, management, marketing or human resources, will shape how you approach these challenges. This unique combination broadens your career prospects and prepares you to lead in multidisciplinary settings where business insight and public health expertise work hand in hand.
This double degree also provides a strong foundation for honours or postgraduate study in public health, health promotion or commerce.
Participation requirements
The course contains a core Health Practicum unit that aims to provide students with an in-depth, working understanding of public health-health promotion principles and approaches in the field. Students are required to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of work experience in a health-related agency. In addition to developing a practical understanding of public health and health promotion, this experience will help students further develop the professional and personal skills required to work in a public health and/or health promotion role.
At Deakin, we’re committed to creating an inclusive learning environment that supports all students to succeed. We work closely with students to identify and reduce barriers, and where possible, provide tailored support to help students engage with learning and assessment activities, ensuring every student has the opportunity to belong and thrive.
If you are disabled, neurodivergent, Deaf, and/or you live with the effects of a mental health condition, chronic health condition, or other condition that impacts your studies or participation in university life, we encourage you to reach out to our Disability Resource Centre for a collaborative and confidential discussion.
Mandatory student checks
Working with Children Check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit. Learn more about the Working with Children Check.
Police record check
Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.
Pathways
Upon graduation, you may go on to complete further study in health by applying for Deakin's Master of Public Health, Master of Health Promotion, Master of Health Economics or Master of Health Management. You may also be eligible for postgraduate study in business and commerce.
Alternative exits
Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion (H313)
Bachelor of Commerce (M380)
Course learning outcomes
| Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion | Course Learning Outcomes Bachelor of Commerce | |
|---|---|---|
| Apply evidence-based research and a determinants-based knowledge of public health and health promotion to advocate for social change, promote good health and wellbeing, prevent poor health and reduce inequalities for individuals and populations alike. | Evaluate broad knowledge of commerce, with depth in one or more business disciplines, and apply theoretical and technical expertise to inform financial, economic, and organisational decision-making. | |
| Communication | Communicate effectively in oral and written forms with a range of stakeholders and promote positive, desired change. | Communicate knowledge and ideas clearly and effectively through written, spoken, and digital formats suited to the discipline and context, demonstrating the level of professionalism expected in business settings. |
| Use information technology to effectively communicate, locate information and analyse data. | Effectively use discipline-specific and general digital technologies to research, evaluate, synthesise, and communicate business-relevant information in a dynamic global environment. | |
| Apply critical thinking and reflection to issues of contemporary health, related to policy and planning in public health and health promotion practice within an evidence-based framework. | Analyse and evaluate academic, professional, and commercial information using relevant theories and methods to form reasoned judgements and support ethical, evidence informed decisions in commercial contexts. | |
| Apply an evidence-based learning framework to create solutions to diverse and complex health problems. | Apply creative, cognitive, and technical skills to identify, investigate, and solve complex, real world commercial problems using innovative and evidence-informed approaches. | |
| Monitor and reflect on one’s own professional practice. | Engage in independent and continuous learning across business disciplines to support personal and professional growth in a dynamic business environment; effectively manage resources, time, and constraints to deliver high-quality, timely outcomes. | |
| Develop knowledge and implement strategies in collaboration with others to build and enhance relevant partnerships and actions as a public health and health promotion practitioner. | Work and learn collaboratively with fellow peers, business professionals, and members of the wider community. | |
| Support public health and health promotion practice within diverse social, cultural and environmental contexts and communities. | Develop an ethical awareness and a social responsibility by engaging respectfully and productively with Indigenous, local, national, and international stakeholders, and by applying knowledge and skills in ways that are culturally appropriate, inclusive, and informed by diverse worldviews and knowledges. |
Note – From 2026, Deakin commenced introducing Graduate Attributes (GAs), which define the distinctive characteristics of a Deakin graduate. You may notice some courses still refer to Graduate Learning Outcomes (GLOs) during this transition period.
Course rules
To complete the Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion/Bachelor of Commerce you must pass 32 credit points. This includes:
- DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in your first study period
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion
- 16 credit points of core units
- 16 credit points from the Bachelor of Commerce
- 8 credit points of core units
- 1 commerce major (8 credit points)
- a minimum of 4 credit points at level 3 which must be Faculty of Business and Law units course grouped to a Faculty of Business and Law undergraduate degree.
Course requirements for both the Bachelor of Public Health and Health Promotion (H313) and Bachelor of Commerce (M380) must be satisfied.
Most units are equal to one credit point. As a full-time student you will study four credit points per trimester and usually undertake two trimesters per year.
Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements.
Course structure
Core units
Level 1 - Trimester 1
| DAI001 | Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points) |
| HBS107 | Understanding Health |
| HSH102 | Disease Prevention and Control |
| MAA103 | Accounting for Decision Making |
| MLC101 | Law for Commerce |
Level 1 - Trimester 2
| HBS108 | Health Information and Data |
| HSH103 | Health Protection |
| MAF101 | Fundamentals of Finance |
| MIS171 | Business Analytics |
Level 2 - Trimester 1
| HSH112 | Local and Global Environments for Health |
| HSH208 | Health Communication |
| MPB200 | Shaping the Future of Business |
| MAE101 | Economic Principles |
Level 2 - Trimester 2
| HSH113 | Social Perspectives on Population Health |
| HSH212 | Professional Practice |
| MPB201 | Business Impact in Society |
| MPB202 | Professional Identity and Career Development |
Level 3 - Trimester 1
| HSH205 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics 1 |
| HSH323 | Program Planning, Management and Evaluation |
Plus two commerce major units
Level 3 - Trimester 2
| HSH216 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics 2 |
| HSH219 | Population Health: A Research Perspective |
Plus two commerce major units
Level 4 - Trimester 1
| HSH302 | Politics, Policy and Health |
| HSH318 | Implementation and Evaluation |
Plus two commerce major units
Level 4 - Trimester 2
| HSH303 | Health Practicum |
| HSH313 | Contemporary Health Issues |
Plus two commerce major units
Commerce Major sequences
Refer to the Bachelor of Commerce (M380) course page for Commerce major sequences options.
Work experience
Public Health and Health Promotion
The Health Practicum unit requires you to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of work experience in a health-related agency. In addition to developing a practical understanding of public health-health promotion, this experience will help you further develop the professional and personal skills required to work in a public health-health promotion role.
Course duration
You may be able to study available units in the optional third trimester to fast-track your degree, however your course duration may be extended if there are delays in meeting course requirements, such as completing a placement.
Third party arrangements
Placement agreements are compliant with the Student Placement Procedure.
Placement partners establish and operate facilities with the capacity to educate Deakin students relevant to the partner’s core business (which is health and course related), supervising the development of industry skill-sets and training for each individual over 120 hours.
Quality assurance arrangements
External benchmarking with Curtin University has been completed.
Other learning experiences
Students are invited to participate in study tours – previous examples have included Cambodia and India.
Fees and charges
Tuition fees will vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, your study load and/or unit discipline.
Your tuition fees will increase annually at the start of each calendar year. All fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD) and do not include additional costs such as textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment, mandatory checks, travel, consumables and other costs.
For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.
Further information
Contact Student Central for assistance in course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements. Student Central can also provide information for a wide range of services at Deakin. To help you understand the University vocabulary, please refer to our Enrolment codes and terminology page.