Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours)

2025 Deakin University Handbook

Year	2025 course information
Award granted	Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours)
Deakin course code	H400
Faculty	Faculty of Health
Campus	Offered at Burwood (Melbourne)
Online	Yes
Duration	1 year full-time or part-time equivalent
Course Map - enrolment planning tool	This course map is for new students commencing from Semester 1 2025 Course maps for commencement in previous years are available on the Course Maps webpage or please contact a Student Adviser in Student Central.
CRICOS course code	060188G Burwood (Melbourne)
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) recognition	The award conferred upon completion is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 8

Course sub-headings

Course overview

Build on your knowledge of health care, policy and systems with a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours). Through a combination of coursework and original research, you will learn the analytical skills and research techniques that will take you into further study, or employment in the booming health sector.

Do you have questions about the health of our population you want answered? Why not follow your passions and discover the answers with your own research?

Contribute to existing studies in the contemporary health sector by completing an honours degree. You will have the opportunity to work with a world-class supervisor who will guide you through all the stages of research from data collection to implementation and execution, helping you produce a piece of independent, original research.

Focus on an area within the health sciences that you are passionate about. Research themes can include:

community health
gambling
gender, family, reproductive and sexual health
health, diversity and social inclusion
health economics
nature and health
obesity prevention, healthy food environments and food policy
physical activity, motor skill competence and self-perception
refugee health
sustainability
violence and abuse, prevention and intervention.

You will learn more than just your topic of research. You will develop the necessary skills to successfully conduct research, with units designed to build your knowledge of the process.

You can be confident that your research is guided by the most recent and ground-breaking findings within the health sector. Deakin’s School of Health and Social Development is home to a large range of multidisciplinary research groups, encompassing public health, health promotion, and social, commercial, behavioural, and environmental determinants of health.

The school addresses the complex connections between determinants of health in their broadest sense, and social development in a variety of settings, and at a range of intervention levels. This means you will be immersed in the work of some of the world’s best researchers.

Follow your passion to improve the health and wellbeing of society by studying a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours).

Indicative student workload

You should be able to commit 35 hours a week to your honours degree.

Career opportunities

Completing an honours year in health sciences prepares you for careers requiring an advanced skill set. Career opportunities include:

community health development officer
community recreation officer
disability services advocacy and development
family and community support
food safety and development
health services management
health reform, policy and health promotion roles
program developer in physical health and nutrition
officer for refugee advocacy.

Your studies will also equip you with the research skills to take you into further postgraduate and research degrees.

Participation requirements

There is a minimum of four compulsory sessions, which will be delivered online via Blackboard Collaborate although more sessions are offered to help students in their Honours year.

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Pathways

This course provides a pathway to higher degree by research courses and other postgraduate coursework programs.

Honours

For detailed information, particularly with respect to the selection of areas of study and availability of appropriate supervision, students should consult the School of Health and Social Development Current Student Honours page.

Course Learning Outcomes

Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes	Course Learning Outcomes
Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities	Apply Health Sciences/Public Health and Health Promotion knowledge to formulate a testable research question; develop a conceptual framework and select the appropriate methodological procedures for the collection, analysis and interpretation of data; and disseminate research findings.
Communication	Communicate, defend and discuss all elements of the research project in the chosen field of study via oral and written means to a variety of audiences.
Digital literacy	Select and use appropriate technologies to source, interpret, adapt, collate, analyse and disseminate relevant information to a variety of audiences.
Critical thinking	Critically evaluate and synthesise the literature in the chosen field of study; and interpret research findings in the context of the literature in the chosen field of study.
Problem solving	Select and apply appropriate methodological principles and analytical techniques to answer a research question within the context of Health Sciences/Public Health and Health Promotion; and troubleshoot solutions to resolve complex problems associated with the research study.
Self-management	Produce a realistic timeline for the research project and demonstrate effective self-management skills, autonomy and accountability that contribute to the development of lifelong learning as a researcher within Health Sciences/Public Health and Health Promotion.
Teamwork	Collaborate and work effectively with specialists, peers, academics and others from a range of disciplines and backgrounds.
Global citizenship	Engage in ethical and professional research practice whilst maintaining confidentiality and respecting cultural sensitivities.

Course rules

To complete the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) students must pass 8 credit points and meet the following course rules to be eligible to graduate:

DAI001 Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0-credit-point compulsory unit) in their first study period
8 credit points of core units
- including 4 credit points of an independent research project

Students are required to meet the University's academic progress and conduct requirements. See the enrolment codes and terminology to help make sense of the University’s vocabulary.

Course structure

Core units

Semester 1

DAI001

Academic Integrity and Respect at Deakin (0 credit points)

HBS400

Research Methods

HSH401

Developing Research Skills

Semester 2

HSH402

Honours Research Project

Work experience

Due to the nature of Honours, students may have supervisors who are based in industry, which gives them a chance for work integrated learning. Even for students whose supervisors are based at Deakin, the form of work integrated learning takes the form of a research internship. In terms of data collection, this can involve interviews, focus groups or surveys, which may happen in the context of health and other services in which the students will be exposed to professional staff and associates carrying out their duties.

Course duration

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as failing of units or accessing or completing placements.

Further information

Student Central can help you with course planning, choosing the right units and explaining course rules and requirements.

Contact Student Central

Research and research-related study

All 8 credit points of the course are comprised of research-related study (2 x 2 credit point units) or research (1 x 4 credit point unit). 100% of the course’s research and research-related study is specifically assessed.

Further information

Prospective Student Enquiry Centre
1800 693 888
myfuture@deakin.edu.au

Fees and charges

Fees and charges vary depending on the type of fee place you hold, your course, your commencement year, the units you choose to study, and their study discipline or your study load.

Tuition fees increase at the beginning of each calendar year and all fees quoted are in Australian dollars ($AUD). Tuition fees do not include textbooks, computer equipment or software, other equipment or costs such as mandatory checks, travel and stationery.

Estimate your fees

For further information regarding tuition fees, other fees and charges, invoice due dates, withdrawal dates, payment methods visit our Current students website.