Master of Dietetics

2016 Deakin University Handbook

Course sub-headings

• Course overview
• Professional recognition
• Course rules
• Course structure

Course overview

This three-trimester course builds on your undergraduate knowledge in nutrition and gets you professionally accredited in just 18 months.

Deakin was the first university to offer a course in dietetics in Australia and has been proudly offering Dietitians Association of Australia accredited courses for more than 35 years.

This course develops your knowledge of physiology and biochemistry and enhances your skills in dietary management.

Deakin’s program is one of the few dietetics Masters degrees in Australia of 18 months duration, allowing you start your career sooner. As an Accredited Practising Dietitian, you will be eligible to work in all areas of dietetics, including clinical (hospital) dietetics, community nutrition, private practice, food industry, sports nutrition and more.

Job growth in this sector is strong and continues to increase as public health issues such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, sedentary lifestyles and ageing populations affect health care systems not only in Australia but around the world.

Professional recognition

The Master of Dietetics is accredited by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA). Students graduating from accredited courses are eligible for full membership of the DAA and the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program and to work in all areas of dietetics.

Department of Human Services policy

In accordance with Department of Human Services policy*, all students are required to undertake a National Police Record Check prior to professional placements in each calendar year of their course. Students who fail to obtain a Police Record Check prior to the commencement of any professional placement will not be able to undertake that placement.

Students may also be required to declare their immunisation status to satisfy the requirements of health organisations where they will be undertaking their professional placement.

* Department of Human Services Policy on Working with Children Check and Police Records Checks can be found at: http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/about-the-department/our-organisation/careers/applying-for-a-job/application-process/step-4-safety-screening-checks

Work-Integrated Learning

Throughout the course you will have the opportunity to develop specialist skills related to the professional practice of nutrition and dietetics, and achieve competency in dietetic practice through extensive professional practice placements.

Professional practice placements provide you with applied experience in clinical, community and food service settings to develop discipline specific knowledge. You will also develop research, critical thinking and communication skills throughout the course.

^Indicates compulsory practicum core units students need to complete in this course - refer course structure.

Course rules

To complete the Master of Dietetics students must attain 12 credit points. All units are core (these are compulsory). Units may be worth 1 or 2 credit points - check each unit for its credit point value in the course structure below. One of the units, HBS745 Collaborative Practice in Healthcare , is studied in Cloud (online).

Failure of a compulsory practicum component in any unit of study will normally lead to exclusion. All expenses associated with practicum units, including any transportation or accommodation costs are the responsibility of the student.

Course structure

Core units

Teaching, placements and assessment tasks may take place outside of Deakin University teaching periods. ^Indicates compulsory practicum core units required to complete in this course.

Level 1 - Trimester 1

Level 1 - Trimester 2

and one of:

OR

Level 2 - Trimester 1

and one of

OR 

Course structure

Course structure

Course structure

Preclusions

Where a preclusion is granted, students must select another HSN7xx unit from the list below. For example if you were given a preclusion for HSN740 Nutrition Research Skills, it means that you are not required to enrol into HSN740, and instead you have to choose another HSN7xx unit from the following options:

Trimester 1

Trimester 2

Trimester 3