Overview

This unit aims to provide an introduction to health sciences and an explication of the scientific method; develop students’ ability to critically evaluate/interpret information about health and disease; ensure that students understand the broad biological, social, cultural and environmental factors that have an impact on health and disease; introduce students to the Australian and International Health systems using comparative case studies; and develop an understanding of the importance of technologies in the context of health and disease.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
21-October-2024
31-January-2025
Last self-enrolment date
03-November-2024
Census date
15-November-2024
Last withdraw without fail date
13-December-2024
Results released date
11-February-2025
Pathways Teaching 1
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
24-February-2025
30-May-2025
Last self-enrolment date
09-March-2025
Census date
21-March-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
02-May-2025
Results released date
10-June-2025
Pathways Teaching 2
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
23-June-2025
26-September-2025
Last self-enrolment date
06-July-2025
Census date
18-July-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
15-August-2025
Results released date
07-October-2025
Pathways Teaching 3
Location
Hawthorn
Start and end dates
20-October-2025
30-January-2026
Last self-enrolment date
02-November-2025
Census date
14-November-2025
Last withdraw without fail date
12-December-2025
Results released date
10-February-2026

Learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  • Demonstrate academic skills, the ability to work collaboratively and communicate effectively
  • Interpret and integrate different sources of information on Health and Disease in the public domain
  • Demonstrate understanding of socio-cultural, biological and environmental factors that have an impact on health and disease
  • Use the scientific method to appraise health information in a range of health case studies
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the health system in Australia and Internationally
  • Define concepts of Health and Disease
  • Understand the range of employment outcomes available in health industries
  • Identify and discuss the most important trends in health science

Teaching methods

Hawthorn

Type Hours per week Number of weeks Total (number of hours)
Online
(Online lecture)		 2 12 weeks  24
Face to Face Contact
(Tutorial 1)		 2 12 weeks  24
Face to Face Contact
(Tutorial 2)		 2 12 weeks  24
Unspecified Learning Activities
(Independent Learning)		 6.5 12 weeks  78
TOTAL     150

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Examination Individual  30 - 50%  1,2,6,7,8 
Presentation Individual/Group  25 - 35%  2,3,5 
Project Individual  15 - 25%  1,2,3,4,5 
Quizzes Individual  10 - 20%  3,4,5,6 

Content

  • Broad scope of health sciences
  • The scientific method
  • How to evaluate and interpret information about health and disease
  • The biological, social, cultural and environmental factors that have an impact on health and disease
  • The Australian Health system and comparisons to other international systems
  • Technology in health and disease

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.