Bachelor of Health Science/ Bachelor of Media and Communication
with a major in Biomedical Science – Blended learning – on-campus and digital learning
Selected major: Biomedical Science
Use cutting-edge, interactive tech to understand the human body in a range of health and disease states and become a research assistant, lab scientist or tech product specialist.
What is Biomedical Science? It’s the broad study of biological sciences; including anatomy, biochemistry, genomics, immunology, molecular biology, pathology and physiology.
We use the same bioinformatics software as industry professionals, and with a tap of your fingers, you can dissect a virtual cadaver to learn about its body parts in intricate detail. We have recently incorporated contemporary units of study in Pathophysiology, Infections and Immunology and Genes and Genomics units to add depth and greater industry-relevance to your studies.
Our students have completed professional experiences at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent's and GlaxoSmithKline.
Majors for Bachelor of Health Science:
Biomedical ScienceClinical TechnologiesNeuroscienceNutritionPsychology and Forensic SciencePsychology and PsychophysiologyPublic Health and Health PromotionMajors for Bachelor of Media and Communication:
AdvertisingCreative Writing and LiteratureDigital Advertising TechnologyJournalismMedia Industries Professional Writing and EditingSocial MediaThe Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Media and Communication will equip students with a comprehensive set of skills, knowledge and attributes to effectively promote health messages, products and innovations to a wide range of audiences.
You'll explore Australian and international health challenges and examine the physical, psychological and social aspects of health in a variety of settings.
You'll also gain knowledge about how the media is evolving through an examination of issues such as diversity, the influence of social networking, data, ownership and privacy, automated media and the digital economy.
Work Integrated Learning is a guaranteed part of all our bachelor degrees. In this double degree, you’ll work on industry-linked projects relevant to your major areas of study. For example, in the Health Sciences Project (HEA30001), you'll work on a project which addresses a current industry challenge. And in units Digital Marketing Project 1 and 2 (DIG30001 and DIG30002) you'll work in teams on a significant digital advertising or marketing project.
Start dates
Hawthorn campus
- Semester 1 - 26 February 2024
- Semester 2 - 29 July 2024
VTAC codes
- 3400211051 (CSP)
- 3400211053 (IFP)
Course details
- Course structure and work integrated learning.
Course structure
Successful completion of the Bachelor of Health Science/ Bachelor of Media and Communication requires students to complete units of study to the value of 400-450 credit points. All units of study are valued at 12.5 credit points unless otherwise stated.
View course rules and special requirements
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Anatomy and Physiology | BIO10004 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Health Sciences | HEA10001 | 12.5 |
| Digital Health Foundations | HEA10004 | 12.5 |
| Brain and Behavior | PSY10007 | 12.5 |
| Foundations of Statistics | STA10003 | 12.5 |
| Health and Disease Across the Life Course * | BIO20004 | 12.5 |
| Either Research Methods for Health Sciences | HEA20007 | 12.5 |
| or Introduction to Research Methods - This alternative unit is required in the Psychology and Psychophysiology Major and the Psychology and Forensic Science Major and are only available to students enrolled in these majors. | PSY10005 | 12.5 |
| Either Health Sciences Project * | HEA30001 | 12.5 |
| or Psychology Project * - This alternative unit is required in the Psychology and Psychophysiology Major and the Psychology and Forensic Science Major and are only available to students enrolled in these majors. | PSY30003 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Professional Communication Practice | COM10007 | 12.5 |
| Media Content Creation | JOU10007 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Media Studies | MDA10001 | 12.5 |
| Global Media Industries | MDA10008 | 12.5 |
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Selected major: Biomedical Science
Use cutting-edge, interactive tech to understand the human body in a range of health and disease states and become a research assistant, lab scientist or tech product specialist.
What is Biomedical Science? It’s the broad study of biological sciences; including anatomy, biochemistry, genomics, immunology, molecular biology, pathology and physiology.
We use the same bioinformatics software as industry professionals, and with a tap of your fingers, you can dissect a virtual cadaver to learn about its body parts in intricate detail. We have recently incorporated contemporary units of study in Pathophysiology, Infections and Immunology and Genes and Genomics units to add depth and greater industry-relevance to your studies.
Our students have completed professional experiences at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, St Vincent's and GlaxoSmithKline.
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Musculoskeletal Anatomy Across the Lifespan | BIO10008 | 12.5 |
| Either Introduction to Chemistry - Introduction to Chemistry | CHE10004 | 12.5 |
| or Chemistry 1 | CHE10001 | 12.5 |
| Introduction to Biochemistry * | BCH20002 | 12.5 |
| Infections and Immunology in Health Science * | BIO20005 | 12.5 |
| Genes and Genomics * | BIO30006 | 12.5 |
| Body Function and Structure for Health Sciences * | BIO30007 | 12.5 |
| Pathophysiology * | BIO30008 | 12.5 |
| Physiology in Medical and Health Sciences | NTR20003 | 12.5 |
*Outcome unit – completion demonstrates the attainment of course learning outcomes
+
Other studies
4 units (50 credit points)
Choose from a combination of the following course components to complete 50 credit points of other study. Students may also select elective units (12.5 credit points each).
Work Integrated Learning
Swinburne's Work Integrated Learning program provides additional opportunities for you to gain valuable skills and real industry experience in the form of placements, internships or study tours - all while earning credit towards your degree.
Choose a Work Integrated Learning option:
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 12 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement co-major has four 25 credit point units.
Professional Placement in Health
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Health | HEA20003 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B - Health | HEA20004 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Media and Communication
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication | MDA20016 | 25 |
| Work Experience in Industry B | WEI20002 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement B - Media and Communication | MDA20017 | 25 |
You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for 6 months, where you'll combine hands-on learning with academic submissions, workplace reflection and feedback from your host organisation. Most students undertake their placements in the third year of their degree, so you’ll want to map out your electives as soon as you can and register for a placement at least 6 months before your preferred start date.
The Professional Placement minor has two 25 credit point units.
Professional Placement in Health
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Health | HEA20003 | 25 |
Professional Placement in Media and Communication
| Units | Unit codes | Credit points |
|---|---|---|
| Work Experience in Industry A | WEI20001 | 25 |
| Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication | MDA20016 | 25 |
A Professional Internship is all about gaining valuable real-world skills in your area of study all while earning credit points towards your degree. Plus, it looks great on your CV as it shows you’ve had real industry experience before you’ve even graduated!
You might choose to complete your internship part-time over a semester or in a more intensive block during Summer or Winter terms.
Travel overseas, discover other cultures, enrich your professional experience and enhance your CV all while gaining credit towards your course.
- Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight standard units of study per year
- Part-time study: 50 credit points/four standard units of study per year
- One credit point is equivalent to one hour of study per week per semester (including contact hours and private study)
- See the course planner for an example degree structure
Course learning outcomes
On successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
- Bachelor of Health Science: Apply theoretical and practical knowledge in one or more health science disciplines to enhance health outcomes and the welfare of individuals and/or populations including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Bachelor of Health Science: Perform specialised techniques and use technologies for the critical analysis and interpretation of health related data
- Bachelor of Health Science: Be able to apply skills in effective teamwork, initiative, judgement and responsibility, within the cultural, legal and ethical framework of health professions.
- Bachelor of Health Science: Communicate effectively with various stakeholders in health to disseminate information, knowledge, skills and concepts using different delivery methods
- Bachelor of Health Science: Reflect on personal capabilities and behaviours to meet evolving professional demands in health and seek opportunities for lifelong self-improvement and professional development
- Bachelor of Health Science: Generate innovative and effective solutions for health-related problems using evidence-based approaches
- Bachelor of Media and Communication: Identify and contextualise the impacts of digital transformation on media and communication industries, audiences and professional and creative practices
- Bachelor of Media and Communication: Analyse diverse socio-cultural influences on media and communication practices and their impact on audiences in Indigenous, local and global contexts
- Bachelor of Media and Communication: Demonstrate critical thinking, including theoretical, practice-led and decolonised approaches, within a specialised media and communication discipline
- Bachelor of Media and Communication: Initiate professional approaches to planning, problem-solving and decision-making in a range of media and communication activities and processes, both individually and in collaboration with others
- Bachelor of Media and Communication - Design creative and professional media and communication artefacts that focus on examining the relationship between people and technology for social impact
- Bachelor of Media and Communication: Explore innovative use of new media and communication technologies to engage, influence and build communities for next generation media futures
- Bachelor of Media and Communication: Engage ethical approaches to research methodologies for socially responsible, just and fair content creation strategies
- Bachelor of Media and Communication: Apply learning from Indigenous, global and cross-cultural communication contexts to support accountability, self-assessment and independence in lifelong learning
Fees
Find out more about fees.
Scholarships
At Swinburne scholarships are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. Scholarships are available for both commencing and current students.
How to enter this course
- Entry requirements, credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
How to apply
Applications for Semester 1 for courses listed on the VTAC Guide are generally made through VTAC. Under certain circumstances, some students (e.g. Non-Year 12) may apply directly to Swinburne. Find out more about how to apply.
Applications for all other intakes should be made directly to Swinburne.
View the Course Admission Information, which includes the ATAR and Student profiles for this course. Swinburne’s general admissions information is also available here.