General Information

Overview

The 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.

Study 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.

  • 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.

  • Full-time study: 100 credit points/eight 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.

Units of study Unit code
Core units
Anatomy and Physiology
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO10004
Introduction to Health Sciences
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA10001
Digital Health Foundations
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA10004
Brain and Behaviour
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY10007
Foundations of Statistics
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
STA10003
Health and Disease Across the Life Course
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO20004
Research Methods for Health Sciences
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, Non-psychology majors only
HEA20007
Introduction to Research Methods
Core unit, 12.5 credit points, Psychology majors only
PSY10005
Core units
Introduction to Media Studies
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10001
Global Media Industries
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10008
Communicating with Data
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10012
Content Creator Lab
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10018
Professional Communication Practice
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
COM10007
Media Content Creation
Core unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU10007
Units of study Unit code
Musculoskeletal Anatomy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO10008
Introduction to Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BCH20002
Physiology in Medical and Health Sciences
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20003
Infections and Immunology in Health Sciences
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO20005
Genes and Genomics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30006
Body Function and Structure for Health Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30007
Pathophysiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BIO30008
Units of study Unit code
Neurophysiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20006
Technology and Data Acquisition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP10001
Measurement and Instrumentation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP20010
Medical Imaging Systems
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP20009
Physiological Signals
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP30007
MedTech Design and Innovation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
BME30001
Biomedical Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP30003
Cardiopulmonary and Renal Physiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MBP30009
Units of study Unit code
Neuroscience
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU10002
Neurophysiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20006
Neuroimaging
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20007
Sensation and Perception
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20005
Developmental and Molecular Neuroscience
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20008
Higher Cortical Functions
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30004
Advanced Topics in Neuroscience
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30007
Neuropsychopharmacology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30009
Units of study Unit code
Chemistry 1
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10001
Introduction to Nutrition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR10001
Physiology in Medical and Health Sciences
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20003
Nutrition Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20001
Nutrition in the Life Course
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR20002
Nutrition and Disease Prevention
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30001
Public Health Nutrition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30004
Nutritional Biochemistry
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30005
Units of study Unit code
Environment and Society: Problems and Solutions
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SOC10005
Physical Activity, Health and Technology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
SPH10013
Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEP20002
Epidemiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
STA20009
Indigenous Health
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA20006
Health Communication
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEP30003
Public Health Nutrition
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NTR30004
Leadership and Innovation in Health Promotion
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
HEA30010
Units of study Unit code
Introduction to Forensic Science
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
CHE10007
Fundamentals of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY10008
Introduction to Forensic Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FOR10001
Developmental Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20007
Analysis of Variance and Regression
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
STA20006
Cognition and Human Performance
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20006
Social Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20016
Statistics for Forensics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
STA20008
Psychology of Personality
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30008
Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FOR30001
Mental health diversity, diagnosis and treatment
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30016
History and Philosophy of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30013
Units of study Unit code
Neuroscience
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU10002
Fundamentals of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY10008
Analysis of Variance and Regression
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
STA20006
Neurological Monitoring
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20004
Neurophysiology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20006
Developmental Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20007
Sensation and Perception
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU20005
Cognition and Human Performance
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20006
Social Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY20016
Psychology of Personality
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30008
Sleep and Attention
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30002
Higher Cortical Functions
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30004
Mental health diversity, diagnosis and treatment
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30016
History and Philosophy of Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30013
Abnormal Psychology
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PSY30010
Psychophysiological Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
NEU30006
Units of study Unit code
Principles of Advertising
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ADV10001
Digital Advertising
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ADV10002
Advertising Issues and Impact
Major unit
ADV20004
Search, Social Media and Video Marketing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ADV20003
Creativity and Ideation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ADV20005
Digital Advertising Media Strategy
Major unit
ADV30004
Advertising Campaigns Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ADV30005
Emerging Advertising Technologies
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
ADV30003
Units of study Unit code
Screen Studies: Movies, Television and Ourselves
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10003
Genre and the Moving Image
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FTV10006
The Australian Screen
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FTV20005
Screen Franchising and Innovation
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA20007
Popular Culture of the Asia Pacific
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA20018
Screen Technology and Culture
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30016
Screen Sounds and Music
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30019
Global Screen Studies: Beyond Hollywood
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30011
Units of study Unit code
Writing Fiction
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT10002
Editing for Writers
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PWR10002
Diversity in Australian Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT20002
Writing and Publishing Studio
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PWR20002
Pitch, Edit, Publish
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PWR30001
Prose Poetics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT20003
Sudden Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT30007
Literary Industry Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
LIT30004
Units of study Unit code
Experiencing Immersive Media: AR, VR and Mixed Reality
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10017
Mobile Media Futures
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10016
Digital Narratives
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
DIG20001
Immersive Media Design and Production
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA20029
Writing for Interactive Narratives
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
GAM20004
Screen Technology and Culture
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30016
Media and Communications Industry Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30020
Production for Digital Platforms
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
FTV30006
Units of study Unit code
Transforming Journalism in the Digital Era
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU10004
The Journalist's Toolkit
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU10008
Media, Law and Ethics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU20006
Interactive Storytelling
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU20007
Media Analytics and Visualisation
Major unit
MDA20026
Radio, Audio and Podcasting
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30009
Video Documentary Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU30009
Live Journalism Lab
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU30012
Units of study Unit code
Introduction to Public Relations Theory and Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PUB10001
Professional Communication Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
COM10007
Public Relations Writing
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PUB20003
Global Public Relations Practice
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PUB20001
Issues, Crisis and Risk Communication
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PUB20004
Events Management
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
PUB30001
PR Campaign Planning and Management
Major unit
PUB30004
Media and Communications Industry Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30020
Units of study Unit code
Digital Self/Digital Community
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10013
Social Media Strategy
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA10015
Business of Media and Entrepreneurship
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA20028
Interactive Storytelling
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
JOU20007
Media Analytics and Visualisation
Major unit
MDA20026
Social Media, Social Impact
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30022
Researching Social Media Publics
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30012
Social Media Industry Project
Major unit, 12.5 credit points
MDA30021

You'll get paid to work in an area related to your field of study for either 6 or 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.

Units of study Unit code
Option 1
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Health
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
HEA20003
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Health
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
HEA20004
or
Option 2
Work Experience in Industry A
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20001
Integrated Professional Placement A - Media and Communication
Academic unit, 25.0 credit points
MDA20016
Work Experience in Industry B
Practical unit, 25.0 credit points
WEI20002
Integrated Professional Placement B - Media and Communication
Acedemic unit, 25.0 credit points
MDA20017

These recommended elective units can deepen your understanding of your chosen major or an area of interest. A full list of available elective units can be found upon enrolment.

Find more detail about elective units

Learning outcomes

 

On successful completion of the course students will be able to:

  • 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
  • perform specialised techniques and use technologies for the critical analysis and interpretation of health related data
  • be able to apply skills in effective teamwork, initiative, judgement and responsibility, within the cultural, legal and ethical framework of health professions. 
  • communicate effectively with various stakeholders in health to disseminate information, knowledge, skills and concepts using different delivery methods
  • reflect on personal capabilities and behaviours to meet evolving professional demands in health and seek opportunities for lifelong self-improvement and professional development
  • generate innovative and effective solutions for health-related problems using evidence-based approaches 
  • identify and contextualise the impacts of digital transformation on media and communication industries, audiences and professional and creative practices
  • analyse diverse socio-cultural influences on media and communication practices and their impact on audiences in Indigenous, local and global contexts 
  • demonstrate critical thinking, including theoretical, practice-led and decolonised approaches, within a specialised media and communication discipline
  • 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
  • design creative and professional media and communication artefacts that focus on examining the relationship between people and technology for social impact
  • explore innovative use of new media and communication technologies to engage, influence and build communities for next generation media futures
  • engage ethical approaches to research methodologies for socially responsible, just and fair content creation strategies
  • apply learning from Indigenous, global and cross-cultural communication contexts to support accountability, self-assessment and independence in lifelong learning

Career opportunities

Future career opportunities for graduates in this degree may include medical researcher, health policy developer, clinical physiologist. hospital scientist, immersive content developer, madia analytics and sales coordinator, digital storyteller and more. 

Graduates who intend to pursue psychology as a career must follow a sequence of education and training in psychology as required by the Psychology Board of Australia.

The Psychology and Psychophysiology and Psychology and Forensic Science majors within the Bachelor of Health Science course are accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). To be eligible for registration as a provisional psychologist, students must go on to complete the Bachelor of Psychological Sciences (Honours) or an equivalent APAC-accredited fourth-year program.

Those seeking general registration as practicing psychologists in Australia must subsequently successfully graduate from an accredited postgraduate program such as the Master of Psychology (Clinical Psychology), Doctor of Philosophy (Clinical Psychology) or Doctor of Psychology (Clinical and Forensic Psychology).

For more detailed information on Australian requirements for registration as a psychologist, visit the Australian Psychological Society website.

Professional recognition

On completion of the Public Relations major students may be eligible to become a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA) and should confirm eligibility with the Institute.

The Advertising major is professionally accredited by the Media Federation of Australia (MFA).

Course rules

To qualify for the Bachelor of Health Science/Bachelor of Media and Communication, students must complete 400 - 450 credit points comprising:

  • eight [8] core Health Science units of study (100 credit points)
  • four [4] core Media and Communication units of study (50 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from a Health Science discipline major in one of the following: Biomedical Science,Clinical Technologies, Health Promotion, Neuroscience, Nutrition (100 credit points)
    or 12 units of study in the Psychology and Forensic Science major (150 credit points)
    or 16 units of study in the Psychology and Psychophysiology major (200 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from a Media and Communication discipline major in one of the following: Advertising, Cinema and Screen Studies, Creative Writing and Publishing, Journalism, Immersive Media, Public Relations, Social Media (100 credit points)
  • Other studies comprising minor/s, advanced minor, or electives as applicable, (0 to 50 credit points)

Domestic students also have an opportunity to undertake a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) Professional Placement. 

Please note that due to government regulation international students holding a student visa are not able to undertake Professional Placements in this course.

Due to government regulations international students holding an international student visa are not able to undertake the Psychology and Psychophysiology major or the Psychology and Forensic Science major as part of this double degree.

Students must not complete more than 175 credit points (normally 14 units) at Introductory level.

A unit of study can only be counted once, where units are shared between majors and/or minors, students must choose an approved alternative. Where there are no available units, students will be required to complete an alternative approved cognate unit.

Professional placements

Professional Placements are subject to a competitive selection process.

Students who undertake a 12-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 475 credit points comprising:

  • eight [8] core Health Science units of study (100 credit points)
  • four [4] core Media and Communication units of study (50 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from a Health Science discipline major in one of the following: Biomedical Science, Clinical Technologies, Health Promotion, Neuroscience, Nutrition (100 credit points)
    or 12 units of study in the Psychology and Forensic Science major (150 credit points)
    or 16 units of study in the Psychology and Psychophysiology major (200 credit points)
  • eight [8] units of study from a Media and Communication discipline major in one of the following: Advertising, Cinema and Screen Studies, Creative Writing and Publishing, Journalism, Immersive Media, Public Relations, Social Media (100 credit points)
  • other studies comprising electives (0 to 25 credit points)
  • four [4] units of study from the Professional Placement co-major (100 credit points

Note: Students selecting the Psychology and Forensic Major will be required to complete 500 credit points in this course and will not need to undertake other studies.

Note: Students selecting the Psychology and Psychophysiology Major will be required to complete 550 credit points in this course and will not need to undertake other studies.

Students who elect to undertake a 6-month professional placement are subject to the following course rules and must complete 437.5 credit points comprising:

  • eight [8] core Health Science units of study (100 credit points)
  • four [4] core Media and Communication units of study (50 credit points
  • eight [8] units of study from a Health Science discipline major in one of the following: Biomedical Science, Clinical Technologies, Health Promotion, Neuroscience, Nutrition (100 credit points)
    or 12 units of study in the Psychology and Forensic Science major (150 credit points)
    or 16 units of study in the Psychology and Psychophysiology major (200 credit points
  • eight [8] units of study from a Media and Communication discipline major in one of the following: Advertising, Cinema and Screen Studies, Creative Writing and Publishing, Journalism, Immersive Media, Public Relations, Social Media (100 credit points
  • other studies comprising of electives (0 to 37.5 credit points
  • two [2] units of study from the Professional Placement Minor (50 credit points)

Note: Students selecting the Psychology and Forensic major will be required to complete 450 credit points in this course and will not need to undertake other studies.

Note: Students selecting the Psychology and Psychophysiology major will be required to complete 500 credit points in this course and will not need to undertake other studies

Maximum Academic Credit

The maximum level of credit that can be granted for the Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Media and Communication is 200 credit points (normally 16 units), 100 credit points maximum from each discipline. 

Admission criteria

Information about Swinburne's general admission criteria can be found at Admissions at Swinburne - Higher Education webpage.

Entry requirements

A. Applicants with recent secondary education (within past three years)

ATAR

This course uses the ATAR as part of its selection considerations.

Guaranteed ATAR: if you receive an ATAR of 60 or higher and meet all the essential requirements for this course, you will be guaranteed an offer.

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including ATAR results, will be considered for entry into this course. 

Selection rank adjustments 

Selection ranks for this course will be calculated based on your ATAR with adjustments to overall study scores based on subjects studied, location of your home address, SEAS application, and participation In Swinburne's Early Leaders program. For further details about selection rank adjustments, see Admissions at Swinburne

Subject Adjustments 

A study score of 25 in any Business, any Information Technology, any Mathematics or Global Politics equals 2 aggregate points per study. Overall maximum of 10 points.

Meeting course prerequisites 

VCE units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 25 in any English (except EAL) or at least 30 in English as Alternate Language (EAL) or equivalent.

ATAR profile for those offered places wholly or partly on the basis of ATAR in Semester 1 2024

ATAR-Based offers only, across all offer rounds ATAR
Excluding adjustment factors
Selection Rank
ATAR + any adjustment factors
Highest rank to receive an offer <5 <5
Median rank to receive an offer <5 <5
Lowest rank to receive an offer <5 <5

Notes:
“<5” – indicates less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made

B. Applicants with higher education study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history, including results from previous higher education study will be considered for entry into this course. If previous higher education qualifications are incomplete, results must have been obtained in the last seven years. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

C. Applicants with vocational education and training (VET) study

Educational history 

An applicant's entire academic history from the past seven years, including complete and/or incomplete post-secondary VET studies, will be considered for entry into this course. Only graded results will be considered. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

D. Applicants with work and life experience

Entire academic record 

This course uses an applicant's entire academic record as part of its selection considerations, including an applicant's ATAR results from the last seven years can be considered for entry into this course. 

Meeting course prerequisites 

As for Year 12 or equivalent. 

STAT/Bridging courses 

Results from the STAT Multiple Choice will be considered for applicants without an ATAR and whose post-secondary studies do not meet the minimum requirements. Applicants who do not meet the English prerequisites can sit STAT Written English. STAT results are valid for two years.

Student profile

The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students who commenced in this course in the most relevant recent intake period, including those admitted through all offer rounds and international students studying in Australia.

  Semester 1, 2024
Applicant background Number of students Percentage of all students
(A) Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) 0 0%
(B) Vocational education and training (VET) study 0 0%
(C) Work and life experience (admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) 0 0%
(D) Recent secondary education:    
Admitted solely on the basis of ATAR (regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) <5 <5
Admitted where both ATAR and additional criteria were N/A considered (e.g. portfolio, audition, extra test, early offer conditional on minimum ATAR) N/A N/A
Admitted on the basis of other criteria only and ATAR was N/A not a factor (e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) 0 0%
International students 0 0%
All students <5 100%

Notes: "<5" - indicates the number of students is less than 5.

N/A - students not accepted in this catrgory.

Interested in the Bachelor of Health Science / Bachelor of Media and Communication

From state-of-the-art facilities to opportunities to engage with industry – this course is designed with your future in mind. Let's get started.

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