Course Catalogue

Bachelor of Health Science Honours (VHSCH1)

2026

Course Structure

A bachelor of Health science (honours) is an additional year of undergraduate study, providing students with the opportunity to build on their undergraduate knowledge, gain specialised skills in an area of interest and explore the research environment. An honours year provides a pathway to postgraduate studies and commence a rewarding career in research.

To complete a bachelors of Health Science (honours) you will need to complete coursework in research methods, writing and/or health, plus complete an independent research project. Students will write a thesis which will showcase their research achievements. Students wishing to undertake honours part-time will be required to complete the coursework components in their first year.

During your honours year students will develop skills in research design, sample collection, critical analyses and interpreting data, while understanding the importance ethical and professional issues pertaining to the field of research.

A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 80 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless otherwise indicated.

Unit type	Credit Points	Specific requirements
Core Units (1 units)	10cp	Compulsory Core units totalling 10 credit points as detailed below. PHM526 Research Design
Research Units (2 units)	60cp	Research units totalling 60 credit points as detailed below. HSC701 Research Project (30cp) HSC702 Research Thesis (30cp)
Specialist Elective (1 units)	10cp	Specialist Elective unit totalling 10 credit points selected from the list of available units detailed below. HEA567 Pharmacology for Health Professionals (no longer offered) PHM519 Clinical Trials and Other Intervention Studies (replaces PHM524 from 2021) PHM525 Indigenous Health Research PHM527 Research, Ethics and Impact (new title 2021)
	80cp	Total Credit Points

Course Rules (unless otherwise indicated in the above course structure)

See the Higher Education Course Rules (Award Requirements) in the Units and Courses Policy.

Further Assistance

For further assistance please contact Student Central on 1800 061 963 (freecall) or student.central@cdu.edu.au. Student Central staff will assist you with applying for or enrolling in a course and provide assistance with timetables, fees, HELP (Higher Education Loan Program), external materials, enrolment changes and many other issues.

Unit Catalogue - provides general information about each unit including a brief description, the semester and mode offered as well as the fees for Commonwealth Supported places.
Timetables - provides information about individual class times for units offered internally. Timetables for the following academic year are published early in December each year.
Bookshop - if text books have been prescribed, recommended or ordered for units in this course, details are available by unit code through the Casuarina Campus Bookshop.