Course Catalogue

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours (VMLSH1)

2026

Course Structure

The information provided for this course was valid for the final year of enrolment. Students continuing in this course may find there have been some changes to the unit availability. Students should, in the first instance, refer to the recommended study plan in the newest version of this course to make their unit selection for the current year.

Every re-enrolling student will be able to complete their current course of study. As a continuing student you should always consider transferring to the newest course version to enable you to take advantage of new and exciting changes to university programs. Students electing not to transfer should refer to the transitional arrangements where provided.

If you have any queries, or concerns about your course progression you would like clarified, please contact Student Central on freecall 1800 061 963 or student.central@cdu.edu.au.

A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 320 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.

Unit type	Credit Points	Specific requirements
Core Units (25 units)	290cp - 310cp	Compulsory Core units totalling 290 - 310 credit points as per the list of units detailed below. MLS101 Haematology 1 (replaced by MLS200 from 2025) MLS110 Introduction to Diagnostic Pathology # SBI150 Cellular Biology SBI171* Anatomy and Physiology 1 (replaced by SBI161 and SBI162 - see additional information below) SBI172* Anatomy and Physiology 2 (replaced by SBI161 and SBI162 - see additional information below) SBI182 Microbiology and Immunology (replaces SBI173 from 2021) (SBI182 replaced by SBI183 from 2025) SCH101 Chemical Concepts MLS202 Haematology 2 MLS245 Medical Biochemistry MLS283 Clinical Immunology (replaces SBI283 from 2021) (to be replaced by MLS383 from 2027) PHA214 Biotechnology and Genomics (to be replaced by SBI254 from 2026) SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies (replaced by MLS211 from 2025) SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare (replaces SCH102 from 2021) SBI282 Clinical Microbiology 1 SBI284 Histology and Histochemistry (replaced by SBI384 from 2025) MLS300 Cell Pathology (replaced by MLS500 from 2025) MLS301 Transfusion Medicine PHA311 Clinical Biochemistry (replaced by MLS313 from S2 2025) SBI302 Clinical Microbiology 2 MLS401 Laboratory Placement 1 (20cp) ## MLS402 Laboratory Placement 2 (20cp) ## Plus either: Professional Research Project Option (80cp) In order to complete the research option, students will require a GPA of >5.0 PHM526 Research Design PHM527 Research, Ethics and Impact (new title 2021) HSC701 Research Project (30cp) HSC702 Research Thesis (30cp) Or: Professional Practice Experience Option (60cp) MLS410 Professional Practice (title change from 2025) MLS411 Advance Laboratory Placement (new title 2025) (20cp) ## MLS415 Laboratory Placement 4 (20cp) (replaced by HEA506 and MAN516 from 2025) (MAN516 replaced by MAN517 from 2026) PHM526 Research Design OR PHM527 Research, Ethics and Impact (PHM527 not available in this Option from 2025)
Specialist Electives (1 unit)	10cp	Specialist Elective unit totalling 10 credit points selected from the units detailed below. HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A sociological introduction (replaces HSC230 from 2021) HSC133 Perspectives of First Nations Health (title change 2026) (replaces HSC203 from 2024) SWK102 Communication Skills
Electives (0 - 2 units)	0 - 20cp	For students undertaking the Professional Practice Experience Option ONLY. Elective units totalling 20 credit points selected from undergraduate units offered by the University
	320cp	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.

# Tour: Students are required to attend a 3-hour visit to the RDH laboratories for this unit.
## Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.

COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2026

MAN516 Resilience Management and Leadership has been replaced by MAN517 Executive Leadership. Students that have completed MAN516 should not complete MAN517.

COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2025

The Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours has been re-accredited to a new course code from 2025 - VMLSH2.

Students who continue in the VMLSH1 should note the following changes. Students who are unable to complete this course prior to the end of 2028 should consider transferring to the new course VMLSH2.

SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 and SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 have been replaced by SBI161 and SBI162 from 2025.
- Students who have completed BOTH SBI171 and SBI172 prior to 2025 do not need to complete SBI161 or SBI162.
- Students who have NOT completed either SBI171 or SBI172 prior to 2025 should complete the two new units SBI161 and SBI162.
- Students who have completed SBI171 only (and not SBI172) should complete SBI172 in 2025. Students should NOT complete the new unit SBI162.
- Students who have completed SBI172 only (and not SBI171) should complete SBI171 in 2025. Students should NOT complete the new unit SBI161.
- SBI171 and SBI172 will be offered for a final time in 2025 but will only be available to students who have completed either SBI171 or SBI172 prior to 2025.

SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 has been replaced by SBI162 Anatomy and Physiology 2. Students that have completed SBI172 should not complete SBI162.
MLS101 Haematology 1 has been replaced by MLS200 Haematology 1. Students that have completed MLS101 should not complete MLS200.
SBI209 Design and Analysis of Biological Studies has been replaced by MLS211. Students that have completed SBI209 should not complete MLS211.
SBI284 Histology and Histochemistry has been replaced by SBI384 Histology and Histochemistry. Students that have completed SBI284 should not complete SBI384.
MLS300 Cell Pathology has been replaced by MLS500 Anatomical Pathology. Students that have completed MLS300 should not complete MLS500.
PHA311 Clinical Biochemistry has been replaced by MLS313. Students that have completed PHA311 should not complete MLS313.
MLS411 Laboratory Placement 3 (20cp) has a title change to MLS411 Advance Laboratory Placement (20cp).

Please note that from 2026 and 2027:

PHA214 Biotechnology and Genomics will be replaced by SBI254 Biotechnology and Genomics from 2026. Students who complete PHA214 prior to 2026 will not need to complete SBI254.
MLS283 Clinical Immunology will be replaced by MLS383 Applied Immunology from 2027. Students who complete MLS283 prior to 2027 should not complete MLS383.

Professional Practice Experience Option

MLS415 Laboratory Placements 4 (20cp) has been replaced by HEA506 Health Workforce and MAN516 Resilience Management & Leadership. Students that have completed MLS415 should not complete HEA506 and MAN516.

COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2022

Students enrolled prior to 2022 should note the following course structure changes.

HSC220 Society, Culture and Health: A Sociological Introduction has been moved from a core unit to a specialist elective.
A Research Option and Professional Practice Option have been added to the core.
Students electing to undertaking the Professional Practice Option will need to complete 2 elective units.

COURSE CHANGES AND TRANSITIONAL ARRANGEMENTS - 2021

HSC220 Society, culture and health: A sociological introduction has replaced HSC230 Cultural Safety in Health from 2021. Students have completed HSC230 do not need to complete HSC220.
SBI182 Microbiology and Immunology has replaced SBI173 Microbiology from 2021 and is equivalent. Students who have completed SBI173 do not need to complete SBI182.
SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare has replaced SCH102 Organic and Inorganic Chemistry from 2021. These units are not equivalent and students who have completed SCH102 need to contact the course coordinator for progression advice.
MLS283 Clinical Immunology has replaced SBI283 Immunology from 2021 and is equivalent. Students who have completed SBI283 do not need to complete MLS283.

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.