Course Catalogue

Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science Honours (VMLSH2)

2026

Course Structure

The first year of the degree provides you with the foundational knowledge and skills with the benefit of a laboratory experience, which is built on during the second year providing you with specific knowledge and skills in the areas of haematology and clinical chemistry. The third year expands your understanding of the diagnostic laboratory by extending into histology, transfusion medicine and applied immunology, before gaining workplace experience through 16 weeks of placement completed at the end of your degree as 2 x 8 week blocks. The honours year allows you to gain advance professional experience or undertake a research project. In the professional experience stream students complete a further 8 weeks in a in a laboratory, coupled with additional knowledge to assist in navigating the workplace. In the research stream students undertake a yearlong research project. Both options benefit your leadership and communication skills and allow you to work as part of a team managing samples, performing tests and operating equipment.

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 (22 units)	240cp	Compulsory Core units totalling 240 credit points as per the list of units detailed below. MLS110 Introduction to Diagnostic Pathology # SBI150 Cellular Biology SBI161 Anatomy and Physiology 1 SBI162 Anatomy and Physiology 2 SBI183 Introduction to Microbiology SCH101 Chemical Concepts MLS200 Haematology MLS202 Haematology 2 MLS211 Introduction to Clinical Chemistry MLS245 Medical Biochemistry SBI254 Biotechnology and Genomics SBI235 Immunology SBI236 Introduction to Molecular Biology SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare SBI282 Clinical Microbiology 1 MLS313 Clinical Chemistry SBI302 Clinical Microbiology 2 SBI384 Histology and Histochemistry MLS301 Transfusion Medicine MLS401 Laboratory Placement 1 (20cp) ## MLS402 Laboratory Placement 2 (20cp) ## MLS500 Anatomical Pathology
Specialist Electives (4-6 units)	80cp	Specialist Elective unit totalling 80 credit points selected from the units detailed below. Students must select units from one (1) option: Professional Research Project Option (80cp) In order to complete the research option, students will require a GPA of >5.0 MLS410 Professional Practice (title change from 2025) PHM526 Research Design HSC701 Research Project (30cp) HSC702 Research Thesis (30cp) Or: Professional Practice Experience Option (80cp) MLS383 Applied Immunology (available from 2027) MLS410 Professional Practice (title change from 2025) MLS411 Advance Laboratory Placement (20cp) (title change from 2025) ## MLS450 Molecular Pathology HEA506 Health Workforce MAN517 Executive Leadership (replaces MAN516 from 2026) PHM526 Research Design
	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.

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.