Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine) is designed for people with a background in complementary medicine to gain advanced-level knowledge in health sciences.

There has been some discussion recently about Complementary Medicine courses being offered by universities in Australia and overseas. Some groups are arguing that universities should not offer these courses, because they are not scientific or evidence-based. Charles Sturt University is keen to recognise these concerns and highlight the difference between our course and many courses offered by other universities.

CSU does not teach homeopathy, iridology, reflexology or any other subjects that are not based on experimental evidence.

CSU's Bachelor of Health Science (Complementary Medicine) is designed for people with a background in complementary medicine to gain advanced-level knowledge in health sciences. It is evident in our list of subjects that you will be taught high-level, science-based health and medical subjects, often alongside students from other science or health courses. This course is not designed to teach you to become a complementary medicine practitioner, so there are no subjects that teach specific modalities.

Given the demand for complementary health services from the public, and the growth of providers in the community - of varying standards - CSU's approach is highly responsible, with our graduates emerging with appropriate training in science and evidence-based health service provision.

The health science subjects are drawn from a range of discipline areas, providing students with an understanding of biomedical science, health science and studies in law and ethics applicable to those already working in the area. Students are also provided with extensive training in how to evaluate evidence and read medical or scientific literature to ensure that they have the knowledge and skills to assess the information to which they are exposed from a variety of sources. Staff at CSU also do research in complementary medicines in an effort to determine whether there is any evidence base of some practices and to provide a better understanding of why people use complementary medicines and alternative treatments.

Course structure

You will complete the following core subjects (80 points):

BMS191 Human Bioscience 1
BMS192 Human Bioscience 2
BMS291 Pathophysiology & Pharmacology 1
BMS292 Pathophysiology & Pharmacology 2
BMS343 Evidence Based Complementary Medicine (16 points)
IKC100 Indigenous Health
LAW304 Legal and Ethical Issues in Complementary Medicine
NUT201 Food & Health
SOC108 Sociology of Health and Health Care

You will also select eight restricted electives (64 points) from the following:

BCM210 Foundations and Techniques in Biochemistry
BMS208 Human Nutrition
BMS233 Nutritional Physiology
BMS243 Nutrition, Metabolism and Human Disease
BMS255 Neuroscience for Health Practice
BMS256 Exercise Science for Health Practice
BMS323 Infectious Microbiology and Immunology
BMS342 Medicinal and indigenous foods
BMS406 Human Reproductive Biology
GER102 Gerontology Theory and Research
GER204 Aging and Professional Practice
GER401 Choices and Options in Later Life
HIP302 Understanding Healthy Communities
LES101 Introduction to Leisure and Health
LES102 Leisure Programming with Diverse Populations
LES202 Community Leisure and Health Issues
LES302 Leisure and Social Relations
NRS235 Pain Management
NRS325 Child Health Care and Promotion
NUT220 Food Intake Analysis and Meal Planning
NUT301 Community and Public Health
POD307 Medicine 1 (Rheumatology and Musculoskel Pathology)
POD315 Medicine 3 (Mental Health, Neurol & Vascular Medicine)
PSY214 Health Psychology
RSC301 Asthma Management
SCI301 International Practical Experience