Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics)

What is this course about?

CSU's Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) is designed to prepare graduates to work as dietitians, in answer to the growing recognition of the importance of nutrition to public health.

A growing community and government concern with the health of Australians and the role of nutrition has raised the profile of the work of dietitians and their importance to public health. A demand exists for dietitians in rural communities and a range of research studies and professional literature indicates a need for a rural perspective to dietitian education.

Charles Sturt University's Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) program is the first of its kind offered outside a metropolitan area in Australia.

Session 2 admission to the on campus offering is only available to applicants receiving appropriate credit, on approval of the Course Coordinator and subject to places being available.

What will I learn?

Themes of the course include rural health and remote and Indigenous communities' special healthcare needs. The course has a strong nutrition and dietetics, biomedical sciences and food science focus.

This course includes practical experience through workplace learning.

Your course is recognised by industry

CSU's Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) is currently accredited by the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA). A graduate of this program is eligible to become a DAA member with dietetic qualifications, and to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) Program. The University is required to maintain a current accreditation status as outlined in the DAA accreditation process, which is outlined at www.daa.asn.au

Additional admission requirements

Refer to the workplace learning section for information on:

• Immunisation
• National Criminal Record Clearance
• Senior First Aid Certificate

Learning facilities

To make sure you are experienced in using the equipment and techniques found in the workplace, our facilities include:

• science laboratories in the School of Biomedical Sciences
• food science laboratories
• commercial food preparation laboratory
• computer laboratories
• campus-based Nutrition Clinic.

Course structure

The course consists of 256 points for both Pass and Honours streams:

Core subjects for both Pass and Honours streams (26 subjects; 240 points)

BCM211 Foundations of Biochemistry
BMS129 Physiological Sciences 1
BMS130 Physiological Sciences 2
BMS208 Human Nutrition
BMS233 Nutritional Physiology
BMS240 Human Molecular Genetics
BMS243 Nutrition, Metabolism & Human Disease
CHM104 Chemistry 1A
CHM107 Chemistry 1B
FDS101 Food Processing
HLT330 Research Methods in Clinical Sciences
MCR101 Introduction to Microbiology
MTH135 Mathematics & Statistics in the Health Sciences
NUT101 Nutrition and Dietetics 1
NUT201 Food and Health
NUT220 Food Intake Analysis and Meal Planning
NUT301 Community and Public Health
NUT303 Nutrition Education
NUT304 Clinical Nutrition and Assessment (16 points)*
NUT325 Food Service Practice & Management (16 points)*
NUT401 Management of Nutrition Care
NUT403 Professional Issues in Nutrition & Dietetics
NUT404 Community Public Health Nutrition (16 points)*
NUT421 Nutrition and Dietetics Residency (16 points)*
PSY111 Foundations of Psychology for Health and Human Services
WEL423 Theory and Practice of Counselling

Compulsory subject for Pass stream only (1 subject; 16 points)

NUT422 Nutrition and Dietetics Synthesis (16 points)

Compulsory subjects for Honours stream only (2 subjects; 16 points)

HLT341 Health Honours Proposal (0 points)
HLT441 Health Honours Project/Dissertation (16 points)

* Denotes that there is a clinical/fieldwork/observation component associated with this subject

Enrolment pattern

COMMON TO BOTH PASS AND HONOURS - by Full-Time study

Session 1 (Autumn)

CHM104 Chemistry 1A
BMS129 Physiological Sciences 1
MTH135 Mathematics & Statistics in the Health Sciences
NUT101 Nutrition and Dietetics

Session 2 (Spring)

CHM107 Chemistry 1B
FDS101 Food Processing
BMS130 Physiological Sciences 2
MCR101 Introduction to Microbiology

Session 3 (Autumn)

BCM211 Foundations of Biochemistry
BMS240 Human Molecular Genetics
NUT201 Food and Health
PSY111 Foundations of Psychology for Health & Human Services

Session 4 (Spring)

BMS208 Human Nutrition
BMS233 Nutritional Physiology
BMS243 Nutrition, Metabolism and Human Disease
NUT220 Food Intake Analysis and Meal Planning

PASS STREAM ONLY - by Full-Time Study

Session 5 (Autumn)

HLT330 Research Methods in Clinical Science
NUT303 Nutrition Education
NUT304 Clinical Nutrition and Assessment (16 points)(commence)*
WEL423 Theory and Practice of Counselling

Session 6 (Spring)

NUT301 Community and Public Health
NUT304 Clinical Nutrition and Assessment (16 points)(complete)*
NUT325 Food Service Practice & Management (16 points)*

Session 7 (Autumn)

NUT401 Management of Nutrition Care
NUT403 Professional Issues in Nutrition & Dietetics
NUT404 Community Public Health Nutrition (16 points)*

Session 8 (Spring)

NUT421 Nutrition and Dietetics Residency (16 points)*
NUT422 Nutrition and Dietetics Synthesis (16 points)

HONOURS STREAM ONLY - by Full-Time Study

Session 5 (Autumn)

HLT330 Research Methods in Clinical Science
NUT303 Nutrition Education
NUT304 Clinical Nutrition and Assessment (16 points)(commence)*
WEL423 Theory and Practice of Counselling
HLT341 Health Honours Proposal (0 points)(commence)

Session 6 (Spring)

NUT301 Community and Public Health
NUT304 Clinical Nutrition and Assessment (16 points)(complete)*
NUT325 Food Service Practice & Management (16 points)*
HLT341 Health Honours Proposal (0 points)(complete)

Session 7 (Autumn)

NUT401 Management of Nutrition Care
NUT403 Professional Issues in Nutrition & Dietetics
NUT404 Community Public Health Nutrition (16 points)*
HLT441 Health Honours Project/Dissertation (16 points)(commence)

Session 8 (Spring)

NUT421 Nutrition and Dietetics Residency (16 points)*
HLT441 Health Honours Project/Dissertation (16 points)(complete)

* Denotes that there is a clinical/fieldwork/observation component associated with this subject

Professional recognition

In order to be employed as Dietitians within the health system, graduates require to be members of the Dietitians Association of Australia. Such membership is dependent on the course being accredited by the DAA. The course currently has full accreditation for five years, as from 2007.

Workplace learning

One of the strengths of CSU's Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) is the early exposure to the dietetic professions from year one, with site visits and clinical/fieldwork components associated with some subjects. Students complete 20 weeks of professional practice in hospital, community and food service settings.

Students from year three onwards participate in the on campus Nutrition Clinic. Dietitians on staff see clients who are referred from the local community with a range of conditions requiring dietary management.

The University has a co-joint appointment with Canberra Hospital, which provides a significant number of clinical and community placements for final year students.

Admission requirements

While no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission, CSU's Bachelor of Health Science (Nutrition and Dietetics) program assumes knowledge of chemistry and mathematics.

Non-recent school leavers are required to demonstrate suitability for and interest in nutrition and dietetics as well as their potential to complete the course successfully. Applicants will be assessed on evidence of knowledge of chemistry and mathematics; evidence of experience in a nutrition and dietetic setting; demonstrated knowledge of the field of nutrition and dietetics; and evidence of successful post-secondary study.

Those students entering the course with inadequate background in chemistry and mathematics are strongly recommended to undertake the chemistry and mathematics subjects offered in the University's STUDY LINK supplementary program prior to commencing study in the course.

Previous studies

Previous studies include:

• the NSW Higher School Certificate or interstate /overseas equivalent;
• the International Baccalaureate Diploma;
• a completed or part completed course of a university, college of advanced education or other accredited tertiary institution;
• a completed or part completed course of a TAFE college or other accredited post-secondary institution (including TAFE Tertiary Preparation Certificate);
• an approved Foundation Studies program certificate;
• completion of undergraduate subjects as an Associate Student with the University or through another University, or Open Universities Australia.

NSW and interstate school leavers are normally selected on the basis of their Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) or interstate equivalent. You may also be admitted on the basis of a strong performance in subjects relevant to your course preferences.

Currently no secondary school subjects are prerequisites for admission to particular CSU courses however some courses assume a certain level of knowledge. This will be specified in the course information if applicable.

English proficiency

Applicants will be deemed to have sufficient English proficiency if they

1. have undertaken an academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS) with an average score of 6.5, and with scores of 6 or higher in each of the individual skill areas within the last 12 months;  or
2. undertaken a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 577 (or computerised TOEFL score of 233), with a Test for Written English Score (where reported) of at least 5.0 or an Internet-based score of 90 with a written score of 24 within the last 12 months; or
3. undertaken other equivalent examinations, as determined by the Board of Graduate Studies;  or
4. completed a university degree where the language of assessment is in English;

The Presiding Officer of the Board of Graduate Studies may, in special circumstances, on behalf of the Board waive the above proficiency requirements after consulting the relevant Dean, Sub-Dean and nominated Supervisor.

NOTE: A Faculty may require a higher standard of proficiency than that specified above for programs deemed to be linguistically demanding.

Attainment and experience

You may also be admitted to a course based on other attainments and experience. These may include:

• voluntary or paid work experience;
• performance in tests and examinations conducted by professional recognised bodies;
• participation in continuing education programs and/or staff development programs conducted by adult education agencies, consultancies, professional bodies or employers;
• completion of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT).

Internet access

CSU places great emphasis on services to its students. It is a leader in the provision of online services and, in particular, the use of the internet in the support of teaching, administration and communications with students.

The online environment is so integrated into all aspects of student life and the learning experience at CSU that the University now assumes that all on campus and distance education students at CSU will have ongoing access to an internet connected computer capable of communicating with CSU online systems.

Students enrolled in Information Technology subjects (i.e. with an ITC subject code) may be required to have additional hardware and/or software that is deemed essential for the completion of the learning activities in that subject.

Apply now

This course is available to commence study in

Session 1; Session 2