Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics | UniSC | University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia

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Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics

Harness the power of food.

Our hands-on program is designed to get you involved with food, understand the science behind food and the way the human body uses it. You’ll be surrounded by supportive, qualified Accredited Practising Dietitians with plenty of practical industry experience to share with you.

Applications for this program are now closed for 2018 entry

Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013121
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 6 Rank - 89
UniSC program code
SC353
Commence
Semester 1 only
Duration
4 years full time or equivalent part time
Recommended prior study
English; Maths B or C; at least one science subject
Other requirements
Applicants from a non-English speaking background must attain an IELTS score of at least 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each subtest. Refer to English language requirements
Fee type 2018
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
30
Total units
384
Footnotes
  • International students should apply for the Bachelor of Nutrition, which provides a pathway towards careers in nutrition research, public health and community nutrition, food industry, health education and nutrition consultancy.

Our hands-on program is designed to get you involved with food, understand the science behind food and the way the human body uses it. You’ll be surrounded by supportive, qualified Accredited Practising Dietitians with plenty of practical industry experience to share with you.

Practical experience is woven throughout our degree with opportunities to experience real-life work environments, learn about nutrition in the specialised teaching kitchen, and role play clinical consultations in the hospital ward environment.

In your fourth year, get hands-on experience in a variety of fields and complete a minimum of 100 days of work placement. You’ll get to work with a real client and give them a nutrition assessment.

You’ll also have opportunities to gain experience in community nutrition, public health nutrition, and food service systems. After you complete two years of full-time study, choose to take an embedded honours stream to focus on a research area of interest.

This is an accredited program through the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA), and on graduation you’ll be eligible to join the Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program.

Post-admission requirements

Before undertaking Work Integrated Learning placement students must obtain a Blue card, complete a National Criminal History check and a QLD Health orientation package and may be required to complete first aid and CPR training. Students must also provide evidence of Hepatitis B immunisation, and evidence of vaccination for the diseases measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and pertussis— refer to Program Requirements.

Students will be required to undertake some placements outside the Sunshine Coast region in metropolitan and regional/rural centres. Expenses for these and other placement requirements are to be incurred by the student. Placements in fourth year are undertaken on a full-time basis.

Career opportunities

Clinical dietitian, private practice, community nutrition, public health nutrition, food service management, nutrition consultancy, research, education, sports nutrition.

Membership

Dietitians Association of Australia. Graduates are also eligible for enrolment in the Accredited Practising Dietitian Program of the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Accreditation

The Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics is fully accredited with the Dietitians Association of Australia.

Program structure

Introductory courses (8)

COR109 Communication and Thought
LFS100 Cell Biology
LFS112 Human Physiology
NUT102 Food in Society
NUT110 Introduction to Dietetics
PUB112 Public Health Foundations
SCI105 Chemistry
SCI110 Science Research Methods

Advanced courses (16)

LFS201 Systemic Physiology I
LFS202 Systemic Physiology II
LFS251 Biochemistry
LFS303 Pathophysiology
NUT201 Food Studies
NUT202 Nutrition Assessment
NUT205 Public Health Nutrition
NUT212 Principles of Nutrition
NUT232 Nutritional Biochemistry
NUT301 Advanced Public Health Nutrition
NUT302 Medical Nutrition Therapy 2
NUT306 Nutrition Communication(6 units)
NUT312 Food Service Systems
NUT400 Nutrition and Dietetic Skills
NUT351 Medical Nutrition Therapy 1
NUT361 Counselling and Communication Skills for Dietetics

PLUS select 1 course from:
NUT308 Complementary Nutrition(6 units)
NUT309 Sport and Exercise Nutrition(6 units)

PLUS one (1) of the following pathways:

Pass-Level Pathway courses (6)

NUT401 Nutrition and Dietetics Research and Evaluation
NUT402 Medical NutritionTherapy Placement(24 units)
NUT403 Food Service Placement
NUT404 Community and Public Health Nutrition
NUT405 Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Management
PUB361 Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Honours Pathway courses (6)

NUT333 Nutrition and Dietetics Research Proposal
NUT402 Medical NutritionTherapy Placement
NUT403 Food Service Placement
NUT404 Community and Public Health Nutrition
NUT405 Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Management
NUT410 Nutrition and Dietetics Thesis(24 units)

Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.

Total units: 384

Program requirements and notes

Program requirements  

In order to graduate you must:

  • Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
  • Complete all courses as listed below

In order to commence clinical placement you must:

  • Hold a valid Blue Card from the Public Safety Business Agency (PSBA), throughout the duration of your program. You should allow 12 weeks for PSBA to issue the card. Note students who do not possess a valid Blue Card will be unable to complete the clinical practice component of their program and will be unable to meet graduation requirements
  • Have a National Criminal History check (by Queensland Police Service or other state/territory authority)
  • Show evidence of vaccination for the vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) of: Hepatitis B, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), Varicella (Chickenpox), Pertussis (Whooping Cough)(please note: this is included in the DTPA - Diptheria, Tetanus and Whooping Cough - combined vaccination).
  • Complete an orientation package, (a Queensland Health [QH] requirement) before undertaking any placement which involves QH. The package can be completed online
Program notes
  • For Sippy Downs students some courses in this program will be taught at the Sunshine Coast Heath Institute
  • Cross-institutional study is not permitted for the Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
  • Students wishing to study less than 4 courses per semester should contact the Program coordinator
  • LFS100 Cell Biology MUST be completed in your first semester of study
  • NUT402 , NUT403 and NUT404 MUST be completed together consecutively over a minimum of 100 days of full time placement. Semester of enrolment in these courses will be determined by the Program Coordinator
  • Courses within this program are assessed using a variety of assessment methods including essays, seminar presentations, reports, in-class tests and examinations. Not all courses will necessarily include all methods
  • Not available to international students on a Student Visa
  • Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression