Harness the power of food to improve the health of others
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. Taught by Accredited Practising Dietitians, you’ll learn about nutrition and food in a specialised teaching kitchen.
Previously the SC353 Bachelor of Nutrition and Dietetics
- 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. Taught by Accredited Practising Dietitians, you’ll learn about nutrition and food in a specialised teaching kitchen.
This is the perfect program for anyone who wants to improve people’s lives through food.
In this program you will:
- Learn in a specialised teaching kitchen
- Role play clinical consultations
- Work with a real client to give them a nutrition assessment
- Gain experience in medical nutrition therapy, 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.
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
- Sports nutrition
- Private practice
- Community nutrition
- Public health nutrition
- Food service management
- Nutrition consultancy
- Research and education
Graduates are eligible to become members of:
- Accredited Practising Dietitian (APD) program upon graduation
Program structure
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
COR109 Communication and Thought
LFS100 Cell BiologyΔ
LFS112 Human Physiology
NUT102 Food in Society
NUT110 Introduction to Dietetics
PUB112 Public Health Foundations
SCI105 Chemistry
SCI110 Science Research Methods
Developing and Graduate courses (17) 192 units
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) 96 units
NUT401 Nutrition and Dietetics Research and Evaluation(24 units)
NUT402 Medical NutritionTherapy Placement(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Food Service PlacementΔ
NUT404 Community and Public Health NutritionΔ
NUT405 Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Management
PUB361 Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Honours Pathway courses (6) 96 units
NUT333 Nutrition and Dietetics Research Proposal
NUT402 Medical NutritionTherapy Placement(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Food Service PlacementΔ
NUT404 Community and Public Health NutritionΔ
NUT405 Nutrition and Dietetic Practice Management
NUT410 Nutrition and Dietetics Thesis(24 units)
Δ refer to Program notes
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 384
Recommended study sequences
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 384 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete requirements 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 Health Institute
- Cross-institutional study is not permitted for the Bachelor of Dietetics
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses) and following the recommended study sequence
- 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
- The unit value of all courses is 12 units unless otherwise specified
- It is each students responsibility to enrol correctly according to your course requisites, program rules and requirements and be aware of the academic calendar dates
- 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 Managing your progression page for help in understanding your program structure, reviewing your progress and planning remaining courses.