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

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Bachelor of Dietetics

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

Study location QTAC code
  • Sunshine Coast 013121
Minimum selection threshold
OP - 8 Rank - 84
UniSC program code
SC302
Commence
Semester 1 only
Duration
4 years full time or equivalent part time
Study mode
Blended Learning
Recommended prior study
English, Maths B or C, at least one science subject
Fee type 2019
  • What will I pay?
Total courses
31
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. 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 Animal Ecology Field Course
LFS100 Endangered Animals and their ConservationΔ
LFS112 Cell Biology
NUT102 Discovering Science
NUT110 Animal Form, Function and Evolution
PUB112 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales
SCI105 Biodiversity and Ecology
SCI110 Science Research Methods

Developing and Graduate courses (17) 192 units

LFS201 Academic and Professional Skills: Planning for Success
LFS202 ICT for Academic and Professional Applications
LFS251 Innovation: Addressing Challenges
LFS303 Independent Study
NUT201 Research in Health Care
NUT202 Qualitative Research: Approaches and Practice
NUT205 Quantitative Research Methods
NUT212 Qualitative Research: Approaches and Practice
NUT232 Quantitative Research Methods
NUT301 Research Project A
NUT302 Research Project B
NUT306 Research Project C(6 units)
NUT312 Research Project F
NUT400 Animal Ecology Field Course
NUT351 Endangered Animals and their Conservation
NUT361 Communication and Thought

PLUS select 1 course from:
NUT308 Cell Biology(6 units)
NUT309 How Animals Work: Form and Function(6 units)

PLUS one (1) of the following pathways:

Pass-Level Pathway courses (6) 96 units

NUT401 Marine Vertebrates: Sharks, Seabirds, Fish, Turtles and Whales(24 units)
NUT402 Biodiversity and Ecology(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Science Research MethodsΔ
NUT404 Invertebrate Biology and EcologyΔ
NUT405 Animal Habitats
PUB361 Coastal and Marine Ecology

Honours Pathway courses (6) 96 units

NUT333 Animal Ecophysiology
NUT402 Statistics with Teeth: Understanding Ecological Data(24 units) Δ
NUT403 Terrestrial Vertebrate Diversity and EcologyΔ
NUT404 Numerical Techniques in EcologyΔ
NUT405 Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
NUT410 Coastal Conservation Planning(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

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.