Create healthier lives
With the health sector growing, on the Sunshine Coast and wider, take advantage of exciting career opportunities in health.
- Only a full-time option is available to international students on a Student visa. Online programs are not available to Student visa holders.
- * Estimated tuition fees are based on 2025 rates. Refer to international fees for more information.
- Not all majors/minors and elective options are available at every campus. You should refer to the What Can I Study tab, and the proposed study sequence for your chosen campus and intake for further information.
With the health sector growing, on the Sunshine Coast and wider, take advantage of exciting career opportunities in health.
This program prepares you to tackle current and future health and well-being needs of individuals, communities, and populations, both locally and globally.
The first year of study allows you to gain a strong foundation knowledge in health science through a number of required introductory courses.
You’ll specialise in one of six health science Extended Majors: Applied Health Promotion, Applied Environmental Health, Health Communication, Epidemiology and Public Health, Prosthetics and Orthotics, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. You will need to select a specialisation within the first year of your study.
During your studies, you’ll develop the critical thinking and problem solving skills and interdisciplinary approach needed to deal with current and emerging health issues.
You’ll also get the knowledge and skills you need to be job-ready with professional placement, elective options or special courses as required by your Extended Major.
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking work place learning, students must undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card. Refer to Program requirements and notes.
Career opportunities
Health policy development, project development and management, environmental health officer, epidemiologist, research analyst, health communication specialist, health writers, health education officer, clinical prosthetist and/or orthotists, technician, health policy development and project development.
Membership
Students and graduates may become members/associate members of Australian professional associations and bodies relevant to their Extended Major area of study. These include; Australian Health Promotion Association; Public Health Association of Australia; Environmental Health Australia; International Epidemiological Association; Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association (AOPA) Inc. following AOPA accreditation of the program and Indigenous Allied Health Australia – Associate Membership.
Program structure
Introductory courses (8)
COR109
HLT140
PUB104
PUB112
NUR131
SCI110
PLUS select 1 course from:
LFS103
CMN120 **
** (only applicable to students undertaking Health Communication)
PLUS select 1 course from*:
PUB102
LFS122
BUS104
SCS110
INT140
*You must choose a course that is NOT in your selected Extended Major or Major/Minor combination.
Advanced courses (12)
Select 12 courses from your chosen extended major:
- Applied Health Promotion
- Applied Environmental Health
- Epidemiology and Public Health
- Health Communication
- Prosthetics and Orthotics
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (major 8 courses, plus health related minor 4 courses)
Elective courses (4) ∇
PLUS select 4 advanced (200/300 coded) elective courses from either faculty (Arts, Business and Law or Science, Health, Education and Engineering).
∇ Note for students enrolled in Prosthetics and Orthotics:
Due to pre requisite and external accreditation requirements, you will be required to undertake the following 4 courses in place of electives:
Note: Program structures are subject to change. Not all USC courses are available on every USC campus.
Total units: 288
Recommended study sequences
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Health Promotion Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Environmental Health Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Health Promotion Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Applied Environmental Health Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Epidemiology and Public Health Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Epidemiology and Public Health Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Health Communication Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Health Communication Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Prosthetics and Orthotics Extended Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Prosthetics and Orthotics Extended Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
- (Sippy Downs) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Major - Semester 1 commencement (February)
- (Sippy Downs) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Major - Semester 2 commencement (July)
Program requirements and notes
Program requirements
In order to graduate you must:
- Successfully complete 288 units as outlined in the Program Structure
- Complete no more than 10 introductory courses, including the core course
- Complete a minimum of 14 advanced (200 or 300 coded) courses
- Register your selected major and/or minor
Program notes
- 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 work place learning 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)
- Completing this program within the specified (full-time) duration is based on studying 48 unit points per semester (normally 4 courses)
- 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
- As part of your USC program, you may apply to Study Overseas to undertake courses with an overseas higher education provider
- Only a full-time study option is available to international students on a Student Visa
- Refer to the Planning your study page to manage your progression
Extended Majors
Health Communication
If you’re creative and love to communicate, then a career in health communication could be for you. You’ll study the role and use of behavioural science and communication strategies to promote public health and improve the delivery of health care; the connections between health and the behaviour of people; health education and behaviour change theories, frameworks and strategies; health promotion; and the use of media to communicate health information.
You’ll also get practical experience through a work placement in your final year of study, helping you to be job-ready.
This extended major will prepare you for a career in health communication, behavioural science research, health education, health promotion, public health, health media and public relations in health.
Career opportunities
Health communication specialist, health writers, health education officer, health promotion officer, health marketer, health editor, health public relations officer/manager
Membership
Australian Health Promotion Association; Public Health Association of Australia; International Union for Health Promotion and Education.
Extended major lead
Applied Environmental Health
If you enjoy variety and can see yourself in a role that educates others and regulates their activities, then consider a career in environmental health.
You’ll study links between the physical environment and human health; public health and sustainable development principles; human and environment interactions; environment and public health planning; and assessing and managing risks from environmental hazards on the health of people.
You’ll also get practical experience through a work placement in your final year of study, helping you to be job-ready.
The program prepares you for a career in environmental health, environmental management or risk management.
Career opportunities
Environmental health officer or specialist in local or state government, academia or the corporate sector, environmental management or risk management, overseas health agencies, particularly in the area of food, water and sanitation for emergency and disaster management.
Membership
Environmental Health Australia; Public Health Association of Australia; Australian Health Promotion Association.
Amy Barlow
"I'm so excited! The Public Health Unit does a really wide range of things from food-borne illness, food labelling, anything to do with drugs and poisons, pharmacy and hospital inspections. One day you can be in the office, the next you're out in the middle of nowhere." Read more...
Extended major lead
Applied Health Promotion
If you’d like to work directly with communities to identify issues (such as nutrition or sexual health) and develop strategies that meet their needs, then look no further than a career in health promotion.
You’ll study the science of contemporary health promotion at individual, group and population levels; development of health promotion; design, implementation and evaluation of health policies and programs; health promotion settings, populations and issues; environmental health; epidemiology; and research.
You’ll also get practical experience through a work placement in your final year of study, helping you to be job-ready.
The program meets national and international health promotion competency standards and prepares you for a career in health promotion, health policy development or disease prevention.
Career opportunities
Roles in health promotion, health policy development, project development and management, disease prevention and early detection, community and international health in community-based health care, government, hospitals, private health care, and not-for-profit organisations.
Membership
Australian Health Promotion Association; Public Health Association of Australia; International Union for Health Promotion and Education.
Tahni Roberts
"I really wanted to help people, that was my main goal. When I stumbled upon Health Promotion, I really liked the idea of what it offered and I have never regretted the decision to do it. It's a great way to help the community and people." Read more...
Extended major lead
Epidemiology and Public Health
If you’re all about numbers and logic, read on. Epidemiology and public health professionals undertake the critical task of observing patterns of disease, which informs the work of other health professionals.
Your study will focus on describing disease patterns in human populations; identifying causes of disease; and providing data for the management, evaluation and planning of services for the prevention, control and treatment of disease.
You’ll also get practical experience through a work placement in your final year of study, helping you to be job-ready.
Career opportunities
Epidemiologist, research analyst, research assistant, public policy, or public health officer
Membership
International Epidemiological Association; Australasian Epidemiological Association; Public Health Association of Australia; Australian Health Promotion Association
Extended major lead
Prosthetics and Orthotics
If you are creatively or technically-minded and enjoy working with people, consider a career in prosthetics and orthotics. Prosthetists or orthotists work through the whole diverse process in their jobs, from client assessment and care to the design of devices, and to their manufacturing.
Your studies will equip you to assess clients, provide treatment plans and manufacture devices to help address the functional limitations of people resulting from illness, disease or disability.
This extended major will provide you with specialist training in an increasingly high-tech area of health. Take advantage of USC’s expertise in biomechanics, robotics and 3D printing technology, which are becoming increasingly relevant in prosthetics and orthotics.
This is the first and only program in Queensland that allows you to specialise in prosthetics and orthotics.
Career opportunities
Clinical Prosthetist and/or Orthotist. The profession is prominent within public and private hospital settings, community based organisations, aged care facilities, the private health sector and academic arena. Services that may include allied health, rehabilitation and assistive technology services, are delivered across the entire age spectrum; resulting in services within the primary, secondary and tertiary care sectors.
Membership
Accreditation is being sought from the Australian Orthotic Prosthetic Association (AOPA) Inc.
Extended major lead
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
If you want to make a real difference in the lives of Indigenous people at an individual and population level, then this extended major will prepare you.
You can gain a deeper knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and the unique challenges faced in the area.
You’ll study the knowledge and ways of knowing for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples in relation to contemporary and traditional health; design, implementation and evaluation of health policies and health promotion programs; health service management; research; and cultural safety and competency.
You’ll also get practical experience through a work placement in your final year of study, helping you to be job-ready.
You can further tailor your studies to your aspirations through the health-related minor you select. Choose from: Community Care; Community Development; Management; Human Resource Management; Public Policy; and Sociology.
If you already have relevant Certificate IV or Diploma level qualifications, you can apply for credit for your previous study.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health major prepares you for a career in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health policy development, community health management, health promotion and disease prevention.
Career opportunities
Community and Government sector in community health management, health policy development, project development and management, health promotion and disease prevention, Aboriginal and hospital liaison, research.
Membership
Indigenous Allied Health Australia – Associate Membership; National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Association – Associate Member or Full Member for those who hold a minimum of Certificate III in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care; Rural Health Workforce Australia – National Rural Health Student’s Network; Australian Health Promotion Association; Public Health Association of Australia’ International Union for Health Promotion and Education; Australian Environmental Health Association.