Harness the power of food to improve people's health
This hands-on degree teaches you the science behind food and the way the human body uses it. You’ll learn about public health nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service systems, and gain the qualifications you need to work as an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
This hands-on degree teaches you the science behind food and the way the human body uses it. You’ll learn about public health nutrition, medical nutrition therapy and food service systems, and gain the qualifications you need to work as an Accredited Practising Dietitian.
This is the perfect degree for anyone who wants to improve people’s lives through food.
In this program you will:
-
Learn from experienced Accredited Practising Dietitians with expertise in public health, sports nutrition and more
-
Work with real clients to provide nutrition assessments and advice
-
Get hands-on experience in USC’s specialised teaching kitchen
-
Develop your clinical, interpersonal and professional skills, including the skills you need to work in hospitals, private practice or as a self-employed practitioner
Post-admission requirements
Before undertaking a Work Integrated Learning placement, you must obtain a Blue Card, complete a National Criminal History check and a QLD Health orientation package. You may also be required to complete first aid and CPR training. You 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.
You 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 you, 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
Program structure
Introductory courses (8) 96 units
LFS103
LFS112
NUT102
NUT110
PUB112
SCI105
SCI110
PLUS select 1 course from:
Developing courses (8) 96 units
BIM202
LFS203
LFS251
NUT201
NUT202
NUT205
NUT212
NUT232
Graduate courses (9) 96 units
LFS303
NUT301
NUT302
NUT306 (6 units)
NUT309 (6 units)
NUT312
NUT333
NUT351
NUT361
PLUS one (1) of the following pathways:
Project Pathway courses (4) 96 units
NUT401 (24 units)
NUT402 (24 units)
NUT406 (24 units)
NUT407 (24 units)
Research Pathway courses (4) 96 units
NUT402 (24 units)
NUT406 (24 units)
NUT407 (24 units)
NUT410 (24 units)
Honours Classification calculation.
Students in the project pathway will not be awarded a specific classification.
Students in the research pathway will be awarded one of the following three classes: Honours Class I, IIA or IIB. Students receiving an overall percentage of less than 59.5% who meet all the requirements of the degree will be awarded the Honours degree but without an Honours classification. If the student achieves an average mark to meet a particular class of honours but the thesis mark is less than required for that class, the mark for the thesis will determine the class of honours.
The determination of the class of honours received is based on the following requirements: Overall grade based on performance in the following courses comprising NUT 402 (24 units), NUT406 (24 units), NUT407 (24 units), NUT410 (24 units)] follows;
- Class I: overall grade in the range 80% - 100%
- Class IIA: overall grade in the range 70% - 79%
- Class IIB: overall grade in the range 60% - 69%
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
-
The program provides two pathways towards an Honours-level qualification. Students embark on differentiated pathways in the third and fourth years of the program. One pathway is a research pathway, which focuses on learning the basic research skills required to perform a research project of publishable standard in a scientific journal. This is an important competency if you wish to pursue a career in academia and is attractive to large tertiary and research-intensive hospitals. This pathway is via competitive entry (based on grade point average from the first two and a half years of the program and a competitive selection process) and only open to students with a grade of DN or greater for the course NUT333 and a grade point average greater than 5.5 (GPA cut-offs will be determined on a yearly basis depending on number and quality of applicants and places available). The number of research pathway places will be dependent on the number of permanent Nutrition and Dietetics Discipline staff. Students must maintain a GPA of greater than 5.5 to remain in the research pathway.
All other students will complete the project pathway, which focuses on the application of research knowledge through activities completed during a research placement.
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
- Preparing for study at SCHI
- Cross-institutional study is not permitted for the Bachelor of Dietetics (Honours)
- 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
- NUT402 , NUT404 and NUT406 MUST be completed over a minimum of 100 days of full time placement. The semester of enrolment in NUT406 and NUT401 will be determined by the Academic staff.
- 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.