Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition | 2017

Overview

Diet and nutrition are increasingly important for the Australian population and for public health. Poor diet and obesity now rank in the top contributors to the burden of disease in Australia and globally.  Public Health Nutrition as a discipline has huge potential to address these problems.  The Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition meets the needs of students who are interested in promoting population nutrition, especially the development, management and evaluation of community or population-based nutrition and food policy programs. It combines public and population health approaches with a sound understanding of the science of nutrition.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition will be able to:

1. Identify and explain the broad determinants of dietary and food aspects of health and well-being.
2. Discuss major local, national, and global nutrition and health challenges.
3. Understand the principles of, and approaches to, dietary assessment, as this relates to groups and populations.
4. Distinguish the interconnectedness among the physical, social, policy and environmental aspects of population health nutrition.
5. Understand the primacy of conducting high quality research and the process for undertaking robust scientific enquiry.
6. Competently assess diet, food, and nutrient intake of groups, communities and populations.
7. Confidently obtain, review and analyse population nutrition and health data.
8. Access, critically appraise and apply the best available evidence to address public health nutrition issues.
9. Apply knowledge of adequacy of groups’, communities’ and populations’ nutritional status, in order to plan, implement and evaluate nutritional interventions or programs.
10. Communicate nutrition and health information to a wide range of audiences through diverse media.
11. Demonstrate professional skills, including problem-solving, team work, reflective practice and ongoing learning and professional development. 

Course Structure

The Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition requires the successful completion of at least 144 credits points in accordance with the course structure and recommended subject progression table below.

*Note: Students who have achieved a mark of 65% or more in NSW HSC Chemistry or equivalent must select CHEM101 and CHEM102. All other students must select CHEM104 and CHEM105. Students who do CHEM104 and CHEM105 and wish to do higher levels of chemistry must also do CHEM106.

** High achieving students interested in undertaking a limited international work placement of three to four weeks in a public health related field during either the Summer or Winter recess periods have the option to complete HAS 335 in place of HAS 347. To be eligible to undertake HAS 335 students must have a minimum credit grade in all core 200 level subjects.  Students who wish to be eligible to apply for an OS-Help loan should undertake HAS 335 in Autumn session of the final year of the degree. 

Honours

High achieving students will be eligible to apply for entry into the Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition (Honours), which is designed as an additional fourth year of study to provide students with skills to demonstrate excellence in research with a clear understanding of the research question. Entry into the Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition (Honours) requires the student to have attained at least a credit average in subjects undertaken during their undergraduate degree. The School of Health Sciences Higher Degree Research Student Coordinator and prospective supervisor will determine whether a student's 300-level subjects are appropriate for entry into the Honours program.

In addition, admission to the Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition (Honours) will be dependent upon the availability of an appropriate supervisor, who must be identified by the applicant before applying for entry.

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Professional Recognition/Accreditation

Graduates from the Bachelor of Public Health Nutrition degree may seek registration as an Associate Nutritionist with the Nutrition Society of Australia, and with a further three years of relevant work experience and/or post graduate qualifications, may apply as a Registered Nutritionist or Registered Public Health Nutritionist.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
Email: ssc@uow.edu.au