Introduction to Health Sciences
Overview
This unit introduces students to the field of health science and provides them with the basic foundations to address complex health problems. It is a core unit and aims to teach students broad and coherent information with regards to Health Science. It will enable students to begin to apply knowledge about health that they will require in further Health Science units.
Requisites
01-November-2026
30-May-2027
31-October-2027
Unit learning outcomes
Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:
- Evaluate the contemporary context of health and related systems in Australia
- Explain the complexity of health challenges, including the socio-cultural, biological, and environmental factors that impact health and disease
- Explain and assess the role of different types of evidence to different health problems
- Apply knowledge in a health context
Teaching methods
Hawthorn
| Type | Hours per week | Number of weeks | Total (number of hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
On-campus Class (Seminar) |
2.00 | 12 weeks | 24 |
On-campus Class (Tutorial) |
1.00 | 12 weeks | 12 |
Specified Activities
|
4.00 | 12 weeks | 48 |
Unspecified Activities
|
5.50 | 12 weeks | 66 |
| TOTAL | 150 |
Assessment
| Type | Task | Weighting | ULO's |
|---|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Individual/Group | 50% | 2,3,4 |
| Essay | Individual | 30% | 1,2,3 |
| Quiz | Individual | 20% | 1,2,3,4 |
Content
The content of this unit consists of a series of themes, where topics are grouped together including:
- Introduction to definitions and models of health
- Determinants of health
- Populations
- Person and the Environment
- Inequity and Social Justice
- Complexity and Health
- Health care systems, including disciplines
- Health care ethics
- Research and evidence in practice
Study resources
Reading materials
A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.