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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
fThe Faculty comprises the School of Medicine, the School of Dental Science, the School of Physiotherapy, the School of Behavioural Science, and the School of Postgraduate Nursing, offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs and continuing education courses.
The School of Medicine was the first medical school established in Australia. It was established in 1862, seven years after the University formally opened.
Today it enrols approximately 200 new medical students each year, with males and females approaching equal proportions. Students come from all social and cultural backgrounds, providing a social mix which reflects Australian society at large.
Over 200 academic staff teach either on campus or in the School's many affiliated hospitals and research institutes with the assistance of a large number of experienced part-time teachers who are actively involved in general or specialist medical practice.
Affiliated institutions include general and specialist teaching hospitals such as the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, Geelong Hospital, Mercy Hospital for Women, Royal Children's Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, Royal Women's Hospital, St Vincent's Hospital, Western Hospital, North West Hospital, Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute; and research institutions such as the Howard Florey Institute of Experimental Physiology and Medicine, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Mental Health Research Institute, Murdoch Institute for Research into Child Birth Defects, St Vincent's Medical Research Institute, the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Austin Research Institute, Australian Bionic Ear and Hearing Research Institute, MacFarlane Burnet Centre for Medical Research, and the National Research Institute of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine.
Recent years have seen significant increases in outside research funding, research staff, and medical and science graduates studying for higher degrees at the School and its affiliated institutes.
The School's very strong research capability plays a key role in postgraduate education and training and in fostering the highest quality undergraduate medical education.
The combined undergraduate degrees of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) take six years of full-time study. The School also offers a combined Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Arts degree (MBBS/BA) and a combined Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Science degree (MBBS/BSc), both over seven years of full-time study.
To be registered as a legally qualified medical practitioner by the Medical Board of Victoria, medical graduates undertake an additional year's training as an intern on the staff of an approved general hospital. Most graduates continue to gain experience, knowledge and special skills in teaching hospitals for between two and five years.
Some of this further training is provided by members of University clinical departments. Much of it is under the guidance of specialist colleges such as the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP), Royal Australian College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RACOG), Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), Royal Australasian College of Radiologists (RACR), and Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP).
The School of Dental Science traces its origins back to 1884 when the Odontological Society of Victoria sought to establish a college and hospital for the training of students in dentistry.
Establishment of the Australian College of Dentistry followed in 1892. The College was affiliated with the University of Melbourne in 1904 and the first Bachelor of Dental Science (BDSc) degree was conferred in 1906.
Today's BDSc program enrols about 50 new students each year. As with Medicine, new students are almost equally balanced between the sexes and come from many social and ethnic backgrounds.
The Bachelor of Dental Science takes five years of full-time study which qualifies the graduate for registration by the Dental Board of Victoria as a legally qualified dentist.
Many dental graduates undertake further study in the School's continuing education and postgraduate courses and in postgraduate research. The School's ever-strengthening research capabilities play a major role in both undergraduate and postgraduate education and training, and in the development of the highest quality teaching and facilities.
Teaching is provided by some 20 full-time academic staff and more than 100 part-time general and specialist dental practitioners.
The School of Dental Science shares space with the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne in a building which is jointly owned by the Hospital and the University of Melbourne.
The School of Physiotherapy was established in the Faculty in 1991 and the first intake of students graduated at the end of 1994. However, the clinical science of physiotherapy commenced its association with the University in the 1890s and physiotherapists have undertaken medical science subjects at the University since that time. The School is located in Berkeley Street, close to the Medical Sciences building and the Brownless Medical Library.
The Bachelor of Physiotherapy is a four year degree and has approximately 80 students enrolling each year with a relatively equal gender balance. The undergraduate program provides students with the opportunity to develop high quality clinical physiotherapy and research skills. Health and medical science teaching is undertaken with medical, dental, science and optometry students. In first year physiotherapy, students undertake science subjects and begin clinical placements in hospitals of the clinical schools associated with the University. Students pursue their physiotherapy science and clinical subjects throughout the course. Elective studies within Australia and overseas provide students with the opportunity to enhance their knowledge and further develop clinical practice skills. Students may participate in the School's research programs under the guidance of clinical physiotherapists and other researchers.
Many physiotherapists undertake further study and the School offers postgraduate studies in research and in the clinical areas of musculoskeletal, cardiothoracic, neurological and pediatric physiotherapy.
The Master of Physiotherapy may be undertaken by Research, or by Coursework and Minor Thesis.
The School of Behavioural Science. 1996 saw the School of Behavioural Science celebrate its fiftieth anniversary, for although Psychology has been taught at the University of Melbourne since the turn of the century, it was not until 1946 that a Department of Psychology was formally established within the Faculty of Arts.
In January 1992 Psychology became the fourth school (The School of Behavioural Science) within the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.
Today there are over 1500 undergraduates enrolled in the School. Teaching is provided by around 40 academic staff and 52 professional practitioners.
The School offers a pass major in psychology in either Arts, Science or Commerce, a fourth-year honours course in Arts or Science, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology through the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences.
The School has an active graduate program with a range of options. A Master of Arts or a Master of Science can be taken in research, or in a two-year coursework degree, in either clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, applied psychology or cognitive science. A Master of Psychology is offered as a two-year post-clinical master's program in child clinical psychology. In addition, the School has 98 graduates enrolled in the PhD program.
The School of Postgraduate Nursing was established in January 1996. Its purpose is to provide postgraduate education to registered nurses which is academically based, but which has a strong clinical focus. Courses are conducted at postgraduate, Masters and PhD level.
The general objectives of the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences are:
to preserve, refine and advance knowledge in basic and applied medical science, relevant to understanding, preventing and alleviating human disease;
to provide the highest quality undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education in medicine and biomedical science;
to contribute to leadership in the development of the community by effective interaction with groups outside the University.
to provide leadership in the refinement, advancement and dissemination of knowledge in relation to oral health;
to provide excellence in educational programs to prepare graduates who are competent to provide for the oral care needs of the community;
to foster the involvement of the dental profession in relevant community groups.
to preserve, refine and advance knowledge in physiotherapy sciences relevant to the promotion and maintenance of health; and understanding, preventing and alleviating human disease;
to achieve excellence in undergraduate, postgraduate and continuing education in physiotherapy;
to contribute to leadership in the development of the local and international community by effective interaction with the physiotherapy profession and other appropriate groups outside the University.
to preserve, refine and advance knowledge in basic and applied psychology;
to produce graduates with a comprehensive perspective of a broad range of areas of psychology and its place in the community;
to train graduates to use scientific methods of investigation for the accumulation of professional knowledge.
The Continuing Medical Education and the Continuing Dental Education programs offer courses directed to the needs of medical and dental practitioners and those in associated health professions.
Units are usually short and intensive, from one-day lecture courses to clinical sessional sequences over several months. They cover clinical and research topics for specialists and for general practitioners.
Participants gain an opportunity to interact with specialists and with their colleagues in a context designed to meet the needs of busy professionals.
A Continuing and Professional Education program in Physiotherapy is also available.
This series reviews, debates and questions what is being done in medicine and dental science. Issues are presented in a wide social, political and philosophical context. Lectures and seminars in the series look at research in the Faculty and address issues of special importance to the community. Students, graduates and those with an interest in the fields covered are invited to attend.
Medical graduates are eligible to join the University of Melbourne Medical Society (UMMS), the medical graduates' alumni society. UMMS aims to continue the relationship begun during the undergraduate years of medical training between fellow students and the School of Medicine. It produces a journal, Chiron, which publishes important debates and lectures held at the Medical School as well as original articles exploring local medical history, the family context and the development of medical education.
Dental Science graduates are eligible to join the Society of Alumni and Friends of Dental Science (SAFODS) which aims to promote and develop continuing education and scholarship, and to continue the relationship, begun during the undergraduate years of training, between fellow students and the Dental School. The Society produces a regular newsletter which publishes details and dates of courses and lectures, and other matters of interest.
The University of Melbourne Physiotherapy Alumni Society (UMPAS) had its beginnings in June 1992.
Membership is through the Alumni Association of the University as well as the School of Physiotherapy. UMPAS aims to promote and develop the School, offer prizes and scholarships, and provide support for students and for academic staff in the areas of research and clinical skills within the field of physiotherapy. A regular newsletter informs members of School and Society activities.
The variety of careers available to graduates is enormous. Few professions can boast such a diversity of opportunity, ranging from general practice to surgery, general medicine to obstetrics and gynaecology, and pediatrics to psychiatry. Other specialities may include anaesthetics, geriatric medicine, rehabilitation medicine, dermatology, pathology, radiology, neurosurgery and occupational medicine.
Graduates may also become medical administrators in hospitals or government departments, or medical academics and/or researchers involved with teaching and/or medical research.
Graduates are required to complete an intern year in an Australian hospital as a prerequisite for full medical registration. Many graduates will then stay in a hospital for at least one or two more years. Those who wish to train for one of the major specialities may need to continue in a teaching hospital for about five years after the intern year.
Postgraduate training for most of the specialities is supervised by speciality colleges or societies. The colleges run their own qualifying examinations, specify training programs, and attend to the professional needs of their members after they have qualified for membership.
Dental graduates are offered a wide range of career opportunities. Although most graduates enter private general practice, graduate training is available in many other areas. These include preventive dentistry and community dental health, pediatric dentistry (children's dentistry), orthodontics (the correction of malpositioned teeth), periodontics (treating of the supporting tissues of the teeth), conservative dentistry and endodontics (conserving and restoring lost tooth substance), prosthodontics (replacing lost teeth and tissue with artificial appliances), oral surgery, oral pathology (disorders of the mouth) and oral medicine.
As the emphasis in dentistry changes from corrective to preventive work, dentists increasingly act as part of a team with auxiliary health professionals such as dental therapists, licensed dental nurses, dental hygienists and advanced dental technicians.
The University of Melbourne's BDSc is recognised by the Dental Boards of all Australian states. Graduates may apply for registration as a dentist (without further examination) anywhere in Australia or its territories.
Registration may also be granted in some other countries, subject to entry requirements and those of the registering authorities.
Proposals have been introduced for an internship similar to that in Medicine, which would entail one year's paid work following graduation, leading to graduates being granted full registration to practise in Victoria. At present, a voluntary internship for a limited number of recent graduates is available through the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne.
The Diploma in Oral Health Therapy offers graduates the opportunity to work as dental therapists or dental hygienists. Dental therapists, under the general supervision of practising dentists, provide dental care for children and adolescents through the School Dental Service, and promote oral health within the broader community. They examine oral and dental conditions, restore and conserve permanent and deciduous teeth, perform extractions of deciduous teeth, remove calculus and take and interpret radiographs. Great importance is given to the prevention of dental and gingival disease. Dental therapists carry out a range of preventive procedures and undertake dental health education and promotion for children, adolescents, parents and community groups.
Dental hygienists provide dental care for all age groups, under the direct supervision of a practising dentist. They examine and record the nature and severity of periodontal conditions, clean, scale and root plane teeth. Great importance is given in dental hygiene to the prevention of dental and periodontal diseases. Dental hygienists carry out a similar range of preventive procedures as dental therapists, as well as the provision of dental health education and promotion for individual patients and community groups.
A physiotherapy degree opens the door for many work opportunities. Physiotherapists work in hospitals, community centres and in private practices in a range of fields. They practise in the areas of women's health including preparation for pregnancy and birth, pediatrics, exercise and sport, occupational health, accident and rehabilitation, illness and disease, and in geriatrics. Physiotherapists work as consultants to industry and government bodies, and as academics and researchers.
Many physiotherapists commence their careers as junior physiotherapists in hospitals, where they rotate through specialist physiotherapy units and are provided with the opportunity to reinforce and consolidate their knowledge and clinical skills. Career paths in hospitals develop along clinical and administrative lines. Senior clinical physiotherapists are highly experienced in a particular area of physiotherapy and are responsible for senior and junior staff, and for undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Physiotherapists continue their careers within the public service or by moving into private centres within Australia or overseas. In community centres, the physiotherapist is a resource to provide treatment and health education for local residents. Physiotherapists also work in the Department of Human Services, in School Support Centres, and in individual schools of various types. In private practices, physiotherapists work in every suburb and country district for clients who require their diverse services.
Many physiotherapists undertake postgraduate studies to enhance career opportunities in clinical practice, administration, teaching and research.
Psychology is concerned with the study of human behaviour and experience. People trained in psychology work in a wide variety of areas in health, education, industry, commerce, welfare and government.
To be able to practise as a psychologist, registration is required with the Psychologists' Registration Board of Victoria. To register with the Board, an accredited four-year sequence in psychology followed by either a two-year full-time coursework Masters degree or two years supervised training is required.
Specialisation normally requires additional training. Some of these areas of specialisation are community psychology, counselling psychology, educational psychology, forensic psychology, clinical neuropsychology, clinical psychology, organisational psychology and sport psychology. After completing your training as a psychologist you may be eligible for full membership of certain professional organisations, such as the Australian Psychological Society (APS). Student membership is also available.
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery MBBS
Bachelor of Medical Science BMedSc
Bachelor of Dental Science BDSc
Bachelor of Dental Studies BDentStud
Bachelor of Physiotherapy BPhysio, BPhysio (Hons)
Diploma in Oral Health Therapy DipOralHlthTher
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Arts MBBS/BA
Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Science MBBS/BSc (not offered in 1997)
Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health DipAdolHlth
Graduate Diploma in Audiology DipAud
Graduate Diploma in Biotechnology DipBiotech
Graduate Diploma in Epidemiology and Biostatistics DipEpidBiostat
Graduate Diploma in Mental Health Sciences DipMentHlthSc
Graduate Diploma in Drug Evaluation and Pharmaceutical Sciences DipDrugEvalPharmSc
Graduate Diploma in Women's Health DipWomHlth
Graduate Diploma in Forensic Odontology DipForOdont
Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology DipPsych
Postgraduate Diploma in Advanced Clinical Nursing DipAdvClinNurs
Postgraduate Diploma in Physiotherapy DipPhysio (Research)
Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Dentistry DipClinDent
Postgraduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine DipPallMed
Master of Audiology MAud
Master of Gynaecology and Obstetrics MGO
Master of Health Sciences MHlthSci
Master of Medicine MMed
Master of Public Health MPubHlth
Master of Surgery MS
Master of Women's Health MWomHlth
Master of Dental Science MDSc
Master of Physiotherapy MPhysio
Master of Psychology (Child Clinical Psychology) MPsych
Doctor of Medicine MD
Doctor of Public Health DPubHlth (subject to approval)
Doctor of Dental Science DDSc
Doctor of Philosophy PhD
Minimum prerequisites for entry to the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses are VCE English, Chemistry, Mathematical Methods (or Specialist Mathematics), and one of Biology, one additional Mathematics or Physics (or Physical Education or Psychology for the physiotherapy course only).
Minimum prerequisites for entry to the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy course are VCE English and Biology.
Places under this scheme are available in the first year of the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses.
Applicants for the MBBS course from rural schools will be given additional consideration under this scheme.
There are no specified quota places allocated under the Program for the applicants to the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy, however the Selection Committee will consider all applications.
There is no mature age entry scheme for medicine, dental or physiotherapy courses. If you are not a school leaver, the Selection Committee will consider your full academic record. Recent study would be expected, and applicants must meet the prerequisite requirements or their equivalents.
Assistance is available to medical and dental science students through cadetships with all three armed services. These cadetships and scholarships are normally available from the third year of the course and involve a commitment to serve with the sponsoring authority for a limited period after graduation.
Students who experience financial difficulties during the course may apply for student loans within the University through the Student Advisory Service.
Some subjects offered by the Faculty involve the use of animal experimentation. These experiments are an essential part of the course and exemptions are not possible. All animal experimentation in the University is subject to the rigorous control of the Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee. A Faculty Student Animal Experimentation Review Committee, with student and academic staff membership, has also been established as a sub-committee of the Faculty's Curriculum Review Committee. In general, the University aims to reduce animal usage to the minimum consistent with academic needs. As well, new educational aids involving computer simulations are being used where possible as an alternative to the use of live animals.
In order to meet health requirements for working in the wards of affiliated teaching hospitals and for the protection of other students and themselves, students in the MBBS, BDSc, DipOralHlthTher or BPhysio courses should be aware of the possible need for certain precautionary procedures. These consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and having X-rays where the evidence indicates these are appropriate and there are not specific contraindications in individual cases. This policy is in accord with the National Health and Medical Research Council advice that educational institutions training students in health sciences should ensure that such students are protected as far as possible by vaccination against risk of infection.
Prospective students should note that, prior to enrolment, they will be provided with information and, as appropriate, counselling about the effect that being a carrier of HIV or Hepatitis B or C viruses may have on their subsequent ability to practise their profession. Although the Faculty has decided not to prevent students who are such carriers from pursuing their courses in general, individuals who know themselves to be carriers of these viruses are strongly advised to consider carefully whether to embark on studies in this Faculty, in view of the inevitable constraints upon some aspects of training and on career options.
Attendance at classes other than lectures is compulsory for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Students are also expected to attend lectures, and it is to their advantage to do so. In addition, competent performance in carrying out the duties and work prescribed in all subjects is required. Students failing to comply with this requirement (e.g. not less than 75 per cent attendance) may be excluded from examinations.
The Dean's Honours List recognises the achievement of the Faculty's outstanding students each year. Students are selected on academic merit and receive a letter from the Dean and official acknowledgement on their academic transcript.
Prizes, scholarships and bursaries are also awarded to students for academic excellence at each year level and in individual subjects in Faculty courses.
Further details are available from the relevant School Office, or from the Student Advisory Service.
All courses at the University have a maximum, or maximum recommended, full-time course load for a year, and usually for a semester. You need to apply to the Faculty to take more than the normal number of subjects in a year.
There is no provision to undertake part of the medical, dental or physiotherapy courses overseas on exchange basis. However, students in medicine and physiotherapy are approved to take an elective overseas and can take approved leave of absence to go overseas. Students in the School of Dental Science should seek further advice from the School Office.
Medical, dental, oral health therapy and physiotherapy subjects are not available under the CAP.
You may apply for entry to the first year of the medical, dental, oral health therapy or physiotherapy courses from other tertiary courses of study if you meet the prerequisite requirements. However, you will be competing for the few quota places available with other applicants and would need an excellent academic performance. Application for the first year should be lodged with VTAC unless you are an enrolled student at the University of Melbourne, where application may be made on an internal application form available from any Faculty office. These forms should be lodged with the appropriate School Office.
Entry to the second year or later years of the medical, dental science or physiotherapy courses is restricted to applicants who have completed appropriate science subjects at university level. Applications must be lodged on the prescribed form available from the appropriate School Office. Only a limited number of places are available and selection is restricted to candidates with outstanding academic records.
You may be eligible for credit towards your course if you have completed subjects in Year 12 through MUPHAS (Melbourne University Program for High Achieving Students). You may also be awarded credit for approved subjects taken in Year 12 as part of another university's extension program. A list of MUPHAS and other extension studies subjects approved for credit in medicine is available from the School of Medicine office.
Deferral from the medical, dental science and physiotherapy courses is available, but subject to approval by the Faculty. Application must be made in writing. Deferment from the first year of the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy is currently not available.
The medical, dental, oral health therapy and physiotherapy courses are full-time courses. There is no provision for part-time study, although students who are granted credit exemptions may undertake a lighter load. Repeat students are required to repeat all subjects in the year.
The MBBS program takes six years and has two major but overlapping stages: (a) the Basic Sciences and Medical Sciences, and (b) the Clinical Sciences.
Basic Sciences and Medical Sciences units occupy much of the first three years of the course, providing a strong basis for subsequent clinical training. However, there is a substantially expanded medical and clinical content in the first three years, giving students a good appreciation of the relevance of their studies at this time and ensuring that they are well prepared for full-time clinical training in the final three years of the course.
In first year, as part of the subject Health and Illness in Society, students are allocated an infant whose development they follow through its infancy and toddler years. This interesting exercise provides the student with a clinical perspective early in the course, in addition to interaction with families in the community. Students also receive clinical exposure in first year through two afternoon visits to the Royal Children's Hospital; the first to a ward and the second to the emergency room of the hospital. These visits provide the opportunity for first-hand observation of hospital procedures.
Computer facilities and state-of-the-art interactive multimedia laboratories now comprise important components of the learning experience in all years of the course in self-directed learning and laboratory classes.
The importance and development of effective communication skills are emphasised throughout the medical course, particularly in third year in Public Health and Community Medicine and in each of the full-time clinical years. Advanced Study Units in third year are mounted in campus and clinical departments and involve critical review and deeper study in an area of medicine already introduced. Each student completes one 12-week or two 6-week Advanced Study Units in the first semester of third year.
Third year also introduces clinical teaching in second semester in Introduction to Clinical Medicine. Students are allocated to one of the three general clinical schools associated with the University of Melbourne: the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital, and the St Vincent's Hospital/Geelong Hospital.
Students spend much of the final three years of their course at a general clinical school, except for placements at country hospitals and specialist institutions such as the Royal Women's Hospital, Mercy Hospital for Women, the Royal Children's Hospital, Mt Royal Hospital and psychiatric hospitals.
Studies taken in the clinical years include medicine, surgery, clinical pharmacology, microbiology, pathology, radiology, rehabilitation medicine, obstetrics and gynaecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, ethics, legal medicine and forensic pathology, general practice and community medicine, infectious diseases, geriatric medicine, casualty, trauma, resuscitation, anaesthetics, ophthalmology (diseases of the eye), otorhinolaryngology (diseases of the ear, nose and throat), immunology and dermatology.
Fourth-year students also undertake a clinical Advanced Study Unit, providing a further opportunity for guided, independent study.
At the beginning of the final year of the course, students undertake a minimum 8-week elective period of study during which they pursue one or more particular approved topics in general practice, hospitals or elsewhere. Often this elective period is undertaken at approved interstate or overseas institutions.
This course has as its objectives that graduates:
have a basis of essential factual knowledge and understanding of principles relating to the structure and function of the human body;
have an understanding of principles in the analysis of human behaviour and special functioning relevant to health and disease;
have a capacity to apply scientific knowledge and attitudes in the analysis of problems at each stage of the educational process;
have a capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning;
have an understanding of disease processes and mechanisms in structural and functional terms, together with a grasp of their clinical manifestations and treatment;
have essential skills in the acquisition and interpretation of clinical observations;
have a capacity to communicate with patients and their relatives, with medical colleagues and members of other health professions;
have an understanding of professional responsibility in relation to individuals and the community.
The combined MBBS/BA course is a seven-year program which provides the professional qualification for a career in medicine, as well as a general education in the humanities, social sciences and the languages and cultures of other people. Ordinarily students undertake one or two Arts subjects concurrent with the first three or four years of the medical course, followed by one full year of Arts study, by which time the Arts component of 216 points would normally be completed. Students would then resume the final two or three years of the medical course.
For information on Arts subjects available to students in the combined MBBS/BA course, refer to the Arts entry in this Handbook.
Note: This course will not be offered in 1997.
The combined MBBS/BSc course also takes a minimum of seven years to complete, and is similar in format to the MBBS/BA course. To complete the Science component of the course students must accumulate at least 240 Science points which must include a minimum of 50 and a maximum of 125 Science points at the 100-level, and a recommended minimum of 50 science points at the 300-level. Note that the current MBBS and Science timetables generally restrict students' subject choice in Science to subjects offered by the Physics and Mathematics teaching departments. For information on Science subjects and their points values, please refer to the Science section of this Handbook.
The BMedSc degree is a one-year course open to medical students with good academic records (e.g. ordinarily an overall performance at the level of 65% or greater) to encourage them to delve more deeply into an area they have already studied. It may be taken after completing at least third year in the medical course or, in the case of studies in the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry and Physiology, after completing second year. Candidates prepare and submit for examination a detailed research report. They may be required to pass a written examination or viva voce examination or both on the subject of the report.
The Bachelor of Dental Science is a five-year, full-time fixed course of study. Students must pass all subjects in the year at one time before proceeding to the next year of the course. The course prepares graduates for work in private practice, hospitals, the defence services, government health services, teaching or research.
The program has two main streams: (a) the Basic Biological Sciences, and (b) the Clinical and Health Sciences, plus subject areas outside these streams such as Materials Science, Statistics and Community Studies.
Basic Biological Sciences predominate in the first three years of the course. Biology provides the essential foundation for all studies of the biological sciences, including dental science, and chemistry serves as an introduction for biochemistry, materials science and physiology.
Clinical and Health Sciences begin as early as second year, with practical work in the laboratories of the School of Dental Science and clinical sessions in the clinics of the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne. Other studies include medicine and surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, plus conservative dentistry, periodontics, endodontics, prosthodontics, oral surgery, oral pathology, pediatric dentistry and orthodontics.
An opportunity for the extension of clinical experience is provided by the Royal Dental Hospital during non-teaching periods. The course promotes understanding of human behaviour and social functioning relevant to health and disease and helps students develop skills to identify and measure oral health needs and find ways to meet those needs.
Emphasis is placed on being able to practise integrated general dentistry and provide oral health care to all sectors of the community.
Students train in problem-solving, decision-making, program design and implementation, evaluation and advocacy, and in designing and carrying out scientific investigations into clinical and community oral health problems.
They are expected to understand the professional responsibility of dentists to both individuals and the community and are given the opportunity to develop career interests in areas such as general or specialist dental practice, academic teaching and research, community and school health, and hospital, institutional and government service.
This course has as its objectives that graduates:
can relate the scientific university education to the technical and vocational aspects of dental practice;
have acquired essential factual knowledge and understanding of principles relating to the health, structure and function of the human body;
understand disease processes and mechanisms in structural and functional terms, together with a grasp of their aetiology, clinical manifestations, prevention and treatment;
have acquired a basic understanding of human behaviour and social functioning relevant to health and disease;
can identify the oral health needs of a community in order of priority and find methods of meeting those needs;
can induce oral health changes in individual patients and their families, and behavioural changes in the community generally;
practise integrated general dentistry and are able to provide oral health care to all sectors of the community;
have developed skills in problem-solving, decision-making, program design and implementation, evaluation and advocacy;
can design and carry out scientific investigations into clinical, basic science, and community health problems;
can communicate effectively with patients and their relatives, professional colleagues and members of other health professions;
exhibit professional responsibility in relation to both individuals and the community;
have a demonstrated capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning;
are personal exemplars for oral health;
have the potential to develop along a number of routes, including general dental practice, specialist dental practice, academic teaching and research, armed services, community health, school dental health, hospital and institutional dentistry.
The BDentStud degree is a one-year course open to later-year dentistry students and graduates with good academic records to encourage them to delve more deeply into an area they have already studied. The aim is to facilitate the advanced development of academic and research skills necessary for the furtherance of a career in research or academia. This course may be taken after completing at least the third year of the BDSc degree and is a one-year program of research training in any area of investigation relevant to dental science such as biological, social and clinical sciences. In passing through the program, students should acquire a basic understanding of current advances in research methodology in the biological and health sciences and should be able to conduct a scientific investigation into a biological, clinical or community health problem. Candidates prepare and submit for examination a detailed research report and must pass a viva voce examination on the subject of the report.
The Diploma in Oral Health Therapy is a fixed course of study which comprises two streams of vocational outcome - Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene. It is of two years duration and will lead to a diplomate capable of being licensed with the Dental Board of Victoria as either a Dental Therapist or a Dental Hygienist. At the outset applicants will need to select which stream they wish to take.
The course has four main components:
Dental Science: Those subjects providing a theoretical background to the procedures used in providing dental care; including the structure and function of normal and abnormal tissues of the body and principles of treatment of disease.
Social Science and Preventive Dentistry: Subjects concerned with preventing dental disease in the community. Community Studies and Oral Health Promotion are a major feature of this component, but it also includes ethics, psychology, sociology and research methods.
Clinical Dentistry: Those subjects related to dental auxiliary practice which are common to dental hygienists' and dental therapists' activities. They include infection control, instrumentation, dental materials, examination procedures and record taking as well as operative procedures such as fluoride application, impressions and oral radiography.
Vocational Clinical Practice: Within this component the student will have elected to follow either the Dental Therapy stream or the Dental Hygiene stream. The therapy stream focuses on managing children and adolescents and the delivery of restorative dentistry within public dental programs. The hygiene stream focuses on the conservative management of periodontal conditions.
This course has as its objectives that graduates:
demonstrate appropriate oral examination, operative, educative and interpersonal skills to practise (a) those aspects of dental therapy permitted by the Dentists Act as amended (Dental Therapy stream); or (b) those aspects of dental hygiene permitted by the Dentists Act as amended (Dental Hygiene stream);
understand disease processes and conditions which may affect the provision of dental care;
understand and demonstrate the procedures needed for dealing with medical emergencies occurring in the dental clinic;
explain the ethical codes and legal requirements governing the practice of dentistry;
acquire a basic knowledge and skills required to promote oral health within individuals, the school and the wider community, especially to disadvantaged individuals and groups;
demonstrate an ability to communicate and cooperate with other dental health professionals and professionals from areas such as health, welfare and education;
understand the principles of the public health planning process which identifies the oral health needs of a community and applies available resources in the most equitable and efficient way to meet those needs;
acquire the knowledge and skills to cope with the psychological and cultural factors which affect dentally-related behaviour;
identify the principles and rationale of clinical records and the administrative system of school dental clinics and private practice systems;
demonstrate capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning;
demonstrate an ability to refer patients for whom the dental treatment and advice is beyond the capacity of the dental hygienist or dental therapist through appropriate referral networks;
practise preventive modalities for individuals and groups.
The BPhysio course is a four-year course recognised by the Physiotherapy Registration Board of Victoria and by mutual recognition in other states of Australia. It prepares graduates to work in health care settings such as hospitals, outpatient clinics, private practice, rehabilitation centres, patients' homes, schools, extended care facilities, sports venues, aged care centres, industrial and commercial premises, nursing homes, psychiatric centres and educational institutions.
Students may qualify for the degree with honours if they achieve first or second-class honours as determined by their performance in the second, third and fourth years of the course.
Studies include a strong basis of physical, biological, medical, behavioural and clinical sciences. Students are required to participate in practical studies of human anatomy, kinesiology and physiotherapy techniques. This requires partial disrobing and acting as 'therapist' and 'patient' to learn by observation, feel and practice. Physiotherapy is a physically demanding profession, which requires for its practice the development of a range of precise physical skills. Clinical knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for health education and the competent assessment, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with physical disorders and disabilities are developed. During the undergraduate years, students are encouraged and provided with opportunities to develop the capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning, inquiry and research. Students undertake theoretical and practical experience in enhancing their ability to communicate with patients, colleagues and members of other health professions. Issues of professional responsibility and ethical principles in relation to individuals and the community are addressed.
Clinical studies are commenced in the first year of the undergraduate program, with students allocated to the teaching hospitals of the general clinical schools of the University of Melbourne. These general clinical schools are the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre, the Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital, and the St Vincent's Hospital/Geelong Hospital.
In the second year, students attend specialist physiotherapy practices such as occupational health centres, community health centres and sports clinics, as well as hospital clinics.
In the third and fourth years, students spend much of their time in clinical studies.
Students participate in research in first year and then commence formal research methods training in the second year. Third-year students develop research project proposals and in the fourth year collect and evaluate clinical research data, with selected students completing more extensive projects.
This course has as its objectives that graduates:
have preserved, refined and advanced knowledge in physiotherapy sciences relevant to the promotion and maintenance of health and understanding, preventing and alleviating human disease;
have a qualification registrable by the Physiotherapists Registration Board;
have a strong basis of knowledge of physical, biological, medical, behavioural and physiotherapy sciences;
have an understanding of the bases of research methods with the opportunity to undertake defined projects;
have the clinical knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the competent assessment, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with physical and relevant psycho-behavioural disorders and disabilities;
have a capacity and motivation for continuing independent learning;
can communicate effectively with patients, colleagues and members of other health professions;
have an understanding of professional responsibility and ethical principles in relation to individuals and the community.
A major sequence in psychology can be studied as part of either a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Commerce, or a combined degree course incorporating the above mentioned degrees.
First year gives an introduction to psychology. Topics include biological bases of behaviour, social psychology, quantitative methods, human development, learning and memory, personality and abnormal psychology.
Second year covers intermediate psychology, including topics in social, developmental, cognitive, sensation and perception, research methods and brain mechanisms and behaviour.
Third year expands upon studies and skills obtained during the previous two years and enables students to specialise in a particular psychological field. Third year covers six sections including one compulsory block of three sections: measurement and analysis, research methods and history/theories of psychology.
Fourth-year honours covers advanced studies in five selected topics in psychology. There are three compulsory units: Advanced Design and Data Analysis, Assessment and Professional Skills, and Theories in Psychology, and two topics chosen from a group of options. An independent research project is also carried out under the supervision of senior staff members.
Psychology quota: Studies in psychology have proved to be extremely popular with demand far exceeding the availability of places. In order to maintain the high level of quality and take into account the availability of resources there are quotas imposed for Psychology 1 and Psychology 2.
Psychology 512-100.
Subjects from Biology, History and Philosophy of Science, Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science. The Department encourages students to undertake a broad program of study.
Psychology 512-200.
Subjects from Computer Science, Mathematical Sciences, Genetics, Physiology and Zoology.
Psychology 512-301.
The Department encourages students to undertake a broad program of study.
The objectives of Psychology Honours are to provide students with opportunities to develop:
an understanding of a representative range of substantive areas in psychology;
an ability to read and contribute to relevant research in at least one area of psychology;
some understanding of the practice and ethics of psychology in professional settings.
To be admitted to candidature for the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Psychology and Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Psychology, a candidate must have:
qualified for the ordinary degree of Bachelor of Arts, or Bachelor of Science;
obtained at least an H2B in 512-300 Psychology 3 for Bachelor of Arts (Honours) or H2B in 512-301 Psychology 3 for Bachelor of Science (Honours); and
successfully completed the Research Methods section.
Because of constraints on supervisory resources an entry quota will be applied to fourth-year honours. In the event that there are more applicants than places, and that these applicants cannot be distinguished on the basis of their 512-300 or 512-301 grades, performance in first and second year psychology may be taken into account, as well as other third year subjects.
Bachelor of Arts students should enrol in one of the following subjects:
Bachelor of Science students should enrol in both the following subjects:
Arts students are required to achieve an honours grade of (i.e. H1, H2, H2B or H3) for each component of assessment in fourth year and an overall final examination grade of at least H2B, in order to meet the requirements of the BA (Honours) degree.
Science students will be required to obtain results of 65% or better in each of the research and coursework components of the BSc. (Honours) degree in order to pass the BSc. (Honours) course.
Students should be aware of their rights and obligations while at the University. Essential information on matters such as enrolment, assessment, special consideration in the event of illness or other difficulties, etc., is contained in the Student Diary, issued to every student on enrolment.
Written enquiries should be addressed to the above officers at The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3052.
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Handbook 1997 : Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
Status: OFFICIAL 1997 Last Modified: Wednesday March 12 3:36 pm SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au
Copyright © University of Melbourne 1997.