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Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
The 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 MBBS (Hons) may be awarded to students who achieve a high standard throughout the course.
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 awarded at Honours or Pass level. Approximately 90 students enrol each year. The undergraduate program provides students with a strong scientific foundation to physiotherapy and 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. Undergraduate students are encouraged to 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 at PhD and Masters level. The Master of Physiotherapy by Coursework may be undertaken in the following clinical areas: manipulative, musculoskeletal, cardiothoracic, neurological and paediatric physiotherapy and upper limb rehabilitation.
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, Music, Law 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.
A Graduate Diploma in Psychology is offered to graduates of another discipline to allow them to commence a career in Psychology by completing an undergraduate major.
The School has an active graduate program with a wide range of options. Coursework programs in Industrial/Organisational Psychology, Clinical Psychology and Clinical Neuropsychology are offered through the Doctor of Psychology and Master of Psychology degrees. (A stream in Forensic Psychology is also proposed for 1998). A Master of Child Clinical Psychology is also available to Clinical Psychology graduates. In addition the School offers a Master of Arts or Master of Science by research and a PhD program, with a total of approximately 130 students enrolled in these programs.
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:
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, dentistry and the health sciences. 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) commenced in June 1992.
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 paediatrics 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, podiatric dentistry (children's dentistry), orthodontics (the correction of malpositioned teeth), periodontics (treatment of the supporting tissues of the teeth), conservative dentistry and endodontics (conserving teeth 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 career 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, paediatrics, exercise and sport, occupational health, rehabilitation, and geriatrics. Physiotherapists work as consultants to industry and government bodies, and as academics and researchers.
Many physiotherapists commence their careers as junior physiotherapists in public health care settings such as hospitals or large private practices, 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.
Physiotherapy graduates of the School are establishing their careers within the public service or in private centres within Australia and 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, teaching, research and administration.
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.
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).
Selection into the Faculty's courses in 1999 will be based upon a combination of the applicants TER and performance in an undergraduate admissions aptitude test.
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 Support Services.
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.
Students enrolled in the MBBS, BDSc, DipOralHlthTher or BPhysio courses should be aware that certain precautionary procedures may be required in order to meet health requirements for working in the wards of affiliated teaching hospitals and for the protection of yourself and others.
Measures consist of confidential tests for immune status (including blood tests and skin tests), receiving vaccines and undergoing X-rays where appropriate and no contraindications exist in an individual case. This policy is in accord with the National Health and Medical Research Council advice that educational institutions undertaking the training of students in health sciences should ensure that students are protected against the risk of infection, as far as possible, by vaccination.
Prospective students should note that prior to enrolment, they will be provided with information, and if appropriate, counselled about the effects that being a carrier of HIV, Hepatitis B or C may have on their ability to practise their profession. Although the Faculty does not prevent students who are carriers of these viruses from undertaking courses, individuals who know that they are carriers are strongly advised to consider carefully whether to embark on studies within the Faculty, since in some cases, it may not be possible to complete the training requirements and practise their chosen profession.
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 Support Services.
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. 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.
Psychology subjects are offered through the CAP program. Contact the School of Behavioural Science for more information.
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. No deferrals will be granted for the 1998 intake of undergraduate medical students. 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.
Conditions of study for students studying Psychology are determined by the degree course they are enrolled through (i.e. Arts, Science, Commerce, Law or Music). Please refer to the relevant faculty's guidelines.
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, paediatrics, 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:
Note: This course will not be offered in 1998.
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 1998.
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 62.5 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, podiatric 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:
| Dental Science: units for the undergraduate degree | |
|---|---|
| First year | |
| 511-101 Dental Studies 1 | |
| 511-102 Oral Anatomy 1 | |
| 516-018 Anatomy 1 | |
| 516-019 Dental Biology | |
| 610-003 Chemistry (Dental Science) | |
| Second year | |
| 511-201 Dental Studies 2 | |
| 511-202 Oral Anatomy 2 | |
| 516-029 Topographical Anatomy | |
| 516-030 Neuroscience | |
| 521-029 Biochemistry | |
| 536-029 Physiology | |
| Third year | |
| 511-301 Dental Studies 3 | |
| 526-039 Microbiology | |
| 531-039 Pathology | |
| 534-039 Pharmacology | |
| Fourth year | |
| 511-401 Dental Studies 4 | |
| 511-402 Oral Pathology | |
| 553-411 Medicine | |
| 556-411 Surgery | |
| Fifth year | |
| 511-501 Clinical Dental Science | |
| 511-502 Integrated Dental Practice | |
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:
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 undertaking core subjects in their clinical schools and specialist sites for paediatrics and geriatrics. All students undertake three electives with most spending at least one elective period overseas.
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:
A major sequence in psychology can be studied as part of either a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Science, a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Music, a Bachelor of Law 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.
First year Psychology quota: The Department sets a Clearly In Rank (CIR) score for Psychology. This takes into account the lowest CIR score of the degree courses which Psychology is offered through (i.e. Arts, Science, Commerce, Music and Law). Students whose TER score is above the Psychology CIR, may automatically enrol in Psychology. Students with a lower TER will need to make a separate application to study Psychology. In recent years the majority of students accepted into degree courses have been successful in their application to study Psychology. The degree course through which a student enrols does not effect their chances of getting into Psychology.
The Department encourages students to undertake a broad program of study.
Subjects from Biology, Statistics, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences and Computer Science.
Subjects from Computer Science, Mathematical Sciences, Genetics, Physiology, Zoology, Statistics, Anatomy and Biochemistry.
Subjects from Maths, Statistics, Anatomy, Physiology and Zoology.
The Department encourages students to undertake a broad program of study.
Subjects from Biology, Criminology, Computer Science, Sociology and Mathematical Sciences.
Subjects from Criminology, Computer Science, Mathematics and Social Research Methods.
Subjects from Criminology, Computer Science, Mathematics and Social Research Methods.
The objectives of Psychology Honours are to provide students with opportunities to develop:
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:
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 512-301 grade, 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 (70% or better) in order to meet the requirements of the BA (Honours) degree.
Science students will be required to obtain results of H3 (65% or better) in each of the research and coursework components of the BSc. (Honours) degree in order to pass the BSc. (Honours) course.
Please refer to the Science or Arts sections of the handbook for more general details on the Honours courses.
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 front of this handbook and 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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Status: Official 1998 Last Modified: Tuesday October 21 17:12 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au