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Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences : Guide to courses
From 1999, the School of Medicine will introduce a new undergraduate medical course comprising the Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medical Science to replace the existing Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery course which will be phased out between 1999 and 2004.
Students enrolled prior to 1999 will continue in the existing MBBS course, while those enrolling from 1999 will undertake the new MBBS and BMedSc course.
The MBBS (Hons) may be awarded to students in either program who achieve a high standard throughout their course.
The new medical course will have a dual school leaver entry stream and a graduate entry stream.
The school leaver program takes six years and all students graduate with a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery degree (MBBS) and a Bachelor of Medical Science degree (BMedSc). The MBBS program is conducted over Semesters 1 - 5 and 8 - 12, and the BMedSc program over Semesters 6 - 7. Students who do not wish to continue in the medical program can graduate with a BMedSc degree after successful completion of Semesters 1 - 7.
The graduate program (MBBS) takes four and a half years and will commence in Semester 2, 2000. Graduates without a biomedical science background will be encouraged to undertake an additional introductory semester. Graduates enter the course in Semester 2 of first year, and complete a two-week introductory program immediately prior to the commencement of the course. Graduate entry students are exempt from the BMedSc program over Semesters 6 - 7, but may undertake it if they wish to graduate with the BMedSc degree in addition to the MBBS.
The structure and philosophy of the course is based on the following themes which aim to give students a balance of medical knowledge, a view of the social aspects of medicine, and the skills and attitudes necessary for the practice of medicine well into the 21st century:
The Scientific Basis of Medicine
Population Health
Clinical Skills
Professional Attitudes and Development
The course features a number of teaching methods including problem based learning; an emphasis on self-directed learning strategies; computer assisted learning packages to enhance learning; the early introduction of clinical skills teaching and early exposure of students to health practice settings and to patients; appropriate time for independent study. A large component of the teaching and learning in Semesters 8 - 12 occurs through direct patient contact and clerking and small group bedside teaching.
Health Practice subjects in Semesters 1 - 5 cover the areas of the Human Mind and Behaviour in Health and Illness, Health and Society and Introduction to Clinical Medicine. Students visit teaching hospitals and other community health settings to explore aspects of illness and health care arising from the clinical problem of the week.
Body Systems subjects in Semesters 1 - 5 integrate teaching of the basic sciences relevant to medicine such as anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, molecular biology, physics, pharmacology, pathology and microbiology. A clinical case presented as a 'problem of the week' enables students to assimilate basic medical science knowledge in the context of patient care.
In Semesters 6 - 7 students explore in depth an area related to medicine from a wide range of topics in Advanced Medical Science subjects. Students are introduced to the formal processes of research and develop skills in literature appraisal, data collection, analysis and presentation. This year may be spent doing research on campus, or subject to approval, interstate or overseas.
Clinical rotations in Semesters 8 - 12 prepare students to enter supervised clinical practice as an intern, while based at one of the general clinical schools associated with the University of Melbourne: the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre/Northern Hospital, the Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital, and the St Vincent's Hospital/Geelong Hospital. Learning and teaching also takes place in institutions associated with the general clinical schools or in more specialised clinical centres such as the Royal Women's Hospital, the Mercy Hospital for Women, the Royal Children's Hospital, Mt Royal Hospital and psychiatric hospitals.
To produce knowledgeable, caring and competent graduates, well prepared to practise under supervision as interns and subsequently to commence postgraduate vocational training in any area of medicine.
To impart knowledge, attitudes and skills that will encourage and enable graduates to practise ethical and scientifically-based health care with a high level of skill and social responsibility and continue to develop their knowledge and skills throughout their career.
| Course structure: Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medical Science | ||
|---|---|---|
| Semester 1 | Points | |
| 510-110 Principles of Biomedical Science | 37.5 | |
| 510-111 Health Practice 1 | 12.5 | |
| Semester 2 | ||
| 510-112 Nutrition Digestion & Metabolism | 37.5 | |
| 510-113 Health Practice 2 | 12.5 | |
| Semester 3 | ||
| 510-210 Cardio-respiratory & Locomotor Systems | ||
| 510-211 Health Practice 3 | ||
| Semester 4 | ||
| 510-212 Control Systems, Growth & Development | ||
| 510-213 Health Practice 4 | ||
| Semester 5 | ||
| 510-310 Defence Mechanisms & Their Failure | ||
| 510-311 Health Practice 5 | ||
| Semesters 6 & 7 | ||
| 510-320 Advanced Medical Studies 1 | ||
| 510-420 Advanced Medical Studies 2 | ||
| Semesters 8 - 12 | ||
| 510-411 Integrated Clinical Practice 1 | ||
| 510-510 Integrated Clinical Practice 2 | ||
| 510-511 Integrated Clinical Practice 3 | ||
| 510-610 Integrated Clinical Practice 4 | ||
| 510-611 Integrated Clinical Practice 5 | ||
The existing MBBS program takes six years and has two major but overlapping stages: (a) the Basic Sciences and Medical Sciences, and (b) the Clinical Sciences. There will be no further intake into the first year of this course.
Basic Sciences and Medical Sciences units occupy much of the early years of the course, providing a strong basis for subsequent clinical training. However, there is a substantial medical and clinical content in the early 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.
Computer facilities and state-of-the-art interactive multimedia laboratories 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 course, particularly in third year and in each of the full-time clinical years.
In third year students are allocated to one of the three general clinical schools associated with the University of Melbourne: the Austin and Repatriation Medical Centre/Northern Hospital, the Royal Melbourne Hospital/Western Hospital, and the St Vincent's Hospital/Geelong Hospital.
Students spend much of the final three years of the 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.
At the beginning of the final year 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 one-year course is open to MBBS students enrolled prior to 1999 who have good academic records (e.g. ordinarily an overall performance at the level of 65% or greater) to encourage them to explore more deeply an area they have already studied. It may be taken after completing at least third year in the existing MBBS 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 BBiomedSci is a three year degree offered jointly by the Faculties of Science and Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences. The degree has a unique emphasis on multidisciplinary core subjects which will focus on frontiers in biomedical science, innovations and new technologies, bioethical considerations, and will develop skills in scientific communications, teamwork and leadership.
The degree is designed to position graduates for careers in a range of biomedical industries, particularly those being generated by major international genome programs. It is also ideally suited for entry into postgraduate research and coursework degree programs including PhD, medicine, nutrition, toxicology and law.
The degree will be available for HECS-funded and Australian and international fee-paying students, and is administered by the Faculty of Science. For further details refer to the Bachelor of Biomedical Science degree entry under Faculty of Science in this Handbook.
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, paediatric 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 two-year, full-time fixed course of study which comprises two streams of vocational outcome - Dental Therapy and Dental Hygiene 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. Applicants must select which stream - Therapy or Hygiene - they wish to take at the time of application.
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 the school dental service. The hygiene stream focuses on the conservative management of periodontal conditions.
This course has as its objectives that graduates:
demonstrate appropriate knowledge and skills in health promotion and health education, oral examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, operative and/or other clinical therapeutic skills to practise those aspects of dental therapy or dental hygiene permitted by legislation governing the practice of dentistry in Australia;
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 basic knowledge and skills required to promote oral health of individuals and groups in both health and education settings, and in the wider community, especially to disadvantaged individuals and groups;
demonstrate an ability to communicate and cooperate with all members of the dental team 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 patient record management 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.
| Oral Health: units for the diploma | |
|---|---|
| First year | |
| 511-111 Society and Health | |
| 511-112 Health Sciences | |
| 511-113 Clinical Dentistry 1 | |
| Second year | |
| 511-205 Preventive and Community Dentistry | |
| 511-206 Oral Pathology Oral Medicine & Pharmacology | |
| 511-207 Management of Compromised Patients | |
| 511-208 Clinical Dentistry 2 | |
| Stream options | |
| 511-209 Clinical Dental Hygiene | |
| OR | |
| 511-210 Clinical Dental Therapy | |
Diploma Conversion Course:
From 1999, entry into the second year of the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy - into either the Dental Therapy or the Dental Hygiene stream - will be available to a limited number of eligible applicants. Eligible candidates must have a Dental Therapy or Dental Hygiene qualification and current clinical experience (i.e. not less than 4 years). Applications for entry into 1999 have closed. Applications for entry into the year 2000 are available from the Dental School Office and must be submitted direct to the Dental School Manager by 31 July 1999.
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 physiology, anatomy, kinesiology and physiotherapy techniques. This requires partial disrobing and acting as 'therapist' and 'patient' to learn by observation, touch 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/Northern Hospital, 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:
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.
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Status: Official 1999 Last Modified: Tuesday October 20 11:52 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au