Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences : Guide to courses 11. Outlines of the undergraduate courses

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11. Outlines of the undergraduate courses
    11.1. Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medical Science
        11.1.1. Course objectives
    11.2. Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Arts
    11.3. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (pre-1999 admission)
    11.4. Bachelor of Medical Science (pre-1999 admission to MBBS)
    11.5. Bachelor of Biomedical Science
    11.6. Bachelor of Dental Science
        11.6.1. Course objectives
        11.6.2. Course structure
    11.7. Bachelor of Dental Studies
    11.8. Bachelor of Nursing Science
        11.8.1. Course objectives
        11.8.2. Course structure
    11.9. Diploma in Oral Health Therapy
        11.9.1. Course objectives
        11.9.2. Course structure
    11.10. Bachelor of Physiotherapy
        11.10.1. Course objectives
        11.10.2. Course structure

11. Outlines of the undergraduate courses

In 1999, the School of Medicine introduced 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 by 2004.

Students enrolled prior to 1999 continue in the MBBS course, while those enrolling from 1999 undertake the MBBS, BMedSc course, except for those students enrolled under the Graduate Entry Program who will not normally undertake the Bachelor of Medical Science component of the new course, and will undertake the MBBS component only.

The MBBS (Hons) may be awarded to students in either program who achieve a high standard throughout their course.

11.1. Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medical Science

The medical course has a dual Undergraduate Entry Program and a Graduate Entry Program.

The Undergraduate Entry 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 Entry Program (MBBS) takes four and a half years. 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, however graduates without a biomedical science background will be encouraged to undertake an additional introductory semester. 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.

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.

Health practice subjects in Semesters 1-5 cover the areas of the human mind and behaviour, 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'.

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, at rural, interstate or overseas locations.

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, the St Vincent's Hospital/Geelong Hospital, and the Rural Clinical School (Shepparton). 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, and psychiatric hospitals.

11.1.1. Course objectives

The objectives of the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery and Bachelor of Medical Science are 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; and

• 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.

11.2. Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery/Bachelor of Arts

The combined MBBS/BA course is a seven-year program which provides the professional qualification for a career in medicine, as well as a broader education in the humanities, languages or social sciences. Students are required to complete a minimum of 200 arts points to satisfy Arts Faculty requirements. In the first five semesters, students will complete all subjects of the first five semesters of the MBBS program, and 25 points of first-year arts subjects (students choosing to study a language will need to do 37.5 points). Beginning in the sixth semester, students will complete the remaining points for the arts component of the course over the next four semesters. Some students may choose to complete more than 200 points in order to satisfy requirements for particular majors and may lengthen the course by one semester. Students in the combined MBBS/BA course are not required to complete the BMedSc component of the medical course in Semesters 6 and 7.

For information on arts subjects available to students in the combined MBBS/BA course, refer to 'Combined arts degrees' in the Faculty of Arts entry in this Handbook.

A quota of ten places applies to the combined degree.

11.3. Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (pre-1999 admission)

The MBBS program (pre-1999 admission) takes six years and has two major but overlapping stages: the basic sciences and medical sciences, and the clinical sciences. There will be no further intake into 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 eight-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 rural, interstate or overseas institutions.

11.4. Bachelor of Medical Science (pre-1999 admission to MBBS)

This one-year course is open to MBBS students enrolled prior to 1999 who have good academic records (eg. ordinarily an overall performance at the level of 65 per cent or greater) to encourage them to explore more deeply an area they have already studied. 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.

11.5. Bachelor of Biomedical Science

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 (BBiomedSc) entry under Faculty of Science in this Handbook.

11.6. Bachelor of Dental Science

In 2000, the School of Dental Science introduced a new BDSc curriculum to replace the existing one which will be phased out between 2000 and 2004. Students enrolled prior to 2000 will continue in the existing BDSc course while those enrolling from 2000 will undertake the new course.

The course is a fixed, five-year full-time program and students need to pass all subjects in their current year of enrolment before being allowed to proceed to the next year of the course.

The new curriculum incorporates a variety of teaching methods for the education of dentists. It focuses on principles and concepts, fosters the integration of basic and clinical sciences and crosses traditional discipline boundaries, encouraging skills in problem solving, self-directed learning and research.

Students may qualify for the degree with honours if they achieve first-, second-, or third-class honours as determined by their performance in the second, third, fourth and fifth years.

The first three years of the new curriculum concentrate on the basic sciences relevant to dentistry, ie. anatomy, biology, chemistry, microbiology, pathology, pharmacology and neuroscience. The later years are mostly devoted to clinical practice and matters arising from practice. Practical work is undertaken in the laboratories of the health science departments and in those of the School of Dental Science. Students' involvement in clinical work (a component of dental practice subjects) starts in first year and gradually increases throughout the course. Clinical sessions are provided in the clinics of the Royal Dental Hospital of Melbourne and in other metropolitan clinics. In the later part of the course, some of the clinical work is undertaken at the Royal Melbourne Hospital and/or regional hospitals. The manual and communication skills needed for clinical dentistry are developed gradually as students progress through the course.

In addition to clinical work, dental practice subjects also include theoretical work. In particular students will:

• examine the role, responsibilities and activities of a dentist in a community;

• gain a basic understanding of human behaviour and development (somatic, physiological and psychological);

• develop a thorough knowledge of oral anatomy, the causes of oral disease, oral disease prevention and treatment, and the ways oral health can be promoted and achieved;

• explore thoroughly the concepts of total patient care; and

• achieve a sound understanding of the principles of medicine and surgery and their applications in dental practice.

11.6.1. Course objectives

The objectives of the Bachelor of Dental Science are to:

• produce knowledgeable, caring and competent graduates, well prepared to enter dental practice if they choose and subsequently to commence postgraduate vocational training in any area of dentistry; and

• impart knowledge, attitudes and skills that will encourage and enable the 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.

11.6.2. Course structure

11.7. Bachelor of Dental Studies

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.

11.8. Bachelor of Nursing Science

The Bachelor of Nursing Science is a three-year full-time course (currently only available at the Shepparton campus). The course takes a research-oriented approach to practice and encourages clinical skills to be developed in a systematic and evidence-based manner. Clinical skill development occurs in a wide variety of affiliated health agencies with the clinical hours offered in this program being generally greater than those provided in three year Bachelor of Nursing programs offered elsewhere in the State.

11.8.1. Course objectives

The objectives of the Bachelor of Nursing Science are to:

• produce a beginning level nursing practitioner who demonstrates the capacity for information seeking and retrieval; evaluation and critical appraisal skills; intercultural sensitivity and understanding; well developed communication skills, both written and oral; the ability to contribute to the multi-disciplinary health team in the management of individuals and populations with health care needs; and

• impart knowledge attitudes and skills that will encourage and enable the graduates to identify legal and ethical responsibilities in practice; understand and articulate the contribution of the professional nurse in the multidisciplinary team; develop understanding of health from both a population and individual perspective; understand the contextual and bases of health care; take an evidence-based approach to practice; understand the complex interplay of psychological,sociocultural, legal and political factors that influence health care and health outcomes; be self directed and recognise the importance of, and obtain the requisite skills to engage in on-going professional education; and meet the competencies identified by the Australian Nursing Council as necessary for practice as a Registered Nurse.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

There are two standard programs within the course which recognise the knowledge and skills (a) of Division 2 nurses and holders of bachelor degrees with studies in the life or biosciences, and (b) Australian or overseas diploma qualified nurses and Australian or overseas-qualified medical doctors. The former enter at year 2 and complete a two-year program and the latter at year 3 and complete a one-year program. (These two programs are available at both the Parkville and Shepparton campuses).

11.8.2. Course structure

11.9. Diploma in Oral Health Therapy

The Diploma in Oral Health Therapy is a fixed, two-year, full-time course of study with two vocational outcomes: hygiene or therapy. Graduates apply for registration with the Dental Board of Victoria as either Dental Hygienists or Dental Therapists. 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: Those 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: In this component the student follows either the dental therapy stream or the dental hygiene stream. The therapy stream focuses on managing dental decay in children and adolescents and the delivery of restorative dentistry within the public dental programs. The hygiene stream focuses on the conservative management of periodontal conditions.

11.9.1. Course objectives

The objectives of the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy are to:

• facilitate the education of operative dental auxiliaries who are able to work within a dental team, adapt to change and educate themselves throughout their professional careers;

• impart knowledge, attitudes and skills in health promotion and health education, oral examination, diagnosis, treatment planning, operative and/or other clinical therapeutic skills that will enable graduates to practise those aspects of dental hygiene or dental therapy permitted by legislation governing the practice of dentistry in Australia.

11.9.2. Course structure

Diploma conversion course

Entry into the second year of the Diploma in Oral Health Therapy - into either the dental therapy or the dental hygiene stream - may be available to a limited number of eligible applicants. Eligible candidates must have a dental therapy or dental hygiene qualification and current clinical experience (ie. not less than four years). Applications for entry are available from the Dental School Office and must be submitted direct to the Dental School Manager by 30 September of the year preceding entry. Please note however, the conversion course may not be available every year.

11.10. Bachelor of Physiotherapy

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. The generic skills developed in the course enable graduates to move into careers in other industries as well.

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 integrated physical, biological, medical, behavioural and physiotherapy 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 movement and physical disorders and disabilities from a wide range of ages and cultural backgrounds 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, the Royal Melbourne/Western, and St Vincent's/Geelong.

In the second year, students undertake a one-week clinical placement at a hospital clinic.

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 or in rural/outback Australia.

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.

Students are facilitated with the development of lifelong learning by a two-level mentor scheme, communication skills development, problem-based tutorials, computer laboratories with interactive multimedia programs and a highly integrated clinical education program.

11.10.1. Course objectives

Objectives of the Bachelor of Physiotherapy course are:

• to provide graduates with an integrated knowledge of physical, biological, medical and behavioural sciences;

• to provide graduates with the clinical knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for the competent assessment, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of patients with physical disorders and disabilities;

• to provide graduates with a capacity for problem solving and self-directed learning and the motivation for lifelong independent learning;

• to provide graduates with a capacity to communicate effectively with patients, colleagues and members of other health professions in diverse cultural and geographical settings;

• to provide graduates with an understanding of professional responsibility and ethical principles in relation to individuals and the community, both locally and internationally;

• to provide graduates with an appreciation of the dynamics of their profession by fostering a willingness to adapt practice to reflect advances in medical and physiotherapy science as well as changes to current health care and social policies; and

• to produce graduates whose qualification is registerable by the Physiotherapists' Registration Boards of Australia and recognised internationally.

11.10.2. Course structure

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