8. Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health
Course of study
A range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees are available specialising in applied behavioural sciences for health, community, ageing and disability.
- From 2007, the Bachelor of Health Sciences has replaced the three year Bachelor of Behavioural Health Science and is designed to provide students with greater flexibility and choice. A fourth year honours program is available to meritorious students. See Chapter 7 for further information on the Bachelor of Health Sciences.
- Postgraduate coursework degrees are offered in gerontology and health science education. See Chapters 20 and 21 for information on the postgraduate degrees offered in the discipline of Behavioural and Social Sciences in Health.
- Postgraduate masters and doctoral research degrees are available with supervision in the following research areas: behavioural aspects of ageing, child and adolescent behaviour, community health and development, curriculum design, cyberpsychology, delinquency, educational practice, ethnicity and migrant health, gender equity and health, health policy, health risk management, improving health systems, applications of attention, memory, knowledge and decision making to health, media and health, intellectual and physical disability, mental health (anxiety disorders, depression, substance abuse, addictive behaviour), occupational stress, organisational behaviour, traumatic brain injury, treatment compliance and adherence, vocational rehabilitation, women's and men's health and workers' compensation. See Chapter 31 for information on research degrees offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Key external collaborators include:
- Australian and New Zealand Obsessive Compulsive Disorder Research Alliance
- Australian Association for Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
- Australian Centre for Addiction Research
- Australian Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health
- Commission for Children and Young People
- Commonwealth Departments of Health and Ageing and of Veterans' Affairs
- NSW Departments of Health, Juvenile Justice and Education
- Justice Health
- Migration Research Network
- National Cancer Institute (NIH, USA)
- Primary Health Network
- Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth
Professional information
Applied behavioural sciences reflect the multidisciplinary nature of healthcare and link developments in behavioural sciences with their application in health and community contexts. Graduates with specialisations in applied behavioural sciences develop skills in understanding the social, cultural, and personal characteristics that impact on the health of individuals, families, communities and societies. They also develop generic skills in research and communication suitable to a broad range of multidisciplinary settings. Applied behavioural sciences are an integral part of all curriculum in the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Further information
Telephone: +61 2 9351 9161
Website: www.fhs.usyd.edu.au
No first year intake from 2007
Honours
Students are advised to contact the course coordinator for specific information related to the Bachelor of Behavioural Health Science honours program.
Course outline
The course outline for the Bachelor of Behavioural Health Science honours is presented in Table 8.1. Units of study are described in Chapter 19.
Table 8.1: Bachelor of Behavioural Health Science (Honours)
| Unit of study | Credit points | A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition | Session |
|---|---|---|---|
| Course code SH121: Honours course; full-time, 4 years | |||
Year 4 (last offered in 2009) |
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Semester 1 |
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| AHCD4052 Honours Workshop |
6 |
This unit is available only to students admitted to the honours program |
Semester 1 |
| BACH4082 Research Project: Data Collection |
6 |
This unit is available only to honours students |
Semester 1 |
| Research support elective [6] (see notes and research support electives below) | |||
| General elective [6] (see notes) | |||
| SEMESTER 1 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Semester 2 |
|||
| BACH4080 Research Thesis Support |
6 | P AHCD3016 Writing a Research Proposal, AHCD4052 Honours Workshop |
Semester 2 |
| BACH4083 Research Project: Interpretation |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| BACH4084 Special Investigation |
6 | N This unit is available only to honours students |
Semester 2 |
| General elective [6] (see notes) | |||
| SEMESTER 2 TOTAL: 24 CREDIT POINTS | |||
Notes |
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| 1. Electives are offered subject to staff availability and minimum enrolment. | |||
| 2. Elective studies may be taken from within or outside the Faculty of Health Sciences, subject to availability and prerequisites. Students must discuss their electives with their academic adviser prior to enrolment. A list of electives available in the Faculty of Health Sciences is found in Chapter 19 of the handbook. | |||
| 3. General electives: students are required to enrol in ONE 6 credit points unit of study at the level of BACH2xxx or above which they have not completed in their pass degree. This should be negotiated with their research supervisor and the honours coordinator. | |||
Research support electives |
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| BACH4056 Qualitative Research Methods |
6 | Semester 2 |
|
| BACH4057 Survey Research Methods |
6 | Semester 1 Semester 2 |
|