Bachelor of Medical Science

About the course

The Bachelor of Medical Science will provide you with the theoretical and practical skills to gain employment as a scientific officer in a range of clinical and research settings. These include pathology laboratories neurophsyiology, respiratory and cardiac departments and could provide graduate entry into pre-medical studies, medical research and secondary and tertiary teaching.

Have you ever had a blood test ordered by a doctor? Has any member of your family ever had a pap smear? Has any family member ever had a blood transfusion? Do you know anybody who suffers from respiratory, cardiovascular or nervous system disorders? Do you ever require medication?

If so, it is certain that the skills, specialist knowledge and expertise of a medical scientist have played a role in your life and the lives of those around you.

Medical scientists with training in pathology form the vital link in the chain of medical services through their work in hospital laboratories, private pathology laboratories and universities. They conduct laboratory analysis on blood, body fluids and tissues to provide vital scientific information for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Medical scientists in clinical measurement laboratories form another vital link in the chain of medical services by assessing the physiological functioning of the cardiovascular, nervous and respiratory systems. Results of these clinical measurements are used in accurate diagnosis and management of diseases such as atherosclerosis, epilepsy and asthma.

Medical scientists are seen as an integral part of the total health care team within hospitals, liaising with other health professionals and patients. They also form the key elements of research teams examining the efficacy of new treatments or developing new medicines and health care products.

Where it will take you

This broad-based course offers you diverse career options in the health care industry, including a number of alternative paramedical and medicotechnology-based programs, and gives you the flexibility to choose an area of specialisation.

The programs available and employment opportunities include:

Pathology specialisation

Graduates can gain employment in many areas of clinical medical science, particularly in the evolving pathology industry. Potential employment will be found in the following areas of medical science: anatomy, biochemistry, biotechnology, blood bank, cell biology, cytogenetics, genetics, haematology, histology, immunology, immunohaematology, and microbiology. Potential for employment also exists in medical research in hospitals, medical research institutions and IVF clinics.

Clinical Physiology specialisation

This area of study will qualify you for entry into clinical measurement laboratories involved in assessment of physiological functioning of the nervous, cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Clinical measurement involves performance of physiological tests to diagnose and ‘fine tune’ therapeutic management of already established disease.

Careers in clinical research are also available with hospital and university research teams and these often focus on development of new measurement techniques and gaining a better understanding of the processes of specific diseases. There is an emphasis on cardiorespiratory and nervous system anatomy and physiology, fundamental physiological testing techniques such as electroencephalography (EEG), electrocardiography (ECG) and spirometry as well as more advanced testing modalities for each of these three vital body systems, pharmacology, immunology, micro and molecular biology and will allow involvement in a critical areas of Australian public health.

Generic course

By choosing groups of subjects from a number of significant disciplines, you have the option of gaining a broad knowledge in any two of the specialities above. This will be especially attractive to those seeking a flexible undergraduate science program that provides a broad background as an option for entry into research programs.

Your course is recognised by industry

All courses within the School of Biomedical Sciences are designed to provide a variety of levels of eligibility for membership with a range of professional bodies, such as:

• AIMS - Australian Institute of Medical Scientists
• AACB - Australian Association of Clinical Biochemists
• ASC - Australian Science Communicators
• ASBMB - Australian Society for Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
• ANTA - Association of Neurophysiological Technologists of Australia
• CSANZ - Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand
• ASMR - Australian Society for Medical Research
• APSA - Australasian Pharmaceutical Science Association
• ANZSRS - Australian & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science
• ASM - Australian Society for Microbiology
• HGSA - Human Genetics Society of Australasia

Graduates from the Pathology specialisation of this course are eligible for corporate membership of the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists.

Residential school

Distance education students will attend eight days of residential school per session at the Wagga Wagga Campus.

Graduation requirements

To graduate, students must satisfactorily complete 192 points (24 subjects).

On campus students who enrol in one of the three specialisations must complete a minimum of six weeks clinical experience in an approved laboratory to be eligible to graduate.

Distance education students who are not in appropriate employment will also be required to complete such professional experience. This is not a requirement of the students enrolled in the generic course.

Students will graduate from the Bachelor of Medical Science with the award BMedSc.

Clinical requirements

Refer to the Clinical requirements section for information on:

• Criminal Record Clearance
  
• Immunisation

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