Diploma of Health

Southern Cross University

Nursing, naturopathy, sport and exercise science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychology, biomedical science, osteopathic studies …there are so many career paths in health.

If you're uncertain about which one is right for you, our Diploma of Health can provide the clarity you need for your future as a health professional.

Graduates can seek professional outcomes in several areas, including as allied health assistants, personal care assistants, lab assistants, and case workers. This Diploma is also an ideal pathway towards further study at Southern Cross University and provides guaranteed entry to a range of Bachelor degrees.

This course is offered through SCU College. Additional support through workshops to develop academic and study skills is available to all SCU College students.

Students select a specialisation of study to prepare them for further study in one of the following disciplines: sport and exercise science, occupational therapy, speech pathology, psychological science, biomedical science, osteopathic studies, naturopathy or nursing.

If you are interested in studying online, please note the following:

For all specialisations, except for Psychological Science, some units will need to be completed on-campus as they are not available online. Some units also require mandatory on-campus attendance.

Additional points to note:

The Biomedical Science and Osteopathic Studies specialisations are not currently offered at Coffs Harbour.
All specialisations are available at the Gold Coast, except for naturopathic studies which is offered in Lismore.
Check the individual specialisation you are interested in for more details about where the units are offered and mandatory on-campus attendance.
Please note duration of the Diploma of Health may vary depending on unit availabilities. Full-time and part-time duration is indicative only. This also applies if you intend to pursue Bachelor studies. It may for example, take longer than 3 years to complete both the Diploma and a linked 3-year full-time Bachelor degree depending on unit availabilities.

Course requirements

To be eligible to receive the Diploma of Health, students must complete the equivalent of 8 units (96 credit points), comprising:

8 units (96 credit points) from one of the following specialisations: Occupational Therapy, Podiatry and Pedorthics, Speech Pathology, Sport and Exercise Science, Biomedical Science, Osteopathic Studies, Psychological Science, Nursing, and Naturopathic Studies.

Learning outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes express learning achievement in terms of what a student should know, understand and be able to do on completion of a course. These outcomes are aligned with the graduate attributes.