Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies)

Getting into shape doesn’t just mean going to the gym – it requires you to recognize the links between the structure of bones, joints, muscles, and nerves within your body and how they help your body to function.

The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies) will give you insights and experience into health in the clinical setting while also equipping you with a knowledge of the fundamentals of biomedical science and health.

It is important to note that students must complete the Master of Osteopathic Medicine in order to become a registered osteopath. Graduates of this degree will receive four units of advanced standing towards the Southern Cross University Master of Osteopathic Medicine qualification for students - helping accelerate the pathway to becoming a practicing osteopath.

Career Opportunities

Provides a pathway into graduate entry osteopathy. The Bachelor of Clinical Sciences (Osteopathic Studies) together with our Master of Osteopathic Medicine provides a professional-entry-level program that produces graduates who are eligible to register as practitioners of osteopathic medicine.

Professional Recognition

In Australia, entry-level training in osteopathic medicine is accredited by the Osteopathy Board of Australia. This course is fully accredited by the Board for the purposes of registration in the osteopathy profession. Registration in Australia gives mobility across all states and territories and New Zealand.

[Please note: In order to register to practice, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency [AHPRA]’s standards for the English language must be met. See the AHPRA website for further information.]

Professional Placement

Professional placements provide students with about 800 hours (made up of 320 hours at the Bachelors level and 480 hours at the Masters level) of experience in the practice of safe and effective manual therapy and the application of a wide range of treatment and management plans. Students have opportunities to work with a diverse range of patients in areas including injury and illness prevention and management, rehabilitation and health promotion. Clinical practice-based learning is also undertaken at the SCU Health Clinic, located at the Lismore and Gold Coast campuses

Professional experience placements require students to fulfill certain pre-requisites prior to attending any placements. Prior to applying for this course, please consider the important information regarding these requirements.

Major Areas of Study

Students are introduced to the philosophical and biological underpinnings of the osteopathic concept of health. They develop foundational skills in diagnosis and technique that are utilized in osteopathic clinical practice. The course includes the study of advanced levels of anatomy and physiology, particularly the structure and function of the muscular and nervous systems.

Assessment methods

The assessment methods used in this course vary from unit to unit. Most units utilize progressive assessment with marks typically allocated across a combination of assessment tasks due at different times during the study period that often include a formal end of session examination. Assessment requirements for each unit are advised in writing to students at the commencement of each study period with clear guidelines, due dates, and the weighting for each assessment task.

Teaching methods

On-campus students experience a variety of teaching approaches including lectures, tutorials, online activities and video-linked or podcast virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Our online study option is highly interactive and strives to promote collaboration and a sense of community. Students may receive a combination of a podcast or video-linked lectures, electronic study materials, workshops, online discussion forums and virtual classes. The method of teaching may vary from unit to unit.

Facts, figures, rankings and awards

Southern Cross University is a progressive, young and connected regional research university, with vibrant campuses in northern New South Wales and the southern Gold Coast. We offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and many are available in a dynamic online form. Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

Why SCU?

Times Higher Education Young University Rankings 20Bold, progressive and just 23 years of age – Southern Cross University is one of the Asia-Pacific’s Top 100 Universities and one of the world’s Top 50 Generation Y Universities .

Our contemporary campuses, with purpose-built state-of-the-art facilities, are located on the east coast of Australia, at the Gold Coast in Queensland, and in Lismore and Coffs Harbour in New South Wales. All are unique regions renowned for their natural beauty and ecological diversity, providing living laboratories for learning and creative hubs for artistic endeavour.

Branch campuses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth are operated in collaboration with EduCo on behalf of Southern Cross University. The University also operates The Hotel School Sydney and Melbourne in partnership with Mulpha Australia. We also deliver degrees with collaborators in China, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

We have a large and diverse range of courses available online, offering interactive and immersive learning experiences wherever our students are.

Whether studying on-campus, online, or both, we deliver exciting, contemporary and high-quality learning experiences.

We aim to produce graduates who are career ready, world ready and digitally literate, and who experience an academic environment distinctive for its personal approach.

The University has a strong focus on industry and community collaboration to produce engaged teaching and research outcomes.

This connectivity is seeing Southern Cross University lead the $13.8m national Farming Together Pilot Program, partnering with the Northern Rivers Co-operatives Alliance and the Australian Government. The University has also introduced an important new Centre for Organics Research with the NSW Department of Primary Industries.

In the latest Excellence in Research for Australia report, Southern Cross achieved outstanding ratings of 'at world standard' or above in 24 research fields. In nine research fields, the University was evaluated at the highest possible classification of 'well above world standard'. This was achieved in the fields of Geochemistry, Oceanography, Environmental Science and Management, Zoology, Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Crop and Pasture Production, Forestry Sciences, Nursing, Complementary and Alternative Medicine.

Campuses

Southern Cross University is a vibrant, contemporary Australian university with beautiful campuses on the Gold Coast, Lismore and Coffs Harbour.

Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses (International students)

Southern Cross University's branch campuses at Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth are conveniently located in the central business districts.

Studying at SCU Sydney, Melbourne or Perth gives international students the opportunity to complete undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in three of the world's most liveable cities. Southern Cross University collaborates with EduCo Sydney Branch Pty Ltd for the operation of the SCU Sydney, Melbourne and Perth branch campuses.