Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) Honours

Description

Physiotherapy is a health profession which deals with the prevention, assessment and treatment of human movement disorders. Physiotherapy services are used in a wide variety of areas such as health care organisations, private practices, schools and community, sports and workplace settings. The physiotherapy profession is committed to continued research into its fundamental concepts and activities and the evaluation of physiotherapy services to ensure the optimum quality of care for the community it serves. The profession is also committed to effective communication with members of the health team, the community at large and the continuing education of its graduates.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) course and the Master of Physiotherapy courses are regularly reviewed to ensure that each of the physiotherapy competencies formulated by the physiotherapy profession in Australia are addressed in the curriculum. Reference to specific competencies is made in statements of unit aims and objectives in student manuals and other materials.

The Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) course and the graduate-entry program of Master of Physiotherapy are accredited with the Australian Physiotherapy Council.

In common with other disciplines at the University of Sydney, all the professional programs in physiotherapy are developed to promote students development of generic as well as discipline-specific knowledge and skills. Generic skills, such as communication and teamwork, are necessary attributes of all graduates of higher education in this age of change. Graduates of the physiotherapy courses possess high capability for working in many different settings to promote health and facilitate rehabilitation. Clinical practicum venues include generalist and specialist settings in city and rural regions, and in institutional, school, industrial and community contexts.

Requirements

There are no formal prerequisites for admission to the Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy) programs. As most students will be interacting with computers during their program, experience in the use of computers would be an advantage. Assumed knowledge includes mathematics, physics and chemistry at HSC level. Students who have not completed these studies recently are advised to consider attending one or more of the pre-semester bridging programs offered by the University of Sydney. Please refer to the general admission requirements and the section on bridging courses, both in Chapter 1. Information on bridging courses offered at the Faculty of Health Sciences campus at Lidcombe is available online at:
sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/future_students/
undergraduate/bridging
while bridging courses offered at the Camperdown campus are found at:
science.usyd.edu.au/fstudent/undergrad/entry/bridging.shtml.

The profession of physiotherapy is physically demanding and requires for its practice the development of a range of precise physical skills. Prospective students should be aware that they will be expected to carry out and have carried out upon themselves as simulated patients, all the examination and treatment procedures used by physiotherapists. Such practical classes may involve partial disrobing. Participation in these classes is a requirement of the program.

Any prospective student who thinks that he/she may have a consideration, condition or disability which may interfere with the development or practice of physical skills or with participation in clinical education should consult the course coordinator before commencing the program.

Notes

The following information is specific to the physiotherapy honours program. Entry to the honours program is competitive and requires completion of the first two and a half years of the undergraduate physiotherapy course with a credit or higher average without any failed grades.

An honours degree is awarded after satisfactory completion of all coursework and a dissertation during the fourth year of the course. There is no re-examination for the honours units of study.

Students who fail to meet this criterion in the honours program will be required to discontinue that program. They may be re-absorbed into the pass program provided they meet the criteria for retention and progression in this course. See Table 5.1.1 for the honours program course outlines.

For further information specific to the physiotherapy honours program, students are advised to contact the Honours Program Coordinator, Associate Professor Jack Crosbie, on telephone +61 2 9351 9180.

In order for honours students to have adequate time to pursue their research studies, modifications have been made to the pass program for these students. Modifications include: unit exemptions and additions