Overview

The Bachelor of Health Science (Vision Science), Master of Optometry requires 5 years of full-time study (or up to 8 years part-time). The double degree course is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

Student guidance

Study planner
Program of study overview
Program of study notes

Program of study
180 Units

Year 136 Units
Year 236 Units
Year 336 Units
Year 436 Units
Year 536 Units

Admission requirements

Admission requirements
Assumed knowledge
English Language requirements

Aims

The overall aim of the double degree course is to prepare the graduate for entry level clinical practice as an optometrist in a range of urban, rural and remote settings; to be a well-informed health professional; and to acquire critical skills in appraising scientific and clinical information. In addition, the double degree course is designed to produce graduates who as health scientists are specialists in the area of vision science, and possess well developed skills to undertake a range of careers within the health sector. Students also gain the specialist knowledge, clinical skills and attitudes necessary to be registered by the Optometry Board of Australia as an optometrist.

Learning outcomes

On completion of the course you will be able to:
1.
Integrate the fundamental sciences underpinning health, optometric knowledge and clinical skills to provide compassionate, safe, independent, and patient-centred eye care to patients across the life-span
2.
Evaluate current knowledge, scientific advances, and the social and cultural dimensions of patient care to apply problem-solving and clinical reasoning skills assuring high quality evidence-based care for each patient
3.
Prescribe ophthalmic appliances, contact lenses, vision therapy, and low vision devices to treat and manage vision disorders and meet occupational vision standards
4.
Create appropriate treatment and management plans for patients with ocular pathology, including with the use of therapeutically pharmaceutical agents, co-management, and referral where appropriate
5.
Employ a range of verbal and non-verbal communication skills to ensure safe, respectful, effective and inclusive care for all patients
6.
Participate and lead team approaches for inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary health care, promoting eye health to patients, other health professionals, and the broader community
7.
Integrate and synthesis knowledge of the Australian health care system, the social determinants of health, and the variance of health and illness models and their impact on patient care across diverse cultures, in particular, the health of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples
8.
Undertake clinically-based visual science research to develop new knowledge related to visual function and eye health
9.
Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and attributes that are consistent with registration requirements of the Optometry Board of Australia and the Flinders University graduate qualities

Student progression rules

Students achieving a GPA of at least 5 at the end of third year will be eligible to continue into the fourth year of the course. Students who do not meet the GPA requirement will be able to exit with the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Vision Science) on completion of 108 units according to the first three years of study in the degree. 

The award of a grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion or failure to complete the course within eight consecutive years may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University's Policy on Student Progress.

Professional accreditation and recognition

Professional accreditation

Associations

Course/Exit award association
Double degree association