COURSE CURRICULUM

The full-time one-year honours program commencing in ACU Term 1 is designed to provide students with a structured and research-focused pathway that builds advanced skills in exercise science and biomedical research. In Term 1, students begin with core coursework that strengthens their understanding of research design and scientific inquiry through the unit Research Methods in Biomedical and Health Sciences Research, delivered in an online scheduled format to provide flexible study options. During this term, students also select either Qualitative Research Methods in Health Science or Statistics for Biomedical and Health Sciences Research, both of which are also offered online and equip students with specialised methodological knowledge suited to their chosen research direction. In Term 2, students undertake Communicating Research in Biomedical and Health Sciences, a unit that focuses on developing strong academic writing, presentation and dissemination skills essential for effective research communication. In addition to coursework, students commence Honours Thesis Part A (EXSC407), a multi-mode unit that introduces them to the early stages of project planning, literature review and research proposal development under academic supervision. Moving into Term 3, students progress to Honours Thesis Part B (EXSC408), a substantial 40-credit point unit completed across Terms 3 and 4. This component of the program involves carrying out the major elements of the honours research project, including data collection, analysis and the development of a full written thesis. Delivered in a multi-mode format, the thesis units allow students to engage with supervisors, research facilities and academic resources both online and on campus. Term 4 continues the completion of Honours Thesis Part B, ensuring students have adequate time to finalise their research findings, prepare their thesis for submission and demonstrate the advanced analytical skills expected of honours-level study.