Course overview

Build your foundation knowledge in nutrition science and learn how nutrition affects population health, disease and ageing, and gain a deep understanding of the commercial forces that guide Australia's $20 billion food industry. With Deakin's Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce, you will graduate with highly transferable skills that allow you to work in either field, or where nutrition and business connect. 

Hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art food sensory labs will ensure you graduate with practical skills that prepare you for employment in the thriving health and food industries, with the advanced knowledge to provide evidence-based nutrition advice throughout community settings. Your commerce degree equips you with versatile skills that ensure you are ready for the commercial roles of the future. You will work with real commercial clients on industry projects and learn from today's business leaders.

Why not combine your passion for food and nutrition with business skills that prepare you for a career in the food industry?

While studying nutrition sciences, you will gain expertise and insight into the overall impact of food on health and wellbeing, and graduate ready for a successful career in the Healthcare and Social Assistance sector – the largest and fastest growing employment sector in Australia. 

Your commerce degree will equip you with highly transferable skills that ensure you graduate ready to confidently advise in roles across business and government. By choosing to complete a business major, you will gain insight into how a specialised area of commerce affects the nutrition industry. The majors available in the commerce stream of this degree include:

• accounting
• economics
• finance
• human resource management
• management
• management information systems
• marketing

Both the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Deakin Business School house state-of-the-art facilities to expose you to industry-standard environments while you study. Put theories to the test in our food sensory labs and develop your skills in business focused learning spaces. 

Broaden your cultural understanding of nutrition and commerce by taking the opportunity to study abroad for a trimester. International study provides invaluable experience that prepares you to transition from course to career within Australia and around the globe.

Course structure

To complete the Bachelor of Nutrition Science/Bachelor of Commerce students must attain 32 credit points. Most units (think of units as 'subjects') are equal to 1 credit point. In order to gain 32 credit points you will need to study 32 units (AKA 'subjects') over your entire degree. Most students choose to study 4 units per trimester, and usually undertake two trimesters each year.

The course comprises 32 credit points. 16 credit points are Nutrition Science units, and 16 credit points are Commerce units, which includes the completion of a prescribed Commerce major sequence from one of the following options: Accounting, Economics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Management, Management Information Systems and Marketing, which must include the following:

• 16 core credit points studied within the Faculty of Business and Law that must include the 8 Bachelor of Commerce core units: MAA103, MAE101, MAF101, MLC101, MMK101, MMM132, MIS171 and MWL101, plus one Commerce major that consists of 8 credit points
• Completion of HSN010 Food and Nutrition Laboratory Safety and SLE010 Laboratory and Fieldwork Safety Induction Program prior to your first laboratory based unit in this course.

All commencing Faculty of Health Undergraduate and Postgraduate course work students are required to complete HAI010 Academic Integrity in their first trimester of study (0 credit point compulsory unit).

Intakes by location

The availability of a course varies across locations and intakes. This means that a course offered in Trimester 1 may not be offered in the same location for Trimester 2 or 3. Check each intake for up-to-date information on when and where you can commence your studies.

Additional course information

Bachelor of Nutrition Science (H315)
Bachelor of Commerce (M300)

Course duration - additional information

Course duration may be affected by delays in completing course requirements, such as accessing or completing work placements.

Mandatory student checks

Working with Children Check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid Working with Children Check (WWCC) for the relevant state prior to undertaking placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.

Police Record Check

Applicants will be required to hold a valid National Police Record Check for placements as part of this course. Further information and guidance will be provided to students when they enrol into their placement unit.

Workload

As a student in the Faculty of Health you can expect to participate in a range of teaching activities each week. This could include classes, seminars, practicals and on-line interaction. You can refer to the individual unit details in the course structure for more information. You will also need to study and complete assessment tasks in your own time.

Participation requirements

Reasonable adjustments to participation and other course requirements will be made for students with a disability. More information available at Disability support services.

Work experience

You will enhance your employment prospects by consolidating your knowledge and skills through realistic field experience in HSN311 Food Science and Nutrition Practicum in your third year.

Entry pathways

This course can be a pathway to:

• H418 Bachelor of Nutrition Science (Honours)
• H714 Master of Human Nutrition
• H748 Master of Nutrition and Population Health

Careers

Career outcomes

This combined course will give you a competitive edge when it comes to employment. You will not only have the understanding of how nutrition affects our population, but the business skills to critically analyse its relationship to commerce. Find yourself in roles including:

• brand/product management
• consumer education
• consumer research
• food composition
• food policy
• food regulation
• management
• marketing and media
• quality assurance
• wholesale and retail.

Professional recognition

This qualification allows you to receive recognition from both nutrition and business professional bodies.

Enrolled students and graduates may apply for membership of the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA). Graduates may apply for registration which will ensure you’re recognised as a qualified nutrition professional in the field.

Deakin’s Bachelor of Commerce is internationally recognised and both EQUIS and EPAS accredited by the European Foundation for Management Development (EFMD) and AACSB accredited. Deakin’s Bachelor of Commerce is also the only Australian university with all three accreditations, meaning you are graduating with a degree that is of a global standard.

Our courses are developed and reviewed with industry and professional input.

Students who complete the accounting major are eligible to apply for:

• the CA Program of the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand (CA ANZ)
• Associate membership for the CPA Program
• IPA Program of the Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)
• Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).

Students who complete the marketing major are eligible for a one-year credit reduction from the five years needed to become a Certified Practicing Marketer by the Australian Marketing Institute (AMI).

Commerce graduates may also be eligible to apply for membership to these key professional bodies (depending on units taken):

• Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI)
• Institute of Managers and Leaders (IML)
• Institute of Public Accountants (IPA)

Students should consult with a Student Adviser to identify any additional requirements for membership for each professional body, and also consult with the professional body.