Course Title: Introduction to Aromatherapy

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Introduction to Aromatherapy

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

COTH2154

Bundoora Campus

Undergraduate

150H Health Sciences

Internet

 Sem 1 2010,
Sem 2 2010,
Sem 1 2011,
Sem 1 2012

Course Coordinator: Dr Pauline McCabe

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 7881

Course Coordinator Email: pauline.mccabe@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: Bundoora, 202.4.63

Course Coordinator Availability: On campus part-time, email is the preferred contact method.


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

This course is fully online. You will need access to the internet, the ability to work online in myRMIT Studies, to organise your time, participate in online discussions, and submit work by due dates.


Course Description

This course develops skills to enhance wellbeing using essential oils (EO). EO are extracted from plants and aromatherapy is a branch of herbal medicine, but it is very versatile as EO can be used to treat minor conditions, for health promotion, and for general lifestyle measures. This introductory course has theoretical and practical aspects. You will learn to make some simple products for personal use, and explore aspects such as history and modern practice; common chemical families in EO and their effects; safety, quality and marketing issues; blending EO; physiological and psychological aspects; and locating reliable aromatherapy literature.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

On successful completion of Introduction to Aromatherapy, you will be able to apply a basic level of aromatherapy to enhance wellbeing and safely treat a small range of minor complaints such as colds, muscular aches and dry skin.

Knowledge and skills gained in this elective course will also complement future practice for students enrolled in a health science clinical program. Students with relevant qualifications may be eligible to join a professional aromatherapy association, although you might be required to arrange some clinical training depending on individual association criteria for membership.


On successful completion of the course, you should be able to:

  • Discuss aromatherapy from historical and contemporary perspectives
  • Describe methods of essential oil extraction, production and quality control.
  • Demonstrate basic understanding of the chemistry and therapeutic effects of essential oils
  • Explain how to use essential oils safely and effectively
  • Locate and evaluate aromatherapy literature
  • Discuss professional ethics and standards in aromatherapy practice
  • Prepare simple aromatherapy products for personal use. 


Overview of Learning Activities

Learning activities include:

  • working through the course material, activities and study questions presented in the online learning package
  • prescribed reading
  • online discussion forums 
  • self-assessment quizzes 
  • identification of suitable essential and fixed oils via labelling of commercial products
  • manufacture at home of simple aromatherapy products for personal use
  • locating and evaluating aromatherapy research and technical literature


Overview of Learning Resources

Students will be able to access course information and learning materials through myRMIT Studies. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided.


Overview of Assessment

The assessment for this course is designed to test both theoretical and practical knowledge of aromatherapy. It is a mix of written assignments, online tests and practical work. Active participation in the discussion board is also a requirement of the course.

To help students meet the assessment requirements your progress will be monitored throughout the course. The interactive online activities will provide opportunities for self-assessment and feedback from staff and/or other students on a regular basis.