Australian Institute of Applied Sciences? For Real?
aias.edu.auI do not see the issue here. My girlfriend went to AIAS and studied an Advanced Diploma of Naturopathy and the course was very thorough, they are a very good educational institution (on par with the likes of QUT, UQ, SCU). She had no problem finding a job after graduating (well before) and their courses are accredited and recognised.
It is my understanding that "applied science" translates to solving practical problems using science and there is a science to everything. I think you're overreacting here, calm down it's just a name.
Naturopathy is a hodge-podge of mostly unscientific treatment modalities based on vitalism and other prescientific notions of disease. As a result, typical naturopaths are more than happy in essence to “pick one from column A and one from column B” when it comes to pseudoscience, mixing and matching treatments including traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, herbalism, Ayurvedic medicine, applied kinesiology, anthroposophical medicine, reflexology, craniosacral therapy, Bowen Technique, and pretty much any other form of unscientific or prescientific medicine that you can imagine.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/471156 http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/naturopathy-an...
“Do you know what they call ‘alternative medicine’ that’s been proved to work? ‘Medicine’.” — Tim Minchin
From your girlfriends experience learning pseudo-science you have concluded "the course was very thorough, they are a very good educational institution". How?
Enough Said?
Since when have Beauty Therapy, Natural Medicine, Hairdressing, Massage Therapy or 'Health & Fitness' been defined as applied sciences?
I think it's pretty outrageous that the Department of Education allows them to carry this name.