M6024 Master of Public Health

The course is structured in three parts: Part A. Expanding public health knowledge, Part B. Foundations of public health studies and Part C. Advanced application expertise.

Part A. Expanding public health knowledge

In these studies, you will develop an understanding of knowledge and skills in the broad domain of public health through core studies in the public health discipline areas of disease/injury prevention and control and health promotion and health policy, planning and management, and with opportunity for electives in areas of public health of interest to you.

Part B. Foundations of public health studies

In these studies, you will gain specialised professional knowledge in the core skills, knowledge, and disciplines of public health through the study of epidemiology, biostatistics, research methods, and introduction and challenges in public health.

Part C. Advanced application expertise

In this studies, you will have the opportunity to gain greater expertise in key areas of your interest through an elective study program to suit your own career interests. You will have the opportunity to choose between one of the following pathways:

a) Coursework –  in this pathway you will undertake a core capstone unit MPH5289 professional practice development and combine it with a program of electives units to suit your career interests. In the capstone unit, you are expected to integrate, extend and apply knowledge and skills gained in the course to real-world professional practice development, particularly in relation to project management and implementation and communication, that can contribute to more effective practice and outcomes.

b) Research – in this pathway you will undertake either a 12 point research project or a 24 point research project and combine it with a program of electives units to suit your career interests. In the public health research project, you are expected to demonstrate your ability to integrate and apply public health theory, principles and practice, and research methods to a specific public health problem or issue. Consultation with the course research project coordinator is required prior to enrolment in the research project.

Students wishing to use this master's course as a pathway to a higher degree by research should take the 12 or 24 credit point public health research project option.

Master's entry points

Depending on prior qualifications you may receive entry level credit (a form of block credit) which determines your point of entry to the course:

• If you are admitted at entry level 1 you complete 96 points, comprising Part A, Part B and Part C.
• If you are admitted at entry level 2 you complete 72 points, comprising Part B and Part C.
• If you are admitted at entry level 3 you complete 48 points, comprising Part B and Part C (24 points).

Note: All students commence with Part B to complete the core units as a cohort. If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Course progression map

The course progression map provides guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Research Pathways: students commencing mid-year may not be able to undertake this option, please check the course progression map.

Electives

For the full list of electives go to the Master of Public Health electives page.

The course comprises 96 points structured into three parts: Part A. Expanding public health knowledge (24 points), Part B. Foundations of public health studies (24 points) and Part C. Advanced application expertise (48 points).

Note: All students commence with Part B to complete the core units as a cohort. If you are eligible for credit for prior studies you may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Part A. Expanding public health knowledge (24 points)

a. You must complete two units from:

• MPH5002 Foundations of health promotion and prevention
• MPH5022 Evaluating public health programs
• MPH5203 Environmental influences on health
• MPH5207 Chronic diseases: epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5218 Infectious diseases: epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5214 Demographic methods
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice*
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy
• MPH5272 Principles of health systems

* If you are an International student you can complete this unit in your final semester of enrolment.

b. You must complete 12 points of elective units chosen from any approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the elective list below (except core units in Part B or MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015)

Note: If you are an International student you can complete these units in your final semester of enrolment

Part B. Foundations of public health studies (24 points)

You must complete:

• MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology
• MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics
• MPH5213 Research methods*
• MPH5288 Introduction and challenges in public health

Part C. Advanced application expertise (48 points)

You must complete either a. or b. below.

a. Coursework (48 points)

You must complete:

• MPH5289 Professional practice development (6 points) (note: this unit must be taken in the final year study)

and one of the following options:

• Option 1 - MPH5003 Global health virtual practicum (12 points) and 24 credit points from the specialisation and 6 credit points of elective study below.
• Option 2 - MPH5274 Public health practicum (12 points) and 24 points from the specialisation and 6 points from the elective list below
• Option 3 - MPH5273 Case study in health services management (12 points) and 24 points from the specialisation and 6 points from the elective list below.
• Option 4 - 42 points made up of 24 points from the specialisation and 18 points from the elective list below
• Option 5 - 42 points from approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

Note: A case study may be suitable for you if you are interested in a practical integrative project but you do not wish to complete the 12 or 24 point research project.

b. Research (48 points)

The public health research project requires you to demonstrate your ability to integrate and apply public health theory, principles and practice, and research methods to a specific public health problem or issue. Consultation with the course research project coordinator is required prior to enrolment in the research project.

You may choose to complete either a 12 point research project or the research specialisation consisting of a 24 point research project.

12 point research project

If you want to complete a 12-point project, you must achieve a distinction in the following units: MPH5040 and MPH5041, and it is recommended you achieve a distinction in MPH5213. You must demonstrate a background in research methodology to enrol in a 12-point project.

You must complete:

• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project (12 points)
• 36 points of approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the elective list below (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

You may complete a 12 point research project (MAP5010) as part of your coursework specialisation if you meet the requirements.

24 point research project

Refer to Research specialisation

SPECIALISATIONS

Epidemiology

You must complete 24 points from:

• MPH5200 Regression methods for epidemiology or MPH5270 Advanced statistical methods for clinical research
• MPH5207 Chronic disease: Epidemiology and prevention 
• MPH5218 Infectious diseases: Epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5236 Clinical trials

Elective units:

• MPH5214 Demography methods  (recommended)
• MPH5200 Regression methods for epidemiology
• MPH5270 Advanced statistical methods for clinical research  (recommended)
• MPH5239 Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
• MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5277 Data management and computing
• MPH5283 Ethics, good research practice and practical research skills
  Approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

Global Health

• MPH5252 Global health care delivery: Principles and challenges
• MPH5255 Health and human rights
• MPH5207 Chronic diseases: Epidemiology and prevention
• One of:
• MPH5218 Infectious diseases: Epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5272 Principles of health systems

Elective units:

• EPM5023 Foundations of international health
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice*
• Approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

Health Economics
You must complete 24 points from:

• MPH5268 Financial issues in health care management
• HEC5970 Introduction to health economics
• HEC5973 Economic evaluation in health care
• HEC5975 Principles of health economics for developing countries

Elective units:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy
• MPH5272 Principles of health systems
• MPH5271 Implementation and innovation in health care
  MPH5281 Management theory and practice
• MAP4200 Improving Indigenous equity in professional practice*
• MPH5265 Law for health systems
• MPH5267 Principles of health care quality improvement
• MPH5286 Applying and practicing the principles of patient safety and quality improvement
• Approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

* One of these units may be taken by international students in their final semester only.

Health Policy

You must complete 24 points from:

• MPH5265 Law for health systems
• MPH5267 Principles of health care quality improvement
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy
• MPH5272 Principles of health systems

Electives units:

• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5268 Financial issues in health care management
• MPH5271 Implementation and innovation in health care
• MPH5281 Management theory and practice
• Approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

Health Promotion 

You must complete 24 points from:

• MPH5002 Foundations of health promotion and prevention
• MPH5207 Chronic disease: Epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5022 Evaluating public health programs
• MPH5218 Infectious diseases: Epidemiology and prevention

Elective units:

• MPH5252 Global health care delivery: Principles and challenges (recommended)
• Approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

Research *

If you want to complete a 24-point project, you must achieve a distinction in the following units: MPH5040, MPH5041, MPH5213, , MPH5200 (if you are undertaking quantitative analysis) or an approved postgraduate-level qualitative research unit (for students undertaking qualitative analysis).

You must complete:

• MAP5000 Research in advanced health professional practice (12 points)
• MAP5010 Advanced health practice research project (12 points)
• 24 points of approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine from the elective list below (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).

* It is highly recommended that a research project be conducted with a principal supervisor located within the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.  Only in special circumstances will you be permitted to complete a project with a supervisor external to the school, and may include where the project would be undertaken in a workplace where you are currently employed and there is an experienced supervisor/researcher willing and available to supervise you.

General  

• Approved postgraduate unit/s offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine (except units MPH5020; MPH5301-MPH5315; EPM5001-EPM5015).