Master of Psychology (Health)

Course code: 3502 + Course abbreviation: MPsych(Health) + Total credit points required: 96 + 8 semesters part-time

Study mode and course location

Off-campus (Caulfield – P/T only)

Course description

This course, offered by the School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, aims to provide training across the continuum that defines health psychology, including: the promotion and maintenance of physical and mental health; the prevention and treatment of illness; the identification of the causes and correlates of health, illness and related dysfunction; improvement of the health care system; and health policy formation.

The course prepares graduates to practise as health psychologists in a range of settings including hospitals and clinics, community health centres, disability services, alcohol and drug agencies, workers compensation systems, rehabilitation agencies, health education organisations, cancer councils, schools and private practice.

Course objectives

On completion of this course, students will have: 1. developed skills in consultation with individuals, organisations, and community groups about psychosocial development and adaptation; 2. developed an understanding of the biopsychosocial bases of health and illness; 3. developed skills in the design and implementation of psychosocial programs to promote and maintain health, prevent and treat illness, and rehabilitate persons with disability; 4. gained advanced knowledge of sociocultural factors associated with health and illness, organisational structures and the function of health care systems; 5. gained advanced knowledge of the different models of health care, of issues associated with chronic health problems, of important elements in the patient-practitioner relationship, and of factors in the process of adjustment to loss; 6. developed skills in the psychological treatments relevant to health and illness (eg pain management, addictions); 7. formulated, carried out and reported independent research; 8. applied research principles, methods and findings to professional practice; 9. developed skills in evaluation, selection, administration and interpretation of a range of psychometric tests; and10. understood and applied the APS code of Professional Conduct to research and practice.

Course structure

The course has three components:

residential school attendance and coursework (50 per cent)
research thesis (25 per cent)
supervised placements (25 per cent)

Coursework

Coursework is undertaken in the first two years of the course and is comprised of eight units:
MHP5011 Introduction to health psychology
MHP5032 Health promotion
MHP5051 Clinical health psychology
MHP5052 Counselling and professional practice 1
MHP5062 Advanced health promotion
MHP5071 Advanced clinical health psychology
MHP5072 Psychological assessment
MHP5081 Multivariate statistics
MHP5082 Counselling and professional practice 2

Supervised placements

Supervised placements commence in second year and continue during third and fourth year. Three placements in a range of clinical and health promotion settings will be undertaken under the supervision of appropriately qualified psychologists. These placements will generally be completed within the semester teaching period, and the timing will be as follows:

MHP5102 Placement I (42 days/335 hours), year 2, semester 2
MHP5112 Placement II (42 days/335 hours), year 3, semester 2
MHP5122 Placement III (42 days/335 hours), year 4, semester 1

Research

Work towards the thesis commences at the beginning of third year and is submitted at the end of the fourth year. The thesis will be expected to provide a significant contribution to knowledge and/or practice in the field of health psychology and to demonstrate the capacity of the student to carry out independent research. The thesis takes the form of a literature review (4,000–5,000 words) and a research article (5,000–7,000 words).

MHP5191 Research design and proposal
MHP5192 Research ethics and conduct
MHP5193 Data analysis and results
MHP5194 Writing up and submission

Contact details

Administrative officer, postgraduate studies: telephone: +61 3 9903 1482; email: mhp.enquiries@med.monash.edu.au or visit www.med.monash.edu.au/spppm/pgrad/

Course coordinators

Associate Professor Felicity Allen

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