Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Course

This course, offered by the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, assists occupational health professionals to prevent and manage occupational health problems. It provides the skills necessary to evaluate health problems in communities thought to be associated with industrial activities. It caters for the special needs of medical practitioners, nurses, allied health personnel, scientists and occupational health and safety managers.

On completion of the course students should be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the legal and ethical framework which governs occupational health and safety practice and the obligations of industry in regard to the environment
• access, critically appraise and integrate hazard information from published studies and other relevant sources in the occupational and environmental health literature
• recognise, evaluate the level of exposure and assess the degree of risk to health from chemical, physical and biological workplace and environmental hazards and provide advice on appropriate control measures in the workplace and the community
• demonstrate an understanding of the factors underlying risk perception and be able to effectively and sensitively communicate, in both written and oral forms, these risks to exposed people in the workplace and the community
• provide occupational health services, including preventative and rehabilitation programs and environmental advice to industry
• demonstrate an understanding of epidemiological and biostatistical techniques to investigate health effects from occupational and environmental hazards.

Assessment

Assessment includes web-based tasks, written assignments, student presentations and examinations.

The course consists of ten core units and either two elective units or a minor project.

Core units

• MPH1041 Introductory biostatistics
• MPH2013 Research methods
• MPH2022 Assessment and control of workplace hazards
• MPH2041 Introduction to occupational health and safety
• MPH2042 Psychosocial work environment
• MPH2043 Chemical and biological hazards
• MPH2044 Ergonomic and physical hazards
• MPH2045 Environmental health risk assessment and management
• MPH2076 Safety management systems
• MPH2084 Critical appraisal of occupational health and safety information

Elective units

For those students choosing to undertake the two electives instead of a minor project, they will be able to choose these from the wide range of other Masters level units offered by the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Minor project

12 point minor thesis

Students who have completed the required units may exit with the Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health or Graduate Diploma in Occupational and Environmental Health providing all requirements of that award have been met.

Master of Occupational and Environmental Health