Monash University Handbook 2010 Postgraduate - Course

This masters program is a flexible program that can be individually tailored to ensure that all students gain maximum benefit from their study by aligning career aspirations with study options. Students will be able to undertake a major stream of study within the degree, giving them opportunity to develop specialist knowledge and skills, while also developing more generic research, project and management skills.

On completion of the Master of Health Sciences (MHlthSci) graduates will have:

• acquired advanced knowledge in areas of specialty professional practice
• become proficient in the analytical skills, procedures and methods relevant to a field of health service delivery
• gained the evaluative and technical skills relevant in clinical or public health practice
• developed enhanced qualitative and quantitative data analysis capabilities
• developed awareness of the major ethical issues associated with their area of specialty and appreciation of social determinant cultural sensitivities related to these matters
• acquired proficiency in the concepts, language and fundamentals of their chosen field of study
• obtained experience and understanding in the chosen area of specialist practice
• supported the development and application of evidence based practice
• contributed to the development of professional knowledge and practice through education, research scholarly debate, presentation and publication
• gained skills in research methodology and teaching practice with options to expand experience in each of these domains.

Assessment

Assessment includes written assignments and papers, projects, student journals, literature reviews, online discussion groups and formal assessment.

This course is offered via coursework and thesis, or by coursework only. The coursework component comprises core and elective units. The course will be offered primarily via off-campus learning and can be completed in one of two ways:

• coursework units only to the value of 72 points
• a combination of coursework units to the value of 48 points and a 24-credit-point project or minor thesis (15,000 words).

All students complete two 6-point core research units.

Core research units

All students complete :

• CRH1001 Research methods in health
• CRH1032 Applied research for health practitioners

Students are also required to complete units from one of the streams in either option 1 or option 2 as outlined below.

Option 1 - Coursework only

Rural health stream

Students complete the following units:

• CRH1000 Rural health issues and practice
• CRH1002 Rural health politics and policy
• CRH1005 Alcohol and other drug related issues in rural communities
• CRH1010 Indigenous health for health professionals
• CRH1016 Interprofessional rural health practice
• CRH1021 Interprofessional rural health project
• CRH1047 Health, ecology and environmental change
• MRP4010 Contemporary professional practice

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

Health informatics stream

Students complete the following core units:

• CPE7601 Healthcare information systems
• CPE7602 Developing health information systems
• CPE7603 Contemporary issues in health informatics
• CPE7604 Health information systems management
• CPE7605 Electronic health record
• CPE7606 Project management for health professionals
• MPH2066 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH2067 Principles of health care quality improvement

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

Health promotion stream

Students complete the following core units:*

• HSC5002 Health promotion: a determinants approach
• HSC5012 Strategies for health promotion
• HSC5022 Evaluation in health promotion
• HSC5031 Health promotion program planning
• HSC5032 Health literacy
• HSC5041 Significant issues for health promotion

* Further information on the remaining core units will be made available in 2010.

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

Nutrition and dietetics stream

Students complete the following core units:*

• BND5100 Achieving successful outcomes for people with chronic disease
• BND5101 Advanced nutrition support and management of malnutrition
• BND5102 Advancing your health professional practice
• BND5103 Women's health: Nutrition and dietetic management and health

* Further information on the remaining core units will be made available in 2010.

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

Occupational therapy stream

Students complete the following core units:*

• OCC5111 Advanced hand therapy theory, principles and practice
• OCC5121 Advanced adaptive and assistive technology**
• OCC5131 Advanced assessment of children: Methods, policy, ethics and issues
• OCC5151 Advanced orthotics (theories, principles, evidence and practice)**
• OCC5162 Hand trauma - injury and rehabilitation**
• OCC5172 Hand conditions - prevalence, causes, and medical, surgical and therapeutic interventions**

* Further information on the remaining core units will be made available in 2010.

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

**Not offered in 2010.

Primary care stream

Students complete the following core units:

• PHC5000 Concepts in primary health care
• PHC5002 Service development and quality improvement in primary health care
• PHC5003 Healthy ageing
• PHC5004 Chronic illness in primary health care
• PHC5005 Introduction to problem gambling
• PHC5006 Problem gambling treatment

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

Radiation therapy stream

Students complete the following core units:

• RTP4000 Principles of oncology for the breast
• RTP4001 Principles of radiation oncology for treatment review 1
• RTP4010 Advanced clinical practice: Breast localisation and simulation 1
• RTP4011 Advanced clinical practice, radiation therapy treatment review 1
• RTP5000 Principles of radiation oncology of the breast
• RTP5001 Principles of radiation oncology for treatment review 2
• RTP5010 Advanced clinical practice: Breast localisation and simulation 2
• RTP5011 Advanced clinical practice, radiation therapy treatment review 2

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

Ragiographic practice stream

Students complete the following core units:

General Radiography

• MRP4001 Digital imaging in radioraphic practice
• MRP4010 Contempory professional practice
• MRP4003 Clinical and cross sectional imaging anatomy
• MRP4012 Advanced pathology for radiographic practice
• MRP4013 Radiographic interpretation and clinical decision making 1
• MRP5011 Radiographic interpretation and clinical decision making 2
• elective unit (6 credit points)

Computed Tomography

• MRP4002 Computed tomography: Science and technology
• MRP4003 Clinical and cross sectional imaging anatomy
• MRP4011 CT clinical methods
• MRP4012 Advanced pathology for radiographic practice
• MRP4014 Multislice CT and clinical decision making 1
• MRP5012 Multislice CT and clinical decision making 2

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

(Total: 60 points)

Option 2 - Coursework and a minor thesis/project

Rural health stream

Students complete the following 12 credit points of rural health core units:

• CRH1000 Rural health issues and practices
• MRP4010 Contemporary professional practice

Students also complete a total of 18 credit points selected from the following units:

• CRH1002 Rural health politics and policies
• CRH1005 Alcohol and other drug related issues in rural communities
• CRH1010 Indigenous health for health professionals
• CRH1016 Interprofessional rural health practice
• CRH1021 Interprofessional rural health project
• CRH1047 Health, ecology and environmental change

Elective units

Students also choose from a wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 6 credit points. The choice of elective will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Thesis or project

Students complete a 24 credit point minor thesis or project (15,000 words)

(Total: 60 points)

Health informatics stream

Students complete a total of 24 credit points selected from the following units:

• CPE7601 Healthcare information systems
• CPE7602 Developing health information systems
• CPE7603 Contemporary issues in health informatics
• CPE7604 Health information systems management
• CPE7605 Electronic health record
• CPE7606 Project management for health professionals
• MPH2066 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH2067 Principles of health care quality improvement

Elective units

Students also choose from a wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of elective will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Thesis or project

Students complete a 24 credit point thesis or project (15,000 words).

(Total: 60 points)

Health promotion stream

Students complete a total of 24 credit points selected from the following units:

• HSC5002 Health promotion: A determinants approach
• HSC5012 Strategies for health promotion
• HSC5022 Evaluation in health promotion
• HSC5031 Health promotion program planning + HSC5032 Health literacy
• HSC5041 Significant issues for health promotion

Elective units

Students choose from a wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of elective will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Thesis or project

Students complete a 24 credit point thesis or project (15,000 words).

(Total: 60 points)

Nutrition and dietetics stream

Students complete a total of 24 credit points selected from the following units:

• BND5100 Achieving successful outcomes for people with chronic disease
• BND5101 Advanced nutrition support and management of malnutrition
• BND5102 Advancing your health professional practice
• BND5103 Women's health: Nutrition and dietetic management and health

Elective units

Students choose from a wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of elective will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Thesis or project

Students complete a 24 credit point thesis or project (15,000 words).

(Total: 60 points)

Occupational therapy stream

Students complete a total of 24 credit points selected from the following units:*

• OCC5111 Advanced hand therapy theory, principles and practice
• OCC5121 Advanced adaptive and assistive technology
• OCC5131 Advanced assessment of children: Methods, policy, ethics and issues
• OCC5151 Advanced orthotics (theories, principles, evidence and practice)
• OCC5162 Hand trauma - injury and rehabilitation
• OCC5172 Hand conditions - prevalence, causes, and medical, surgical and therapeutic interventions

* Additional occupational therapy units are currently being developed for offering from 2010.

Elective units

Students choose from a wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of elective will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Thesis or project

Students complete a 24 credit point thesis or project (15,000 words).

(Total: 60 points)

Primary care stream

Students complete a total of 24 credit points selected from the following units:

• PHC5000 Concepts in primary health care
• PHC5002 Service development and quality improvement in primary health care
• PHC5003 Healthy ageing
• PHC5004 Chronic illness in primary health care
• PHC5005 Introduction to problem gambling
• PHC5006 Problem gambling treatment

Elective units

Students choose from a wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of elective will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Thesis or project

Students complete a 24 credit point thesis or project (15,000 words).

(Total: 60 points)

Radiographic practice stream

Students complete 36 credit points selected from the following units:

• MRP4001 Digital imaging in radiographic practice
• MRP4002 Computed tomography: science and technology
• MRP4003 Clinical and cross sectional imaging anatomy
• MRP4010 Contemporary professional practice
• MRP4011 CT clinical methods
• MRP4012 Advanced pathology for radiographic practice
• MRP4013 Radiographic interpretation and clinical decision making 1
• MRP4014 Multislice and clinical decision making 1

Thesis or project

Students complete a 24 credit point thesis or project (15,000 words).

(Total: 60 points)

Radiation therapy stream

Students complete the following 24 points of units:

• RTP4000 Principles of oncology for the breast
• RTP4001 Principles of radiation oncology for treatment review 1
• RTP4010 Advanced clinical practice: Breast localisation and simulation 1
• RTP4011 Advanced clinical practice, radiation therapy treatment review 1
• RTP5000 Principles of radiation oncology of the breast
• RTP5001 Principles of radiation oncology for treatment review 2
• RTP5010 Advanced clinical practice: Breast localisation and simulation 2
• RTP5011 Advanced clinical practice, radiation therapy treatment review 2

Elective units

Students choose from the wide range of masters level units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences to a total of 12 credit points. The choice of electives will need the approval of the course coordinator.

Thesis or project

Students will be required to complete a 24 credit point thesis or project (15,000 words).

(Total: 60 points)

Students who complete this course with the thesis component and achieve a distinction (70 per cent) average in the thesis and research methods units (CHR1001 and CRH1032), may qualify for admission into higher degrees by research (HDR) including course 3438 Master of Philosophy and 0047 Doctor of Philosophy, amongst others.

Students may exit this course with a Graduate Certificate of Health Sciences or Graduate Diploma of Health Sciences providing all requirements of that award have been met.

Master of Health Sciences