This course entry should be read in conjunction with information provided in the 'Faculty information' section of this Handbook by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Description
The Master of Public Health offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine provides the full range of quantitative, analytical and communication skills necessary to work in the broad domain of public health. It also provides skills in the quantitative methods of the population-based health sciences and their problem-solving application for primary care provision within Australia and developing countries. Health specialisation streams are offered in clinical research methods, , health economics, health promotion, health services management, international health, occupational and environmental health and research.
This course is flexible by design with units taught oncampus, online or block mode and allows students to modify their specialisation during their course
Objectives
On completion of this course students should be able to:
- critically appraise quantitative papers published in the epidemiological and public health literature
- demonstrate an understanding of the historical, social, political and industrial relations context of public health within Australian society
- demonstrate an understanding of the health care system in Australia
- assess the influence of environmental factors on health and effectively communicate the risks to health of such factors
- develop public health policy, health promotion and planning strategies to reduce the impact of health problems within the community, and conduct an economic evaluation of these programs.
Assessment
Assessment includes web-based tasks, written exercises, assignments, examinations, presentations, class participation, web based tasks and supervised research projects (where relevant).
Structure
This course comprises 12 units: two part one and ten part two units. Part one is comprised of two core units. Part two is comprised of one core unit specific to the stream being undertaken, plus nine units from the various health specialisation stream coursework or research options.
The course can be completed in one of three ways:
(a.) 12 units (coursework only option)
(b.) ten units plus a minor research project in the student's area of specialisation - equivalent to two units(12 points)
(c.) eight units plus a major research project (students select the research specialisation) - equivalent to four units (24 points).
Requirements
Part one
Core units
Part two
Clinical epidemiology and clinical research specialisation
Core units
- MPH2013 Research methods
- MPH2036 Clinical trials
- MPH2037 Clinical measurement
- MPH2039 Meta analysis and systematic reviews
- MPH2077 Data management and computing
- MPH2083 Ethics, good research practice and practical research skills
Elective units
Select four from:
Recommended elective units
- MPH2000 Regression methods for epidemiology
- MPH2002 Clinical epidemiology
- MPH2070 Advanced statistical methods for clinical research
Other electives
Other DEPM units
- MPH2018 Infectious diseases: Epidemiology and prevention
- MPH2056 Injury epidemiology and prevention
- MPH2060 Health policy and prevention in a global world
- MPH postgraduate units
- minor project (7000 - 8,000 words) - note: prerequisites required - see 'Research specialisation'
Health economics specialisation (not available to international students)
Core units
- ECX9700 Introduction to health economics
- ECX9730 Economic evaluatjion in health care
- ECX9741 Applied health economics and and health policy
- MPH2013 Research methods
Elective units
Select six from:
Recommended elective units
- ECX9120 Introduction to microeconomics theory and practice
- ECX9710 Pharmaceutical economics
- ECX9750 Principles of health economics in developing countries
- MPH2068 Financial issues in health care management
Other electives
Other DEPM units
- any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units
Health promotion specialisation
Core units
- HSC5002 Foundations of health promotion and program planning
- MPH2013 Research methods
Elective units
Select seven from:
Recommended elective units
- HSC5041 Significant issues for health promotion
- HSC5022 Evaluation in health promotion
- HSC5032 Health literacy
- HSC5042 Health impact assessment
- MPH2007 Chronic disease: Epidemiology and prevention
- MPH2060 Health policy and prevention in a global world
- MPH2069 Foundations of health policy
Other electives
- any 'MPH--coded postgraduate units
- minor project (7000-8,000 words) - note: prerequisites required - see 'Research specialisation'
Health services management specialisation
Core units
- MPH2013 Research methods
- MPH2066 Clinical leadership and management
- MPH2067 Principles of health care quality improvement
Elective units
Select seven from:
Recommended elective units
- ECX9700 Introduction to health economics
- MPH2065 Law for health systems
- MPH2068 Financial issues in health care management
- MPH2069 Foundations of health policy
- MPH2072 Reform and development of health services
- MPH2085 Human factors for patient safety
- MPH2086 Applying and practicing the principles of patient safety and quality improvement
Other electives
Other DEPM units
- any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units
International health specialisation
Core units
- MPH2048 Primary health care in developing countries
- MPH2049 Field methods for international health planning and evaluation
Elective units
Select eight from:
Recommended elective units
- MPH2050 Health of women and children in developing countries
- MPH2051 Communicable diseases control in developing countries
- MPH2053 Public health in refugee settings
- MPH2054 Nutritional issues in developing countries
- MPH2055 Health and human rights
- MPH2057 Aboriginal health
- MPH2058 Effective responses to HIV in developing countries
- MPH2069 Foundations of health policy
- MPH2082 Health communication and training
- MPH5087 Alcohol and other drugs in society: A national and global perspective
Other electives
Other DEPM units
- any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units
- minor project (7000-8,000 words) note: prerequisites required - see 'Research specialisation'
Melbourne University units
- 505-691 International adolescent health
- 505-692 Disability in developing countries
Occupational and environmental health specialisation
Core units
- MPH2013 Research methods
- MPH1003 Environmental influences on health
- MPH2041 Introduction to occupational health and safety
Elective units
Select seven of:
Recommended elective units
- MPH2022 Assessment and control of workplace hazards
- MPH2042 Psychosocial work environment
- MPH2043 Chemical and biological hazards
- MPH2044 Ergonomic and physical hazards
- MPH2045 Environmental health risk assessment and management
- MPH2056 Injury epidemiology and prevention
- MPH2076 Safety management systems
- MPH2084 Critical appraisal of occupational health and safety information
Other electives
Other DEPM units
- CRH5047 Health ecology and environmental change
- any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units
- minor project (8,000-10,000 words)
- minor project (7000-8000 words) note: prerequisites required - see 'Research specialisation"
General specialisation
Core unit
Elective units
Select nine from:
- any 'MPH"-coded postgraduate units
Research specialisation
- Prerequisites: Students must have achieved a distinction (70 per cent) average in MPH1040 and MPH1041. Consultation with the course coordinator is required prior to enrolment into the research stream.
- Recommended: Distinction (70 per cent) average in the units MPH2013 or MPH2049.
Core units - major research project
- MPH2013 Research methods
- major research project in one of the above health specialisation streams (12,000-15,000 words)
Elective units
Select five of:
- any "MPH'-coded postgraduate units.
Progression to further studies
Students who complete the Master of Public Health clinical epidemiology stream, minor research project stream or major research project stream and achieve a distinction average (70 per cent), may qualify for admission into higher degrees by research (HDR) including course 3438 Master of Philosophy and 0047 Doctor of Philosophy, among others.
Award(s)
