courses

3412

Monash University

Postgraduate - Course

Students who commenced study in 2012 should refer to this course entry for direction on the requirements; to check which units are currently available for enrolment, refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course.

print version

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

Managing facultyMedicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Abbreviated titleMForensMed
Total credit points required72
Standard duration of study (years)3 years PT
Study mode and locationOff-campus (Clayton)
Admission, fee and application details http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3412
Contact details

Ms Debbie Hellings, course administrator: telephone +61 3 9684 4115; email debbie.hellings@monash.edu or debbieh@vifm.org

Visit website http://www.vifm.org

Course coordinator

Associate Professor David Wells

Notes

  • Unit codes that are not linked to their entry in the handbook are not available for study in the current year.
  • This course is not available to international student visa holders.
  • Part-time study only.

Description

This course is designed to further develop medical practitioners knowledge and skills so that they are able to provide a high quality clinical forensic medical service. This will include ethical and legal issues arising in forensic medical practice, the skills required to interpret injury patterns and communication with the justice system.

Outcomes

This course is designed to:

  • establish academic standards in clinical forensic medical practice
  • produce graduates who have a sound knowledge of medico-legal principles
  • develop practitioners skills in providing clinical forensic services in the community
  • strengthen the teaching- research nexus in forensic medical education
  • foster the development of career pathways in forensic medicine.

Assessment

Assessment activities, including the thesis option, are designed to further develop the participants' understanding of the theoretical principles underpinning forensic practice. Assessment methods will vary but may include coursework and workshop participation, formal assignments, casebooks and minor thesis.

Structure

This course is offered via coursework and minor thesis, or by coursework only. The coursework component comprises core and elective units.

Requirements

Core units

Coursework and minor thesis option

Students complete:

  • 48 points of electives
  • a minor thesis

Students undertaking the minor thesis are required to prepare a research proposal at an early stage of their minor thesis enrolment and have this approved by their thesis supervisor. The area of research must cover a topic directly related to forensic medicine, and should include at least one elective unit of instruction on research methodologies and basic statistics.

Coursework only option

Students complete:

  • 54 points of electives

Elective units

Students select units from the list below or may also (with departmental approval) choose other graduate units offered by the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, other faculties at Monash University or other tertiary institutions.

  • FOR4004 Elements of the forensic sciences
  • FOR4005 Child and adolescent sexual abuse
  • FOR4006 Non accidental injury in childhood
  • FOR5005 Adult sexual assault
  • FOR5006 Traffic medicine
  • FOR5007 Elements of forensic toxicology
  • FOR5008 Custodial medicine
  • FOR5010 Project in forensic medicine

Minimum grade for course completion

Students must achieve a minimum distinction grade average in all three core units to qualify for this award. Students who do not achieve this average will exit with a Graduate Certificate of Forensic Medicine or Graduate Diploma of Forensic Medicine, depending on the units completed, providing all requirements for the award has been met.

Alternative exit(s)

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

Award(s)

Master of Forensic Medicine