Undergraduate - UnitHSC4011 - Advanced studies in contemporary and global health research

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Synopsis

The unit aims for students to develop critical and analytic skills as applied to contemporary global public health and health science research, as well as providing students with advanced knowledge in specific areas of public health and health science from within a global context.
Seminars will focus on topics such as current public health thinking and practice and global dimensions of local health, as well as on skills in evidence appraisal and systematic searching. Students will be active learners through the presentation of two seminars to the class during the semester, and will lead the discussion that follows.
Students will provide a written review of a topic that is related to their specific research project that demonstrates advanced theoretical understanding of the issues and research relating to that topic.

Outcomes

1. Discuss contemporary global approaches to research in health sciences and public health;
2. Critically assess what is known and not known in the literature, about determinants of health in relation to selected topics cover during the seminars as well as to students' research topics;
3. Develop a systematic search strategy on a specific topic based on a research question, encompassing the development of inclusion-exclusion criteria, a search strategy and table summaries of selected studies;
4. Critically review the scientific literature relative to a defined research question; and,
5. Prepare a literature review of a health issue using critical analysis.

Assessment

Hurdle requirement: Students are required to attend 80% of seminars.

Formative assessment: Feedback during seminar particpation and presentations delivered (Objectives 1 - 5).

Summative assessment:
a. Two individual presentations during the semseter - one on the student's project and the second on a seperate public health and/or health science issue or topic. Presentations will be assessed using a set of assessment criteria included in the Unit Guide (30%), and,
b. A 4,000-5,000 word critical review of research papers on a specific public health and/or health science issue that will form the basis of the student's literature review for their final thesis (70%)

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Deborah Zion

Contact hours

Four class contact hours per week (seminar style). In addition, as per University requirements, students will be required to spend 20 hours per week on the unit in private study (i.e. a total of 24 hours per week).