Postgraduate - Course0046 - Master of Public Health

This course, 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 in on-campus, online or block mode and allows students to modify their specialisation during their studies.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes. For more information refer to http://opvclt.monash.edu.au/curriculum-by-design/aligning-course-outcomes-with-aqf-bologna.html.

Upon successful completion of this course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

• critically appraise quantitative papers published in the epidemiological and public health literature
• demonstrate an understanding of the historical context of public health within Australian society
• demonstrate an understanding of the social context of public health within Australian society
• demonstrate an understanding of the political context of public health within Australian society
• demonstrate an understanding of the 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
• effectively communicate the risks to health of environmental factors
• develop public health policy to reduce the impact of health problems within the community
• develop health promotion strategies to reduce the impact of health problems within the community
• develop planning strategies to reduce the impact of health problems within the community
• 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).

The course comprises two course core units (12 points) and 60 points of elective units which can be completed in one of three ways:

• with a general specialistation
• with a research specialistation
• with a designated specialisation involving core and/or elective units

Core units

All students must complete:

• MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology
• MPH5041 Introductory biostatistics

Specialisations

General

Students must complete:

• MPH5213 Research methods
• nine electives from any any MPH-coded postgraduate units

Research

Students must have achieved a high distinction (80 per cent) average in MPH5040 and MPH5041. Consultation with the course coordinator is required prior to enrolment into the research stream.

Recommended: Distinction (70 per cent) average in the units MPH5213 or MPH5249.

Students must complete:

• MPH5213 Research methods
• major research project in one of the health specialisations below (12,000-15,000 words)
• five electives from any MPH-coded postgraduate units

Clinical epidemiology and clinical research

Core units

• MPH5213 Research methods
• MPH5236 Clinical trials
• MPH5237 Clinical measurement
• MPH5239 Systematic reviews and meta-analysis
• MPH5283 Ethics, good research practice and practical research skills

Elective units

Select five from:

• MPH5200 Regression methods for epidemiology*
• MPH5202 Clinical epidemiology*
• MPH5218 Infectious diseases: Epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5260 Health policy and prevention in a global world
• MPH5270 Advanced statistical methods for clinical research*
• MPH5277 Data management and comupting
• minor project (7,000 - 8,000 words). Note: prerequisites required - see 'Research' specialisation
• any MPH-coded postgraduate units

* Recommended elective units.

Health economics

This specialisation is not available to international students.

Core units

• ECX9700 Introduction to health economics
• ECX9730 Economic evaluation in health care
• ECX9741 Applied health economics and and health policy
• MPH5213 Research methods

Elective units

Select six from:

• ECX9120 Introduction to microeconomics theory and practice*
• ECX9710 Pharmaceutical economics*
• ECX9750 Principles of health economics in developing countries*
• MPH5268 Financial issues in health care management*
• any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units

* Recommended elective units.

Disease prevention and health promotion

Core units

• HSC5002 Foundations of health promotion and program planning
• HSC5022 Evaluation in health promotion
• MPH5213 Research methods

Elective units

Select seven from:

• HSC5032 Health literacy*
• HSC5042 Health impact assessment*
• MPH5042 Climate change and public health*
• MPH5207 Chronic disease: Epidemiology and prevention*
• MPH5218 Infectious dieseases: epidemiology and prevention*
• MPH5255 Health and human rights*
• MPH5260 Health policy and prevention in a global world*
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy*
• CRH5047 Health ecology and environmental change subject to availability*
• MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention*
• MPH5257 Aboriginal health*
• MPH5282 Health communication and training*
• minor project (7,000 - 8,000 words). Note: prerequisites required - see 'Research' specialisation
• any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units

* Recommended elective units.

Health services management

Core units

• MPH5213 Research methods
• MPH5266 Clinical leadership and management
• MPH5267 Principles of health care quality improvement

Elective units

Select seven from:

• ECX9700 Introduction to health economics*
• MPH5042 Climate change and public health*
• MPH5265 Law for health systems*
• MPH5268 Financial issues in health care management*
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy*
• MPH5272 Reform and development of health services*
• MPH5285 Human factors for patient safety*
• MPH5286 Applying and practicing the principles of patient safety and quality improvement*
• any MPH-coded postgraduate units

* Recommended elective units.

International health

Core units

• MPH5248 Primary health care in developing countries
• MPH5249 Field methods for international health planning and evaluation

Elective units

Select eight from:

• MPH5250 Health of women and children in developing countries*
• MPH5251 Communicable diseases control in developing countries*
• MPH5253 Public health in refugee settings*
• MPH5254 Nutritional issues in developing countries*
• MPH5255 Health and human rights*
• MPH5257 Aboriginal health*
• MPH5258 Effective responses to HIV in developing countries*
• MPH5269 Foundations of health policy*
• MPH5282 Health communication and training*
• MPH5287 Alcohol and other drugs in society: A national and global perspective*
• CRH5047 Health ecology and environmental change subject to availability*
• ECX9750 Health economics for developing countries*
• MPH5042 Climate change and public health*
• minor project (7,000 - 8,000 words). Note: prerequisites required - see 'Research' specialisation
• any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units

* Recommended elective units.

Occupational and environmental health

Core units

• MPH5213 Research methods
• MPH5203 Environmental influences on health
• MPH5241 Introduction to occupational health and safety

Elective units

Select seven of:

• CRH5047 Health ecology and environmental change
• MPH5042 Climate change and public health
• MPH5222 Assessment and control of workplace hazards*
• MPH5242 Psychosocial work environment*
• MPH5243 Chemical and biological hazards*
• MPH5244 Ergonomic and physical hazards*
• MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention*
• MPH5256 Injury epidemiology and prevention
• MPH5276 Safety management systems*
• any 'MPH'-coded postgraduate units
• minor project (7,000 - 8,000 words). Note: prerequisites required - see 'Research' specialisation

* Recommended elective units.

Students who complete the clinical epidemiology stream, minor or major research project stream and achieve a minimum of a distinction average (70 per cent), may qualify for admission into higher degrees by research including course 3438 Master of Philosophy and 0047 Doctor of Philosophy, among others.

Master of Public Health