Postgraduate - Course3403 - Doctor of Public Health

The Doctor of Public Health (DPH) is a research degree with both coursework and clinical components, and requires the candidate to submit a thesis. The work undertaken as part of this research degree must constitute a significant contribution to the knowledge and understanding of the field of public health, and must demonstrate the capacity of the candidate to carry out independent research.

The DPH is offered by the Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. For information about research in the faculty visit http://www.med.monash.edu.au/research. The degree provides suitably qualified health professionals with a balanced training in the theory and practice of public health, equipping them to enter a wide range of careers in epidemiology, public health practice and research.

A candidate for the DPH is required to conduct a prescribed program of research for a specified period under the direct supervision of a member of the academic staff. The supervisor, in consultation with the candidate, is responsible for developing the research program to be followed by the candidate, and for reporting at regular intervals on the candidate's progress

Following the completion of prescribed coursework, practical experience and a research project, graduates will be able to:

• appreciate the need for evidence-based practice in public health
• critically appraise published research studies
• formulate, conduct and report independent research
• apply research findings to professional practice
• develop skills in the formulation and evaluation of community-based health interventions
• develop skills in writing professional reports
• present research findings to professional and lay audiences
• formulate public health policy
• demonstrate the capacity to provide leadership in public health.

Credit will not be given for work completed more than 10 years prior to admission to doctoral candidature, nor for more than 50 per cent of the coursework component of this course. Credit will not be given for coursework credited to another degree or diploma. Credit may be granted for coursework and/or supervised practice already completed and equivalent to particular units and practical work, up to a maximum of three units. Appropriate methods for assessment of equivalence of prior study will be applied either through a viva voce, written examination, submission of referees' reports and/or presentation of written work. No credits will be given for the elective units in this course.

70 per cent

Conditions of candidature

Duration of candidature

The total permissible period of candidature is four years full-time, or its equivalent in part-time candidature up to a maximum of eight years part-time, after which the candidature will lapse. The minimum period of candidature is two years (four years part-time). Candidates are encouraged to complete their theses as quickly as possible.

Attendance

Throughout their candidature, all candidates must regularly attend their academic unit and participate fully in the intellectual, and research activities of the unit. Full-time candidates must be able to devote the equivalent of a minimum of four days a week to the pursuit of their research project; all part-time candidates must devote the equivalent of one-and-a-half days a week to their studies. The half-day should normally be a week day.

Employment guidelines

Full-time candidates are permitted, with the approval of their main supervisor, to undertake a strictly limited amount of paid employment throughout the year, being no more than 15 hours of work per week on average. Up to a maximum of six hours only on average of this employment may be undertaken during normal working hours (9 am to 5 pm, Mondays to Fridays). However, this may be extended to a maximum of eight hours if the employment is limited to one weekday. The candidate's supervisors must be satisfied that any part-time work undertaken does not interfere with the candidate's study program and progress. International students need to be aware that the employment restrictions outlined above apply even if their visa permits themto work up to 15 hours a week. Part-time candidates may engage in full-time or substantially full-time employment provided their employer confirms that sufficient time is available to comply with conditions of part-time candidature, and they have the support of their supervisors.

Milestones

The progress of doctoral candidates is formally reviewed via three candidature milestones: confirmation of candidature, mid-candidature review, and the pre-submission seminar. The mid-candidature review and pre-submission seminar are mandatory requirements for all doctoral candidates who commenced their candidature from 1 January 2010.

Probationary candidature applies for all doctoral candidates, except where doctoral candidates have transferred from a master's by research program. Candidates are required to present their work in progress to a review panel and submit a confirmation of candidature report at the end of their 12 months (full-time) or 24 months (part-time) probationary period.

The Mid-Candidature Review is undertaken between 21 and 27 months of equivalent full-time candidature. Candidates are required to give an oral presentation and written submission, including their project timeline, to the review panel.

The Pre-Submission Seminar should be held no more than six months equivalent full-time candidature prior to the final thesis submission. Candidates are required to give a public oral presentation, in addition to a thesis summary and chapter outline to the review panel.

Re-enrolment

All HDR candidates are required to re-enrol for the next year of candidature in their research program. Candidates must complete an annual questionnaire in order to re-enrol. The questionnaire provides an opportunity for a candidate to identify any issues that may be affecting their candidature as well as fulfilling legislative requirements.

This course consists of:

• six coursework units (four core units, and two electives chosen from a wide range of units)
• a 12-week practicum in a public health setting
• research culminating in a thesis.

Assessment is by thesis, examinations, oral presentations and written reports.

Thesis

Students submit a thesis of approximately 60,000 to 70,000 words. The word length for a thesis does not include footnotes, references or appendices, nor does it include equations, tables, diagrams or other illustrations. The thesis may be in the form of a traditional monograph or as a thesis by publication.

The thesis should embody the results of the candidate's investigation, which demonstrates independence of thought and the candidate's ability to carry out research in that discipline.

The work presented for examination must be the original work of the candidate, except where due reference is made in the text. A candidate may include published work which is directly relevant to the argument of the thesis, provided such work has been written during the period of candidature. Candidates may not present in, or in support of, a thesis any work which the candidate has presented for any other degree or diploma at this University, or any other institution, except with the permission of the Research Graduate School Committee.

Coursework and practicum placements

Coursework sessions will be conducted over two 12-week semesters in the first year and one 12-week semester in the second year. The public health practice component will occur in the second year of the course.

Core units

• DPH6001 Advanced epidemiology
• DPH6002 Statistical methods for public health
• DPH6003 Advanced research methods in public health
• DPH6004 Health leadership and management
• DPH6005 Public health practice

Elective units

Elective units may be selected from any 'MPH' or 'EPM'-coded postgraduate units offered by the School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

Doctor of Public Health