Bachelor of Public Health - 2018

Step outside the clinic to play a leading role in the promotion of health and management of disease with public health. Public health focuses on populations and communities rather than individuals, and spans the spectrum from promoting good health, through to preventing disease and managing illness and disability. Your studies will include aspects of biomedical sciences, health promotion, epidemiology, forensic medicine, social sciences, health data management and global health. The Bachelor of Public Health focuses on developing, implementing and evaluating programs and policies to promote health and prevent disease and injury, and undertaking public-health. It has a global orientation, examining both Australian and international health challenges.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 7 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 7 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

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

1. identify and explain the determinates of illness, health and wellbeing
2. access, critically appraise and apply the best available evidence to the professional practice of public health
3. apply knowledge of human health, disease and promotion to a range of professional contexts
4. demonstrate awareness of equity, cultural diversity, human rights and social justice in relation to health in Australian and international contexts
5. conduct ethical research using appropriate paradigms
6. integrate knowledge of relevant public policy and health and social care systems into practice
7. develop, implement and evaluate public health programs
8. collect, organise, analyse, interpret and report health data
9. communicate effectively with diverse audiences and in a variety of formats.

The course develops through four themes of: personal and professional development; population, communities, health and illness; the scientific basis of health care; and applied practice.

Part A. Personal and professional development

These studies will develop your understanding of the roles, responsibilities and expectations of health professionals and the personal and professional attributes you will need in the workplace. These include communication and interpersonal skills, teamwork, critical thinking, ethical and legal issues, and reflective practice. You will also learn about research methodologies and the application of research to the field of health.

Part B. Population, communities, health and illness

The focus of these studies is the social, environmental and behavioural contexts of ill health, disease and injury and broad societal issues such as health promotion, the application of epidemiology and statistics in the assessment of health risk in populations, public health, community diversity, population and global health. You will also develop a sound understanding of evidence-based practice.

Part C. Scientific basis of health care practice

These studies provide the foundation scientific knowledge of human systems including; physical, biomedical, mathematical and behavioural sciences.

Part D. Professional practice skills

This theme addresses competencies for practice within the field of public health including programs to promote health and prevent disease. There will a focus on the incorporation of the best available research evidence with the clinical reasoning skills of assessment, management, evaluation and health care across the lifespan and across a spectrum of environments and circumstances.

The course develops through four themes: Part A. Personal and professional development, Part B. Population, communities, health and illness, Part C. Scientific basis of health care and Part D. Professional practice skills.

The course progression map will assist you to plan to meet the course requirements, and guidance on unit enrolment for each semester of study.

Units are 6 points unless otherwise stated.

Foundation studies (54 points)

All students complete:

• BMA1011 Foundation of anatomy and physiology for health practice 1
• BMA1012 Foundations of anatomy and physiology for health practice 2
• HSC1100 Introduction to research and evidence
• HSC1200 Introduction to public health
• HSC1300 Human health and disease
• HSC1400 The Australian healthcare system
• HSC2100 Emerging challenges in health
• HSC2200 Health and the human lifespan
• HSC2300 Health promotion and disease prevention

Public health studies (90 points)

Students complete:

• PBH1102 Introduction to communicating health
• PBH1104 Global health: Opportunities and challenges
• PBH2003 Culture, society and health
• PBH2001 Foundations of epidemiology
• PBH2002 Foundations of biostatistics
• PBH3001 Public health and clinical research methods
• PBH3002 Disease prevention and control
• FOR3001 Principles of forensic medicine

And one of:

• PBH2004 Health, law and ethics
• PBH2005 Health program planning

And one of:

• PBH2006 Treatments and technologies
• PBH2008 Introduction to health policy and politics

And two of:

• PBH3003 Enviromental determinants of health and disease
• PBH3004 Health program evaluation
• PBH3005 Social and behavioural sciences in public health

And one of:

• PBH3006 Action in public health research
• PBH3007 Health promotion practicum
• PBH3008 Case studies in global and public health

And one of:

• PBH3009 Chronic disease epidemiology and control
• PBH3010 Health data management

And one of:

• PBH3011 Advanced biostatistics for public health
• PBH3012 Translating research into practice

Students who successfully complete the Bachelor of Public Health course are eligible to apply for admission to M6024 Master of Public Health (entry level 2).