MONASH UNIVERSITY FACULTY HANDBOOKS

Medicine Handbook 1996

Published by Monash University
Clayton, Victoria 3168, Australia

Caution Copyright © Monash University 1996
ISBN 1037-0919

Authorised by Academic Registrar, April 1996


Masters degrees

CONTENTS

  1. Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
  2. Master of Family Medicine
  3. Master of Psychoanalytic Studies
  4. Master of Psychological Medicine
  5. Master of Public Health
  6. Master of Reproductive Sciences
  7. Master of Rural Health
  8. Master of Venereology

Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

General information

The Department of Psychological Medicine provides a course leading to the degree of Master of Child Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy which is conducted primarily at the Austin Hospital, Heidelberg. The degree is taken by coursework and minor thesis. The course for the degree shall be completed in not less than three years and not more than five years and will be undertaken part-time.

The aim of this degree is to provide the opportunity for psychotherapists from various disciplines to examine critically the theoretical and research bases of the practice of child psychotherapy in the context of ongoing clinical skills training in this area, to understand the issues of research methodology in this field, and to contribute to the body of knowledge in this field by means of a substantial piece of scholarship. The long-term objective is to raise the academic and clinical standard of child psychotherapy and encourage scholarship and research in the field.

Candidates need to have a minimum of two years practice in their graduate field with an approved experience working with children and their families and be currently engaged in therapeutic work with children.

Course structure (MCP0001, MCP0002, MCP0003, MCP0004, MCP0005, MCP0006)

Coursework

Three hours of coursework per week per semester over the three years.

Clinical work

Three hours supervision of psychotherapy work per week per semester over the three years, plus each student is to have at least two children, two adolescents and two parents in psychotherapy during the course.

Research workshops

A series of seminars and other workshops on research methodology, data analysis, and critical examination of the literature relevant to the field of child psychoanalytic psychotherapy and the planning, preparation and writing of the minor thesis.

Minor thesis

Candidates will be required to submit a substantial piece of individual scholarship in the form of a minor thesis at the end of their final year. The minor thesis will be about 12,000 words and show wide reading and understanding of the subject selected for the thesis. The minor thesis should be an original work and be a critical review of an idea or concept in child psychotherapy. It may take the form of research project or design for one, including a critical review of literature; an infant observation project linked to relevant theoretical discussion and review of literature; or an in-depth clinical case study linked to relevant theoretical discussion and review of literature.

Assessment

Assessment of the coursework will be by continual assessment based on evidence of attendance and participation, and the submission of assignments related to the subjects being undertaken for the degree. This may be supplemented by written and oral examinations. The minor thesis will be assessed by two assessors, one of which shall be external. The minor thesis will account for 50 per cent of the assessment.

Inquiries

Inquiries should be direct to Ms J Beaufoy, c/o Postgraduate Child Psychiatry Training (Vic.), Austin Hospital, Bowen Building, Heidelberg 3084.

Master of Family Medicine

General information

The Department of Community Medicine offers a four-year part-time Master of Family Medicine degree. The course is available for graduates with a minimum of two years postgraduate experience who are currently registered by the medical board in their respective State or who have a qualification which is registrable in a State of the Commonwealth. Preference will be given to applicants currently employed in active general practice. The course is only offered by distance education through Monash University Gippsland campus.

The aims of the course are similar to the graduate diploma course with the additional objectives of providing candidates with research and teaching skills to equip them for potential part-time or full-time careers in academic general practice.

To achieve this, candidates are required to undertake coursework additional to that prescribed for the graduate diploma and carry out an approved research project culminating in a published minor thesis.

Course structure

The coursework includes four major units and three elective units or two major units and six elective units. The major units include MFM2000 (Academic basis of general practice/family medicine); MFM2006 (Introduction to research methods in general practice/ family medicine); MFM1008 (Applied research in general practice/family medicine); and MFM2007 (Learning and teaching in family medicine). The minor units are similar to those offered in the graduate diploma course.

Assessment

Assessment will be by coursework participation, formal assignments, projects and a minor thesis.

Inquiries

Further information is available from the Department of Community Medicine, 867 Centre Road, East Bentleigh 3165.

Master of Psychoanalytic Studies

General information

The Department of Psychological Medicine offers a course leading to the degree of Master of Psychoanalytic Studies. The course is normally undertaken part-time over three years.

The aim of the course is to offer observational and theoretical studies in which psychoanalytic perceptions will be integrated to foster understanding of individuals, groups and organisations, and to promote research and scholarship in these areas.

The objectives of the course are to provide the opportunity for professionals from relevant disciplines to develop observational skills in clinical as well as in other situations; provide an experiential basis for understanding psychoanalytic concepts in relation to individuals, families, groups and organisations; examine critically the theoretical concepts of psychoanalysis and their application to the understanding of human development and interactions in clinical, social and cultural fields; understand the issues of research in this field; and contribute to the body of knowledge in this field by means of a substantial piece of scholarship.

The course will cover a broad range of psychoanalytic concepts and theories. It will combine observational and experiential approaches with open and critical examination of the theoretical concepts of psychoanalysis. Research and academic studies will be related as much as possible to the experience of human interactions, infant development and to work experience in various settings. This approach aims at the development of understanding of intrapsychic processes and their effects, but does not imply qualification for clinical work.

The course in itself will not provide a clinical or vocational training. It can, however, precede, supplement or follow recognised training programs in psychoanalysis or psychotherapy which the course participants may choose to take.

A candidate must hold a degree in medicine, psychology, social work, occupational therapy, speech therapy or nursing or a degree relevant to psychoanalysis, or qualifications from an approved tertiary institution, deemed equivalent. Candidates must also have a minimum of two years of practice in the field of professional activity related to their graduate field and have continuing opportunity for such work in a setting that can be used for observation to be reported and discussed as a part of coursework.

Course structure (MPS0001 to MPS0014)

Seminars

There will be three hours of seminars per week for thirty weeks per year. The first seminar will comprise work study or group study where relevant material from students' observations will be presented and discussed. In the second seminar there will be discussion of pre-read material, related to theoretical, research and applied topics. Infant observation seminars will be held in the first year. Research workshops will be held in the third year.

Field work

Field work will consist of infant observation and work/group observation.

Essays

Essays will be required for each component of the course.

Minor thesis

A substantial piece of individual scholarship must be presented by the end of the third year of the course, on any topic related to psychoanalysis, according to guidelines offered by the course. The thesis may be presented as a research project including a critical literature review, as an infant observation project linked to relevant theoretical discussion and review of literature, or as an in-depth work case study linked to relevant theoretical discussion and review of the literature. Other types of projects might also be considered.

Individual tutorship Experience and theory of group functioning

Assessment

Asssessment will be continuous and it will be based on the student's involvement in the process of observing, learning and interacting within the course group. It will be closely linked with a student's self-evaluation and the evaluation by the group of the group and of the teaching process. Regular feedback sessions will be conducted both in the groups and individually with the student's tutors. These, in conjunction with satisfactory completion of the assignments required during the course and of the minor thesis, will provide a basis for the final assessment of the progress.

Inquiries

Inquiries should be directed to the administrative secretary, Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168.

Master of Psychological Medicine

General information

The Department of Psychological Medicine provides a course leading to the degree of Master of Psychological Medicine. The course is conducted conjointly with the University of Melbourne's Master of Medicine (Psychiatry). The degree is taken by coursework and minor thesis. The course is normally completed part-time in not less than three years and not more than five years.

Candidates must be registered medical practitioners currently engaged in psychiatric practice or clinical training in psychiatry and have a minimum of at least two years postgraduate experience.

The principal aim of this degree is to provide the medical practitioner with a training in the academic aspects of psychiatry within the context of a broad clinical training in the subject, and provide a suitable academic preparation for both the first part and the elective dissertation of the RANZCP fellowship.

Course structure

During their course, candidates will study the relevance to psychiatry of related biological, psychological and social sciences, the research methods developed by these disciplines and their application to specific problems. Subjects include MPM1001, MPM2000 (Descriptive psychiatry); MPM1006, MPM2007 (Basic sciences of psychiatry); MPM1003, MPM2002 (Developmental psychiatry); MPM1009, MPM2008 (Personality theory ); MPM1005, MPM2004 (Liaison psychiatry, medicine and neurology); MPM1013, MPM2012 (Social and cultural psychiatry); and MPM1011, MPM2010 (Research in psychiatry).

Assessment

The candidate will proceed to the degree by the preparation of minor thesis and by satisfactory completion of the prescribed coursework subjects. Assessment of coursework will be by continuous assessment based on submission of assignments and critical essays related to the subjects being undertaken for the degree. This may be supplemented by written and oral examinations.

The minor thesis will be about 12,000 words and show wide reading and understanding of the subject selected for the thesis. The minor thesis should be an original work and be a critical review of an idea or concept in psychiatry or related disciplines. It may take the form of a literature review or be based on secondary analysis of already available data. It may include a design for a research project which may also have been pilot tested or subjected to definitive study.

Inquiries

Inquiries should be directed to the administrative secretary, Department of Psychological Medicine, Monash Medical Centre, 246 Clayton Road, Clayton 3168.

Master of Public Health

General information and assessment

The Master of Public Health course offered by the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine is designed to provide a broadly based education in the disciplines of public health for medical and non-medical graduates who wish to embark on a career in the areas of occupational health, public health, health services research, policy and planning, clinical epidemiology and the provision of primary care. The course can be undertaken full-time over two years but is normally undertaken on a part-time basis.

Students complete a common general Part I, comprising eight subjects, over two years (part-time) or one year (full-time). This will be followed by a specialised Part II where students stream into one of the following areas of health specialisation.

(1) Occupational/environmental health specialisation.

(2) Clinical epidemiology specialisation.

(3) General stream.

(4) Coursework and minor thesis (in special circumstances and with the permission of the head of the department, students may, after first year, complete the course by minor thesis).

Part II will be undertaken over two years (part-time) or one year (full-time) and comprises a combination of coursework units and a supervised research project.

Course structure (four years part-time)

Occupational/environmental health specialisation

Year 1

+ Epidemiology and demography (semester 1)

+ Introductory statistics (semester 1)

+ Sociological foundations of public health (semester 2)

+ Health promotion (semester 2)

Year 2

+ Research methods and computing (semester 1)

+ Environmental influences on health (semester 1)

+ Public health policy and planning (semester 2)

+ Health economics, management and evaluation (semester 2)

Year 3

+ Legal and management aspects of occupational health (semester 1)

+ Diseases of occupation (semester 1)

+ Occupational hygiene (semester 2)

+ Toxicology I (semester 2)

Year 4

+ Project in occupational or environmental health (semester 1)

+ Ergonomics (semester 2)

+ Disease prevention and rehabilitation (semester 2)

Clinical epidemiology specialisation

Year 1 and year 2 - as for occupational/environmental health specialisation.

Year 3

+ Advanced epidemiology (semester 1)

+ Clinical epidemiology (semester 1)

+ Chronic disease epidemiology (semester 2)

+ Drug epidemiology (semester 2)

Year 4

+ Public health project (semester 1)

+ Public health project (semester 2)

General stream

Students electing to take a general stream in the third and fourth years of the course will be required to enrol for any four of the subjects listed in either of the two above specialisations or any other MPH subject currently offered by the department in the third year. They will then complete the public health project in the fourth year.

Inquiries

Inquiries should be directed to the MPH administrator, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Monash Medical School, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran 3181.

Master of Reproductive Sciences

General information

The Institute of Reproduction and Development, in association with Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research, provides a course leading to the degree of Master of Reproductive Sciences. The course, offered on a full-time basis over two years, or part-time over four years, is available to graduates in biological, medical, paramedical, agricultural or veterinary sciences from approved tertiary institutions with (a) an honours degree (upper second class - division IIA or equivalent); (b) a pass degree with at least two years of relevant experience in their particular field; or (c) qualifications and experience which are assessed as equivalent.

The course aims to provide a detailed training in current theories and principles of reproductive biology and medicine; instruction and experience in various practical skills currently in use in reproductive biology and medicine; an interdisciplinary view of various reproductive processes and associated ethical issues; current knowledge and understanding of recent advances in reproductive technologies and their implications for professionals in various fields within and outside the reproductive sciences; advanced knowledge and training in areas of specific interest and research experience.

The importance of reproduction in human and animal biology provides a continuing need for suitably trained personnel in various aspects of reproduction for the clinical, allied health and basic sciences, for research and product development in industry, as well as for government and semi-government agencies concerned with development and implementation of policy on reproductive and population issues. The knowledge and skills developed from this course would be appropriate for graduates wishing to pursue a variety of career opportunities in reproductive biology. The areas include, for example, medical and paramedical fields; developing areas of agriculture and veterinary science where skills in new reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilisation, embryo manipulation and transfer, are assuming considerable importance; research and development fields of industry, in particular pharmaceutical and toxicological aspects of human and animal reproduction; and biological areas such as wildlife conservation and the preservation of endangered species.

Course structure and assessment (MRS1014, MRS2015 [full-time]; MRS1018, MRS2019, MRS1020, MRS2021 [part-time])

The course structure and types of assessment are the same as those for the Graduate Diploma in Reproductive Sciences, with the exception that masters students undertake a minor thesis whereas graduate diploma students undertake a research project. The minor thesis involves an in-depth original study of a particular aspect of reproductive biology. Masters students perform extensive laboratory research under appointed supervisors.

This course is currently being revised and    
is subject to change in 1996.                 

Inquiries

Inquiries should be directed to Ms T Hocking, Department of Anatomy, Monash University, Clayton 3168.

Master of Rural Health

General information

The Department of Community Medicine offers a distance education course leading to the degree of Master of Rural Health. The degree is normally undertaken full-time over two years or part-time over four years.

The course aims to prepare rural health care practitioners for positions of leadership in research, clinical practice, teaching and management; and to produce graduates who are well equipped to provide high quality health care specifically oriented to the health needs of rural communities.

Candidates are selected on the basis of academic and professional merit. Preference is given to candidates who hold current registration in a relevant rural health discipline and who are working in rural areas or are preparing for a career in rural practice. Candidates must have a minimum of a bachelors degree with honours, or a qualification deemed equivalent, and a period of two years relevant clinical experience. Students enrolled in the graduate diploma may apply for conversion into the masters program on completion of their first year, depending upon suitable grades.

Course structure

The course consists of four compulsory generic core subjects and four discipline-specific clinical practice subjects. See information provided on the Graduate Diploma in Rural Health for more details on these subjects.

Candidates will also be required to complete stream A (a double coursework subject titled `Applied research methods for health care professionals' which is followed by a minor thesis) or stream B (a double coursework subject titled `Reflective practice for health care professionals' which is followed by an advanced clinical project). Both streams are of equivalent academic status. Stream A has been designed to further develop qualitative or quantitative research skills. Stream B has been designed to focus on advanced clinical practice through reflection. This type of research investigates issues, practices and phenomena using interactive methodology similar to action research.

Assessment

Assessment is by written assignments and papers, projects, student journals, literature review, formal assessment and minor thesis/project.

Inquiries

Inquiries should be directed to Dr R Hall, Centre for Rural Health, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Ollerton Avenue, Moe, 3825.

Master of Venereology

General information

The Department of Microbiology offers the degree of Master of Venereology. It is a 100 per cent research degree in the field of sexually transmitted diseases. Candidates for the degree must hold the Graduate Diploma in Venereology or equivalent or work in the field of venereology. Research can be undertaken in any field of sexually transmitted diseases, providing the course of research is approved by the department.

Assessment

Candidates are required to submit a major thesis. The thesis will be examined by one internal examiner (not the candidate's supervisor) and one external examiner.

Inquiries

Inquiries should be directed to Dr G Cross or Dr I Denham, Department of Microbiology, Monash Medical School, Alfred Hospital, Commercial Road, Prahran 3181.


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