Master of International Public Health - MIPH

• Overview
• Course Content
• Course Structure

Overview

The Master of International Public Health (MIPH) is a coursework degree which aims to give you the basic professional training to enable you to work productively with international aid organisations and health departments in developing countries. The course also has relevance for public health in developed countries.

Course content

The MIPH course emphasises a modern approach to public health in a wide variety of developing countries, especially those experiencing demographic, health, socio-cultural and economic transitions. That is, it provides a balance between disease control and health promotion in resource-poor settings - particularly infectious disease and under-nutrition, and conditions associated with development - such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and injury.

The course focuses on themes such as causes of ill-health and premature mortality, determinants of health and quality of life, infectious disease and under-nutrition, and health in rural and urban contexts and in ethnically diverse populations. It also covers infrastructure development for disease control and health promotion, and relevant aspects of program design, implementation and evaluation.

The approach of the MIPH combines:

• a human ecology perspective of health and disease
• expertise in relevant investigative methods
• evidence-based, culturally appropriate and cost-effective approaches to disease control, health promotion and health services development based on real life public health interventions
• developing of infrastructure for policy, research and evaluation in order to promote, protect and maintain the health of populations.

The teaching staff all have practical experience in developing countries and in working with international and aid organisations in various countries, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Teaching methods involve structured and example-based learning based on experiences of presenters and real situation in international health.

Course structure

The MIPH consists of one-year full-time equivalent coursework, based on two semesters of study. Enrolling students are required to complete a total of 48 credit points by the end of the coursework program in order to satisfy MIPH degree regulations. These can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis.

Australian students:
Full time - one-year / 2 semesters
OR
Part-time - two years / 4 semesters

International Students:
Full-time - one-year / 2 semesters
OR
Full-time - 18 months / 1.5 semesters

In 2009, the total of 48 credit points includes:

• 24 credit points of compulsory core units of study - which provide you with the basic knowledge and skills for practice in the field of international public health, AND
• 24 credit points of elective units of study - where you can specialise within an area appropriate to your career interests, or select units from a number of areas

All core units of study are offered in Semester 1 and elective units are generally offered in Semester 2.

The table below summarises the course structure and requirements for the MIPH program. NOTE - this table is based on enrolment as a full-time student.

Commencing: You may commence the course in either Semester 1 or Semester 2. But if you want to complete the course in one year, commencing in Semester 2 limits your choice of advanced epidemiology and biostatistics electives because they have Semester 1 prerequisites.