Master of Public Health - MPH

• Overview
• Course Content
• Course Structure
• Course Duration
• MPH proposed timetable semester 1, 2010 - PDF

Overview

Public Health aims to improve the health of populations through:

• Knowledge - the evidence base for Public Health policy and practice. Knowledge of theory allows us to postulate explanations, make predictions and develop hypotheses to be tested. Knowledge of methods allows us to collect data to test our predictions and hypotheses
• Values - the beliefs, ideologies and interests mediating knowledge on the path to decision making
• Action – the decision-making process, translating research into policy and practice, advocating for change
• Outcomes - understanding evaluation research and practice, systematically evaluating Public Health programs.

Our students

• Healthcare practitioners such as doctors, nurses and physiotherapists, who want to expand into public health.
• Healthcare administrators who want to broaden their qualifications.
• Graduate professionals such as teachers, lawyers and corporate workers who are seeking a career change.

Career prospects

Education in Public Health prepares people for a broad range of careers in health and beyond in related areas, including: education, urban planning and community development.

Graduates may be employed in roles such as:

• Public health officers within state or commonwealth departments of health
• Health education or health promotion officer
• Clinical research manager
• Health information manager
• Health project manager

Core curriculum

Our core program for the MPH and GradDipPH continues to emphasise a strong foundation in methods – epidemiology, biostatistics and qualitative research but from 2010 introduces new core content with enhanced emphasis on Disease Prevention and Health Promotion; Indigenous Health and Indigenous Health Promotion; public health values, decision making, practice and policy; and an integrated capstone unit of study to make our graduates more work-ready and better able to bridge the gap between studying public health and working as public health professionals.

Electives

Our range of electives continues to grow, for example we are offering in 2010 for the first time an elective in chronic disease control (in Semester 1).

Course Content

The MPH program covers a range of areas of study, including:

• epidemiology (the study of the distribution of health states and determinants)
• biostatistics (the use of statistical models to analyse data)
• disease prevention and health promotion
• qualitative research
• chronic disease prevention and control
• communicable disease prevention and control
• public health practice

Completing the MPH program, you will develop the range of skills necessary for practice as a public health professional. Specifically, you will acquire the competencies needed to:

a) provide sound advice on the efficient and equitable distribution of health care resources according to need and the principles of social justice

b) cooperate with competing health sectors, such as hospitals and community services

c) work with various sectors of the community, such as the young, the disabled and the aged.

The skills and knowledge you will acquire are in the areas of:

• Research Methods - such as assessing the quality of research studies; using basic mortality and other data for descriptive purposes; and evaluating public health interventions and programs
• Health Services - such as developing an understanding of public and private sector health care delivery; using various sources of information for forming health policy; and interpreting the role of governments in the delivery of health services
• Public Health Practice - such as analysing social and cultural factors relating to public health problems; describing the principles of disease prevention and control across a population; and examining major public health strategies and their application.

Course duration

Full-time - one to three years
Part-time - two to four years

Course structure

Enrolling students are required to complete a total of 48 credit points by the end of the coursework program in order to satisfy MPH degree regulations. These can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis, however, if you are an international student on a student visa you will need to study full-time, to satisfy the conditions of your visa.

How do the changes to MPH affect current Public Health students?

In 2010, the total of 48 credit points includes:

• 28 credit points of compulsory core units of study - which provide you with the basic knowledge and skills for practice as a public health professional, AND
• 20 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, apart from the Capstone, which is offered in Semester 2. Most elective units are offered in Semester 2.

Note that you may commence your studies mid-year - that is, at the beginning of Semester 2. However you will have missed core concepts and content from Semester 1 and will have a reduced choice of electives, as some of these have Core unit pre-requisites.

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

From 2011, eligible students may transfer to the MPH (Professional Practice) if they wish to undertake a supervised placement in a public health workplace.

• MPH proposed timetable semester 1, 2010 - PDF