Course overview

Description

This course is a two year Master of Public Health course which enables students to specialise in one of three areas: public health foundations, applied public health and public health methodology. It provides students with a strong grounding in public health knowledge and theory.

The course can be undertaken by coursework only (public health foundations), coursework and practicum (applied public health) or coursework and dissertation (public health methodology).

Only those students meeting the eligibility criteria may undertake the dissertation or practicum.

Course title
Master of Public Health (coursework or coursework and dissertation)
Award abbreviation
MPH
Course code
92550
Course type
Master's degree by coursework or by coursework and dissertation
Status
Current / 2024
Administered by
Population and Global Health
CRICOS code
075827C

Course details

Intake periods
Beginning of year and mid-year
Attendance type
Full- or part-time (Student visa holders should read Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 for more information.)
Credit points required
96
A standard full-time load is 24 points per semester.
Standard course duration
2 years
Time limit
5 years
Delivery mode
Internal
Locations offered
UWA (Perth)
Domestic fee type
Commonwealth supported and/or HECS-HELP
Available to international students
Yes. For information on international student fees see 'Student Procedures: Fees'. (Enquiries: https://www.uwa.edu.au/askuwa)
Course Coordinator(s)
Dr Siobhan Hickling
Fees
Visit the fees calculator.

Prospective students should see the Future Students website for details on admission requirements, intake periods, fees, availability to international students, careers information etc.

Example Study Plan

See study plans for more information.

Specialisations

SP-APPPH Applied Public Health
SP-PHFND Public Health Foundations
SP-PHMET Public Health Methodology

Course structure

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2
N/A
not available in 2024 – may be available in 2025 or 2026
NS
non-standard teaching period

All units have a value of six points unless otherwise stated.

Take all units (24 points):

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2PUBH4403Epidemiology INonelectures: 60-70 minutes recorded lectures per week; online tutorial worksheets: ~ 2-3 hours per week
S1PUBH5705Health Program Evaluation
Incompatibility
RMED4403 Health Program Evaluation (ID 4228)
lectures/tutorials 3.5 hours
S1PUBH5749Foundations of Public HealthNonelectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week
S1PUBH5754Health Promotion INonelectures: 3 hours per week

Option units

Note: Students in the Applied Public Health specialisation SP-APPPH must take units to the total value of 30 points from Groups A and B.

Students in the Public Health Foundations specialisation SP-PHFND must take units to the total value of 42 points from Groups A and may include either B or C.

Students in the Public Health Methodology specialisation SP-PHMET must take units to the value of 30 points from Groups A and/or C.

Group A Coursework

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1APHB5501Developmental Origins of Health and Disease
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
Major(s) MJD-BIOMS Biomedical Science
or 92550 Master of Public Health
or 71520 Master of Biomedical Science
or 71540 Master of Health Science
seminars: 12 hours; presentations: 6 hours (depending on number of students)
S2PAED4401Research Conduct and Ethics
Prerequisites
enrolment in
a relevant honours
or postgraduate course
online modules only
NSPUBH5721Public Health Field Trip
Prerequisites
any 1 of PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health, PUBH5705 Health Program Evaluation, PUBH5754 Health Promotion, PUBH5805 Qualitative Research Methods in Health, PUBH4403 Epidemiology 1
or PUBH5705 Health Program Evaluation
Attendance on campus for up to six, 2-hour seminars, followed by up to 14 days working with and NGO in Nepal, Fiji or India. Timing and mode of delivery will be dependent on university travel restrictions. In 2023 teaching period B3 will be the Nepal offering and teaching period UWCT3 will be the Fiji offering.
S2PUBH5743Environmental and Occupational HealthNonelectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1 hour per week for 12 weeks
NSPUBH5755Critical Perspectives in Global HealthNone1 week full-time (37.5 hours), plus 1 month pre-reading (37.5 hours) and 1 month post-contact week assessment (75 hours)
N/APUBH5757Clinical EpidemiologyNoneoffered intensively
S2PUBH5761Epidemiology and Control of Communicable DiseasesNoneonline tuition: 3 hours per week
NSPUBH5763Health Leadership and ManagementNoneOne week full time, plus pre-intensive week readings.
S1PUBH5767Child and Maternal Health
Prerequisites
Enrolment in
91550 Master of Public Health 92550 Master of Public Health 91230 Graduate Certificate in Population Health Studies
3 hours per week for 12 weeks
S2PUBH5769Biostatistics II
Prerequisites
PUBH4401 Biostatistics I or equivalent training/experience
lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week
S2PUBH5783Health in an Era of Environmental ChangeNoneonline lectures and discussions: 3 hours per week
N/APUBH5784Special Topics in Public HealthNone
NSPUBH5785Analysis of Linked Health DataNoneoffered intensively (1 week full-time)
N/APUBH5801Economic Evaluation of Health Care
Prerequisites
PUBH5752 Health Systems and Economics (ID 3924)
1 week full-time
NSPUBH5802Advanced Analysis of Linked Health Data
Prerequisites
PUBH5785 Introductory Analysis of Linked Health Data (ID 3940) (formerly PUBH8785 Introductory Analysis of Linked Health Data) or equivalent skills and experience.
offered intensively (1 week full-time)
NSPUBH5804Food and Nutrition in Population Health
Incompatibility
PUBH2208 Food and Nutrition in Population Health (ID 694)
1 week full-time
S1URBD5810Healthy by DesignNone1 hour lecture; 2 hours tutorial

Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points, as per the sequence notes:

Group B Dissertation

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2PUBH5712Dissertation (full-time) (24 points)
Prerequisites
A mark of at least 70 per cent in the following units: i) PUBH4403 Epidemiology I.
ii) PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health
or PUBH 5754 Health Promotion, and.
iii) PUBH4401 Biostatistics I
or PUBH 5805 Qualitative Research Methods.
With reference to requirement (iii) in the above, the requirement to score 70 per cent
or above is based on whether the research dissertation to be undertaken is quantitative
or qualitative in nature.
regular meetings with supervisor as required
S1, S2PUBH5714Dissertation (part-time) (24 points)
Prerequisites
A mark of at least 70 per cent in the following units: i) PUBH4403 Epidemiology I.
ii) PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health
or PUBH5754 Health Promotion, and.
iii) PUBH4401 Biostatistics I
or PUBH5805 Qualitative Research Methods.
With reference to requirement (iii) in the above, the requirement to score 70 per cent
or above is based on whether the research dissertation to be undertaken is quantitative
or qualitative in nature.
regular meetings with supervisor as required

Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points, as per the sequence notes:

Group C Practicum

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S2PUBH5758Public Health Practicum (24 points)
Prerequisites
PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health.
PUBH4403 Epidemiology 1.
PUBH5752 Health Systems and Economics.
PUBH4401 Biostatistics 1.
and PUBH5754 Health Promotion I.
To be eligible for the Practicum, students must also have received a mark of at least 70 for PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health
or PUBH5754 Health Promotion I.
35 hours per week

Applied Public Health specialisation

Take all units (42 points):

SP-APPPH

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2PUBH4401Biostatistics I
Prerequisites
enrolment in
honours
or postgraduate courses
lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week
S2PUBH5752Health Systems and EconomicsNonelectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week
S2PUBH5758Public Health Practicum (24 points)
Prerequisites
PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health.
PUBH4403 Epidemiology 1.
PUBH5752 Health Systems and Economics.
PUBH4401 Biostatistics 1.
and PUBH5754 Health Promotion I.
To be eligible for the Practicum, students must also have received a mark of at least 70 for PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health
or PUBH5754 Health Promotion I.
35 hours per week
S2PUBH5805Qualitative Research Methods in HealthNoneseminar: 3 hours per week

Public Health Foundations specialisation

Take all units (30 points):

SP-PHFND

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
NSAHEA5755Aboriginal HealthNoneoffered intensively
S1, S2PUBH4401Biostatistics I
Prerequisites
enrolment in
honours
or postgraduate courses
lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week
S2PUBH5743Environmental and Occupational HealthNonelectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1 hour per week for 12 weeks
S2PUBH5752Health Systems and EconomicsNonelectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week
S2PUBH5805Qualitative Research Methods in HealthNoneseminar: 3 hours per week

Public Health Methodology specialisation

Take all units (18 points):

SP-PHMET

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2PUBH4401Biostatistics I
Prerequisites
enrolment in
honours
or postgraduate courses
lectures: 2 hours per week; tutorials: 1.5 hours per week
S2PUBH5752Health Systems and EconomicsNonelectures/tutorials: 3 hours per week
S2PUBH5805Qualitative Research Methods in HealthNoneseminar: 3 hours per week

Take unit(s) to the value of 24 points:

SP-PHMET

AvailabilityUnit codeUnitnameUnit requirementsContact hours
S1, S2PUBH5712Dissertation (full-time) (24 points)
Prerequisites
A mark of at least 70 per cent in the following units: i) PUBH4403 Epidemiology I.
ii) PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health
or PUBH 5754 Health Promotion, and.
iii) PUBH4401 Biostatistics I
or PUBH 5805 Qualitative Research Methods.
With reference to requirement (iii) in the above, the requirement to score 70 per cent
or above is based on whether the research dissertation to be undertaken is quantitative
or qualitative in nature.
regular meetings with supervisor as required
S1, S2PUBH5714Dissertation (part-time) (24 points)
Prerequisites
A mark of at least 70 per cent in the following units: i) PUBH4403 Epidemiology I.
ii) PUBH5749 Foundations of Public Health
or PUBH5754 Health Promotion, and.
iii) PUBH4401 Biostatistics I
or PUBH5805 Qualitative Research Methods.
With reference to requirement (iii) in the above, the requirement to score 70 per cent
or above is based on whether the research dissertation to be undertaken is quantitative
or qualitative in nature.
regular meetings with supervisor as required

See also the rules for the course and the Student Rules.

Rules

Applicability of the Student Rules, policies and procedures

1.(1) The Student Rules apply to students in this course.

(2) The policy, policy statements and guidance documents and student procedures apply, except as otherwise indicated in the rules for this course.

Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills modules

2.(1) Except as stated in (2), a student who enrols in this course for the first time irrespective of whether they have previously been enrolled in another course of the University, must undertake the Academic Conduct Essentials module (the ACE module) and the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module).

(2) A student who has previously achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the CARS module is not required to repeat the module.

(3) A student must successfully complete the ACE module within the first teaching period of their enrolment. Failure to complete the module within this timeframe will result in the student's unit results from this teaching period being withheld. These results will continue to be withheld until students avail themselves of a subsequent opportunity to achieve a passing grade in the ACE module. In the event that students complete units in subsequent teaching periods without completing the ACE module, these results will similarly be withheld. Students will not be permitted to submit late review or appeal applications regarding results which have been withheld for this reason and which they were unable to access in the normally permitted review period.

English Language competency requirements

3. To be considered eligible for consideration for admission to this course an applicant must satisfy the University's English language competence requirement as set out in the University Policy on Admission: Coursework.

Admission requirements

4.(1) To be considered for admission to this course an applicant must have—

(a) (i) a bachelor's degree, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA; or

(ii) a Graduate Certificate in Population Health Studies 91230, Graduate Certificate in Environmental Health 92210, Graduate Certificate in Communicable Diseases Epidemiology 91220, or an equivalent qualification, as recognised by UWA;

and

(b) the equivalent of a UWA weighted average mark of at least 60 per cent.

(2) Applicants who have or have had a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' against courses 91550 or 92560 are not eligible for admission.

Admission ranking and selection

5. Where relevant, admission will be awarded to the highest ranked applicants or applicants selected based on the relevant requirements.

Articulations and exit awards

6.(1) The following courses form part of an articulated sequence:

  • 91230 Graduate Certificate in Population Health Studies (24 points)
  • 91550 Master of Public Health (72 points)
  • 92210 Graduate Certificate in Environment and Health (24 points)
  • 92220 Graduate Certificate in Communicable Diseases Epidemiology (24 points)
  • 92550 Master of Public Health (96 points)

(2) A student who withdraws from the Master of Public Health course before completing it, but after fulfilling the requirements of a lesser award in the above sequence, may apply for the relevant award.

Course structure

7.(1) The course consists of units to a total value of 96 points which must include course core units and specialisation units. The course comprises the following specialisations:

  • SP-APPPH Applied Public Health
  • SP-PHFND Public Health Foundations
  • SP-PHMET Public Health Methodology

(2) Units must be selected in accordance with the course structure, as set out in these rules.

Satisfactory progress

8. To make satisfactory progress a student must pass units to a point value greater than half the total value of units in which they remain enrolled after the final date for withdrawal without academic penalty.

9. A student who has not achieved a result of Ungraded Pass (UP) for the Communication and Research Skills module (the CARS module) when their progress status is assessed will not have made satisfactory progress even if they have met the other requirements for satisfactory progress in Rule 8.

Progress status

10.(1) A student who fails to make satisfactory progress for the first time is assigned the progress status of 'Suspended' by the Faculty.

(2) A student who fails to make satisfactory progress for a second time is assigned the progress status of 'Excluded' by the Faculty.

11. A student who does not make satisfactory progress in terms of Rule 9 is assigned the progress status of 'On Probation', unless they have been assigned a progress status of 'Suspended' or 'Excluded' for failure to meet other satisfactory progress requirements in Rule 8.

Award with distinction

12. To be awarded the degree with distinction a student must achieve a course weighted average mark (WAM) of at least 80 per cent which is calculated based on—

(a) all units above Level 3 attempted as part of the course that are awarded a final percentage mark;

(b) all relevant units above Level 3 undertaken in articulating courses of this University that are awarded a final percentage mark;

and

(c) all units above Level 3 completed at this University that are credited to the master's degree course.

Deferrals

13. Applicants awarded admission to the course are entitled to a deferral of up to 12 months, as per the University Policy on: Admissions (Coursework).

Additional rules
Credit

14. Unless the Faculty permits otherwise in recognition of exceptional circumstances, credit will normally only be granted for coursework completed within the last five years.

[Approved exception to University Policy]