Major Overview

Description

Health is a major modern challenge because of the growing importance of international health issues, the ageing population and disparities in health across the community. As a student you will investigate social, economic, environmental, historical, political, physical and biological influences on health, how these factors interact and how good management can improve the health of communities. Your studies will focus on how health might be improved locally and globally, particularly through disease prevention and health enhancement. This major develops your understanding of the prevention of acute, chronic and general ill health and the promotion of good health through community programs/interventions and the provision of effective health services. There is an emphasis on current and emerging health issues. The Public Health major complements a wide range of disciplines such as biomedical sciences, commerce or economics, enabling you to develop expertise in relevant health applications, health administration or health economics.

Outcomes

Students are able to:

  1. discuss major health issues locally and globally
  2. evaluate biological, cultural, social,environmental, economic, historical and political influences that determine health locally and globally
  3. recognise the historical, social, environmental, economic and political contexts that frame public health approaches
  4. appraise current and emerging issues in health
  5. integrate scientific knowledge and skills to understanding health locally and globally
  6. demonstrate knowledge of the socio-cultural context of the health of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and other indigenous peoples
  7. develop, implement and critically review quantitative and qualitative research relevant to health
  8. use evidence-based approaches to health issues
  9. critically evaluate approaches to managing health at a population level; (10) analyse population health needs and promote healthy behaviours and environments through actions with individuals, communities and society; (11) demonstrate the ability to plan and evaluate effective strategies to promote and improve health and evaluate effective ways of delivery; (12) describe and compare the organisation and delivery of Australian and other health systems; (13) critically review and evaluate policies in resource allocation and health systems; (14) discuss equity from a population health perspective; and (15) appraise cultural appropriateness of health strategies.
Broadening guidelines

All students studying towards a Bachelor's Degree at UWA are required to Broaden their studies by completing a minimum of four units (24 points) of study outside their degree specific major. Broadening is your opportunity to explore other areas of interest, investigate new disciplines and knowledge paradigms and to shape your degree to suit your own aspirations and interests. Many of you will be able to undertake more than this minimum amount of broadening study and we encourage you to do so if this suits your aspirations. Over the next few months you will find here some broadening suggestions related to your degree-specific major. While we know that many students value guidance of this sort, these are only suggestions and students should not lose sight of the opportunity to explore that is afforded by your Broadening Choices. Advice can also be sought from your Allocated Student Advising Office.

Prerequisites

Students who have not achieved a scaled mark of at least 50 in ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, will need to successfully complete MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals in their first 48 points of study in this course.

Courses

Public Health can be taken as a degree-specific major in the following degree courses:

Units

Key to availability of units:
S1
Semester 1
S2
Semester 2

Students who do not have ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, are required to complete MATH1720 in their first year.

Level 1

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (12 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations None
S2 PUBH1102 Foundations of Global Health None
Bridging units

Take units if applicable:

Students who do not have ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, are required to complete MATH1720 in their first year.

Students who do not have ATAR Mathematics Applications or equivalent or higher, are required to complete MATH1720 in their first year.

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1, S2 MATH1720 Mathematics Fundamentals
Prerequisites
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of less than 50] or with permission
Incompatibility
Mathematics Applications ATAR [with a scaled score of 50 or greater] or Equivalent or higher

Level 2

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S1 AHEA2201 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing
Prerequisites
for the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing major: INDG1150 Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard.
or INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge.
for the Population Health major: PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations.
or PUBH1102 Health and Globalisation.
for pre-2012 courses: HIST1100 Aboriginal History.
for the Women's Health minor: IMED1108 Issues in women's health across the lifespan.
Incompatibility
IMED2293 Aboriginal Health, IMED3393 Aboriginal Health
S2 PUBH2203 Foundations of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
Prerequisites
Successful completion of any one
PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations
or PUBH1102 Health and Globalisation
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANTH1001 Being Human: Culture, Identity and Society
or ANTH1002 Global Change, Local Responses
or PUBH2209 Plagues, Pox and Pandemics: the History of Death and Disease
or SCOM1101 Communicating Science
or SCOX1101 Communicating Science
or BIOL1130 Frontiers in Biology
or BIOL1131 Plant and Animal Biology
or
Enrolment in
MJD-ABHWB Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing and either ( INDG1150 Aboriginal Encounters: Strangers in our Backyard
or INDG1160 Boodjar Moort Katitjin: Introduction to Indigenous Heritage and Knowledge

and AHEA2201 Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing )
Incompatibility
IMED2003 Medical Sciences Research Methodologies (ID 5971)
S1 PUBH2204 Disease Prevention and Control
Prerequisites
PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations
or PUBH1102 Health and Globalisation
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANTH1001 Being Human: Culture, Identity and Society
or ANTH1002 Global Change, Local Responses
S1 PUBH2216 Communication and Project Planning in Health
Prerequisites
Successful completion of level 1 24 points
or level 2 Unit(s) and any one
PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations
or PUBH1102 Health and Globalisation
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHX1101 Human Biology 1 (Becoming Human)
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or ANHX1102 Human Biology 2 (Being Human)
or ANTH1002 Global Change, Local Responses
or PSYC1101 Psychology: Mind and Brain
or PSYC1102 Psychology: Behaviour in Context
or IMED1001 Form and Function
or IMED1002 The Facts of Life
Incompatibility
HSMD2216 Health Science Professional Practice

Level 3

Degree-specific major units

Take all units (24 points):

Availability Unit code Unit name unit requirements
S2 PUBH3301 Health Leadership None
S2 PUBH3302 Health Promotion
Prerequisites
PUBH2204 Disease Prevention and Control
S1 PUBH3305 Health Research Design and Methods
Prerequisites
PUBH2203 Foundations of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
S1 PUBH3307 Health Systems and Policy
Prerequisites
PUBH2204 Disease Prevention and Control