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Curtin University
Courses Handbook 2011

This handbook contains information for courses and units at Curtin in 2011.
Information for current year courses and units is available at Courses Handbook 2010.

311517 v.1 Master of Public Health

MPH(Curtin)

Course CRICOS Code: 064462G
Registered full-time Duration for International Onshore Students on student visas: 2 Years

Introduction

This is a multidisciplinary health course designed for public health practitioners and others wanting to develop skills and knowledge in public health. Students undertake a number of core units covering a broad range of public health issues combined withspecialist knowledge in one of the following major disciplines. There is a choice of undertaking either a dissertation or a smaller research project combined with further coursework. The specialist majors available for students to choose from are as follows: Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics Major; Health Policy and Management Major; Health Promotion Major; Occupational Health and Safety Major; Public Health Major; Forensic Sexology Major; Nutrition Major; Environmental Health Major.

Course Entry Requirements

A bachelor degree in a health related discipline. Applicants with a minimum of two years post-bachelor work experience may apply for up to 100 credits (one semester) of recognition of prior learning. Work experience is assessed on the basis of seniority and responsibility, job description, work-based referee support, publications or other written reports and short courses or conference attendance in relation to the course stated outcomes. Applicants with degrees in the areas of science, social science,education, commerce and management, and behavioural sciences are also encouraged to apply. Applicants who have work experience but do not have an undergraduate degree should discuss the option of bridging units or enrolling in the Graduate Certificate in Public Health as a first step to enrolling in the MPH degree course.

Specific Requirements

Applicants for this course should refer to the Communicable Diseases and Criminal Record Screening and Clearance Section of this publication.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Applications for recognition of prior learning are assessed on an individual basis as noted under course entry requirements. Applicants who have completed a graduate certificate or a postgraduate diploma at Curtin or its equivalent may apply for recognition of prior learning.

Duration and Availability

This fee-paying course available in both internal and external study modes is of four semesters full-time or equivalent part-time study. Where possible, classes will be scheduled in the evening to accommodate students already employed. International onshore students on student visas are not permitted to study this course externally. This course is also available to international offshore students.

Intermediate Awards 1

A student who has successfully completed the requirements of an approved intermediate award may apply for graduation in that award subject to approval of Head of School/Department. Fees apply. Intermediate award(s) approved for this course are:

Intermediate Awards II

Graduate Certificate in Public Health; Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health; Postgraduate Diploma in Health Promotion.

Course Organisation

In the first and second semester students complete three common core units and in the first semester one optional unit. In the second semester of the first year students are encouraged to select an optional unit that is a required component of their major. In the second year of the course students commence their major which combines coursework units and research in their discipline. Part-time students should discuss their study plan with the course coordinator. Students wanting to enrol in other units related to their major that are available in other areas within Curtin, cross institutionally or internationally should discuss this with their course coordinator (this may have an impact on the total course fees). Students should check for availability of units in the online handbook as they may change. Students whose interest lies specifically within the discipline of sexology studies should also look at the Postgraduate Diploma in Sexology. Students completing this program would be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning upon entering the Forensic Sexology Major within the Master of Public Health.

Additional Course Expenses

Students may be expected to purchase a number of textbooks, readers and other essential study materials.

Course Structure Disclaimer

Curtin University reserves the right to alter the internal composition of any course to ensure learning outcomes retain maximum relevance. Any changes to the internal composition of a course will protect the right of students to complete the course within the normal timeframe and will not result in additional cost to students through a requirement to undertake additional units.

Course Structure Hrs/Wk Credit
Year 1 Semester 1
13152 v.3 #   Health Research Methods 681 4.0 25.0
13157 v.4 #   Health Promotion Planning 681 3.0 25.0
13230 v.3 #+   Foundations of Public Health 681 3.0 25.0
310577 v.1 N6   Risk Management and Safety Technology 582 4.0 25.0
  OR  
308422 v.1 N2   Environmental Health Risk Assessment 682 4.0 25.0
  OR  
13367 v.2 N3   Health Services Quality Development 583 3.0 25.0
  OR  
13171 v.3 N4   Evaluation of Health Promotion 687 3.0 25.0
  OR  
13184 v.3 N5   Physical Activity and Health 692 4.0 25.0
  OR  
11938 v.3 N1   International Health 581 4.0 25.0
  OR  
311916 v.1 N7   Contemporary Issues in Forensic Sexology 681 4.0 25.0
  100.0
Year 1 Semester 2
13162 v.2 *   Public Health Nutrition 681 3.0 25.0
308419 v.1 *   Environmental Health Management 683 4.0 25.0
6103 v.9 *+   Epidemiology and Biostatistics 682 4.0 25.0
  SELECT 1 OPTION   25.0
  100.0
Year 2
307396 v.1   Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics Major (Master) 200.0
  OR  
311510 v.1   Health Policy and Management Major (Master) 200.0
  OR  
307394 v.1   Health Promotion Major (Master) 200.0
  OR  
311511 v.1   Occupational Health and Safety Major (Master) 200.0
  OR  
311518 v.1   Public Health Major (Master) 200.0
  OR  
311513 v.1   Nutrition Major (Master) 200.0
  OR  
311514 v.1   Environmental Health Major (Master) 200.0
  OR  
311914 v.1   Forensic Sexology Major (Master) 200.0
  200.0
Optional Units (No Year Level Specified) Hrs/Wk Credit
10658 v.5   Control of Infectious Disease 682 3.0 25.0
11099 v.2   Health Planning and Evaluation 582 3.0 25.0
11516 v.5   Compensation and Injury Management 593 4.0 25.0
11518 v.5   Occupational Diseases 585 4.0 25.0
11519 v.4   Occupational Hygiene and Chemical Safety 596 4.0 25.0
11938 v.3   International Health 581 4.0 25.0
12112 v.4   Clinical Research Methods 684 4.0 25.0
13149 v.3   Epidemiology 683 4.0 25.0
13150 v.4   Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases 681 4.0 25.0
13154 v.3   Health Policy 681 3.0 25.0
13169 v.3   Health Promotion Methods 682 4.0 25.0
13170 v.4   Health Promotion, Media and Advocacy 680 4.0 25.0
13171 v.3   Evaluation of Health Promotion 687 3.0 25.0
13172 v.3   Health Promotion Methods 683 4.0 25.0
13183 v.3   Nutrition Promotion 682 4.0 25.0
13184 v.3   Physical Activity and Health 692 4.0 25.0
13186 v.3   Ethics in Public Health Practice 683 5.0 25.0
13367 v.2   Health Services Quality Development 583 3.0 25.0
13368 v.3   Health Services Financial Management 585 3.0 25.0
13626 v.2   Health, Stress and the Management Environment 682 3.0 25.0
301240 v.4   Forensic Sexology 650 4.0 25.0
301952 v.3   Maternal and Child Health in Developing Countries 600 8.0 25.0
303673 v.3   Sexually Transmissible Infection and HIV - International Perspectives 600 8.0 25.0
305042 v.2   Health Impact Assessment 680 4.0 25.0
306308 v.2   Health Research Methods 781 4.0 25.0
308414 v.2   Sustainable Development for Health 681 4.0 25.0
308422 v.1   Environmental Health Risk Assessment 682 4.0 25.0
309533 v.1   Psychology 706 - Group Psychotherapy 3.0 25.0
309594 v.2   Settings in Health Promotion 688 4.0 25.0
310442 v.1   Introduction to Children's Environmental Health 682 5.0 25.0
310577 v.1   Risk Management and Safety Technology 582 4.0 25.0
310578 v.1   Accident Prevention and Safety Management 581 4.0 25.0
310582 v.1   Health and Safety Economics and Management 582 4.0 25.0
310585 v.1   Ergonomics 594 4.0 25.0
311908 v.1   Sexology Attitudes and Values 680 4.0 25.0
311909 v.1   Sexological Practice 681 4.0 25.0
4556 v.4   Geographic Information Systems 581 4.0 25.0
4858 v.7   Epidemiology and Biostatistics 684 4.0 25.0
4860 v.5   Health Economics 584 3.0 25.0
5596 v.7   Nutrition for Developing Countries 591 4.0 25.0
6115 v.9   Health Services Management 584 3.0 25.0
6238 v.10   Health Project 590 4.0 25.0

#    Available in first semester

#+    Only available in first semester

*    Available in second semester

*+    Only available in second semester

N1    Applied Epidemiology and Biostatistics or Public Health Major

N2    Environmental Health Major

N3    Health Policy and Management Major

N4    Health Promotion Major

N5    Nutrition Major

N6    Occupational Health and Safety Major

N7    Forensic SexologyMajor

NB    Year One, Semester One the optional unit may be selected from the unit within the attached majors or other units offered in winter school or available cross institutionally at other universities with the approval of the course coordinator.

Availability

Year Location Period All* Internal Partially Online Internal^ External Fully Online#
2011 Bentley Campus Semester 1 Y        
2011 Bentley Campus Semester 2 Y        

The information displayed above refers to study periods and locations where the course is available for first time entry. Students are normally only offered or admitted to a course once.

* The course itself may not be available either solely internally or externally but individual units may be offered in either or both of those modes. Prospective students should contact the Course Coordinator for further information.

^ Course and associated units are offered in this mode permitting International Onshore student enrolment.

# Course and associated units are offered in this online only mode and DO NOT permit International Onshore student enrolment.