Doctor of Public Health

The Doctor of Public Health is a 108-unit program, comprising coursework and research. The course is offered by the Faculty of Health Sciences over three years full-time or six years part-time.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study
  
  

Admission requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following criteria:

1. hold from an approved tertiary institution an approved honours degree or equivalent qualification at level 2A or higher or a masters degree with a Credit grade point average or better or have completed at least 2 years of an approved Graduate Entry Medical Program; and
2. have at least five years&##39; working experience in public health or a health-related human service area (eg service delivery, state and national health departments, local government, education, welfare, housing, community service); or
3. have held a position of leadership at middle management level in public health or a senior support position in a health-related human service organisation, or can demonstrate excellence in practice; and
4. have demonstrated evidence of commitment and innovation in their field.
   

Course aims

The Doctor of Public Health aims to provide candidates with advanced and specialist study which will enable them to develop advanced skills and knowledge to undertake a variety o advanced professional roles in public health and human services.  It is expected that graduates of this award will be able to integrate and apply the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge that are required to progress public health policy, management and practice.

The course also enables them to make an original, sustained contribution to knowledge in public health policy, management and practice and to develop an advanced understanding of politics and ethics of public health policy, research and management.

Specialisation and supervision are available in the following areas:

• Health Promotion
• Healthy Cities and Health Settings
• Community Health Services
• Services for Indigenous People
• Food and Health 
• Community Participation
• Physical Activity and Sport
• Children&##39;s Environments
• Partnerships and Governance

Teaching in the topics is available in distance mode.

In the second year of the degree (third and fourth year part-time) students are required to attend intensive courses on the Flinders campus.  Every effort will be made to enable students to study areas directly relevant to their own work needs.

Learning outcomes

Graduates of this award will be able to:

• integrate and apply the multidisciplinary skills and knowledge that are required to progress public health policy, management and practice
• make an original, sustained contribution to knowledge in public health policy, management and practice
• develop an advanced understanding of the politics and ethics of public health policy, research and management.

Program of study

To qualify for the Doctor of Public Health, a student must complete 108 units, with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic.

Core - Year 1 topic

 PHCA8501  Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing   (9 units)

Option - Year 1 topics

Select 9 units from the following topics

 PHCA8504  Social Determinants of Indigenous Health  (9 units) 
 PHCA8507  Health Promotion in Public Health  (4.5 units) 
 PHCA8510  Leadership and the New Public Health  (4.5 units)

 plus 18 units the following topics
 
 PHCA8502  Qualitative Research Methods  (9 units)
 PHCA8503  Research Methods for Social Epidemiology  (9 units)
 PHCA8506  Program Planning and Evaluation in Public Health  (9 units)
 PHCA8511  Social Statistics in Public Health  (9 units)

Core - Year 2 topics

 PHCA9201  Public Health Organisation  (9 units)
 PHCA9202  Public Health Research  (9 units)
 PHCA9205  Critical Analysis of Public Health Debates  (9 units)
 PHCA9204  Policy Development for Public Health  (9 units)

Core -Year 3 topics

Select 36 units from the topics listed

 PHCA9300B  Dissertation (18/36 units) 
 PHCA9300C  Dissertation (18/36 units)
 PHCA9300D  Dissertation (9/36 units)
 PHCA9300E  Dissertation (9/36 units)
 PHCA9300F  Dissertation (9/36 units) 
 PHCA9300G  Dissertation (9/36 units)