The Master of Public Health (Public Health Research) is a 54-unit coursework program which is offered by The Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences.

The course articulates with the Graduate Certificates offered within the Discipline of Public Health and the sequentially developed topics allow progression through the awards.

Students who hold the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma receive credit for topics already taken.

Admission requirements

Applicants must normally:

  • hold a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma offered by the Discipline of Public Health; or
  • hold an approved degree or equivalent qualification from an approved tertiary institution and have not less than two years' approved work experience in Public Health or a related area; or
  • hold qualifications deemed equivalent by The Faculty Board and have not less than two years' approved work experience in Public Health or a related area.

The two year work experience requirement does not apply where an applicant has an approved equivalent higher degree (4th year Honours, Masters or PhD).

The choice of research projects for the Dissertation topic will be dependent upon the available areas of expertise of the teaching staff.

The Faculty Board may reserve up to 20% oplaces for candidates without any of the above qualifications but who are deemed suitable for admission on the basis of experience and/or contribution to the field.

Candidates are required to provide a short statement outlining their work experience and reasons for undertaking the course.

Course aims

The Master of Public Health aims to provide students with the understanding and skills to take action on the Public Health principles, values and practices that reduce inequity in health care access and health outcomes, and improves population health status.

Learning outcomes

At the completion of the course it is expected that graduates will be able to:

  • understand concepts relevant to Public Health, Social Determinants of health, equity, Indigenous Health and Primary Health care
  • demonstrate skills in:
  • critical analysis of evidence, models and theories from social, economic, environmental and political dimensions
  • development, planning, implementation and evaluation of Public Health approaches to health problems
  • generating and contributing to the knowledge base in Public Health
  • effective communication of Public Health knowledge
  • take action on:
  • integrating an intersectoral approach in health and human services to promote and improve health
  • applying Public Health knowledge in work-related environments
  • integrating knowledge to the international context
  • have an advanced understanding, demonstrate skills, and take action on Public Health.

Program of study

To qualify for The Master of Public Health (Public Health Research), a student must complete 54 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic, according to the program of study below. In order to proceed to the Dissertation component of the award, students must demonstrate a Credit grade point average or better for the 36 units of coursework topics completed prior to commencing the Dissertation.  Students who are not able to demonstrate a Credit grade point average will be required to transfer to another stream of The Master of Public Health which does not contain a Dissertation component, or may choose to exit with the Graduate Diploma of Primary Health Care.

Core - Year 1 & 2 topics

49.5 units comprising:

 PHCA8501  Social Determinants of Health and Wellbeing  (4.5 units)
 PHCA8514  Action on Social Determinants of Health  (4.5 units)
 PHCA8503  Research Methods for Social Epidemiology  (9 units)
 PHCA8504  Social Determinants of Indigenous Health  (4.5 units)

 plus one of

 PHCA8502  Qualitative Research Methods  (9 units) 
 PHCA8511  Social Statistics in Public Health  (9 units)

plus 18 units selected from the following topics 

 PHCA8512  Public Health Research Dissertation (18 units) 
 PHCA8512A  Public Health Research Dissertation (9/18 units)
 PHCA8512B  Public Health Research Dissertation (9/18 units)

plus 4.5 units of electives:

Elective - Year 1 & 2 topics

Students can also take as electives core topics in other study streams as listed below or, with permission, topics from another course at Flinders or another university.

 HACM9100 Managing People (4.5 units)
 HACM9101 Managing Organisations (4.5 units)
 HACM9102 Financial Management in Health Care (4.5 units)
 HACM9201 Health Law (4.5 units)
 HACM9204 Health Economics (4.5 units)
 MHSC8111 Managing Chronic Conditions - Self-Management Support Approaches (4.5 units)
 MHSC8112 Perspectives on Chronic Diseases Management (4.5 units)
 MHSC8114 The Persons Experience of Self Management (4.5 units)
 PHCA8507 Health Promotion in Public Health (4.5 units)
 PHCA8510 Leadership and the New Public Health (4.5 units)
 PHCA8516 Introduction to Cancer Prevention (4.5 units)
 PHCA8517 Undertaking Translational Research in Cancer Prevention (4.5 units)

The award of grade of Fail (F) in the same topic on more than one occasion may constitute prima facie evidence of unsatisfactory progress for the purposes of the University Policy on Student Progress.