12. Health policy

Graduate Certificate in Health Policy

(GradCertHPol) KG006

Graduate Diploma in Health Policy

(GradDipHPol) KF041

Master of Health Policy

(MHPol) KC054

Overview

The Graduate Program in Health Policy offers a critical perspective on how our health care system operates. It emphasises the importance of power and value choices, focusing on the interaction of governments with the private and community sectors in shaping policy.

This unique program extends the professional skills of students. By the end of the course students will understand the forces shaping the health policy environment, work with professional confidence across the health sector, and be familiar with the workings of high-level national and international health policy networks.

Students learn how to develop and implement health policy through the application of knowledge to health policy issues and analysis of current health policy trends.

The master’s program includes intensive training in policy analysis and critical appraisal techniques. These are applied to practical tasks of policy development and writing.

Admission

Admission requires a three year degree, or an equivalent qualification as may be approved by the University.

Structure

The graduate certificate and graduate diploma are embedded in the master's degree (see chapter 8 for an explanation of embedded degrees). Classes are conducted in intensive mode, including weekend workshops and web-based learning.

Course Credit points for award Duration full-time Duration part-time
GradCertHPol 24 not available 1 to 4 years
GradDipHPol 36 1 to 2 years 1 to 3 years
MHPol 48 1 to 2 years 1 to 4 years

The graduate certificate comprises three core units of study and one elective unit of study (see tables on core and elective units of study below and chapter 31 for unit of study details).

The graduate diploma comprises four core units of study and two elective units of study (see tables on core and elective units of study below and chapter 31 for unit of study details).

The master's degree comprises six core units of study and two elective unit of study (see tables on core and elective units of study below and chapter 31 for unit of study details).

Health policy core units of study

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session
Core units of study for the graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's degree
HPOL5000
Introduction to Health Policy
6      S1 Intensive
HPOL5001
Economics and Finance for Health Policy
6      S1 Intensive
HPOL5003
Analysing Health Policy
6      S2 Intensive
Core unit of study for the graduate diploma and master's degree
HPOL5007
Global Health Policy
6      S2 Intensive
Core units of study for the master's degree
HPOL5008
Evidence into Policy and Practice
6    C HPOL5000 and HPOL5001
S1 Intensive
HPOL5009
Health Policy Project
6    P HPOL5008
C HPOL5003
S2 Intensive

Health policy elective units of study

Unit of study Credit points A: Assumed knowledge P: Prerequisites C: Corequisites N: Prohibition Session
Elective units of study for the graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's degree
BETH5104
Bioethics, Law and Society
6    A A three-year undergraduate degree in science, medicine, nursing, allied health sciences, philosophy/ethics, sociology/anthropology, history, or other relevant field, or by special permission
Semester 1
BETH5203
Ethics and Public Health
6    A A three-year undergraduate degree in science, medicine, nursing, allied health sciences, philosophy/ethics, sociology/anthropology, history, or other relevant field, or by special permission.


A limited number of students may be granted permission to take this unit during their honours year.
Semester 2
CISS6004
Disease and Security
6      Semester 1
MEDF5005
Health Research Methods and Ethics
6      Semester 1
Semester 2
MIPH5135
Health Systems in Developing Countries
4      Semester 2
MMHU6909
Risk and Health: Communication, Policy
6   
Note: Department permission required for enrolment
Students request permission from the unit of study coordinator to enrol in this unit. The coordinator emails the Postgraduate Student Administration Unit advice that the student has permission to enrol.
Semester 2
PUBH5308
Health Workforce Policy Analysis
2      S2 Late Int
PUBH5418
Tobacco Control in the 21st Century
6      Semester 2
PUBH5500
Introducing Qualitative Health Research
6      S1 Intensive
QUAL5002
Qualitative Methodologies & Study Design
6    A Basic understanding of the nature of qualitative knowledge and the processes of qualitative research.
C PUBH5500 or equivalent
S1 Intensive
QUAL5003
Qualitative Research Analysis & Writing
6    A Basic understanding of the nature of qualitative knowledge and types of qualitative data.
P PUBH5500 or equivalent
S2 Intensive
Students in the graduate certificate choose one elective unit of study from this list.
Students in the graduate diploma choose two elective units of study from this list.
Students may be allowed to enrol in an elective unit of study that is not on this list with the prior approval from both the course coordinator and the unit of study coordinator.
Elective units of study for the master's degree
PUBH5302
Health Economic Evaluation
4    P PUBH5010 and PUBH5018
S2 Intensive
PUBH5307
Advanced Health Economic Evaluation
2    P PUBH5018 and PUBH5010
C PUBH5205 and (PUBH5302 or CEPI5303)
S2 Late Int
Students in the master's degree choose two elective units of study from these lists.
Students may be allowed to enrol in an elective unit of study that is not on this list with the prior approval from both the course coordinator and the unit of study coordinator.
Further enquiries

Dr Jim Gillespie
Phone: +61 2 9351 5048
Fax: + 61 2 9351 7420
Email:
Website: www.health.usyd.edu.au/future/coursework/healthpolicy/index.php