17. International public health

Graduate Diploma in International Public Health

(GradDipIntPH) KF029

Master of International Public Health

(MIntPH) KC053

Overview

International Public Health emphasises a modern approach to public health in low- and middle-income countries. It aims to ensure students can work productively in public health in an international context, particularly in developing countries, through understanding the distribution and determinants of disease and health.

Students will also learn about health systems and policies for effective disease prevention and control interventions. This includes health promotion and relevant aspects of program design, implementation and evaluation.

The master’s degree may be awarded at either a pass or honours grade. Honours is only available to students who meet the criteria detailed below, which include enrolling in a further 12 credit points of dissertation units of study for which they undertake supervised research which is written up in a dissertation for examination.

Master’s degree students who choose not to undertake the honours component but complete their coursework units of study with a minimum average mark of 75 percent will be awarded pass with merit.

Admission

Graduate Diploma in International Public Health
Admission normally requires a three-year degree or qualifications that are of an equivalent level, such as a diploma or certificate issued by a professional body.

Master of International Public Health
Admission normally requires a minimum of a four-year full-time degree (or its part-time equivalent) from the University of Sydney or a recognised institution.

If candidates do not have a recognised four-year full-time equivalent degree, then a shorter degree may be acceptable as long as they also have non-degree professional qualifications and/or substantial relevant experience and/or additional relevant qualifications.

Structure

The graduate diploma is embedded in the master’s degree (see the explanation of embedded degrees in chapter 8). Students who commence the graduate diploma may be able to upgrade to the master's degree on successful completion of 24 credit points of coursework or at the discretion of the coordinator of the International Public Health program.

To qualify for the degree, students must complete both core (compulsory) coursework and elective coursework, allowing them to select units of study appropriate to their career interests.

In general, core units of study are completed in Semester 1 of each year and electives are completed in Semester 2 of each year.

Students may commence in either Semester 1 or Semester 2, but commencing in Semester 2 limits the choice of electives as some Semester 2 units of study have Semester 1 units of study as prerequisites (ie prior to commencing a unit of study another unit of study must have been completed successfully).

Teaching methods involve structured and problem-oriented learning. Structured learning is achieved through direct teaching and self-instructional material such as course notes, computer exercises and reading lists. Group learning is encouraged to ensure valuable experience and knowledge are exchanged between local and international students.

Study support groups are also formed for class presentations. Assessment methods vary between units of study and include written assignments, examinations and group presentations and facilitation.

The graduate diploma comprises four core units of study (24 credit points) and a further 12 credit points of elective units of study chosen from the lists of electives. At least 28 credit points of core and elective units of study must be chosen from the MIPH core and electives list.

A maximum of eight credit points of elective units of study may be chosen from the non-MIPH electives list (see tables on core and elective units of study below and chapter 31 for unit of study details). Other combinations are only possible with the written approval of the course coordinator.

The master’s degree comprises four core units of study (24 credit points) and a further 24 credit points of elective units of study chosen from the lists of electives. At least 36 credit points of core and elective units of study must be chosen from the MIPH core and electives list.

A maximum of 12 credit points of elective units of study may be chosen from the non-MIPH electives list (see tables on core and elective units of study below and chapter 31 for unit of study details). Other combinations are only possible with the written approval of the course coordinator.

To qualify for the master’s degree with honours, students must obtain a weighted average mark of 70 per cent in all 48 credit points of coursework and successfully complete an additional 12 credit point research dissertation (ie 60 credit points of units of study in total), in which students undertake a supervised individual project in an area of interest and report the outcomes in a dissertation.

Students are only able to enrol in the dissertation if they have achieved a weighted average mark of 70 per cent in their first 24 credit points of coursework and have the permission of the course coordinator.

International public health core units of study

International public health MIPH elective units of study

International public health non-MIPH elective units of study

International public health dissertation units of study

Further enquiries

Dr Mu Li
Phone: +61 2 9351 5996
Fax: +61 2 9351 7420
Email:
Website: www.health.usyd.edu.au/future/coursework/internatpublichealth/index.php