COURSE CURRICULUM

The Master of Dental Public and Primary Health at UWA has a structured curriculum made up of core coursework units and an optional dissertation component, designed to build both theoretical understanding and research capability in oral health at a population level. The core program consists of 48 credit points of compulsory units that cover the essential foundations of dental public health and primary care systems. These include Principles of Dental Public Health, Oral Health Care Provision, Oral Health Promotion, Management and Financing of Oral Health Services, Research Methods in Dental Public and Primary Health, and Dental Epidemiology. In addition, students study broader public health subjects such as Epidemiology I and Health Systems and Economics, which help them understand how health services are structured, evaluated, and funded. Together, these core units develop skills in analysing oral health trends, designing prevention strategies, and improving health service delivery. For the optional component, students can choose to complete a substantial dissertation worth 48 credit points, either full-time or part-time, which allows them to conduct in-depth research on a specific issue in dental public health under academic supervision. This research pathway strengthens analytical and investigative skills and prepares students for roles in policy, research, academia, and healthcare leadership. Overall, the structure combines taught coursework with advanced research training to develop expertise in dental public and primary health practice.