COURSE CURRICULUM

The Public Health Foundations specialisation within the Master of Public Health is designed to provide students with a broad and comprehensive understanding of key public health principles, research methods, and health system challenges. The curriculum combines compulsory foundational subjects with optional coursework, practicum, or dissertation pathways, allowing students to tailor the degree according to their professional or research interests. Students complete core units in epidemiology, health program evaluation, foundations of public health, and health promotion, which build essential skills in understanding disease patterns, evaluating health interventions, and designing strategies to improve community wellbeing. The specialisation also includes dedicated study in Aboriginal Health, Environmental and Occupational Health, Biostatistics, Health Systems and Economics, and Qualitative Research Methods in Health, helping students understand the social, cultural, environmental, and economic factors that influence population health outcomes. Additional elective units allow students to explore topics such as communicable disease control, global health, child and maternal health, leadership and management, nutrition, environmental change, and advanced data analysis. Students may also undertake a practicum to gain professional workplace experience or complete a supervised dissertation involving original public health research. Overall, the structure combines theoretical knowledge, practical application, and research training to prepare graduates for careers in public health practice, policy development, healthcare management, and academic or community-based research.