Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health Major)

No further student intake

The Bachelor of Health Sciences Public Health major is offered by the College of Nursing and Health Sciences.

• Admission requirements
• Course aims
• Learning outcomes
• Program of study

Admission requirements

The minimum requirements for consideration for entry to all undergraduate courses are specified in detail in the University Entry Requirements.

Course aims

The Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health major) offers a program of study where students major in the area of Public Health. It draws upon the foundation core topics within the Bachelor of Health Sciences and is also complemented by relevant topic offerings from other faculties. It is designed to develop graduates’ abilities to contribute to the devel opment of social, ethical and culturally sensitive solutions to complex problems within a Public Health framework. It aims to develop graduates to work effectively within a Public Health multi-disciplinary environment and improve their practice through critical reflection and learning.

Learning outcomes 

On successful completion of the course, graduates should be able to:

• understand the role of public health in health systems, communities and society 
• identify and evaluate local and global evidence about contributions to population health inequity of health systems; and broader economic, political and social systems
• use theories to explain evidence about Australian and global social, economic, environmental, and political determinants of health equity and inequity; particularly Indigenous communities and marginalized groups
• use critical analysis and problem solving skills to develop evidence informed arguments to promote health equity
• locate and analyse scientific literature and professional documents to show how research principles and methods underpin public health related theory and practice
• develop an evaluation plan for health related programs
• understand how epidemiology contributes to public health and actions to promote  health
• recognise and work within different styles of leadership and advocacy
• locate and understand the theories and practices that different disciplines and professions bring to policies and strategies to act on the determinants of health equity and inequity
• understand the principles of effective and sensitive communication and collaboration
• incorporate ethical and legal concepts into professional practice
• reflect on their own culture and values to further an understanding of the health status of marginalized communities.

Program of study

To qualify for the Bachelor of Health Sciences (Public Health major) a student must complete 108 units with a grade of P or NGP or better in each topic according to the following program of study.

The award of a 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's Policy on Student Progress.

Except with the permission of the Course Committee, a student may not proceed to higher year core topics unless they have satisfactorily completed the previous year’s core topics

Core - Year 1 topics

36 units comprising:

HLTH1003 Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Care (4.5 units)  
HLTH1004 Human Bioscience  (4.5 units)  
HLTH1304 Interpersonal and Interprofessional Communication  (4.5 units)
HLTH1305  Australian Healthcare System(s): Concepts and Controversies  (4.5 units)
HLTH1306  Contemporary Health Issues in Australia  (4.5 units) 
HLTH2102 Indigenous Health for Health Sciences (4.5 units)   
PHCA1507 Introduction to Public Health (4.5 units)  
PHCA1509 Health and Healthcare Equity for a Just and Sustainable World (4.5 units) 

Core - Year 2 topics

31.5 units comprising:

ENVS2712 Environmental Change and Human Health (4.5 units) 
HLTH2101 Critical Social Analysis of Health (4.5 units)  
HLTH2105 Health: A Psychological Perspective (4.5 units)  
HLTH2106 Project Management for Health Promotion (4.5 units)  
PHCA3512 Public Health Frameworks for Change (4.5 units)  
PHCA2508 Critical Perspectives on Global Health and Development (4.5 units)  
PHCA3506 Evaluation in Primary Health Care (4.5 units) 

Elective - Year 2 topics

Plus 4.5 units of elective topics. Elective topics may be chosen from any topic in the university provided topic prerequisites are met.

Core - Year 3 topics

27 units comprising:

HLTH3102 Qualitative Methods for Social Health Research (4.5 units)  
HLTH3105 Quantitative Methods for Social Health Research (4.5 units)  
HLTH3106 Health Work Internship (4.5 units)  
PHCA3514 Leadership in Public Health: Theory and Practice (4.5 units)  
PHCA2509 Promoting Health in Social Planning (4.5 units) 
PHCA3511 Epidemiology for Practice (4.5 units)

Option - Year 3 topics

Plus 9 units of option topics. Option topics may be chosen from the list below provided topic prerequisites are met.

Select 1 topic from below

ENVS2741 Zombie Apocalypse: Microbes and Toxins (4.5 units) 
STEM1002 Introduction to Geographical Information Systems (4.5 units)

and

Select 1 topic from below

DSRS1201 Perspectives of Disability and Rehabilitation (4.5 units)
GEOG2050 Population Dynamics (4.5 units)