Doctor of Public Health

The Doctor of Public Health is a professional doctorate degree awarded on completion of an approved program of coursework and a supervised independent and original investigation of a significant problem in public health, presented as a thesis. This degree will prepare you for leadership positions in public health organisations that require advanced analytical or conceptual capabilities.

This degree

The program comprises of one year of coursework followed by two years of research. Progression to the research component of the degree requires a credit (65%) average in the coursework subjects, the development of a suitable research proposal, and successful completion of a qualifying examination. Your individual coursework programs will be decided in conjunction with your intended research supervisor and the Head of School.

What you will study

In the first year of this degree you will study subjects covering social determinants of health, epidemiology and statistics, and health research methodology. In the final two years of study you will undertake your thesis on either a full-time or part- time basis.

Course structure

(Current year structure - subject to change)

Course Learning Outcomes

Course Learning Outcomes are statements of learning achievement that are expressed in terms of what the learner is expected to know, understand and be able to do upon completion of a course. Students graduating from this course will be able to:

CLO	Description
1	Demonstrate expert, specialised cognitive technical and research skills in public and/or public health professional practice health area to independently and systematically generate original knowledge and understanding to make a substantial contribution to the discipline of public health
2	Critically reflect on, synthesise and evaluate a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of public health and/or an area of public health professional practice
3	Communicate research findings, explaining and critiquing theoretical propositions, methodologies, results and conclusions to peers and to the community
4	Apply detailed knowledge of research, research integrity, ethics and the rights and safety of others, to plan and execute original research with full autonomy, authoritative judgement, adaptability and responsibility for personal outputs.

Course Structure 

The program for the degree will require successful completion of:

1. 48 credit points of coursework subjects completed over the first year of study. The subjects:
   1. are selected with the student in consultation with the potential research thesis primary supervisor, recommended by the Director of Academic Programs and approved by the Head of School;
   2. must be passed with a credit average to allow progression into the research component of the course; and
   3. may include the following if the applicant does not have a background in public health:
      • HAS 944 Social Complexities and Health
      • HAS 947 Introduction to Epidemiology
      • HAS 945 Introduction to Biostatistics
      • HAS 946 Health Research Methodology
      • HAS 957 Advanced Epidemiology
2. 144 credit points as a supervised thesis (repeated instances of THES912/924) completed over 3 years. 

In addition to completing the coursework component with a credit average, students must have also developed a research project proposal and obtained agreement of a primary supervisor who has that role approved by the Head of School. The research project is developed over time into a written proposal which is submitted for panel assessment, in addition to oral presentation to an assessor panel of the School. This normally occurs within the equivalent of twelve months of full time study following initial enrolment.

On successful completion of the research proposal, the student undertakes the research under supervision. At the end of this period the student will submit a thesis for examination under the regulations for Doctoral Theses of the University.

Supervisors can be drawn from any major study area of the School. Normally the study area will be directly related to Public Health. In the event a primary supervisor is not in public health, a co-supervisor must come from public health.

Field of Study

• Public health
• Health promotion
• Health policy
• Public health nutrition
• Allied health education and practice
• Social marketing for health
• Sustainable communities
• Social work
• Work health & safety 

Subject Code	Subject Name	Credit Points	Session(s)
Year 1
Subjects to the value of 48 credit points, selected in consultation with the potential research thesis primary supervisor and may include the following if applicants do not have a background in public health:
HAS 944	Social Complexities and Health	6	Autumn
HAS 947	Introduction to Epidemiology	6	Autumn, spring
HAS 945	Introduction to Biostatistics	6	Spring
HAS 946	Health Research Methodology	6	Spring
HAS 957	Advanced Epidemiology	6	Not available in 2020
Year 2
THES924	Thesis Full Time	24	Autumn, Spring
or
THES912	Thesis Part Time	12	Autumn, Spring
Year 3
THES924	Thesis Full Time	24	Autumn, Spring
or
THES912	Thesis Part Time	12	Autumn, Spring
Year 4
THES924	Thesis Full Time	24	Autumn, Spring
or
THES912	Thesis Part Time	12	Autumn, Spring

 For information regarding timetables, tutorials, and classes please the visit the Timetables and Classes page.