Public Health

Public Health is offered as a major field of study in the Master of Environment degree.

At this time in history it is hard to imagine a topic more important than the impacts of the environment on human health. The very life support systems of clean air, fresh water, a safe climate, food security and biodiversity are under stress.

The Public Health stream is designed to ensure students are preparing for a career in the intersection between health and the environment. Recent years have seen new roles emerging that focus on policy, advocacy, research, and environmental management in relation to health and environment. This stream helps prepare students for these key roles.

Study in this field will provide you with the tools used in environmental health practice, and by public health practitioners. These include surveillance, monitoring, observation, analysis, and selected techniques in biostatistics, epidemiology and health economics. Other skills we develop are more specific to environmental health or environmental studies, such as environmental, social and health impact assessment and qualitative and quantitative analysis.

This stream is a specialist companion program to the Master of Public Health which is offered at the University of Melbourne.

Students who complete the Master of Environment will have:

• Knowledge to undertake professional practice in environment or sustainability, including:
  • Specialised knowledge in an environmental discipline or field of practice, including knowledge of recent developments in this field
  • Knowledge of the cross-disciplinary nature of environmental issues and professional practice to promote sustainable futures
  • Knowledge of research principles and methods applicable to specialist field of environmental inquiry
• Skills for collaborative and creative problem solving in environmental practice, including:
  • Ability to critically analyse and synthesise environmental knowledge
  • Ability to envision environmental change and propose pathways to realise this change
  • Ability to communicate complex environmental knowledge and research effectively to a range of audiences
  • Ability to work effectively in cross-disciplinary teams
  • Technical skills for professional practice and research in field of specialisation
• Demonstrated capacity to:
• Exercise well developed judgement, adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner in an environmental discipline or professional field
• Plan and execute a substantial project in an area of environmental research or practice

Upon successful completion of the Public Health specialisation, students will be able to:

• Analyse, assess and monitor the impacts of environments on public health;
• Propose strategies for creating and maintaining environments that promote good public health; and

Collaborate with professionals across disciplines and sectors to identify and manage environmental health problems.

Students will be required to complete the two core subjects, plus two compulsory specialisation subjects Students must also take at least 25 points of subjects from the compulsory capstone subjects – these subjects enable students to complete an independent project related to professional practices in environment and public health. Students must also undertake electives to make up the balance of the award. The selection of electives is made in consultation with the Public Health major coordinator. A full list of subjects available within this specialisation can be found at http://environment.unimelb.edu.au/courses/streams/public_health

Core subjects

Students must take the following core subjects:

Compulsory Specialisation Subjects

Students must take the following compulsory specialisation subjects:

Compulsory Capstone Experience

Students must complete at least 25 points from the following compulsory capstone subjects - please note that if you select either a 25 or 50 point subject that spreads across two semesters you must enrol into the subject in both semesters (your student centre will be able to assist with this).

Elective Subjects

Students must make up the balance of their award with the following elective subjects:

Other subjects may be approved at the discretion of the coordinator.