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Course Overview
The Master of Public Health will introduce you to, and develop your understanding of the social-ecological model of health that forms the basis of community-based and community-led public health. This approach reflects contemporary trends in public health and provides the basis of innovative interventions for social change. You will explore the origins and evolution of public health and the underlying principles and concepts of community-based and community-led public health. These include complex adaptive systems thinking, social and environmental determinants of health, social epidemiology, social justice, partnership development and participatory health research. You will also gain experience in applying these principles and concepts in practical ways so you can readily take your learning into real world situations, whether that be taking a strengths-based or disease prevention approach. You will have the opportunity to shape this degree to your own needs by either selecting from the list of electives or by undertaking the project stream. This project can be practice or research based allowing you to develop specific skills and knowledge in an area of interest in your public health practice. There are two pathways into the MPH, with a shorter version available to those who have relevant health qualifications and experience.
Career Information
A Master of Public Health will allow you to work in community-based and community-led health services and projects for government and non-government organisations, including international humanitarian organisations.
| Duration | 2 years full-time or 8 years part-time |
|---|---|
| Credit Points that Must be Earned | 96 |
| Number of Units Required | CQUniversity uses the concept of credits to express the amount of study required for a particular course and individual units. The number of units varies between courses. Units in postgraduate courses normally consist of 6 points of credit or multiples thereof (e.g. 12, 18, 24). |
| Expected Hours of Study | One point of credit is equivalent to an expectation of approximately two hours of student work per week in a term. |
| Course Type | Postgraduate Award |
| Qualification (post nominal) | MPH |
| AQF Level | Level 9: Masters Degree (Coursework) |
| Course Fees |
Indicative Year - 2026
Indicative Year - 2025
Indicative Year - 2024
Indicative Year - 2023
Indicative Year - 2022
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Admission Codes
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Domestic Students Tertiary Admission Centre Codes (TAC) Codes |
Not Applicable |
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International Students CRICOS Codes |
Units offered via MIX mode are delivered online and require compulsory attendance of site-specific learning activities such as on-campus residential schools, placements and/or work integrated learning. See Course Features tab for further information. Online units are delivered using online resources only.
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Domestic Availability
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Term 3 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 3 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 3 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 3 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 3 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 3 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 2 - 2019
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Term 1 - 2019
International Availability
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Term 3 - 2027
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Term 2 - 2027
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Term 1 - 2027
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Term 3 - 2026
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Term 2 - 2026
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Term 1 - 2026
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Term 3 - 2025
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Term 2 - 2025
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Term 1 - 2025
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Term 3 - 2024
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Term 2 - 2024
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Term 1 - 2024
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Term 3 - 2023
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Term 2 - 2023
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Term 1 - 2023
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Term 3 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2022
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Term 1 - 2022
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Term 2 - 2021
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Term 1 - 2021
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Term 2 - 2020
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Term 1 - 2020
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Term 2 - 2019
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Term 1 - 2019
Entry Requirement:
A 3 year Australian Bachelor degree or equivalent qualification in any discipline from a recognised tertiary institution.
International students or domestic students born outside of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, South Africa or USA must meet English Language Proficiency requirements. Minimum scores required are:
• IELTS (Academic) score of at least 6.0 (with no band score less than 5.5), or
• TOEFL overall score of 75 with no score less than 17, or
• Pearson Test of English Academic overall score of 54 with no score less than 46, or
• An Occupational English Test with Grade of C in each of the four components; or
• Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) - Score of 180 or above.
English test results remain valid for no more than two years between final examination date and the date of commencement of study, and must appear on a single result certificate.
Advanced Standing:
The following applicants may be eligible for a shorter course duration:
Course duration (1.5 year - 12 units equivalent)
· Applicants with a recognised Bachelor degree in a related discipline and 2 years postgraduate relevant work experience.
Course duration (1 year - 8 units equivalent)
· Applicants with a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in Public Health.
· Applicants with a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a related discipline and 2 years postgraduate relevant work experience.
Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate in Public Health from another institution would be eligible for credit for up to four units from the core or elective/specialisation units on entry into the Master of Public Health.
Students who have completed a Graduate Certificate in another health related discipline would be eligible for credit for up to four units from the electives/specialisation units on entry into the Master of Public Health.
Students who have complete a Graduate Diploma in another health related discipline would be eligible for credit for up to six units from the electives/specialisation units on entry to the Master of Public Health.
It is recommended students have completed a health related degree.
Awards and Accreditation
| Interim Awards | CL44 - Graduate Diploma of Public Health CL46 - Graduate Certificate in Public Health |
|---|---|
| Exit Awards | CL44 - Graduate Diploma of Public Health CL46 - Graduate Certificate in Public Health |
| Accreditation |
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Residential School Requirements
No Residential School for this course.
Practicum/Work Placement
| PBHL20009 - Work experience in community-based or community led public health organisation for 120 hours |
| PBHL20010 - Work experience in community-based or community-led public health organisation for 120 hours |
| PBHL20008 - Volunteering in community organisation for 25 hours |
Previous and Current Enrolments
| Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 579 |
| 2024 | 562 |
| 2023 | 542 |
| 2022 | 319 |
| 2021 | 189 |
Please note that in some instances there may be similarities between course, entry and inherent requirements.
If you experience difficulties meeting these requirements, reasonable adjustments may be made upon contacting accessibility@cqu.edu.au. Adjustment must not compromise the academic integrity of the degree or course chosen at CQUniversity or the legal requirements of field education.
Examples are:
- Complying with academic and non-academic misconduct policies and procedures such as CQUniversity’s Student Conduct and Procedure Policy and Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
- Demonstrating the applicable codes of ethics as they apply in the practice of public health.
- Demonstrating an ability to reflect on ethical dilemmas and issues and taking responsibility for ensuring awareness of ethical behaviour.
- Demonstrating respect for cultural diversity as well as individual differences and capacities in public health practice.
- Treating personal information obtained in professional settings as private and confidential.
- Maintaining ethical behaviour in a professional setting, through successfully distinguishing your own personal values and beliefs from those of others.
Examples are:
- Being reflective with personal behaviours appropriate for professional performance and being positive and receptive to processing constructive supervisor/lecturer feedback or criticism.
- Interacting with people from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures in a calm and composed manner that shows respect for difference, including when dealing with difficult situations.
- Successfully processing your own emotions and behaviour when dealing with stressful situations that can arise in public health practice.
Examples are:
- Complying with university and workplace policy with the use of social media, online discussion forums, email and other electronic forms of communication.
- Complying with the policies and practices of organisations in which you may be placed or find employment, including those relating to OHS.
Examples are:
- Verbally communicating your public health knowledge and skills with accuracy, appropriateness and effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts.
- Actively participating in discussion and course activities with appropriate use and command of language within the context.
- Using appropriate facial expressions: eye contact, being mindful of space boundaries, and a range of body movements and gestures.
- Recognising and interpreting non-verbal cues of others and responding appropriately during activities related to the course and in professional practice.
- Competently and appropriately producing written assessment work in a logical, coherent manner, and with correct grammar and punctuation to the required academic standards.
- Constructing fluent summarised written text from complex and detailed information.
- Constructing coherent reports in a timely manner to meet professional standards and clearly communicating the intended message.
- Competently using a desktop operating system such as Microsoft Windows or Mac OS X skills to engage in on -line learning, reading and responding as required to emails, and completing relevant assessments for the course.
- Competently using productivity software such as Microsoft Office in your course of study.
- Regularly accessing the Internet for research, and email for communication with peers and lecturers.
Examples are:
- Conceptualising and using appropriate knowledge in response to academic assessment items.
- Completing academic learning activities and assessment tasks, and performing professional skills within reasonable set time-frames.
- Constructing written text proficiently, in English, using appropriate vocabulary and conventions of speech, including being able to paraphrase, summarise and reference in accordance with appropriate academic conventions.
- Competently reading, writing and accurately interpreting information to convey language effectively in a professional setting.
- Completing documentation that is accurate, clear and concise.
- Demonstrating competency in applying mathematics knowledge and numeracy skills to accurately read and interpret various measurements.
- Demonstrating effective application of mathematics knowledge and numeracy skills in public health practice.
Examples are:
- Demonstrating the skills of collaborating with fellow students and colleagues, modifying and reflecting on practice, or modifying and reflecting on work in response to supervisor feedback.
- Building rapport with colleagues and stakeholders in order to engage them in effective public health practice.
- Critically self-reflecting on situations that may/may not have gone well, and taking the learning point(s) from those situations.
- Interacting and engaging with individuals and groups in public health practice in a respectful and culturally competent manner in a wide variety of contexts.
- 1. Justify public health practice based on social and environmental determinants of health and principles of social justice, equity and equality
- 2. Explain complex adaptive systems thinking and apply this thinking to public health practice
- 3. Distinguish between individual, community and population scale factors and influences and make recommendations for multi-scalar public health action
- 4. Develop effective multi-disciplinary and trans-disciplinary partnerships that promote collaborative leadership and the co-generation of knowledge appropriate to community-based and community-led public health practice
- 5. Evaluate the communication and actions of self and others through a process of deep reflexivity that analyses power, promotes respectful relationships and develops cultural competence
- 6. Determine appropriate strengths-based and disease prevention approaches to public health practice
- 7. Justify practice-based as well as evidence-based solutions and innovative interventions to address complex public health issues
- 8. Synthesise public health practice with the skills and knowledge of another field of study or research.
| Course Learning Outcomes | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Qualifications Framework Descriptors | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| 1. KNOWLEDGE Have a body of knowledge that includes the understanding of recent developments in a discipline and/or area of professional practice | ||||||||
| 2. KNOWLEDGE Have an understanding of research principles and methods applicable to a field of work and/or learning | ||||||||
| 3. SKILLS Have cognitive skills to demonstrate mastery of theoretical knowledge and to reflect critically on theory and professional practice or scholarship | ||||||||
| 4. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to investigate, analyse and synthesise complex information, problems, concepts and theories and to apply established theories to different bodies of knowledge or practice | ||||||||
| 5. SKILLS Have cognitive, technical and creative skills to generate and evaluate complex ideas and concepts at an abstract level | ||||||||
| 6. SKILLS Have communication and technical research skills to justify and interpret theoretical propositions, methodologies, conclusions and professional decisions to specialist and non-specialist audiences | ||||||||
| 7. SKILLS Have technical and communication skills to design, evaluate, implement, analyse and theorise about developments that contribute to professional practice or scholarship | ||||||||
| 8. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use creativity and initiative to new situations in professional practice and/or for further learning | ||||||||
| 9. APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to use high level personal autonomy and accountability | ||||||||
| 10 APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Be able to plan and execute a substantial research-based project, capstone experience and/or piece of scholarship. | ||||||||
| APPLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS Communicate, interact and collaborate with others effectively in culturally or linguistically diverse contexts in a culturally respectful manner | ||||||||
- Complete the core structure
- Complete 1 major
- Complete electives
| Number of units: 16 | Total credit points: 96 |
|---|
It is recommended students undertake the core public health units before commencing the elective units or starting the practice or research project units.
The following units are compulsory for those enrolled in 16 unit pathway:
The following units are compulsory for those enrolled in 12 unit pathway:
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete the following compulsory units: | ||
| PBHL20001 | Understanding Public Health | |
| PBHL20002 | Systems Thinking in Public Health | |
| PBHL20003 | Epidemiology and Statistics | |
| PBHL20004 | Public Health Action and Evaluation | |
| PBHL20005 | Global Public Health | |
| PBHL20006 | Participatory Health Research | |
If you are choosing the practice or research project major, you need to complete the following four units:
| Available units | ||
|---|---|---|
| Students must complete 4 from the following units: | ||
| PBHL20011 | Public Health Project Proposal | |
| PBHL20012 | Public Health Project Work 1 | |
| PBHL20013 | Public Health Project Work 2 | |
| PBHL20014 | Public Health Project Report | |
If you are choosing the liberal studies major (electives), you need to choose 5 units from the following list. In your final term you will need to complete the compulsory unit.