2019 Postgraduate Courses
  • Students are to follow the requirements of the Handbook for the year they commenced the course.

    However, the subject links below do not contain the subject information for the current year. You can view current subject information through the new Course Handbook.

Doctor of Public Health | 2019

Testamur Title of Degree:

Doctor of Public Health

Abbreviation:

DPubHlth

UOW Course Code:

216

CRICOS Code:

087686A

Total Credit Points:

192

Duration:

4 years full-time or part-time equivalent

Home Faculty:

Faculty of Social Sciences

Intake Session(s):

Autumn, Spring

Delivery Mode:

On-campus

Delivery Campus:

Wollongong

Overview

The Doctor of Public Health is a professional doctorate degree granted on successful completion of an approved program of coursework, in addition to a supervised independent original investigation of a significant problem in public health, and presentation of the research as a thesis. This degree prepares students for leadership positions in the public health sector that require advanced analytical and/or conceptual capabilities.

Entry Requirements and Credit Arrangements

Information on academic and English language requirements, as well as eligibility for credit for prior learning, is available from the Course Finder.

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 Studies 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 II
      • HAS 957 Advanced Epidemiology
  2. 144 credit points as a supervised thesis (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 944Social Complexities and Health6Autumn
HAS 947Introduction to Epidemiology6Autumn
HAS 945Introduction to Biostatistics6Spring
HAS 946Health Research Methodology II6Spring
HAS 957Advanced Epidemiology6Spring
Year 2 
THES924Thesis Full Time24Autumn, Spring
or
THES912Thesis Part Time12Autumn, Spring
Year 3
THES924Thesis Full Time24Autumn, Spring
or
THES912Thesis Part Time12Autumn, Spring
Year 4
THES924Thesis Full Time24Autumn, Spring
or
THES912Thesis Part Time12Autumn, Spring

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

Other Information

For further information email: ssc@uow.edu.au

Last reviewed: 15 November, 2018