Specialisation

Key Program - Public Health

Western Sydney University Key Program Code: KT4004.1


Related Courses

4656.2 Bachelor of Health Science

Available to students in other Western Sydney University Courses : NO


Public health professionals are required to assess and respond to emerging public health issues. Public Health graduates work in a variety of settings, including health departments, community organisations, the pharmaceutical industry, corporate wellness programs, centres for disease control, environmental protection agencies and research. Public health projects cover a wide range of areas, such as health and health care programs, disease prevention and control, data analysis and clinical trials, environmental and occupational health, community outreach and fund-raising. The program combines studies of the determinants of health, which include social and environmental factors, in addition to physical risk factors, health promotion, health politics and planning, epidemiology and health promotion practice. There is a comprehensive foundation of the health sciences to develop the professional competencies important for ethical and multidisciplinary practice. Evidence-based practice is one of the most important requirements in healthcare today and a strong feature of the program. There is room for electives in areas of individual interest, allowing a richer experience of university life. The Public Health key program is a fully online course. All core units are offered online. Students are offered a selection of Western Sydney electives that are online. Students enrolled in the Public Health key program may choose to enrol into the same units offered in on-campus mode if they wish. Students who enrol into the Public Health key program and a major in one of the other 3 specialisations of 4656 will be required to attend on-campus classes for the second area of study.


Key Program Structure

Qualification for this Key Program requires the successful completion of 240 credit points including the units listed in the recommended sequence below.

Recommended Sequence

Full-time - Start Year Intake

Year 1

Autumn session

400870 Population Health and Society
300361 Introduction to Human Biology
400783 Professional Pathways in Health Science
400871 Professional Health Competencies

Spring session

101614 Psychology and Health
401383 Evidence in Health

Note: 401383 – Evidence in Health replaces 400863 Foundations of Research and Evidence-Based Practice form Spring 2021.

400732 Communication in Health

And one elective

Recommended elective

400277 Health Services Management

Year 2

Autumn session

400867 Approaches to Health Promotion
300872 Epidemiology
400864 Research Methods (Quantitative and Qualitative)
400866 Culture, Diversity and Health

Spring session

401195 Health Politics, Policy and Planning
400285 Public Health

And two electives

Year 3

Autumn session

400275 Health Planning Project
401194 Contemporary Issues in Public Health

And two electives

Spring session

400786 Professional Transition Project
401193 Public Health Practice
401408 Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care

Note: Unit 401408 Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care replaces 400249 Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care from Autumn 2020.

And one elective

Full-time - Mid Year Intake

Year 1

Spring session

101614 Psychology and Health
401383 Evidence in Health

Note: 401383 – Evidence in Health replaces 400863 Foundations of Research and Evidence-Based Practice form Spring 2021.

400732 Communication in Health

And one elective

Recommended elective

400277 Health Services Management

Year 2

Autumn session

300361 Introduction to Human Biology
400870 Population Health and Society
400783 Professional Pathways in Health Science
400871 Professional Health Competencies

Spring session

401195 Health Politics, Policy and Planning
400285 Public Health

And two electives

Year 3

Autumn session

400867 Approaches to Health Promotion
300872 Epidemiology
400864 Research Methods (Quantitative and Qualitative)
400866 Culture, Diversity and Health

Spring session

400786 Professional Transition Project
401193 Public Health Practice
401408 Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care

Note: Unit 401408 Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care replaces 400249 Ethical and Legal Issues in Health Care from Autumn 2020.

And one elective

Year 4

Autumn session

400275 Health Planning Project
401194 Contemporary Issues in Public Health

And two electives

Sub-major Elective Spaces

Elective units may be used toward obtaining an additional approved sub-major (40 credit points).

Search for sub-majors

Western Sydney University offers sub-majors in a range of areas including Sustainability and Indigenous Studies.

Indigenous Australian Studies Sub-major

Indigenous Australian Creative Expressions Sub-major

Indigenous Economics Sub-major

Business Sustainability Sub-major

Students can apply for an elective major or sub-major via MySR.

MyStudentRecords (MySR)



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