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Master of Health Sciences

Course code/s: Bendigo (HMHSB), Melbourne (HMHS)

This course provides students with the skills and knowledge to conduct applied research in health or community services settings (thesis stream) and to develop, implement and evaluate health-related programs and services. The degree offers opportunities to learn more about a variety of specialties in the health field to strengthen analytical skills and to consider furthering knowledge through research. The course aims to meet the needs of health professionals who have assumed, or are like to assume, high-level responsibility for coordination and management of these programs and services.

Professional recognition

Graduates of the Master of Health Sciences will qualify for registration with the appropriate professional association such as The Australian Association of Gerontology (www.aag.asn.au/), the Australian College of Health Service Executives (www.achse.org.au/), the Australian Health Promotion Association (www.healthpromotion.org.au/) and the Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors (www.asorc.org.au/).

Prerequisites

Normally, applicants are required to hold a three-year undergraduate degree in health sciences, or a related field, and have at least two years work experience in the health (or a related) sector. Applicants without formal qualifications, but with relevant experience and skills, should discuss their eligibility with the Course Coordinator. Applicants for the Health Information Management major must have a degree or other recognised qualification in health information management.

Course structure

This is a two-year, 240 credit point, full-time program. Part-time study is available to domestic students. In the initial year, students complete compulsory and elective subjects in their selected specialisation. In the final year, students build on the foundation subjects from the first year and undertake either a 45 credit point Action Learning Study or a 60 credit point minor thesis. In order to undertake the minor thesis, students must have achieved a B grade average for thesis coursework.

Domestic students who opt to terminate their studies after having completed only 60 or 120 credit points of the first year, may be eligible to take out a Graduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in their respective areas. Please see individual course structures for each major for details on whether an alternate exit is offered for that particular major.

Students who undertake the Research Mode and perform at a high academic level, may be able to proceed to further studies in a higher degree.

Students should note that they may be required to attend classes at the City campus (Franklin Street) or enrol in distance education subjects, depending on the major they choose. Full-time students can expect to take part in four hours of lectures and four hours of tutorials/workshops per week, with a further 30 to 32 hours of self-directed learning per week. This will vary where students enrol in subjects offered by distance education where there is less face-to-face time and more self-directed study.

The course has an applied focus and aims to produce graduates able to develop and translate health, and health-related policy, into effective programs and services particularly in the specialist areas of:

Bendigo campus

Major	Coordinator
Health Evaluation and Research	TBA
Health Policy	TBA
Health Promotion	TBA

Melbourne campus

Major	Coordinator
Health Administration	Professor Sandra Leggat
Health Information Management	Ms Kerin Robinson
Health Evaluation and Research	Professor Pranee Liamputtong
Health Policy	Dr Simon Barraclough
Health Promotion	Dr Sally Fawkes
Health Promoting Palliative Care	Dr Bruce Rumbold
Rehabilitation Counselling	Professor Greg Murphy

 Health Promoting Palliative Care major

 

First year (full-time) - 120 credit points

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit Points
Students must choose four of the following:
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHP	Health Promoting Palliative Care	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5IHP	Introduction to Health Promotion	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5DDG	Public Health Approach to Death Dying and Grief	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SPC	Spirituality and Palliative Care	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PHG	Promoting Health Through Groups	15
AND choose four of the following:
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	The Australian Health System	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5CHS	Comparative Health Systems	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5POL	Public Health Policy	15
AND
TE-W12-22	PHE5HDD	Health Data for Decision Making	15
or
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HDE	Health Data for Decision Making - Skills Enhancement
AND
TE-SEM-1/2	PHE5HPP	Health Promotion Project	15
or
TE-SEM-1	PHE5PHP	Public Health Promotion	15

 

Rehabilitation Counselling major

 

First year (full-time) - 120 credit points

Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit Points
Students must choose at least two of the following:
TE-SEM-1	PHE5SCC	Service Coordination and Case Management	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SUP	Service Users Perspective in Health Care	15
TE-W17-25	PHE5VOR	Vocational Rehabilitation	15
TE-W36-43	PHE5SDS	Community Based Health Service Delivery Systems	15
AND choose up to five of the following:
TE-SEM-1	PHE5REC	Rehabilitation Counselling	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PDE	Program Development and Evaluation	15
TE-SEM-1/2	PHE4RCP	Rehabilitation Counselling Practicum	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	The Australian Health System	15
TE-SEM-1/2	PHE4RRD	Rehabilitation Research Design	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5IHP	Introduction to Health Promotion	15
TE-W06-09	PHE4EMD	Employment and Disability	15
AND
TE-W12-22	PHE5HDD	Health Data for Decision Making	15
or
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HDE	Health Data for Decision Making - Skills Enhancement	15