Master of Health Sciences

Course code/s: HMHS

Course details
Location	City Campus - Collins Street*
Course code	HMHS
Course coordinator	Dr Bruce Rumbold
Available to international students	Yes
CRICOS	075420D
Course duration	2 years full-time
Credit points	240 credit points
Exchange opportunity	No
Leave of absence available	Yes, for a maximum of 12 months
Course queries	Current students: ASK La Trobe Prospective students: Future Students
Notes	This course is not yet available at the Bendigo campus International students need to commence their studies in first semester. Majors available to International students are Gerontology, Health Administration, Health Information Management, Health Evaluation and Research and Health Policy. *This course will relocate from Franklin Street, to the newly expanded City Campus from Semester 2, 2017.

Course description

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 likely to assume, high-level responsibility for coordination and management of these programs and services.

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 graduate 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.

Classes are held at the City Campus (Collins Street) or online subjects, depending on the subjects chosen. 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 if students enrol in subjects offered online 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:

Major	Coordinator
Gerontology	Dr Bruce Rumbold
Health administration	Professor Sandra Leggat
Health information management	Ms Kerin Robinson
Health evaluation and research	Dr Bircan Erbas
Health policy	Dr Simon Barraclough
Health promotion ¹	Dr Sally Fawkes
Health promoting palliative care ¹	Dr Bruce Rumbold
Rehabilitation counselling ¹	Dr Paul O'Halloran
Spiritual care ¹	Dr Bruce Rumbold

Key: ¹Not available to international students

Course intended learning outcomes

Course Intended Learning Outcomes (CILOs) are brief statements defining what students are expected to demonstrate they know and can do by the end of a course.

Critically appraise contemporary health science theories, models, and research evidence.
Synthesise research evidence and apply it in evaluating the effectiveness of health policies, programs and strategies.
Design programs or interventions, collect and analyse data, and communicate the findings to a range of healthcare, human services and community audiences.
Evaluate evidence-based policies and develop strategies that address complex health and human services system problems.
Critically examine past, current and future trends in health and healthcare, and use research evidence to plan responses that will enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals and populations.
Contribute, through research and reflective practice, to knowledge and practice in the area of the major study chosen for the degree.

Critically appraise contemporary health science theories, models, and research evidence.

Synthesise research evidence and apply it in evaluating the effectiveness of health policies, programs and strategies.

Design programs or interventions, collect and analyse data, and communicate the findings to a range of healthcare, human services and community audiences.

Evaluate evidence-based policies and develop strategies that address complex health and human services system problems.

Critically examine past, current and future trends in health and healthcare, and use research evidence to plan responses that will enhance the health and wellbeing of individuals and populations.

Contribute, through research and reflective practice, to knowledge and practice in the area of the major study chosen for the degree.

Course structure

The course requires the completion of 240 credit points over two years of full-time or equivalent part-time study.

Gerontology

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
TE-SEM-1	GER4FSG	Foundation Studies in Gerontology	15
TE-SEM-1	GER4CSS	Care and Support Services for Older People	15
TE-SEM-2	GER4HWB	Health and Wellbeing of Older People	15
TE-SEM-1 / TE-SEM-2		Students to choose five subjects from the list below:	75

Note: LTU0AIM (formerly HLT5AIM ) is a zero-credit-point subject that you are required to complete at the commencement of your first semester. The subject is designed to enhance your knowledge and awareness of issues concerning academic integrity.

First Year Elective List
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	The Australian Health Systems	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5INH	Integrated Health Promotion	15
TE-SEM-2	GER5DCM	Dementia Care – A Multidimensional Approach	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SPC	Spirituality and Palliative Care	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PDE	Program Development and Evaluation	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HDD	Health Data for Decision Making	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Elective	Choose any fifth-year Public Health or Health Information Management subject, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	15

Second year

In second year, students choose either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points of study.

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Project	45
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose five elective subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	75

Research mode

Second year – Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	GER5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	GER5THC	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	GER5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	GER5THD	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	GER5PPA	Policy Planning and Practice in Aged Care	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Elective	Choose one fifth-year subject, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	15
TE-W31-37, TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM , or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Health administration

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
TE-SEM-1	PHE5HRM	Human Resource Management in Health Services	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HSR	Health Services Resource Management	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	The Australian Health System	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HOR	Healthy Organisations	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PDE	Program Development and Evaluation	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HCQ, or PHE4CQM	Health Care Quality, or Applied Quality & Safety in Health & Community Services	15
TE-SEM-2, or TE-SEM-1	PHE5HDD, or PHE5HDE¹	Health Data for Decision Making, or Health Data for Decision Making - Skills Enhancement	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Elective	Choose one elective subject form the list below	15

First Year Electives
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-2	PHE5LAE	Health Law & Ethics	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5HSO ¹	Health Management Strategy & Operations	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5HEF	Health Economics & Finance	15

Key: ¹Not available in 2017.

Second year

In second year, students choose to enter either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points of study.

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Project	45
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose five fifth-year subjects, or subjects approved by the coordinator of the major.	75

Research mode

Second year – Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Elective	Choose one fifth-year subject, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	30
TE-W31-37, TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM , or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Health evaluation and research

This is a full Master of Health Sciences program. There is no alternate exit available. Classes commence in February of each year and there is no practice mode in this major.

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	tHE Australian Health System	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	Elective	Student to select one subject in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	15
TE-W31-37	PHE5QRM	Quantitative Research Methods in Health	15
TE-W26-27 or TE-W26-30	PHE5QMH	Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PDE	Program Development and Evaluation	15

Second year

Second year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis	15
	Electives	Choose three subjects in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	45
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis	15
	Electives	Choose three subjects in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	45

Health information management

This is a full Master of Health Sciences, there is no alternate exit available from this major and this is a postgraduate degree for those already qualified as Health Information Managers.

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose eight fourth or fifth-year Health Information Management subjects, or fifth-year Public Health subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	120

Second year

In second year, students choose to enter either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points of study.

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Project	45
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose five fifth-year Public Health or Health Information Management subjects or fourth-year Geronology subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	75

Research mode

Second year – Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose two fifth-year Public Health or Health Information Management subjects, or fourth-year Gerontology subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	30
TE-W31-37, or TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM, or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Health policy

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
		Choose four subjects from the List A below:	60
		Choose four subjects from the List B below:	60

First Year List A
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5AHR	Australia's International Health Relations	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	The Australian Health System	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5HEF	Health Economics and Finance	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5POL	Public Health Policy	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HPA	Health Policy Analysis	15

First Year List B
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HOR	Healthy Organisations	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PDE	Program Development and Evaluation	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HCQ	Health Care Quality	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5CHS ¹	Comparative and Historical Study of Health Systems	15
TE-SEM-1, or TE-SEM-2	PHE5HDE ¹, or PHE5HDD	Health Data for Decision Making - Skills Enhancement, or Health Data for Decision Making	15
TE-SEM-1/2	Elective	Choose one fifth-year Public Health or Gerontology subject, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	15

Key: ¹Not available in 2017.

Second year

In second year, students choose to enter either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points of study.

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Project	45
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose five fifth-year Public Health subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	75

Research mode

Second year – Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose two fifth-year Public Health subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major	30
TE-W31-37, or TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM, or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Health promoting palliative care

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
		Choose four subjects from the List A below:	60
		Choose four subjects from the List B below:	60

First Year List A
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHP	Health Promoting Palliative Care	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5INH	Integrated Health Promotion	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5DDG ¹	Public Health Approaches to Death Dying and Grief	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SPC	Spirituality and Palliative Care	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5GNH	Promoting Health Through Groups and Networks	15

First Year List B
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	The Australian Health System	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5POL	Public Health Policy	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HDD, or PHE5HDE ¹	Health Data for Decision Making, or Health Data for Decision Making - Skills Enhancement	15
TBA	PHE5HPP, or PHE5PRH ¹	Health Promotion Project, or Practising Health Promotion	15

Key: ¹Not available in 2017.

Second year

In second year, students choose to enter either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points of study.

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Study	45
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose five fifth-year public Health subjects.	75

Research mode

Second year - Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose two fifth-year Public Health subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major	30
Choose one of the following subjects:
TE-W31-37, or TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM, or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Health promotion

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
TE-SEM-1	PHE5INH	Integrated Health Promotion	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5WPH	Wellbeing and Prevention in Health	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PRH	Practising Health Promotion	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5GNH	Promoting Health Through Groups and Networks	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HOR	Healthy Organisations	15
TE-SEM-2, TE-SEM-1	PHE5PDE, or PHE5AHS	Program Development and Evaluation, or The Australian Health System	15
TE-SEM-2, TE-SEM-1	PHE5HDD, or PHE5HDE	Health Data for Decision Making, or Health Data for Decision Making - Skills Enhancement	15
TE-SEM-1/2	Elective	Choose one fifth-year Public Health, or fourth-year Gerontology subject, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	15

Key: ¹Not available in 2017.

Second year

In second year, students choose to enter either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points of study.

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Study	45
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose five fifth-year Public Health or Gerontology subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	75

Research mode

Second year - Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose two fifth-year Public Health or Gerontology subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major	30
TE-W31-37, or TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM, or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Rehabilitation counselling

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
TE-SEM-1	PHE5EMD	Employment and Disability	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5REC	Rehabilitation Counselling	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5SCC	Service Coordination and Case Management	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5VOR	Vocational Rehabilitation	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SUP	Service Users Perspective in Health Care	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SDS	Community Based Health Service Delivery Systems	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5RCP	Rehabilitation Counselling Practicum	15
	Students to select one of the following subjects, or another PHE5 subject in consultation with the Major Coordinator
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PDE	Program Development and Evaluation	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HDD	Health Data for Decision Making	15

Second year

In second year, students choose to enter either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points of study.

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Study	45
TE-SEM-1/2	Electives	Choose five fifth-year Public Health or Gerontology subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	75

Research mode

Second year - Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose two fifth-year Public Health subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major	30
TE-W31-37, or TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM, or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Spiritual Care

First year

First year (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject name	Credit points
TE-SEM-1	LTU0AIM	Academic Integrity Module	0
	Choose eight subjects from the list below		120

First year subjects
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject name	Credit points
TE-SEM-1, TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	PHE5AHP, or PHE5SCC	Health Promoting Palliative Care, or Service Coordination and Case Management	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5AHS	Australian Health Systems	15
TE-SEM-1	Elective	Choose one fifth-year subject from anywhere in the University, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5BHC	Bioethics and Health Care	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SCP	Social and Cultural Perspectives	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5SPC	Spirituality and Palliative Care	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5GNH	Promoting Health Through Groups and Networks	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5PRH	Practising Health Promotion	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5HDD	Health Data for Decision Making	15

Second year

In second year, students choose to enter either the Practice or Research mode and complete a further 120 credit points.

Research mode

Second year - Research mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject title	Credit points
TE-SUMMER-3	PHE5ARS	Advanced Research Skills	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THA	Minor Thesis A	15
TE-SEM-1	PHE5THC	Minor Thesis C	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THB	Minor Thesis B	15
TE-SEM-2	PHE5THD	Minor Thesis D	15
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose two fifth-year subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	30
TE-W31-37, or TE-W26-27 / TE-W26-30	PHE5QRM, or PHE5QMH	Quantitative Research Methods in Health, or Qualitative Methods in Health Research	15

Practice mode

Second year - Practice mode (120 credit points)
Teaching period	Subject code	Subject name	Credit points
TE-ALLYR	PHE5ALS	Action Learning Study	45
TE-SEM-1 or TE-SEM-2	Electives	Choose five fifth-year subjects, in consultation with the coordinator of the major.	75

Master of Health Sciences

Course code/s: HMHS

Course description

Course intended learning outcomes

Course structure

Gerontology

First year

Second year

Practice mode

Research mode

Health administration

First year

Second year

Practice mode

Research mode

Health evaluation and research

First year

Second year

Health information management

First year

Second year

Practice mode

Research mode

Health policy

First year

Second year

Practice mode

Research mode

Health promoting palliative care

First year

Second year

Practice mode

Research mode

Health promotion

First year

Second year

Practice mode

Research mode

Rehabilitation counselling

First year

Second year

Practice mode

Research mode

Spiritual Care

First year

Second year

Research mode

Practice mode

University links

Research links

Learn more

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