Master of Philosophy (NICM Health Research) at Western Sydney University

Contribute to health improvements worldwide, and make a real difference to individuals and communities, with a Master of Global Public Health from Victoria University. Our postgraduate degree will give you the knowledge and skills needed to find solutions to current and emerging health challenges. You will learn to appraise public health evidence, and contribute to collaborative programs and policies. On graduation, you will be skilled in developing public health solutions for sustainable development. You will be a voice for inclusive policy and practice, advocating for all members of society, and ensuring Indigenous views are heard.

In this innovative course, the origins and evolution of public health and the underlying principles of community-based and community-led public health will be explored. The social-ecological model of health forms the basis of the Master of Public Health and you will study complex adaptive systems thinking and how this influences the way we think about public health. 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 have the opportunity to apply these concepts in practical ways in both strengths-based and disease prevention approaches. This will ensure that you apply your learning to real-world situations, whether that be taking a strengths-based or disease prevention approach. You will also have the flexibility of choosing from a list of electives or to undertake the project stream once you have completed the core structure. This project can be practice or research-based allowing you to develop specific skills and knowledge in your area of interest.

Combining a Master of Public Health with a Master of Health Research will give greater flexibility and opportunity to your career. This double degree is a strong modern qualification that will enable you to tackle contemporary and future population health issues with high level public health and health research skills. It is also an alternative pathway to Higher Degrees by Research. This double degree will equip students with the tools to investigate, critique and respond to real world population health problems in local and global contexts, as well as advanced knowledge and skills in health research design and evidence-based practice. Unique features of the course include learning from acclaimed Menzies School of Health Research professionals in the specialist areas of Indigenous health, global health, public health practice and health research. Our students study: epidemiology; biostatistics; quantitative and qualitative research methods. They learn to analyse and interpret population health information, evaluate and design public health interventions and formulate evidence-based strategies to address complex health and social issues. Our students apply public health approaches to: health promotion; disease control; health systems; health policy; decision making; the environment and the sustainable development goals. Students also consolidate their learning by undertaking a research project supervised by an expert in the field.