Master of Public Health

ACU's Master of Public Health equips graduates with specialised knowledge, understanding and skills in public health to improve and advance population health and wellbeing, and prepares them to practise with a community, national or global focus and an ethical, social justice perspective. The program develops advanced and specialised knowledge across the discipline of public health, with an emphasis on evidence-based practice, rigorous intellectual inquiry, innovation and thought leadership, and effective communication and advocacy skills. It totals 160 credit points. Eighty credit points come from specified public health units covering Foundations of Public Health, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Indigenous Health, Australian Health Care Systems, Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Management, Public Health Law and Policy, and Introduction to Health Sciences Research. The remaining 80 credit points are taken in one of two streams: a Research Stream combining elective units with specified research units and a minor thesis, or a Project Stream combining elective units with Preparation for Practice and Practice Placement, both community engagement units supported by internal supervisors and, where available, external industry supervisors. Units are delivered in multi-mode over two years full-time or the part-time equivalent at ACU's Melbourne campus. The curriculum has been designed around the Foundation Competencies for Master of Public Health Graduates in Australia and the requirements of the Australian Faculty of Public Health Medicine for medical practitioners specialising in public health. ACU states that the program itself is not accredited. Students may exit early with a Graduate Certificate in Public Health after a minimum 40 credit points, or a Graduate Diploma in Public Health after a minimum 80 credit points.