Students
HSYP8102 – Determinants of Health
2021 – Session 1, Special circumstances
Notice
As part of Phase 3 of our return to campus plan, most units will now run tutorials, seminars and other small group activities on campus, and most will keep an online version available to those students unable to return or those who choose to continue their studies online.
To check the availability of face-to-face and online activities for your unit, please go to timetable viewer. To check detailed information on unit assessments visit your unit's iLearn space or consult your unit convenor.
General Information
Download as PDF
| Unit convenor and teaching staff |
Unit convenor and teaching staff
Unit Convenor
Seema Mihrshahi
Contact via seema.mihrshahi@mq.edu.au
75 Talavera Road
By appointment only
|
|---|---|
| Credit points |
Credit points
10
|
| Prerequisites |
Prerequisites
Admission to MPH or MPH(Res) or MAppEcon
|
| Corequisites |
Corequisites
|
| Co-badged status |
Co-badged status
|
| Unit description |
Unit description
This unit examines the fundamental determinants of health in two modules. In the first module, you will learn about social, behavioural and structural determinants of health. The second module will introduce you to biological and environmental factors that impact health status of individuals and populations. The unit will utilise a case study approach where you explore contemporary and emerging challenges to public health and develop conceptual and practical knowledge essential for a career in public health. |
Important Academic Dates
Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- ULO1: Identify and comment on the social and behavioural factors, and vulnerability characteristics, that affect health of individuals and populations.
- ULO2: Summarise the needs of vulnerable populations based on the impact of race, ethnic, socioeconomic, and age demographics on these communities and populations.
- ULO3: Describe and critically evaluate different methodological approaches to the study of social and behavioural determinants of population health.
- ULO4: Explore the importance of cultural competency, as well as the development of collaborative partnerships with diverse communities and constituencies, to public health and to the achievement of its goals.
- ULO5: Identify and describe environmental determinants and risk factors to health in given communities and populations.
- ULO7: Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.
- ULO6: Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
General Assessment Information
Information concerning Macquarie University's assessment policy is available at https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/assessment. Grade descriptors and other information concerning grading requirements are contained in Schedule 1 of the Macquarie University Assessment Policy.
To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes and attempt all assessment tasks.
Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn, including marking rubrics.
All final grades in the department of Health Systems and Populations are determined by a grading committee and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor.
Students will be awarded one of these grades plus a Standardised Numerical Grade (SNG). The SNG is not necessarily a summation of the individual assessment components. The final grade and SNG that are awarded reflect the corresponding grade descriptor in Schedule 1 of the Assessment Policy.
Extensions for Assessment tasks
Applications for assessment task extensions must be submitted via www.ask.mq.edu.au. For further details please refer to the Disruption to Studies Policy available at https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policies/disruption-to-studies.
Late Submission of Work
All assignments which are officially received after the due date, and where no extension has been granted by the course convenor or tutor, will incur a deduction of 5% for the first day including the actual day on which the work is received, and 5% for each subsequent day. Weekends and public holidays are included. Late penalty is capped at 50%. For example:
|
Due date |
Received |
Days late |
Deduction |
Raw mark |
Final mark |
|
Friday 14th |
Saturday 15th |
1 |
5% |
75% |
70% |
|
Friday 14th |
Monday 17th |
3 |
15% |
75% |
60% |
|
Friday 14th |
Tuesday 25th |
11 |
50% (capped) |
75% |
25% |
Assessment Tasks
| Name | Weighting | Hurdle | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quiz - Social Determinants of Health Theory | 20% | No | Week 5 |
| Podcast Assessment | 30% | No | Week 7 |
| Ministerial Briefing | 20% | No | Week 10 |
| Social and Environmental Determinants Report | 30% | No | Week 13 |
| Student Portfolio Reflection | 0% | No | Week 15 |
Quiz - Social Determinants of Health Theory
Assessment Type 1: Quiz/Test
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 5
Weighting: 20%
Combination of multiple choice and short answer questions related to theory in social determinants of health
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and comment on the social and behavioural factors, and vulnerability characteristics, that affect health of individuals and populations.
- Summarise the needs of vulnerable populations based on the impact of race, ethnic, socioeconomic, and age demographics on these communities and populations.
- Describe and critically evaluate different methodological approaches to the study of social and behavioural determinants of population health.
Podcast Assessment
Assessment Type 1: Media presentation
Indicative Time on Task 2: 21 hours
Due: Week 7
Weighting: 30%
Short podcast describing social and beavioural determinants of health in defined populations.
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and comment on the social and behavioural factors, and vulnerability characteristics, that affect health of individuals and populations.
- Summarise the needs of vulnerable populations based on the impact of race, ethnic, socioeconomic, and age demographics on these communities and populations.
- Describe and critically evaluate different methodological approaches to the study of social and behavioural determinants of population health.
- Explore the importance of cultural competency, as well as the development of collaborative partnerships with diverse communities and constituencies, to public health and to the achievement of its goals.
Ministerial Briefing
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 20 hours
Due: Week 10
Weighting: 20%
A short report written in the style of a ministerial briefing
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and describe environmental determinants and risk factors to health in given communities and populations.
- Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.
- Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
Social and Environmental Determinants Report
Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: Week 13
Weighting: 30%
In depth report on contemporary population and environmental health issues
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and comment on the social and behavioural factors, and vulnerability characteristics, that affect health of individuals and populations.
- Summarise the needs of vulnerable populations based on the impact of race, ethnic, socioeconomic, and age demographics on these communities and populations.
- Describe and critically evaluate different methodological approaches to the study of social and behavioural determinants of population health.
- Explore the importance of cultural competency, as well as the development of collaborative partnerships with diverse communities and constituencies, to public health and to the achievement of its goals.
- Identify and describe environmental determinants and risk factors to health in given communities and populations.
- Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.
- Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
Student Portfolio Reflection
Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: Week 15
Weighting: 0%
Personal reflection to reflect your learning towards the end of your MPH program
On successful completion you will be able to:
- Identify and comment on the social and behavioural factors, and vulnerability characteristics, that affect health of individuals and populations.
- Summarise the needs of vulnerable populations based on the impact of race, ethnic, socioeconomic, and age demographics on these communities and populations.
- Describe and critically evaluate different methodological approaches to the study of social and behavioural determinants of population health.
- Explore the importance of cultural competency, as well as the development of collaborative partnerships with diverse communities and constituencies, to public health and to the achievement of its goals.
- Identify and describe environmental determinants and risk factors to health in given communities and populations.
- Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.
- Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
1 If you need help with your assignment, please contact:
- the academic teaching staff in your unit for guidance in understanding or completing this type of assessment
- the Writing Centre for academic skills support.
2 Indicative time-on-task is an estimate of the time required for completion of the assessment task and is subject to individual variation
Delivery and Resources
Unit Organisation
This is a ten credit point unit run over a 13 week session. Further information is available via the HSYP8102 online Learning Management System (LMS) iLearn http://ilearn.mq.edu.
Readings
The readings for each week will be listed in ilearn using the Leganto system. Leganto is the reading list management system, which you can access through your iLearn unit. More information on Leganto is available here: http://libguides.mq.edu.au/leganto
Readings marked as 'required' are essential for completion in the marked week. Some readings may be included that are marked as 'recommended' or 'secondary sources', these are additional materials that may be of interest to you. Please use these at your discretion.
Technology and equipment
Off-campus
To study optimally when off campus you will need to have access to a reliable internet connection to retrieve unit information and at times to join interactive session (eg zoom) or submit assessment tasks via iLearn.
On-campus
Teaching rooms are equipped with state of art audio-visual and ICT equipment including internet connection, high quality video cameras and multiple LCD screens.
Please note that this unit has been altered to accommodate our delivery provisions in compliance with current COVID-19 requirements (Special Circumstance delivery). Learning activities (such as tutorials and other small group learning activities) will be offered on-campus while keeping an online version available for those students who choose to continue their studies online (selected via eStudent).
Policies and Procedures
Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:
- Academic Appeals Policy
- Academic Integrity Policy
- Academic Progression Policy
- Assessment Policy
- Fitness to Practice Procedure
- Grade Appeal Policy
- Complaint Management Procedure for Students and Members of the Public
- Special Consideration Policy
Students seeking more policy resources can visit Student Policies (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/policies). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.
To find other policies relating to Teaching and Learning, visit Policy Central (https://policies.mq.edu.au) and use the search tool.
Student Code of Conduct
Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/admin/other-resources/student-conduct
Results
Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
Student Support
Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/
Learning Skills
Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to help you improve your marks and take control of your study.
The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources.
Student Services and Support
Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.
Student Enquiries
For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au
If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au
IT Help
For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/.
When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.
Changes from Previous Offering
This unit has been revised in accordance with feedback and best practice.
Unit information based on version 2021.03 of the Handbook