Students

HSYP8102 – Determinants of Health

2022 – Session 1, In person-scheduled-weekday, North Ryde

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Seema Mihrshahi
seema.mihrshahi@mq.edu.au
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.
  • ULO6: Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
  • ULO7: Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.

General Assessment Information

All final grades are determined by a grading committee, in accordance with the Macquarie University Assessment Policy, and are not the sole responsibility of the Unit Convenor. Students will be awarded a final grade, which corresponds to the grade descriptors specified in the Assessment Procedure (clause 128).

To pass this unit, students must demonstrate sufficient evidence of achievement of the learning outcomes, meet any ungraded requirements including professionalism, and achieve a final mark of 50 or better.

Further details for each assessment task will be available on iLearn.

 

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% per day penalty including weekends and public holidays. If you submit the assessment task 10 days or more beyond the due date, without an approved extension, you will be awarded a maximum of 50% of the overall assessment marks.

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

55%

75%

50% (capped)

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 week13
Student Portfolio Reflection 0% No week13

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.
  • Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
  • Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.

Social and Environmental Determinants Report

Assessment Type 1: Report
Indicative Time on Task 2: 30 hours
Due: week13
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.
  • Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
  • Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.

Student Portfolio Reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 10 hours
Due: week13
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.
  • Integrate preventive approaches in the resolution of environmental public health problems.
  • Critique the evidence used to assess health consequences of exposure including epidemiology, toxicology and risk assessment.

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 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.

 

Where learning activities (such as tutorials and other small group learning activities) are offered on-campus an online version will be 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:

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

Academic Integrity

At Macquarie, we believe academic integrity – honesty, respect, trust, responsibility, fairness and courage – is at the core of learning, teaching and research. We recognise that meeting the expectations required to complete your assessments can be challenging. So, we offer you a range of resources and services to help you reach your potential, including free online writing and maths support, academic skills development and wellbeing consultations.

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

The Writing Centre

The Writing Centre provides resources to develop your English language proficiency, academic writing, and communication skills.

The Library provides online and face to face support to help you find and use relevant information resources. 

Student Services and Support

Macquarie University offers a range of Student Support Services including:

Student Enquiries

Got a question? Ask us via AskMQ, or contact Service Connect.

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 since First Published

Date Description
07/02/2022 Update of the Macquarie University Assessment Policy in the General Assessment Information section.

Unit information based on version 2022.02 of the Handbook