Students

HSYP8100 – Foundations of Public Health

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

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff
Alexandra Bhatti
alexandra.bhatti@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 provides the foundation for further studies and practice in the discipline of public health. You will learn about the core functions and history of public health, determinants of health and current population health issues both locally and globally. You will also explore the Australian and other major health care systems and their roles in public health as well as being introduced to and applying principles of public health ethics. Interactive sessions will bring together learning and equip you with both knowledge and practical skills essential in moving forward in your studies and future public health practice.

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: Define public health and explain its core functions
  • ULO2: Evaluate how historical development of population-based approaches to health have influenced current health and public health services
  • ULO3: Appraise social, political and environmental factors in shaping the health of populations
  • ULO4: Discuss priority health problems relevant to specific populations/communities
  • ULO5: Critically examine, describe and apply principles of public health ethics in the provision of healthcare and public health programs
  • ULO6: Demonstrate effective communications skills in the context of professional public health activities

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
Photo essay 10% No Week 4
Public health ethics response 15% No Week 6
Factors presentation 20% No Week 12
Factors report 55% No Week 14
Portfolio Reflection 0% No Week 15

Photo essay

Assessment Type 1: Creative work
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%

 

A brief written justification on a series of photos that showcase public health efforts in the community

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define public health and explain its core functions

Public health ethics response

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 18 hours
Due: Week 6
Weighting: 15%

 

A short essay focusing on describing and analysing ethical issues related to a public health problem

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define public health and explain its core functions
  • Critically examine, describe and apply principles of public health ethics in the provision of healthcare and public health programs

Factors presentation

Assessment Type 1: Viva/oral examination
Indicative Time on Task 2: 12 hours
Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%

 

Oral presentation to inform a public audience about content from the written assignment.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate how historical development of population-based approaches to health have influenced current health and public health services
  • Appraise social, political and environmental factors in shaping the health of populations
  • Discuss priority health problems relevant to specific populations/communities
  • Demonstrate effective communications skills in the context of professional public health activities

Factors report

Assessment Type 1: Essay
Indicative Time on Task 2: 24 hours
Due: Week 14
Weighting: 55%

 

Written report on major non-communicable disease in a specific population with a link to social, political, economic, environmental factors - linked to oral presentation task

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Evaluate how historical development of population-based approaches to health have influenced current health and public health services
  • Appraise social, political and environmental factors in shaping the health of populations
  • Discuss priority health problems relevant to specific populations/communities
  • Critically examine, describe and apply principles of public health ethics in the provision of healthcare and public health programs
  • Demonstrate effective communications skills in the context of professional public health activities

Portfolio Reflection

Assessment Type 1: Reflective Writing
Indicative Time on Task 2: 2 hours
Due: Week 15
Weighting: 0%

 

Reflection of student performance and achievement of course learning outcomes. Additionally, students will specifically be asked to reflect on the ethics component of the unit.

 
On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define public health and explain its core functions
  • Evaluate how historical development of population-based approaches to health have influenced current health and public health services
  • Appraise social, political and environmental factors in shaping the health of populations
  • Discuss priority health problems relevant to specific populations/communities
  • Critically examine, describe and apply principles of public health ethics in the provision of healthcare and public health programs
  • Demonstrate effective communications skills in the context of professional public health activities

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 HSYP8100 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:

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 from Previous Offering

This unit has been revised in accordance with feedback and best practice.

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