Students

HSYP801 – Foundations of Public Health

2018 – S1 Block

General Information

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Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Alexandra Bhatti
Contact via alexandra.bhatti@mq.edu.au
75 Talavera Rd
By appointment only
Credit points Credit points
4
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Admission to MPH
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This Unit provides the foundations for understanding the discipline of public health. It introduces students to the core functions and history of public health, current population health issues both locally and globally, and public health ethics. It also introduces students to the Australian and other major health care systems. A workshop will bring together learning in the area of public health ethics that will equip students with practical skills essential to moving forward in their 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:

  • Define public health and explain its core functions
  • Recall 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
  • Comment on 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 communication skills in the context of professional public health activities

General Assessment Information

Information concerning Macquarie University's assessment policy is available at http://mq.edu.au/policy/docs/assessment/policy_2016.html. 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. 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%  

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Online quiz 10% No Week 4
Public health ethics essay 20% No Week 8
Oral Presentation 20% No Week 12
Written Assignment 50% No Week 14
Student Portfolio Reflection 0% No Week 15

Online quiz

Due: Week 4
Weighting: 10%

Online quiz


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Define public health and explain its core functions
  • Recall how historical development of population-based approaches to health have influenced current health and public health services

Public health ethics essay

Due: Week 8
Weighting: 20%

Students will write three short answer responses of 500 words each. They will choose from a series of questions addressing the theoretical and/or substantive material covered. 


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

Oral Presentation

Due: Week 12
Weighting: 20%

Students prepare and deliver a 5-minute oral presentation to inform a public audience about content from the written assignment.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Appraise social, political and environmental factors in shaping the health of populations
  • Comment on priority health problems relevant to specific populations/communities
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in the context of professional public health activities

Written Assignment

Due: Week 14
Weighting: 50%

Written assignment where students will identify a major communicable or non-communicable disease relevant to a specific population or community. Students are asked to consider the issue, including prioritisation, from a local and global perspective as well as how historical, political or economic structures have affected the disease.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Recall 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
  • Comment on priority health problems relevant to specific populations/communities
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in the context of professional public health activities

Student Portfolio Reflection

Due: Week 15
Weighting: 0%

Students asked to submit a 500-word reflection of their learning and development across the unit.


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

Delivery and Resources

Unit Organisation

This is a four credit point unit run over a 13 week session.  There are lectures, tutorials and a half day workshop.  Further information is available via the HSYP801 online Learning Management System (LMS) iLearn http://ilearn.mq.edu.au

 

Attendance

All lectures and tutorials are scheduled in your individual timetable. In most cases lectures are recorded however, attendance is expected at both lectures and tutorials, as this is where the majority of learning occurs. Failure to attend may impact your final results. It is the responsibility of the student to contact their tutor by email to inform tutors if they are going to be absent. The timetable for classes can be found on the University web site at: http://www.timetables.mq.edu.au/.

 

Prescribed Textbook

'Introduction to Public Health.'

3rd Edition

Author: By Mary Louise Fleming and Elizabeth Parker

ISBN 9780729542036

 

Readings

The readings for each week will be listed in ilearn using the Leganto system. Leganto is a new reading list management system, which you can access through your iLearn unit. For further information to understand and navigate your unit reading lists in Leganto, check this guide:  http://libguides.mq.edu.au/leganto

Readings marked as 'required' are those that are essential to be completed for that week. Some readings may be included within a weeks readings that are marked as 'recommended' or 'secondary sources'. These are there for your recommended reading or for where we have sourced additional material that may be of interest to you. Please use these at your discretion.

 

Technology and equipment

On-campus

Teaching rooms are equipped with state of art audio-visual and ICT equipment including iPads, internet connection, high quality video cameras and multiple LCD screens. 

Off-campus

To study optimally when off campus you will need to have access to a reliable internet connection to retrieve unit information & at times to submit assessment tasks via iLearn.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results shown in iLearn, 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.

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 improve your marks and take control of your study.

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

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.

Graduate Capabilities

PG - Capable of Professional and Personal Judgment and Initiative

Our postgraduates will demonstrate a high standard of discernment and common sense in their professional and personal judgment. They will have the ability to make informed choices and decisions that reflect both the nature of their professional work and their personal perspectives.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Appraise social, political and environmental factors in shaping the health of populations
  • Comment on 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

Assessment tasks

  • Public health ethics essay
  • Oral Presentation
  • Student Portfolio Reflection

PG - Discipline Knowledge and Skills

Our postgraduates will be able to demonstrate a significantly enhanced depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content knowledge in their chosen fields.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Define public health and explain its core functions
  • Recall 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
  • Comment on 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 communication skills in the context of professional public health activities

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Public health ethics essay
  • Oral Presentation
  • Written Assignment
  • Student Portfolio Reflection

PG - Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

Our postgraduates will be capable of utilising and reflecting on prior knowledge and experience, of applying higher level critical thinking skills, and of integrating and synthesising learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments. A characteristic of this form of thinking is the generation of new, professionally oriented knowledge through personal or group-based critique of practice and theory.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Recall 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
  • Comment on 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

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Public health ethics essay
  • Written Assignment
  • Student Portfolio Reflection

PG - Research and Problem Solving Capability

Our postgraduates will be capable of systematic enquiry; able to use research skills to create new knowledge that can be applied to real world issues, or contribute to a field of study or practice to enhance society. They will be capable of creative questioning, problem finding and problem solving.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Appraise social, political and environmental factors in shaping the health of populations
  • Critically examine, describe and apply principles of public health ethics in the provision of healthcare and public health programs

Assessment tasks

  • Online quiz
  • Public health ethics essay
  • Written Assignment

PG - Effective Communication

Our postgraduates will be able to communicate effectively and convey their views to different social, cultural, and professional audiences. They will be able to use a variety of technologically supported media to communicate with empathy using a range of written, spoken or visual formats.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Comment on priority health problems relevant to specific populations/communities
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in the context of professional public health activities

Assessment tasks

  • Public health ethics essay
  • Oral Presentation
  • Written Assignment
  • Student Portfolio Reflection

PG - Engaged and Responsible, Active and Ethical Citizens

Our postgraduates will be ethically aware and capable of confident transformative action in relation to their professional responsibilities and the wider community. They will have a sense of connectedness with others and country and have a sense of mutual obligation. They will be able to appreciate the impact of their professional roles for social justice and inclusion related to national and global issues

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Critically examine, describe and apply principles of public health ethics in the provision of healthcare and public health programs
  • Demonstrate effective communication skills in the context of professional public health activities

Assessment tasks

  • Public health ethics essay
  • Oral Presentation

Changes from Previous Offering

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