The program will appeal to those who want to move into the field of public health, as well as those who already work within a public health or health related field and are preparing for advancement in their organisation or field, or seeking to broaden their knowledge and skill set. Within the course students are exposed to the core foundations of public health theory and practice and also have the opportunity to specialise in the advanced public health training specialisations offered through the University of Melbourne. The Master of Public Health programs at the University of Melbourne are delivered by academic staff with extensive experience and depth of knowledge, who are leaders in their chosen fields of public health. The core component includes up to six subjects that provide students with a rigorous, multidisciplinary foundation in public health theory and practice, that is essential to all aspects of public health practice.
After completing subjects within this specialisation, students will be trained to design epidemiological studies and appraise epidemiological literature. Students will also develop a broad understanding and sound practical skills in biostatistics that will enable them to analyse and appropriately interpret epidemiological data. Depending on which electives are taken, students will develop skills in reporting the results of epidemiological studies, performing systematic reviews of epidemiological literature, including meta-analysis, and in specialised areas such as genetic epidemiology and the epidemiology of infectious diseases. Students taking subjects from this specialisation will train to work in the field of health and public health research. On graduation they will be ready to contribute to the improvement of population health through quantitative research and discovery. At graduation students will be able to develop and conduct health research and be able to analyse data from health research projects and routine data collections. Additionally, students will discover ‘contemporary’ epidemiological thinking and skills, and upon graduation will become frontrunners in this emerging area. The skills developed in this stream could be applied to many different fields in public and clinical health research, including but not limited to, mental health, sexual health, infectious diseases, and non-communicable disease prevention and management, health service improvement. Such skills can be applied in an Australian or international setting. Possible roles in the field of epidemiology and biostatistics include epidemiologist, health data analyst, research assistant, research fellow and PhD student. Organisations that employ people in the epidemiology and biostatistics field include national, regional, stateprovincial governments; large health care services providers; research institutions, and academic institutions.
