Bachelor of Public Health

The course information on this page is for new students commencing their degree in 2016 only. 

Students should follow the rules and requirements for the year that they commenced their course. The online course information for years prior to 2016 are available from the Archives link in the menu.

Students should also review current subject availabilities via the Subject Descriptions link in the menu.

Overview

The Bachelor of Public Health is an ideal first degree for students interested in a career that enhances the health of the community. Globally, the most common health issues and their causes are largely preventable, and Public Health as a discipline has huge potential to address these problems. Public health professionals do this through building population skills and knowledge, creating supportive environments and policies, delivering health programs and services, and undertaking research on patterns of disease and best-practice interventions. Students will learn about determinants of health and key issues affecting the health of populations; develop skills in obtaining, reviewing and analysing health information and planning and managing a health program or project for improving the health of the population.

Entry Requirements

Academic requirements and English requirements are available from the Course Finder.

Course Learning Outcomes

Students graduating from the Bachelor of Public Health will be able to:

1. Identify and explain the broad determinants of illness, health and wellbeing.
2. Discuss major local, national, and global health challenges.
3. Distinguish the interconnectedness among the physical, social, policy and environmental aspects of population health.
4. Recognise social and cultural diversity and apply principles of social equity and fairness in all aspects of public health practice.
5. Understand the primacy of conducting high quality research and the process for undertaking robust scientific enquiry.
6. Confidently obtain, review and analyse population health data.
7. Access, critically appraise and apply the best available evidence to address public health issue.
8. Develop, implement and evaluate public health programs.
9. Communicate health information to a wide range of audiences through diverse media.
10. Demonstrate professional skills, including problem-solving, team work, reflective practice and ongoing learning and professional development.
11. Conceptualise key issues and concepts related to a selected major. 

Course Structure

To qualify for award of the degree of Bachelor of Public Health a student must complete a total of at least 144 credit points.

Students must select a major study normally at the end of the first session of full-time study. 

Students may only count 60 credit points of 100-level subjects towards the degree.

Majors

Majors are available in the following areas:

• Epidemiology
• Health Administration
• Health Communication & Marketing Studies
• Health Promotion
• Indigenous Health
• Population and Environment 

Minors

Depending on the major selected, students enrolled in the Bachelor of Public Health may be eligible to complete one of the following minors subject to availability of places in the minor study subjects:

• Indigenous Health Studies
• Psychology 

Honours

High achieving students may be eligible to apply for entry into the Bachelor of Public Health (Honours) which is designed as an additional fourth year of study to provide students with the opportunity to undertake research in an area of public health.

For further information refer to the separate entry for the Bachelor of Public Health (Honours).

Credit Arrangements

Credit and articulation arrangements are available from the Course Finder. Refer to UOW's credit arrangements for information on how to apply for credit.

Other Information

Further information is available at:
UOW Course Finder
Email: ssc@uow.edu.au