PHCA9205 Critical Analysis of Public Health Debates

2016

9

1 x 5-day intensive workshop per semester
1 x 12-hour independent study weekly
1 x 50-minute on-line exercises fortnightly

Knowledge of principles of public health and research methods.

Assignments

This topic directly supports development of the Dr PH Dissertation. It is a crucial part of a successful dissertation as it requires students to locate their dissertation area of inquiry within the discipline of public health, refine skills in critical analysis of literature and produce a literature review that will ultimately form part of their dissertation. By the end of this topic students will have a comprehensive understanding of current debates in public health in Australia and across the globe and more importantly they will be able to articulate how their own area of interest fits into these debates.

This Topic aims to consolidate and further develop students’ understanding of the field of public health by covering key, current debates in public health in Australia and across the globe. This Topic also aims to develop advanced skills in conducting literature searches and carrying out critical analyses. By the end of this topic students will have written an argument locating their dissertation area of interest in public health, written a literature review in the relevant field for their dissertation and have the resources to publish their review in a refereed journal.

By the end of this topic students will have:

• An understanding of public health as a scholarly field

• Ability to articulate and argue how a dissertation topic is positioned in public health

• A capacity to systemmatically search literature at DrPH dissertation level

• An ability to carry out an advanced critical analysis of a public health issue within the context of current public health debates