Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Bachelor of Public and Community 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.

Program Description

The Bachelor of Public and Community Health is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the principles and practices of public health. 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. Graduates are employed in non-government organisations, primary care organisations, local council, Aboriginal Health, and Government positions within the public health department and health promotion units.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this program, graduates will have:

• Described the history and philosophy of public health, its core values, concepts and functions across the globe and in society.
• Explained the role and importance of population health data in the context of evidence-based practice.
• Prioritised and conceptualised population/community health needs and determined interventions that meet these needs.
• Explained the underlying science of human health and disease and appraised opportunities for promoting and protecting health across the life course.
• Justified and analysed the socioeconomic, behavioural, biological, environmental, and other factors that impact human health and contribute to health disparities.
• Planned and evaluated evidence-based health promotion initiatives.
• Described fundamental characteristics and organisational structures of the health system, as well as the differences in systems in other countries.
• Recognised the legal, ethical, economic and regulatory dimensions of public health policy.
• Demonstrated effective oral and/or written communication in professional and lay domains.

Admission Requirements

Eligibility for admission to this program is based on applicants meeting the minimum selection rank, or satisfying the requirements for an approved admission scheme. The University of Newcastle accepts a range of qualifications to determine eligibility for admission, including Australian or overseas senior secondary qualifications, prior tertiary studies, prior TAFE/VET studies, and completed enabling programs.

English Language Requirements

All applicants must demonstrate that they meet the University's English proficiency requirement. The overall minimum English language proficiency requirement is 6, with a sub-test minimum of 6.

Program Requirements

Qualification for the award of Bachelor of Public and Community Health requires the completion of 240 units of approved courses over three years of full-time study (or equivalent part-time). These 240 units must comprise either 160 units of core courses, a major consisting of 80 units, and 20 units of electives, or 160 units of core courses, a general pathway consisting of 60 units of courses chosen from the course lists in the various majors, and 20 units of electives.

Program Structure

The program structure includes:

• Core courses:
  • ABOR1110 Blak Australia
  • PCHE1000 Introduction to Population Health Challenges
  • PCHE1001 Professional Pathways 1
  • PCHE1002 Professional Pathways 2
  • PUBH1080 Studies in Population Health and Health Promotion
  • PCHE2003 Professional Pathways 3
  • PCHE2004 Professional Pathways 4
  • PUBH2060 Strategies for Health Behaviour Change in the Community
  • SWRK2003 Interpersonal Skills for Professional Practice
  • PCHE3005 Professional Pathways 5
  • PCHE3006 Professional Pathways 6/Capstone
  • PCHE3050 Social and Environmental Determinants of Health
  • PCHE3300 Advanced Public Health
  • SOCS3100 Policy Development, Program Management and Evaluation
  • PUBH6305 Global Health Systems and Policy
• Majors:
  • Health Promotion
  • Environmental Health
  • Global Health and Equity
• General Pathway:
  • 60 units of courses chosen from the course lists in the various majors
• Electives:
  • 20 units of electives

Transition Arrangements

Changes to core courses commencing 2022 include the replacement of PUBH1000, PUBH1001, PUBH1002, PUBH2003, PUBH2004, PUBH3005, PUBH3006, PUBH3050, and PUBH3300 with PCHE1000, PCHE1001, PCHE1002, PCHE2003, PCHE2004, PCHE3005, PCHE3006, PCHE3050, and PCHE3300, respectively. Students who have completed the replaced courses will continue to have them counted as core courses toward completion of their program.

AQF Level

The Bachelor of Public and Community Health is a Level 7 Bachelor Degree.

Additional Handbook Information

Additional information includes:

• Access to free academic skills and support provided by Academic Learning Support through the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre
• Assistance and support provided by the Indigenous Student Support and Development service through the Wollotuka Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
• Credit transfer information
• International students information
• Students with special needs information

Program Contacts

Program advisors can be contacted for further information.

Study Level

The Bachelor of Public and Community Health is an undergraduate program.

Program Schedule

The program is a Bachelor Degree requiring 240 units to complete.

Study Areas

The program is classified under Health and Medical Services.

Units to Complete

Students must complete 240 units to graduate.

College

The program is offered by the College of Human and Social Futures.

Full-Time Duration

The program can be completed in 3 years of full-time study.

Maximum Time to Complete

The maximum time to complete the program is 8 years.

Term Type

The program is offered in semesters.

Locations of Offer

The program is offered at the Ourimbah campus.