Who should do this stream?

This MPH degree focuses on the social aspects of health and social approaches to addressing public health problems. You may be a social science graduate seeking training in public health research skills, or a public health or healthcare practitioner wanting to develop your understanding of social influences on health and illness.

If you are interested in carrying out research, the degree provides a clear pathway towards further academic research training (e.g. a PhD) or research in the workplace (government policy, program evaluation etc.). Graduates from this stream develop the knowledge and skills to enter postgraduate research degrees that require expertise in either social epidemiology or qualitative research, or both.

This stream is for anyone who wants to change public health and health policy for the better—even when change means political action or social change outside the healthcare system. Much medical and health research does not make a difference, because it stays in the medical journals. This degree will equip you to see the social and structural problems that prevent useful policy change, and find ways to address them.

The Master of Public Health (MPH) in Social Research is designed for students who wish to specialise in Social Research, which is reflected in their Testamur.

Students must complete 48 units of credit in total as follows:

A. MPH core courses (18 units of credit)

PLUS

B. The following stream-defining course (6 units of credit)

PLUS

C. Two of the Social Research methodology courses (12 Units of Credit):

PLUS

D. Two other courses from recommended Social Research electives (12 Units of Credit):

Professor Juliet Richters (Professor in Sexual Health)
Tel: +61 (2) 9385 1945
Email: j.richters@unsw.edu.au