PUBH5134: Semester 1, 2025

Overview

This unit provides students with an opportunity to draw together and integrate their learning in the four key aspects of public health as reflected in their degree program - knowledge, values, actions and outcomes - and apply these to a project. The key aim is for students to undertake the sort of set of tasks they are likely to be required to do during their public health career - undertake a project, prepare a summary of it and communicate their findings to a knowledgeable but not expert audience. Students will undertake a focused assessment on a public health topic. This may be as part of a practical public health project or on area investigated primarily for the purposes of the capstone unit. The work will culminate in a presentation of the work at a School seminar attended by other capstone unit students and School academics, or the on-line equivalent of this. The projects will be identified by the unit coordinators; students will be able to choose from these projects depending on availability and suitability.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Public Health
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	30 credit points from (PUBH5010 and (PUBH5018 or FMHU5002) and (FMHU5003 or PUBH5505 or BACH5255 or QUAL5005) and HPOL5000 and PUBH5033 and PUBH5036)
Corequisites ?	36 credit points from (PUBH5010 and (PUBH5018 or FMHU5002) and (FMHU5003 or PUBH5505 or BACH5255 or QUAL5005) and HPOL5000 and PUBH5033 and PUBH5036)
Prohibitions ?	PUBH5034
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	No

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Emily Saurman, emily.saurman@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Alison Hayes, alison.hayes@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Emily Saurman, emily.saurman@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2025

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Major deliverable Written assessment - major deliverable	45%	Formal exam period Due date: 10 Jun 2025 at 23:59	4000 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Project outline Written assessment - project outline	10%	Week 06 Due date: 31 Mar 2025 at 23:59	2-3 pages
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Symposium abstract Written assessment - symposium abstract	10%	Week 09 Due date: 30 Apr 2025 at 23:59	250 words
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Presentation slides Slides submitted before symposium presentation (assessed in presentation)	0%	Week 13 Due date: 28 May 2025 at 23:59	-
Outcomes assessed:
Presentation	Symposium presentaion Oral presentation - live	35%	Week 13 Due date: 30 May 2025 at 09:00	10 minutes, plus ~5 minutes questions
Outcomes assessed:
= AI allowed ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment and Guidance for AI use can be found on Canvas.

Task 1: Project Outline

In close consultation with your Project Leader, write a 2-3 page outline (using the template provided) that clearly defines the details your Capstone Project.

You will send this to your Project Leader for feedback and approval and then upload the approved outline to the Canvas. This is to ensure you and your Project Leader are aligned on project focus, scope, deliverable and timeframes.

Task 2: Symposium Abstract

Your Capstone Symposium Abstract should mimic the real-life situation of applying to present your work at a public health symposium/conference.

Stay within the word limit of 250 words (excluding the title and headings). Students who exceed the word limit will lose marks - see marking guide for details. Please note that this word limit does not include the title or the headings (title, background, aim, methods, results, conclusion) - they are additional to the limit.
Include a title and structure your abstract with the following headings: Background, Aim, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
Submit your abstract in Canvas.

Task 3: Major Deliverable

The Major Deliverable is determined by your Project Leader. Most projects produce a formal report and so the marking guide has been developed with that in mind. Other outputs may be supplementary to a short report. The guide can be adapted by your project leader for project outputs if needed. This needs to be provided to the Unit Coordinators for the independent markers.

Please note that your project may require a report or final deliverable written differently or with a different structure, so please be sure to ask your Project Leader for their advice on writing your final deliverable.

The marking guide accounts for the PRODUCT components of the output you produce (80/100 points). This will be marked by an independent marker. Please provide a note for the marker about your agreed deliverable and any approved modification, i.e. word count, structure. The PROCESS components of your work will be marked separately by your Project Leader (20/100 points). Together, these marks will represent 45% of your mark for the Capstone Unit.

Task 4&5: Capstone Presentation Symposium

Task 4a - Students who are presenting live at the Capstone Symposium (face-to-face or zoom), please submit your PowerPoint slides on the Wednesday before the Symposium. Please be aware these slides cannot be changed between submission and the Symposium day.

Task 4b - Recorded presentation students, this is a small subset of special exemption pre-approved by the Unit Coordinators. Please submit the Studio recording of your presentation - just your recording which will show your slides and the image of you presenting. Remember not to exceed the 10-minute time limit or you will lose marks. For the Q&A component of the assessment, you will attend a separate live Zoom session with the Unit Coordinators/markers.

Task 5 - At this exciting Symposium, live mode students will give presentations of their work to their colleagues, judges, and symposium Chairs. The symposium will be run live face-to-face and live via Zoom. Presentations will be 10 minutes + 5 minutes Q&A. The Symposium will begin at 9am. Lunch is provided and is followed by a Careers Session. Students are encouraged to plan to attend for the whole day.

Generative AI

You are permitted to some use of generative AI in Tasks 1, 2, and 3 in this unit of study but any and all uses must be clearly acknowledged using the declaration coversheet (provided in Canvas) and must be in accordance with the guidance document (also provided). The use of generative AI should be ethical, productive, and uphold critical thinking. Generative AI is not permitted in Tasks 4&5.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100
Distinction	75 - 84
Credit	65 - 74
Pass	50 - 64
Fail	0 - 49	When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Except for supervised exams or in-semester tests, you may use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessments unless expressly prohibited by your unit coordinator.

For exams and in-semester tests, the use of AI and automated writing tools is not allowed unless expressly permitted in the assessment instructions.

The icons in the assessment table above indicate whether AI is allowed – whether full AI, or only some AI (the latter is referred to as “AI restricted”). If no icon is shown, AI use is not permitted at all for the task. Refer to Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks for this unit.

Your final submission must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of automated writing tools or generative AI, and any material generated that you include in your final submission must be properly referenced. You may be required to submit generative AI inputs and outputs that you used during your assessment process, or drafts of your original work. Inappropriate use of generative AI is considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

The Current Students website provides information on artificial intelligence in assessments. For help on how to correctly acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the  AI in Education Canvas site.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy 2023 reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy 2023. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Progressive	Research Project Activity - regular engagement with the Project Leader - self-directed work	Project (120 hr)
Week 01	1. Welcome; 2. Overview: 3. Student support: 4. Literature search workshop and drop-in sessions; 5. Presentation skills; 6. Canvas sign-up; 7. Q and A; 8. Project leaders and projects. Workshop will be run live face-to-face and on Zoom.	Workshop (4 hr)
Week 13	Capstone symposium - live mode students will present their conference presentation assessment and answer questions from the audience. Conference will be held face-to-face on campus and/or live on Zoom. Further details are available on Canvas.	Seminar (5 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Attendance: This Unit is normally offered as face-to-face, online, or a combination of both. The student workshop will be run face-to-face with the option to Zoom in and a recording offered to students who cannot attend live.
Interaction between Project Leaders and students may be face-to-face, online, or both, depending on the needs of the project and as specified in the project description prepared by Project Leaders. Contact time for the project may vary and will be determined by the Project Leaders.
It is expected the student symposium will be a combination of live face-to-face and Zoom presentations. The expectation is that all students will present at the symposium live in person or on Zoom unless they have extenuating circumstances. Students with extenuating circumstances who cannot attend live in person or on Zoom can apply to the Unit Coordinators for special permission to complete a recording.

Other: All students will complete online learning activities and training workshops. For their individual Capstone projects, all students will communicate with their Project Leaders via email/meetings as appropriate to the project.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Readings will be set for each project by the Project Leader.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Apply knowledge and skills to an authentic work-related task in public health
LO2. Write a detailed report or other deliverable that meets the project’s requirements
LO3. Write a succinct and persuasive conference abstract
LO4. Deliver a succinct and persuasive conference presentation
LO5. Work independently and engage in self-directed learning
LO6. Provide support to team members as appropriate.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Incorporation of student feedback is currently in progress for the upcoming semester.

Additional information

More information can be found on Canvas.

Special Consideration

Work, health and safety

There may be specific WHS requirements, depending on the project – these will be specified by the Project Leader.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

This unit of study outline was last modified on 07 Feb 2025.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

PUBH5134: Public Health Capstone

Semester 1, 2025 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Work, health and safety

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect