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Unit outline_

PUBH5610: Public Health Dissertation

Semester 1, 2021 [Supervision] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Students will do an independent research project in an area of interest relevant to public health. The student will work with a supervisor, who will help the student select a topic and then guide the student through the process of conducting a research project. The project may be a systematic review of the literature, analysis of an existing dataset, a quantitative or qualitative research study, a policy analysis or some other project acceptable to the dissertation supervisor.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 12
Prerequisites
? 
None
Corequisites
? 
PUBH5010 AND PUBH5018 AND PUBH5505 AND HPOL5000 AND PUBH5036
Prohibitions
? 
PUBH5611 and PUBH5612
Assumed knowledge
? 

Knowledge gained from the minimum 48 credit points of the Master of Public Health is required to successfully undertake the proposed project. Students must have completed any core unit directly related to their project prior to commencing the research project - this will be determined by the Unit of Study Coordinator at the time Departmental permission is considered

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Tim Driscoll, tim.driscoll@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Tim Driscoll, tim.driscoll@sydney.edu.au
Anita van Zwieten, anita.vanzwieten@sydney.edu.au
Edward Jegasothy, edward.jegasothy@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Research project proposal
Written project proposal
10% Week 03 1,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Dissertation Project proposal
Dissertation
90% Week 14 (STUVAC) 10,000-15,000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Assessment summary

Research project proposal

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

work of an exceptional standard

Distinction

75 - 84

work of a very high standard

Credit

65 - 74

work of a good standard

Pass

50 - 64

work of an acceptable standard

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see guide to grades.

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.

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

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Ongoing Prepare research proposal Project (10 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4
Prepare project report Project (290 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4

Attendance and class requirements

There are no other requirements for this unit.

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 12 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 240-300 hours of student effort in total.

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. Undertake a discrete research project in public health
  • LO2. Work independently and engage in self-direct learning
  • LO3. Communicate effectively with a project supervisor
  • LO4. Apply public health knowledge and research methods to a research project

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
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

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

No changes have been made since this unit was last offered.

Students considering doing this unit should submit an expression of interest, with proposed topic and supervisor, at least one semester prior to enrolment in the unit. This is necessary to enable supervisors to give advice about relevant elective units and, if necessary, to prepare applications for ethics committee approval.

Additional costs

There are no additional costs for this unit.

Site visit guidelines

There are no site visit guidelines for this unit.

Work, health and safety

There are no specific WHS requirements for this unit.

Disclaimer

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

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