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About the course
Investigate population health with particular attention to environmental conditions, inequalities and the organisation of public-health responses. The proposed MPH outline uses Southern African settings to connect epidemiological evidence with programme decisions. Your research should address a clearly defined population problem and distinguish association, causal explanation and practical recommendations.
What you'll learn
- Critically interpret epidemiological and environmental-health evidence.
- Select quantitative or qualitative methods suited to a population-health question.
- Evaluate a public-health intervention using explicit criteria.
- Produce an ethical, defensible research report with actionable conclusions.
Requirements
- Recommended preparation is a relevant recognised undergraduate qualification and readiness for academic reading, applied analysis and independent study. A masters route also requires adequate research preparation and an appropriate supervisor. BMIT must confirm admission equivalence, bridging requirements and its approved research and assessment regulations.
Course content
Sections: 4
•Activities: 1
•Resources: 11
Subjects in this programme
The subjects are grouped by learning stage, from foundations to specialist study and supervised application. Complete earlier foundations before the related advanced work. Clinical, laboratory, field and workplace subjects use approved facilities and supervision appropriate to the programme.
11 subjects are listed below, with a short description of each. The Subject descriptions tab contains the learning outcomes, topics, practical tasks and assessments.
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
- Public Health Foundations. Examine population health, social determinants and their relationship within public health foundations. The subject develops prevention and primary care, then examines health systems and equity. Analyse a regional population-health problem using approved public evidence.
- Advanced Epidemiology. Develop your understanding of advanced epidemiology through causal frameworks and multivariable analysis. The subject develops effect modification and longitudinal evidence, then examines surveillance evaluation and uncertainty. Critically evaluate a population study and compare analytical approaches.
- Applied Statistics. Study descriptive measures and probability as foundations for applied statistics. The subject develops sampling and estimation, then examines hypothesis testing and regression. Analyse an approved dataset and distinguish uncertainty from systematic bias.
- Environmental Toxicology. Examine exposure, dose-response concepts and their relationship within environmental toxicology. The subject develops susceptibility and toxic mechanisms, then examines risk interpretation and prevention. Interpret published teaching evidence about an environmental exposure.
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
- Health Promotion. Develop your understanding of health promotion through health behaviour and communication. The subject develops community priorities and intervention design, then examines participation and evaluation. Develop a health-promotion activity with appropriate permission and review.
- Pollution Monitoring and Control. Study sources and exposure pathways as foundations for pollution monitoring and control. The subject develops air pollution and water pollution, then examines soil contamination and prevention. Review a permissioned monitoring dataset and compare preventive responses.
- Programme Monitoring and Evaluation. Examine programme logic, indicators and their relationship within programme monitoring and evaluation. The subject develops routine information and process evaluation, then examines outcome evaluation and learning use. Build an evaluation framework for a public-health teaching programme.
- Qualitative Health Research. Develop your understanding of qualitative health research through research questions and sampling. The subject develops interviews and observation, then examines thematic analysis and reflexivity. Analyse approved anonymised qualitative material or conduct an ethics-cleared teaching study.
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
- Advanced Research Design. Study research positioning and theoretical frameworks as foundations for advanced research design. The subject develops method comparison and validity, then examines research ethics and feasibility. Defend an advanced study design against plausible alternatives.
- Research Proposal and Protocol. Examine problem significance, literature synthesis and their relationship within research proposal and protocol. The subject develops research questions and protocol development, then examines ethics approval and work plan. Develop a supervised research protocol and defend its feasibility.
- Dissertation Research and Defence. Develop your understanding of dissertation research and defence through data stewardship and analysis. The subject develops interpretation and research contribution, then examines limitations and scholarly communication. Complete approved research under supervision and retain reproducible evidence.
Assessment and practical learning
- Proposed assessment: critical literature reviews, analytical assignments and seminars which defend the choice of methods and evidence.
- An applied project or research proposal addressing a defined Southern African institutional or community problem.
- An independently assessed report or dissertation with an oral presentation, according to an approved BMIT route and assessment policy.
Practical application
Projects require a suitable academic supervisor and prior ethics review where people, personal information or sensitive communities are involved. Environmental fieldwork needs approved sampling and safety arrangements. The degree is a public-health research and practice proposal, not a licence for clinical diagnosis or treatment.
Subject descriptions
Each subject below includes its purpose, learning outcomes, main topics, practical task and assessment approach.
Public Health Foundations
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
Examine population health, social determinants and their relationship within public health foundations. The subject develops prevention and primary care, then examines health systems and equity. Analyse a regional population-health problem using approved public evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain population health and social determinants using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving prevention and primary care.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing health systems and equity.
Main topics
- Population health
- Social determinants
- Prevention
- Primary care
- Health systems
- Equity
Practical task
Analyse a regional population-health problem using approved public evidence.
Assessment
Submit a needs assessment and prevention proposal.
Advanced Epidemiology
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
Develop your understanding of advanced epidemiology through causal frameworks and multivariable analysis. The subject develops effect modification and longitudinal evidence, then examines surveillance evaluation and uncertainty. Critically evaluate a population study and compare analytical approaches.
Learning outcomes
- Explain causal frameworks and multivariable analysis using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving effect modification and longitudinal evidence.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing surveillance evaluation and uncertainty.
Main topics
- Causal frameworks
- Multivariable analysis
- Effect modification
- Longitudinal evidence
- Surveillance evaluation
- Uncertainty
Practical task
Critically evaluate a population study and compare analytical approaches.
Assessment
Submit an epidemiological methods and interpretation report.
Applied Statistics
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
Study descriptive measures and probability as foundations for applied statistics. The subject develops sampling and estimation, then examines hypothesis testing and regression. Analyse an approved dataset and distinguish uncertainty from systematic bias.
Learning outcomes
- Explain descriptive measures and probability using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving sampling and estimation.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing hypothesis testing and regression.
Main topics
- Descriptive measures
- Probability
- Sampling
- Estimation
- Hypothesis testing
- Regression
Practical task
Analyse an approved dataset and distinguish uncertainty from systematic bias.
Assessment
Submit a reproducible analysis with justified methods and interpretation.
Environmental Toxicology
Stage 1: Postgraduate disciplinary study
Examine exposure, dose-response concepts and their relationship within environmental toxicology. The subject develops susceptibility and toxic mechanisms, then examines risk interpretation and prevention. Interpret published teaching evidence about an environmental exposure.
Learning outcomes
- Explain exposure and dose-response concepts using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving susceptibility and toxic mechanisms.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing risk interpretation and prevention.
Main topics
- Exposure
- Dose-response concepts
- Susceptibility
- Toxic mechanisms
- Risk interpretation
- Prevention
Practical task
Interpret published teaching evidence about an environmental exposure.
Assessment
Submit a risk-interpretation report without individual medical advice.
Health Promotion
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
Develop your understanding of health promotion through health behaviour and communication. The subject develops community priorities and intervention design, then examines participation and evaluation. Develop a health-promotion activity with appropriate permission and review.
Learning outcomes
- Explain health behaviour and communication using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving community priorities and intervention design.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing participation and evaluation.
Main topics
- Health behaviour
- Communication
- Community priorities
- Intervention design
- Participation
- Evaluation
Practical task
Develop a health-promotion activity with appropriate permission and review.
Assessment
Submit the activity plan, materials and evaluation approach.
Pollution Monitoring and Control
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
Study sources and exposure pathways as foundations for pollution monitoring and control. The subject develops air pollution and water pollution, then examines soil contamination and prevention. Review a permissioned monitoring dataset and compare preventive responses.
Learning outcomes
- Explain sources and exposure pathways using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving air pollution and water pollution.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing soil contamination and prevention.
Main topics
- Sources
- Exposure pathways
- Air pollution
- Water pollution
- Soil contamination
- Prevention
Practical task
Review a permissioned monitoring dataset and compare preventive responses.
Assessment
Submit a pollution-control appraisal.
Programme Monitoring and Evaluation
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
Examine programme logic, indicators and their relationship within programme monitoring and evaluation. The subject develops routine information and process evaluation, then examines outcome evaluation and learning use. Build an evaluation framework for a public-health teaching programme.
Learning outcomes
- Explain programme logic and indicators using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving routine information and process evaluation.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing outcome evaluation and learning use.
Main topics
- Programme logic
- Indicators
- Routine information
- Process evaluation
- Outcome evaluation
- Learning use
Practical task
Build an evaluation framework for a public-health teaching programme.
Assessment
Submit an indicator matrix and evaluation design.
Qualitative Health Research
Stage 2: Specialist analysis and application
Develop your understanding of qualitative health research through research questions and sampling. The subject develops interviews and observation, then examines thematic analysis and reflexivity. Analyse approved anonymised qualitative material or conduct an ethics-cleared teaching study.
Learning outcomes
- Explain research questions and sampling using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving interviews and observation.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing thematic analysis and reflexivity.
Main topics
- Research questions
- Sampling
- Interviews
- Observation
- Thematic analysis
- Reflexivity
Practical task
Analyse approved anonymised qualitative material or conduct an ethics-cleared teaching study.
Assessment
Submit an analysis with a reflexive methods account.
Advanced Research Design
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
Study research positioning and theoretical frameworks as foundations for advanced research design. The subject develops method comparison and validity, then examines research ethics and feasibility. Defend an advanced study design against plausible alternatives.
Learning outcomes
- Explain research positioning and theoretical frameworks using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving method comparison and validity.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing research ethics and feasibility.
Main topics
- Research positioning
- Theoretical frameworks
- Method comparison
- Validity
- Research ethics
- Feasibility
Practical task
Defend an advanced study design against plausible alternatives.
Assessment
Submit a research protocol and critical methodological defence.
Research Proposal and Protocol
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
Examine problem significance, literature synthesis and their relationship within research proposal and protocol. The subject develops research questions and protocol development, then examines ethics approval and work plan. Develop a supervised research protocol and defend its feasibility.
Learning outcomes
- Explain problem significance and literature synthesis using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving research questions and protocol development.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing ethics approval and work plan.
Main topics
- Problem significance
- Literature synthesis
- Research questions
- Protocol development
- Ethics approval
- Work plan
Practical task
Develop a supervised research protocol and defend its feasibility.
Assessment
Submit the approved proposal and a research seminar presentation.
Dissertation Research and Defence
Stage 3: Supervised research or applied integration
Develop your understanding of dissertation research and defence through data stewardship and analysis. The subject develops interpretation and research contribution, then examines limitations and scholarly communication. Complete approved research under supervision and retain reproducible evidence.
Learning outcomes
- Explain data stewardship and analysis using an appropriate example.
- Analyse a subject-related problem involving interpretation and research contribution.
- Present reasoned evidence addressing limitations and scholarly communication.
Main topics
- Data stewardship
- Analysis
- Interpretation
- Research contribution
- Limitations
- Scholarly communication
Practical task
Complete approved research under supervision and retain reproducible evidence.
Assessment
Submit a dissertation and defend methods, findings and limitations orally.
Instructors
Enrolment options
Master of Public and Environmental Health (MPH)
Course modified date: 13 September 2026
Investigate population health with particular attention to environmental conditions, inequalities and the organisation of public-health responses. The proposed MPH outline uses Southern African settings to connect epidemiological evidence with programme decisions. Your research should address a clearly defined population problem and distinguish association, causal explanation and practical recommendations.
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