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Graduate Catalogue

Section XIII

College of Public Health

Notice: Although our degree programme was recognised by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport in 2003, a subsequent decision (2007) by the Royal Government of Cambodia means that we have had to discontinue admissions to this programme: this is because, inter alia, we are not attached to hospital and its attendant resources. Although we disagree with the manner in which this decision was pushed through, and its underlying rationale, we have no choice in the matter.

The study of public health is important for gaining knowledge about the general health of a population; and how this may vary with, for example, geographical location or socio-economic status. Thus, whilst physicians and clinicians treat individuals, public health professionals take a broader view of society as a whole. They look beyond single patients to see how the environment (including food and water supply, sanitation, occupational hazards and other problems), together with an individual’s behaviour (whether voluntarily or through economic necessity), can create problems through exposure to physical dangers, infection, toxic substances and so on.

It is not enough to accumulate information about threats to human health. This knowledge should be put to good use, by trying to improve the lot of the population through:

The other thrust of the College of Public Health for postgraduiate studies is the development of a Master's program in Social Work. As societies get more complex and complicated, so the pressures on individuals and their families become more varied and less predictable. In Cambodia, the situation is compounded by the country’s recent tumultuous history and its after-effects, including the grossly-skewed distribution of economic resources. The University of Cambodia is establishing an undergraduate and a graduate program in Social Work, to train people in the skills necessary to help improve the lot of those members of the community who, through force of circumstances, have developed interpersonal and other problems.

1. DEGREE OFFERINGS

·       Public Health (MPH)

·       Social Work (MSW)

Note: MPH - Master of Public Health; MSW – Master of Social Work

2. ADMISSION AND DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Writing Samples

Along with the application materials, students wishing to enter a Master’s degree program in the College of Public Health are expected to submit a writing sample.

Language Requirements

Students in the Master’s degree program are required to take a written examination to demonstrate comprehension in one foreign language. To pass the examination, they must be able to read and adequately comprehend research materials in their field of study at a reasonable speed. For Cambodian students, English is considered a foreign language.

No limit is placed on the number of times students may take the examination. However, it must be passed before students begin preparing for either their thesis or the Comprehensive Exam. The foreign language exam does not contribute to the credit-requirements of a degree.

Course Requirements

All Master’s degree students in the College of Public Health must take at least 54 credit hours which includes:

Exams

Each of the foundation, core and formal elective courses is followed by an exam on that course.

After submitting their theses, students must take a Final Exam, when they have to defend it. This exam covers the subject of the thesis as well as related areas within the chosen field of study. Students failing the exam may repeat it only once upon petition approved by the Coordinator of the College of Public Health. Students who fail the Final Exam a second time are dropped from the program and lose their status as registered graduate students.

3. PUBLIC HEALTH

Whilst health education features in the University of Cambodia's Master's program on Public Health, the main emphasis is on the collection, analysis and interpretation of data related to health issues; as well as downstream application of the results in establishing both a viable, accessible health-care delivery system and a useful framework of guidelines, rules and regulations to help safeguard the community's health.

MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Academic Background

Applicants are required to have a good Bachelor's degree in Medicine, Public Health or a related field from a reputable university.

If they do not meet these minimum requirements, then they will be expected to obtain a Certificate in Public Health Education by attending, and passing with a minimum of a grade B in each case, selected relevant background 'fill-in' courses (although exemptions may be granted, based on an assessment of the applicant's undergraduate record). These 'transitional' courses, whose credit hours cannot be counted towards the minimum of 54 required for a Master's, are:

Course Requirements

Students must take at least 54 credit hours which includes:

Instead of one of the electives, a candidate can either select to do the Grant Proposal option (GRP601), towards the end of the period of study; or else do Capstone Field Experience (PHE690). PHE690 is a paid or volunteer practical experience course; it can be waived if students have at least two years of professional experiences in medical and/or health fields, and the 3 credit hours counted towards the 54 credit hours minimum set by the University. The topic chosen for GRP601, the work done for PHE690, and the topic of the Research Proposal and Thesis (RPT601-604) must be in different fields, with no overlap.

Foundation Courses (3 credits each)

PHE501 (= FDN501): Research Methodology

PHE502 (= FDN502): Statistics for Research

PHE503 (= FDN503): Research Paper Writing

Core Courses (3 credits each)

PHE504: Principles of Epidemiology

PHE505: Environmental and Occupational Health

PHE506: Nutritional Health

PHE507: Family Health

PHE508: Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control

Elective Courses (3 credits each; choose at least six courses)

PHE601: Epidemiology of Major Chronic and Infectious Diseases

PHE602: Research Methods in Epidemiology

PHE603: Design and Implementation of Reproductive Health Programs

PHE604: Child Development and Public Health

PHE605: Nutritional Problems in Developing Countries (PUB627 [Poverty and Health] or SOC507 [Sociology of Poverty] may be read instead)

PHE606: Nutrition Assessments of Individuals and Community Nutrition

PHE607: Community Development and Public Health (PUB622 [Health Issues in Cambodia: Selected Topics] or PUB623 [Economics of Health] may be read instead)

PHE608: Rural Health, Traditional Medicine and Drug Discovery

PHE609: Epidemiology of Psychiatric Diseases

PHE610: Health Psychology, Stress and Adaptation

PHE611: Organisation and Management of Health-Care Systems (BUS615 [Organisational Behaviour], EAD614 [Principles of Management], PUB624 [Health Care Organizations and Administration] or PUB625 [Financial Management of Health Institutions] may be read instead)

PHE612: Information Systems in Health Care Management (ITE511 [Management Information Systems] may be read instead)

PUB626: Gender Issues in Health

Capstone Experience (3 Credits)

PHE696: Capstone Experience (Supervised Field Experience)

Research Proposal and Thesis (12 credits minimum)

PHE691 (= RPT601): Proposal Writing (3 credits)

PHE692-4 (= RPT602-4): Thesis Research and Writing (3 credits each)

4. SOCIAL WORK

The Social Work program focuses on providing students with essential skills in becoming generalist social work practitioners in Cambodia. Our program revolves around the paradigm of the “person-in-environment”, which allows students to work effectively with individuals, families, small groups, organizations, and communities in Cambodia. Thus, the key objective of social work is to assist these social units in dealing with interpersonal relationships, solving problems, and coping with their world and other social environments.

MASTER’S DEGREE REQUIREMENTS

Students must complete a minimum of 54 credit hours which includes:

Foundation Courses (3 credits each):

SWK501 (= FDN501): Research Methodology

SWK502 (= FDN502): Statistics for Research

SWK503 (= FDN503): Research Paper Writing

Core Courses (3 credits each; choose at least eleven courses)

SWK505: History and Philosophy of Social Work and Social Welfare

SWK506: Social Work Practice with Families and Groups

SWK507: Social Work with the Community

SWK508: Foundations of Social Work Practice

SWK509: Contemporary Social Policy

SWK510: Groups, Organizations, and Communities in the Social Environment

SWK511: Understanding Social Change - Issues of Race and Gender

SWK512: Advanced Social Work Practice I

SWK513: Advanced Social Work Practice II

SWK514: Advanced Macro Social Work Practice I

SWK515: Advanced Macro Social Work Practice II

SWK516-518: Independent Study

PHE609: Epidemiology of Psychiatric Diseases

PHE610: Health Psychology, Stress and Adaptation

SOC507: Sociology of Poverty (PUB627 [Poverty and Health] may be read instead)

Research Proposal and Thesis (12 credits minimum)

SWK691 (= RPT601): Proposal Writing (3 credits)

SWK692-4 (= RPT602-4): Thesis Research and Writing (3 credits each)

 

DISCLAIMER:

THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBODIA RESERVES THE RIGHT TO MAKE CHANGES TO THESE CATALOGS AS IT SEES FIT, SO THAT WE HAVE THE NECESSARY FLEXIBILITY IN AN EVER-EVOLVING WORLD.

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Last modifiedMay 1, 2007 14:48

© University of Cambodia, 2007