MSc Public Health

Course structure

Full-time – 18 months (four modules a semester plus dissertation)
Part-time – typically three years (two modules a semester plus dissertation). Part-time students attend four hours a week on campus during the day.
Starts September

Typical modules may include

Course design

Each of the modules is an independent module of study and can be taken alone. The core modules do, however, have a number of themes developed across them. These include
• tackling inequalities in health
• the relationship between policy, evidence and public health practice
• local, national and international perspectives in health

Core modules

Health promotion principles, policy and practice
You critically analyse public health and health promotion theory in relation to practice. This helps you to develop as a reflective practitioner and to address the wider public health issues in a social and political context.

Health, culture and public health development work
You explore, from an anthropological perspective, how public health development work can be effectively sustained in a culturally diverse world and seek to answer the key questions • what is culture? • why is culture important for public health? • how can public health development work be effective?

Public health evidence: synthesis and analysis
You explore various theoretical and practical approaches to social research in public health and examine ethical issues, processes and practices in public health. You also explore the nature and value of different sources and the implications for policy development.

Foundation of epidemiology
You develop an understanding of the principles behind obtaining high quality data, devise appropriate schemes for the collection of raw data and analyse primary and secondary data using appropriate software.

Inequality, health and poverty
You examine the social model of health and health inequalities from a range of social science perspectives. You explore • individual • social • economic and political factors in relation to health, illness and health inequalities.

Public health research
You develop skills to read, interpret and assess good quality scientific research underpinning public health policy and practice

Infectious diseases and LTCs
This module introduces you to public health strategy, policy and practice in relation to the control and management of infectious disease and long term conditions and explores knowledge and expertise relevant to responding to these public health challenges.

Dissertation
You conduct an independent study using and drawing from what you have learned on the course as applied to a public health topic of your choice. For overseas students it may be possible to undertake this work in their own county.

Options

Choose two from

Public health nutrition
You examine government approaches to addressing public health issues relating to food, diet and introduce physical activity. You explore sociological and psychological theories and perspectives underpinning public health practice in this area.

Sexualities, health and inequalities
You examine sexualities from a social science, health and education perspective and how these shape frameworks for practice and policy development for practitioners and their clients.

Public health practice
This is a work-based module in which you critically explore aspects of public health practice within your workplace.