Public Health

MSc Public Health (Taught)
Mode: full-time

An innovative work based approach centres the programme within your practice and specific areas of interest appropriate to your level of experience and skill. The course is dedicated to creating an effective ‘community of inquiry’ to foster group learning and support.

The course is based on the principles set out in the White Paper in Public Health - that the NHS should improve health and prevent disease, not just provide treatment for those who are ill.

The MSc is a useful introduction to the academic part of the syllabus for the MFPHM Part 1 examination and will position students to work towards the core public health competencies.

The course is offered with three levels of qualification - Certificate, Diploma and Masters.

During the course you will have the opportunity to develop your own special interests and embark on academic research.

Why choose this course?

• The course is offered in a flexible format.
• It enables you to follow your own discipline area.

Career Opportunities

Public Health has become an increasingly significant focus of Government plans, initiating developments at both local, national and international levels within multiple health care settings.

Organisations require practitioners who have the specialist skills and attitudes provided by this course, whether experienced practitioners or graduates seeking a working understanding of Public Health.

Teaching/learning methods and strategies

The programme is varied in terms of the curriculum content as it seeks to deliver a range of academic and practice skills. It follows that a commensurately wide variety of approaches to teaching and learning will be encountered.

In order to achieve its overall purposes, however, a number of core values underpin the teaching and learning strategy.

These include a commitment to personal growth in a culture that stresses equality of opportunity, recognition of you as an adult learner; with reserves of graduate knowledge and enthusiasm, and the integration of intellectual, professional and practical components with a stress on practice which is evidence-based.

Transferable and enterprise skills are promoted and the spirit of lifelong learning offered, engaging you fully in the process of your own learning, both individually and within a group.

All taught modules, whether full or part-time, require an attendance of at least 80% at the University throughout the period of study. This will comprise of:

• Face to Face Study days incorporating a wide range of learning and teaching methods including lectures and presentations, small group work, individual and peer group activity
• Independent study – including individual and group work, peer discussions, use of a reflective diary, use of on-line resources (such as the University's Virtual Learning Environment (Breo), on-line/remote access to the Universities learning resources and other on-line resources

Assessment

The approach to assessment involves the student negotiating an appropriate learning within the broad parameters of each module.

This approach is designed to ensure that each assignment is most meaningful for the student in realising maximum benefit from the programme.

There is a strong emphasis on reflection and integrating theory with practice. Some assignment work is concerned with project planning and reporting as a specific skill in itself.

Dissertation/project and research

The dissertation offers the opportunity to undertake a research project relating to a topic of public health.

Recommended reading

• Douglas J et al (2007) Reader in Promoting Health, Buckingham, Open University Press
• Pencheon D et al (2007) Oxford Handbook of Public Health, Oxford, Oxford University Press

Entry requirements

The minimum requirements for entry to this programme are:

• An Honours degree; or
• A postgraduate qualification; or
• A qualification recognised as equivalent to the above.

Applications may be considered from senior practitioners and managers not in possession of a degree but who have relevant professional qualifications, and the experience and academic ability to benefit from the programme.

You should be working within Public Health, where possible.

International students must have an IELTS score of 6.5 prior to entry to the programme plus a student visa.

Special entry requirements

Technical requirements are:

• Personal computer with Microsoft Windows XP
• Internet Access
• Web Camera
• Video/DVD availability
• Headphones and microphone in order to access the audio email and discussion boards