Public Health Practice

A minimum of a second class Honours degree (2:1 preferred) or equivalent in any subject. Applicants without these formal qualifications but with significant appropriate/relevant work/life experience are encouraged to apply.

The learning outcomes of this module are:

LO1: Summarise the key theories and principles within public health

L02: Critically reflect on the evidence for the various health outcomes and determinants of health across the lifecourse

LO3: Synthesise and critically apply research evidence to the design of complex public health interventions

LO4: Critically examine different evaluation methods for complex interventions

LO5: Critically appraise the evidence used to develop national and international public health policies and programmes

You will be expected to participate in online discussions/problem solving sessions. Students access electronic learning resources such as podcasts.

Students will be introduced to concepts including, but not limited to, the current physical and mental health burden across various countries, population health vs. public health, the determinants of health and health inequalities, and the design and evaluation of public health interventions.

Indicative content:

• Key principles of public health
• Public health approaches (e.g. epidemiology, surveillance, evaluation etc)
• Physical and mental health and multimorbidity
• Determinants of health; Health across the lifecourse
• Design and evaluation of complex interventions
• Evidence hierarchies and evidence-based public health policy

The module will be delivered using a range of on-line approaches including: pre-recorded lectures, webinars, reading, quizzes, discussion boards, group work, student presentations.

To pass the module you must pass both assessments A1 (short answer exam) and A2 (essay) with at least 50% for each.

Agi McFarland

The module will help you develop an understanding of current public health priorities and areas of work which will be directly applicable to the working environment, either within policy, practice or research settings.

The majority of our students are already working in health or social care prior to commencement and remain employed throughout the duration of their studies.

Our students develop a wide range of transferable skills during their study that make them attractive to other employers e.g.

• team working;
• IT skills;
• literature searching;
• critical appraisal;
• presentation skills;
• writing and data analysis.