Masters Degrees (Public Health)

Course Overview

​This programme focuses on the application of the key principles of multidisciplinary public health practice to the breadth of 21st Century public health challenges. Our aim is to develop reflective public health practitioners capable of designing, implementing and evaluating community-focussed public health interventions – in Wales, the UK and internationally.

In this programme we will challenge your preconceptions and practice, developing your knowledge, skills and competences, helping you develop as a reflective public health practitioner. We place a strong emphasis on your own area of practice, and encourage you to base your studies on the issues and situations you face in your own field.

The programme has been designed to meet the needs of a wide range of public health practitioners, professionals, community workers and volunteers working to achieve improvements in the wider determinants of health. Our objective is to support you in further developing your public health knowledge and skills in order to improve your current and future practice, and enhance your career options.

The programme is aimed at anyone with an interest in improving the full range of social, economic and environmental determinants of health: for example, people working in education, health promotion, housing, transport, leisure, environmental health, community development, health & wellbeing partnerships, planning, social services, school nursing, and health visiting (not an exhaustive list!). We welcome applicants from all sectors: public, private and the voluntary & independent sector. The programme retains an international focus, addressing public health issues faced around the world, as well as in Wales and the UK.

See the website https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/health/courses/Pages/Applied-Public-Health---MSc.aspx

​Course Content​​

The course is designed as a Masters programme but it has exit points at both postgraduate certificate & diploma level. Reflective practice is integrated into the programme: we’ll encourage you to reflect upon your learning as you progress, culminating in an assessed reflective statement demonstrating the integration and development of your learning and practice through the course of your studies. The dissertation also incorporates a reflective practice element. The programme is available on a part-time and full-time basis; you can also apply to study individual modules on a CPD basis.

For the Postgraduate Certificate, you’ll complete the following modules:
- Assessing Health, Wellbeing & Inequity (20 cred​its): Assess, evaluate and communicate information about the health and wellbeing of populations & communities

- Health Risk Perception & Communication (10 credits): Appraise the sociocultural, emotional and psychological factors that influence responses to threats to population health and wellbeing

- Public Health Policy Development (10 credits): Evaluate the political, social and economic framework within which policies influencing health & wellbeing are developed

- Applied Research Methods and Design (20 credits): Develop the qualitative and quantitative research skills necessary to undertake research and evaluate interventions and day-to-day practice.

For the Postgraduate Diploma, you’ll undertake the above modules, plus the following modules:
- Frameworks for Public Health Intervention (30 credits): Explore approaches to intervention for the protection and improvement of health and wellbeing, and integrate learning from across the programme in the development a coherent multidisciplinary intervention on an identified public health issue.

- Health Protection (20 credits): Assess, prevent and manage risks to health arising from the general environment, communicable disease and environmental health hazards.

- Reflective Public Health Practice (10 credits): Reflect on your learning, practice and experiences in order to evidence the development of your professional public health practice.

To obtain the MSc, you will also complete a Dissertation (60 credits): Design, plan and undertake a piece of independent applied research, and present the findings.

Learning & Teaching​

- ​Course Delivery
Attendance for taught modules is usually one evening per week (part time) or two evenings per week (full time). SHS7000 Applied Research Methods & Design is currently delivered as a blended learning module over four contact days, two days in the autumn term (October) and two further days in the spring term (February), supported by e-learning materials and activities. The APH7008 Health Protection module follows a similar approach, being taught via three 2-day short courses spread through the academic year (November, February, April), plus an assessment day in May.
During your dissertation studies, you will attend research project workshops and be allocated individual supervision time. These usually begin in March (of the 2nd year of study for part-time students).

- Learning & Teaching Activities
The teaching and learning strategy for the programme places a strong emphasis on application of theoretical frameworks to real problems and situations, and allows for substantial student input and discussion. During the programme you will engage with a variety of learning & teaching activities, including:

- Lectures
Lectures will be used to provide you with a framework of ideas and theory, into which you can fit material obtained from independent study and tutorials. Whilst lectures are seen as opportunities for imparting key information they are also intended to be interactive, and debate is encouraged.

- Seminars
These will provide you with the opportunity to discuss problems related to specific subjects. Group seminars will enable you to share experiences and discuss, analyse and evaluate possible solutions.

- Workshops
Tasks will be set requiring you to work together to develop problem solving strategies and to analyse issues.

- Student Symposia
Learning activities led by students will form part of the programme. You will be required to develop and present short papers and facilitate discussion relating to specific issues.

- Case Studies
These sessions will present a case for discussion based on previous events, and you’ll be expected to analyse the situation and suggest appropriate public health interventions in response. These studies will be aimed at improving your skills with respect to the analysis of problems and the synthesis and evaluation of solutions.
Preparation for such a case study may include the following:
- Presentation of available data and information about the case.
- Group discussions, tutorial and individual learning to enable you to identify the problem and synthesise possible solutions.
- Discussions and lectures with relevant professionals to understand the rationale behind the adoption of specific solutions.
- Debriefing by way of tutorials and seminars.

- Contact Time and Self-Directed Learning
The direct contact time between student and tutor varies from module to module. Generally, unless otherwise stated on the module guide, 10 credit modules will include up to 18 hours contact time and 20 credit modules will include up to 36 hours contact time. An exception to the above is APH7010 Frameworks for Public Health Intervention, which includes student-led group work supported by keynote lectures.

In addition to direct contact time you are generally expected to undertake a further 3-4 hours of self-directed learning for every 1 hour of contact time.

- Introduction to Academic Skills
Included within the introduction to the programme is an introduction to the academic skills needed to study at Masters level. This includes the provision of specific e-learning material, a formative assignment and access to a Personal Tutor.

- Moodle
You can access programme material both on and off campus via Moodle, the University’s virtual learning environment. This includes access to lecture presentations, recommended and required reading, group forums, e-portfolios and a range of other learning and teaching resources specific to the modules and programme.

- Personal Tutors & Professional Development
In addition to a general open door policy, we encourage you to meet with the Programme Director and tutors regularly throughout the programme to discuss feedback on assignments and the development of academic skills.
You’ll be an allocated a Personal Tutor at the beginning of the programme, who you can work with to develop your academic skills and consider how you can integrate your learning experiences with your own professional development needs and aspirations. Your aspirations for professional development will be discussed during the induction to the programme. Support and guidance will then be tailored throughout the programme to ensure that you are best able to fulfil your chosen professional development needs.

Assessment

To reflect the applied nature of study, the programme contains no unseen written examinations. Instead, teaching and assessment will focus on case studies, exercises & scenarios reflecting contemporary issues in public health practice, often located within your own professional experience and environment. Examples of assessment tasks include: reports, essays, briefings, oral presentations, group work, observed practice scenarios, online tests and posters.

Throughout the programme, the assessment tasks we set will encourage you to select specific topics of study that are relevant to your interests and practice. For example, in the Assessing Health, Wellbeing and Inequity module, you will be asked to assess and evaluate the health and wellbeing of a specified population (in general or focussed on a specific issue/range of issues). You’ll be free to select a population and issue of professional and/or personal interest to you.

Employability & Careers​

The promotion, protection and improvement of public health are key objectives for the Welsh Government, UK Government and at an international level, as exemplified by the WHO Commission on the Social Determinants of Health.

Our programme is closely mapped to Levels 6 & 7 of the Public Health Skills & Knowledge Framework - the recognised competence framework for public health at all levels in the UK. The programme provides the underpinning knowledge to enable you to pursue UK Public Health Practitioner registration (which requires completion of an assessed portfolio through a recognised development scheme, such as that operated by Public Health Wales – see http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/888/page/49062 for details). We are also working on a project with Public Health Wales to develop and pilot a scheme to enable recognition of Advanced Practice (Public Health), supported by work-based learning.

If you'd like to find out more about career development opportunities in public health, we strongly recommend the PHORCAST website - http://www.phorcast.org.uk/.

Graduates from the programme have progressed to advanced positions in their chosen specialist career areas. Examples of roles our graduates have attained include:
- Project lead for Safeguarding, Public Health Wales
- Director of Business Performance for a large UK voluntary organisation
- Senior Project Co-ordinator, mental health charity
- Public Health Fellow (American India Association) and Project Manager, Tata Steel Rural Development Society
- Senior Public Health Practitioner, Public Health Wales
- Community Health Advocate
- Environmental Health Team Leader, Welsh local authority
- Program Manager, Maternal and Child Health, Pakistan non-profit organisation
- Data and Information Officer, research funding organisation
- Project Co-ordinator, community regeneration charity
- Lecturer in Health, Wellbeing and Sport, Welsh university
- Service Improvement/Change Manager at NHS Wales

Graduates have also progressed to further study on research degrees leading to MPhil and PhD qualifications.

The programme team are currently investigating opportunities for accrediting the programme with the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (http://www.iuhpe.org) and the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (http://www.aphea.net/). We will provide further updates on this process as it progresses.

Find information on Scholarships here https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/scholarships

Find out how to apply here https://www.cardiffmet.ac.uk/howtoapply

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Visit our website for more information on fees, scholarships, postgraduate loans and other funding options to study Public Health and Health Promotion at Swansea University - 'Welsh University of the Year 2017' (Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2017).

The Public Health and Health Promotion course aims to:

• enable students to gain theoretical knowledge in relation to public health and health promotion, research and practice insight

• completion to MSc level further enables the student to complete a primary research study of relevance to public health and health promotion

The Public Health and Health Promotion course is mapped to the National Occupational Standards, Public Health Career Framework and contributes to attainment of practitioner and/ or specialist public health status (UKPHR).

Key Features of Public Health and Health Promotion

Teaching and Employability:

- students will be able to critically evaluate theoretical and philosophical perspectives underpinning public health and health promotion

- develop students’ research knowledge and skills in research methods, utilising evidence and disseminating research findings to inform public health and health promotion practice

- a unique advantage of the programme is its application to practice and the inclusion of practice observation

The Public Health and Health Promotion course focuses on public health and health promotion and is both research-led and practice driven.

The Public Health and Health Promotion course develops students’ skills to provide students with relevant health information and the skills necessary to achieve change and to influence health policy at all levels.

The Public Health and Health Promotion programme covers historical background, current developments and future direction potentials of relevance in health and innovation in public health and health promotion practice.

A particular strength of the Public Health and Health Promotion course is the short observation placement module, enabling students to experience an area of practice interest as part of their development.

Students on the Public Health and Health Promotion course also undertake a primary research study as a requirement for completion to MSc qualification.

Modules

Modules on the Public Health and Health Promotion course typically include:

Developing Programmes and Evaluation

Health Protection

Foundations in Health Promotion

Foundations in Research

Public Health Practice

Public Health Evidence and Epidemiology

Management and Leadership for Public Health Practice

Public Health Ethics

Public Health and Health Promotion Course Structure

Full-time Public Health and Health Promotion students will study two days a week (Wednesdays and Fridays) from October to April and dissertations submitted in September of the same year. Part-time Public Health and Health Promotion students will study one day a week (Wednesdays in the first year, Fridays in the second year) over two years, and dissertations are submitted in September of the third year. All modules are core and therefore required to be successfully passed, there are no optional modules available in the Public Health and Health Promotion programme.

Staff Expertise

Public Health and Health Promotion staff members delivering these different modules and significant contributors and are considered expert in their fields. They include:

Senior Lecturer Rachel Hopkins

Professor Jane Thomas

Dr Gill Spedding

Professor Deb Fitzsimmons

Senior Lecturer Tony Duffy

Dr Pete King

Lecturer Ruth Hopkins

Dr Stephanie Best

Dr Alison Hann

Professor Joy Merrell

Postgraduate Community

The College of Human and Health Sciences has a vibrant postgraduate community with students drawn from a variety of backgrounds and nationalities. The College is known for its friendly, welcoming and supportive environment, which combined with its extensive facilities, state-of-the-art technology and superb beachside location, helps to ensure that students benefit from an exceptional student experience.

In addition, students have access to a wide range of excellent facilities and equipment for realistic workplace experiences.

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This stream provides the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the health of populations across high-, middle- and low-income settings. The emphasis is on the use, development and critical evaluation of conceptual models; evidence and methods of analysis; and on practical, effective interventions.

Graduates from this stream work in health care, health policy and public health organisations at local, national and international level in service and academic public health roles.

If your main interest is public health in low-income countries please refer to the MSc Public Health for Development.

Duration: one year full time; part-time or split-study over two years. Modes of study explained.

- Full programme specification (pdf) (http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/ph_ph_progspec.pdf)

This course is accredited by the Agency for Accreditation of Public Health Education in the European Region (APHEA) which is the accreditation body of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER).

Visit the website http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/msphph.html

An additional requirement for the MSc Public Health (all streams) is some evidence of ability in mathematics, post-16 year education. Preference will also be given to applicants with relevant work experience.

Any student who does not meet the minimum entry requirement above but who has relevant professional experience may still be eligible for admission. Qualifications and experience will be assessed from the application.

Objectives

By the end of this stream students should be able to demonstrate ability to apply knowledge of the core disciplines of public health, consisting of statistics; epidemiology; health economics; and social research, to real health problems. In addition, they should be able to:

- critically assess key public health functions

- demonstrate knowledge and skills in a range of topics related to public health

- formulate, implement and evaluate appropriate policy responses to public health problems

- show competence in critically evaluating and communicating research evidence

Structure

Term 1:
Students complete the Public Health common core, consisting of four compulsory modules:

Basic Statistics for Public Health & Policy
Basic Epidemiology
Introduction for Health Economics
Principles of Social Research

In addition, students intending to follow this stream must take Issues in Public Health. The remaining module can be selected from:

Environment, Health & Sustainable Development
Health Promotion Theory
Health Policy, Process & Power
Health Services

Terms 2 and 3:
Students take a total of five study modules, one from each timetable slot (Slot 1, Slot 2 etc.). The list below shows recommended modules. There are other modules which may be taken only after consultation with the Course Directors.

- Slot 1:
Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
Economic Evaluation
Health Care Evaluation
Health Promotion Approaches and Methods
Research Design & Analysis
Study Design: Writing a Study Proposal

- Slot 2:
Conflict and Health
Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies
Health Systems
History & Health
Qualitative Methodologies
Statistical Methods in Epidemiology

- Slot 3:
Applied Communicable Disease Control
Economic Analysis for Health Policy
Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases
Medical Anthropology and Public Health
Organisational Management

- Slot 4:
Analytical Models for Decision Making
Design & Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes
Environmental Epidemiology
Epidemiology & Control of Communicable Diseases
Ethics, Public Health & Human Rights
Evaluation of Public Health Interventions
Globalisation & Health
Nutrition Related Chronic Diseases
Reviewing the Literature

- Slot 5:
Principles and Practice of Public Health (compulsory)

By arrangement, students may be able to substitute specified Distance Learning modules for up to two modules in certain timetable slots. Any such substitutions will need to be discussed with the Course Directors. Full details are contained in the MSc Course Handbook.

Further details for the course modules - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section2_coursedescriptions/tphe_6.html

Project Report:
Students prepare a project report during the summer months (July - August), for submission by early September.

Intercalating this course

Undergraduate medical students can take a year out either to pursue related studies or work. The School welcomes applications from medical students wishing to intercalate after their third year of study from any recognised university in the world.

Why intercalate with us?:
Reputation: The School has an outstanding international reputation in public health & tropical medicine and is at the forefront of global health research. It is highly rated in a number of world rankings including:

- World’s leading research-focused graduate school (Times Higher Education World Rankings, 2013)
- Third in the world for social science and public health (US News Best Global Universities Ranking, 2014)
- Second in UK for research impact (Research Exercise Framework 2014)
- Top in Europe for impact (Leiden Ranking, 2015)

Highly recognised qualification: possessing a Master's from the School will give you a focused understanding of health and disease, broaden your career prospects and allow you to be immersed in research in a field of your choice.

Valuable skills: you will undertake an independent research project (summer project) in your chosen topic, equipping you with research skills that will distinguish you in a clinical environment. While your medical qualification will give you a breadth of knowledge; undertaking an intercalated degree will allow you to explore your main area of interest in greater depth.

Alumni network: the School has a strong international and diverse alumni community, with more than 20,000 alumni in over 180 countries.

MSc vs. BSc: undertaking an MSc is an excellent opportunity to develop in-depth specialist knowledge in your chosen topic and enhance your skills in scientific research. Postgraduate qualifications are increasingly sought after by clinicians and possessing a Masters qualification can assist you in your future career progression.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/msphph.html#sixth

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When you join this MSc course you will join a supportive and nurturing ‘community of inquiry’.

Along with your peers you will develop a critical awareness of how research processes can be applied to the study of public health, an insight into the global drivers behind health system reform, and an appreciation of policy development and implementation in developed and developing nations.

This course is for you if you seek a career in public health. There are a range of career opportunities within public health, including public health analyst, public health programme manager and public health specialist. The course can also act as a platform for postgraduate research (MPhil/PhD) study in public health and provides you with sufficient grounding for the UK Faculty of Public Health Part I examination. Upon completion of this course, all students become eligible to apply for fellow membership of the UK Royal Society for Public Health.

Intermediate qualifications available:

• Postgraduate certificate – 60 credits at Masters level
• Postgraduate diploma – 120 credits at Masters level

Visit the website: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/courses/postgraduate/next-year/public-health2#about

Course detail

• Study the principles of public health that are relevant to students from around the world, and boost your practical, critical and theoretical skills
• Explore your potential on a course that commences with two foundation units before moving onto specialist units that enable you to explore contemporary issues relating to public health policy. A final unit enables you to undertake a research project
• Develop an understanding of issues in public health principles and practice from local, national and international perspectives
• Gain an insight into the global drivers of reform in health systems and their potential impacts on future public health policy
• Benefit from a course that uses case-studies from around the world, and is based on the principle that medical professionals should improve health and prevent disease, not just provide treatment for those who are ill.

Modules

• Epidemiology in Public Health
• Ethical and Legal Issues in Healthcare
• Health and Social Care Inequalities
• Healthcare Commissioning
• Principles, Policies and Issues in Public Health
• Public Health Intelligence
• Public Health Protection
• Public Health Research Methods
• Research Project – Dissertation

Format

Teaching for each of the eight core unit is based on a series of weekly lectures and workshops. Between lectures, your learning will be underpinned by the University’s Virtual Learning Environment (BREO) which is used to provide access to additional guided learning materials and e-learning resources. After you have completed the eight core units, the dissertation unit will provide an opportunity to develop your public health research skills.

Assessment

Each unit is designed to develop your public health skills in ways which are directly relevant to the workplace. This is designed to help you in identifying, reflecting on and meeting your own learning needs.

In order to assist your future professional and career development, each assignment will require you to identify and develop a competency from the UK Faculty of Public Health framework which forms the basis of your learning and underpins your assessment. As you undertake each unit, you will be given the opportunity to develop your skills in a range of public health techniques via the assessments
.
• Formal examination (8%)
• Course work, essays (57%)
• Presentation, posters (2%)
• Dissertation (33%)

Careers

Students completing the programme will have the skills and the knowledge to enter any field of public health practice. Throughout the course the teaching, learning and assessment methods are designed to encourage you to make strong connections between your studies and your future public health practice. Case studies, healthcare datasets and exemplars from practice help you to develop and practise a broad range of skills.

Throughout the course the teaching staff will share examples from their own professional practice and/or research activity and external speakers such as public health leaders, practitioners, policy makers, researchers are invited to share their expertise.

Opportunities for shared learning with other students on the MSc in Public Health offer insights into current healthcare practices in the UK and internationally, and opportunities for peer discussion and debate.

The course can also act as a platform for postgraduate research (MPhil/PhD) study in public health.

Funding

For information on available funding, please follow the link: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/money/scholarships/pg

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow the link: https://www.beds.ac.uk/howtoapply/course/applicationform

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Are you keen to improve public health and develop the knowledge required to reflect on current concerns and practice issues within this field?

Popular with both UK-based and international students, the Master of Public Health course has been specifically designed for those who wish to develop their career within public health, in addition to those looking to promote the health of the public as part of their current professional role.Health -Science

Upon successful graduation you will possess in-depth research and enquiry skills, and a critical understanding of their application in a public health employment context.

The practical application of these academic skills will equip you with the knowledge and approaches necessary to implement a broad range of interventions to improve public health outcomes in different employment contexts. For example, dealing with pandemic flu epidemics, increasing accessibility to health care services, reducing obesity or malaria rates and community development to enable disadvantaged communities.

This course is delivered on a full time basis, across a period of 12 or 18 months.

Learn From The Best

This course is taught by a team of experienced lecturers with a practice background in public health or education. We boast close links with local directors, commissioners and practitioners of public health, some of whom are employed as part of our teaching team to provide you with access to professionals that are actively working within public health.

All of our teaching staff possess the accreditations and academic qualifications required to teach, in addition to professional registrations with the Nursing and Midwifery Council or Health Care Professionals Council.

We also welcome external visiting speakers from a variety of public health contexts to contribute to lectures, enabling you learn about the current issues that are defining the public health sector.

Our team have extensive experience of working with both UK and international students and will provide ongoing guidance to support you throughout every step of this course.

Teaching And Assessment

This course will provide you with the opportunity to explore and develop your skills and knowledge of leadership, engagement and collaborative working, public health intelligence and epidemiology, public health fundamentals and research.

Teaching will be delivered via a mix of lectures and seminars, which will be supported by case studies, enquiry-based learning exercises, skills development sessions and independent study.

This course will be assessed through written work, group presentations, essays and academic posters.

You will also produce an in-depth dissertation project around a subject area of your choice. Undertaken under the supervision of a dedicated supervisor, this project will form the final stage of the assessment process.

Modules Overview

AC0778 - Research: Approaches, Methods and skills (Core, 30 Credits)
AC0780 - Leadership and Collaborative Working in Public Health and Healthcare (Core, 30 Credits)
AC0782 - Public Health Fundamentals: Concepts, Theories and Frameworks (Core, 30 Credits)
AC0783 - Public Health Intelligence and Epidemiology (Core, 30 Credits)
PP0723 - Project Feasibility Study Dissertation (NotDefined, 60 Credits)
PP0727 - Empirical Project (NotDefined, 60 Credits)
PP0728 - Practice Project (NotDefined, 60 Credits)
PP0729 - Systematic Appraisal (NotDefined, 60 Credits)

Learning Environment

This course is based at our Coach Lane campus and our facilities are some of the most advanced in the country and allow us to ensure your learning evolves in-line with the latest developments in the industry.

Technology is embedded throughout all aspects of your degree and you will receive ongoing support through our innovative e-learning platform, Blackboard, where you can access module handbooks, assessment information, lecture presentation slides and reading lists. Key lectures will also be recorded to allow you to listen again.

If English is not your first language you will also have access to the English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) programmes to help you develop your English language, academic writing and study skills.

Give Your Career An Edge

The Public Health and Wellbeing department works in partnership with local and national services and organisations to produce independent public health and healthcare professionals who are competent, confident, compassionate and able to meet and exceed the professional, statutory and regulatory body standards required of them.

Our partnership with those actively involved in public health will enable you to interact and network with professionals who are currently working within public health, in addition to allowing you to further understand how the skills taught on this course apply to a real working environment.

The Master of Public Health course provides a good foundation for you to develop a portfolio at the level required for your particular role, if you so wish. For those pursuing the specialty training for registrars / supervisors the learning from the course will inform your portfolio development route (Faculty of Public Health 2015).

This course’s modules have been aligned to reflect the core and defined areas of the UK Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework (2013) and the Faculty of Public Health’s (2015) six domains of public health practice.

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The Bradford MPH is designed for those looking to move into public health, policy or community development at a senior level, and is suitable for candidates from diverse undergraduate study backgrounds and / or professional experience. The programme retrains students into future healthcare leaders who understand health policy, community change, human behaviour change, or health service design.

The Bradford MPH addresses the central practice dilemma for public health today – how to address the challenges of an ageing society suffering from increasing and multiple chronic diseases in a context of standstill or diminishing resources.

The programme develops strategic leaders with a comprehensive, analytical and critical understanding of the wider determinants of population health and well-being. The programme places emphasis on leadership and strategic thinking, developed through comprehensive qualitative and quantitative research, analysis and evaluation.

Graduates will be equipped to address contemporary Public Health challenges such as changing health demographics, health inequalities, problems of access, quality, and continuity of care, and ageing and end of life care. It will help healthcare professionals to find creative policy solutions and implement tailored practice-interventions. Graduates will be change agents identifying ways to address health problems but also to innovate by building on community and health service assets to enhance the quality of life for millions of people in a safe, ethical and cost effective way.

The programme is be tailored to the demographic and epidemiological challenges of contemporary urban societies - the diseases of affluence and ageing, and the marginalized and vulnerable populations produced by these kinds of settings. The focus on infectious disease management and international health, though necessarily addressed in our curriculum, will not receive concentrated focus as it does in so many other MPH programmes in the UK.

MPH students will have access to the new DHEZ Academic Building. This centre, opening in 2017, provides patient services in pathology, optometry, physiotherapy, and community pharmacy. It also houses a health promotion unit specialising in ageing and end of life care issues, and an evaluation and trials unit designed to evaluate new health technologies designed by businesses.
There are also innovative partnerships with primary health/GP providers as well as new mental health promotion programmes (e.g. Recovery Colleges) that students will access either in demonstration events or within actual teaching modules that encourage students to meet with the actual academic researchers and innovators behind these programmes.

The academic team behind the programme include University of Bradford 50th Anniversary Chair Professor Allan Kellehear, and a transdisciplinary development team including the School of Pharmacy and School of Engineering at the University of Bradford.
The programme is offered on a full and part-time to accommodate the needs of professionals working in industry. The programme can be studied over 12 months full time, or two years part time (up to five years by credit accumulation).

Professional Accreditation

The programme has been mapped onto the Faculty of Public Health syllabus for the Part A examinations of the Faculty of Public Health and up to Level 7 of the Public Health Skills and Career Framework (Public Health Resource, 2008.) Specialism is possible through the choice of elective modules and dissertation topic.

Why Bradford?

The Bradford MPH builds on a long history in and an excellent reputation for taught postgraduate training in Public Health at the University of Bradford.

A practical degree with instant international recognition, an MPH is the "MBA" of the health world - one that will add both prestige and practice skills to enhance or change your current career.

The Bradford MPH provides training in public policy, health care practice development, epidemiology, and community development that focusses on skills for change, making it a must-have qualification for those wishing to address the contemporary challenges of public health or undertake research in the public health field.

The programme has been developed by leading academics in the field of public health, and the cross Faculty nature of the programme enables students to benefit from wide ranging transdisciplinary teaching and learning experiences, and have access to a variety of cutting-edge equipment and facilities. The programme will also draw on specialist knowledge from the Bradford Institute of Health Research and Bradford District Metropolitan Council Public Health department.

Modules

Year 1
-Epidemiology & Biostatistics
-Introduction to Public Health
-Communicable Disease Control
-Health Promotion
-Introduction to Health Informatics
-Leadership & Management
-Long Term Conditions
-Quality Assurance and Medicines Control
-Undertaking Systematic Review

Year 2
-Health Needs / Impact Assessment
-Research Methods
-Advanced Epidemiology
-Data Mining
-Health & Society
-Health Promoting Palliative Care
-Management of Pharmaceutical Supply
-Strategy, Policy and Organisations
-Working with Communities to Improve Health

Career support and prospects

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

The MPH adds credibility to any health professionals Curriculum Vitae who wishes to progress in their career in Senior Management/leadership roles in local, national and International public health roles.

The government’s drive towards improving public health has been well documented in The White Paper "Healthy Lives, Healthy People: Our strategy for public health in England" (July 2011). In line with the push towards securing good population health, there is a requirement for healthcare practitioners to be up-to-date with the knowledge and skills required when working within an integrated public health service. This programme will provide an opportunity to gain the academic background for these leadership roles in Public Health.

MPH graduate jobs include: Public Health Specialist; Head of Public Health Intelligence; Health Partnership Programme Manager; Health Promotion Campaign Manager; Epidemiologist; Health Data Analyst; Project Coordinator; Public Health Advisor; Health Protection Specialist; Public Health Screening Coordinator; Vascular Prevention Programme Coordinator; Health Improvement Practitioner; Public Health Specialist: Healthy Living; and Public Health lecturer and/or researcher. Other MPH students may go on to study a PhD at Bradford or other universities. Graduates may also aspire to teaching posts and/or clinical posts

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Public health aims to promote health, prevent disease, reduce inequalities in health, and prolong life. The population perspective of public health ensures that its practitioners are well placed to improve health wherever they are. Our Master of Public Health degree has been offered by the University for 35 years and we are now offering for the first time an online Masters in Public Health beginning in September 2016.

Why this programme

◾The University of Glasgow has provided education in public health since 1839 and has offered a diploma in public health since the early 20th century. The Master of Public Health programme has been offered here continuously since 1981.
◾The Master of Public Health programme will be taught by academics from a wide variety of organisations and disciplines including: Environmental protection, public health medicine, sociology, and health economics.
◾Public health has a central role in guiding health care practice, influencing health policy, protecting the public, and improving population health. If you work or intend to work in an organisation which has public health responsibilities or aims to improve population health then this programme will be suited to you.
◾The programme will be multidisciplinary in focus and it is envisaged will attract students with undergraduate degrees in nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other health related specialisms.
◾During each course, you will interact with your teachers and fellow students each week using online discussion boards. Your teachers will direct and observe the discussion, and respond to student questions about the course content.
◾The Master of Public Health programme will be useful to practitioners of public health and those seeking to enter this field.
◾Public Health at the University was among the earliest academic fields to move towards a multidisciplinary range of programmes involving staff from a number of areas. Current disciplines represented include: Health promotion, health protection, sociology, psychology, epidemiology, statistics, and health economics.
◾Public health practitioners are employed in health services, academia, national and local government, the voluntary sector, as well as in international humanitarian relief.

Programme structure

You will attend interactive lectures, seminars and individual tutorials and take part in project and team work.

Core courses
◾Principles of public health
◾Introduction to Statistical Methods
◾Introduction to epidemiology

Optional courses (one course chosen)
◾Communicable Diseases
◾Further Epidemiology and Statistics
◾Globalisation and public health
◾Health Economics
◾Health Promotion: Principles and Practice
◾Psychosocial Approaches to Public Health
◾Qualitative Research Methods
◾Research Methods

If you are studying for the MPH, you will also undertake a research project of 15,000–20,000 words and your project studies here will incorporate a series of research methods lectures.

Career prospects

The Masters will evidence the start of post graduate study in public health and a commitment to the field of public health. Holders of our campus based Masters in Public Health have been employed in a public health capacity prior to study. Career opportunities for those holding the MPH degree include: lecturer, health development manager, public health advisor, health programme specialists, epidemiologist, medical practitioner positions in public health, clinical university teacher, research positions.

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Overview

Taught by internationally renowned epidemiologists, experts in tobacco control, public health and health protection, the Masters in Public Health provides students with the theoretical knowledge of public health as well as the skills required for public health practice, including skills to manage, initiate, implement and assess changes.

Based in the Division of Epidemiology and Public Health, the School of Community Health Sciences has a strong record of supporting and developing professional careers through our postgraduate taught courses, and in helping our students to acquire the knowledge and skills they need to take up new opportunities in fields related to their previous qualifications.

Who is it suitable for?

The Masters in Public Health is ideal for those who work in public health related fields including health services, local authorities, voluntary sector, health service research, health information, health protection and public health specialty training.

You will gain skills that are highly valued by a range of employers. Our graduates are highly sought after for careers in national health services, government and non-government organisations, academic institutions and industry. Our former students have gone on to work in a range of careers including Directors of Public Health, Consultants in Public Health, Environmental Health, Health improvement, Mental Health and Academic public health.

What skills will you gain?

You will gain skills that are highly valued by a range of employers. Our graduates are highly sought after for careers in national health services, government and non-government organisations, academic institutions and industry. Our former students have gone on to work in a range of careers including Directors of Public Health, Consultants in Public Health, Health improvement and Academic public health.

How it works

The course is modular and can be studied over one year full-time or two years part-time.

The course has three main components, core modules relating to essential public health disciplines; optional modules, allowing you to explore your individual interests; and a dissertation, integrating the knowledge gained throughout the course.

We also offer optional in-depth courses in epidemiology, biostatistics and statistics.

Why else should I choose Nottingham?

With 20 years’ experience of public health education we offer:

- a multidisciplinary education environment
- a flexible structure to allow different pathways through the programme to masters, diploma or certificate level
- opportunities for close collaboration with the National Health Service, local authorities, Health Protection Agency (Public Health England from April 2013), and the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies
- opportunities to study with students from different countries

Be taught by national and international multidisciplinary experts, committed to research and training in investigating the occurrence, causes and prevention of disease in populations.

The Division of Epidemiology and Public Health acts as the hub of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies (UKCTCS), a network of nine universities in the UK. The UKCTCS was established in June 2008 and includes world renowned epidemiologists in tobacco control.

What our students say

“I feel I’ve gained a huge amount from coming to The University of Nottingham. I’ve met people from all over the world who work in public health, I’ve developed my critical thinking skills, I’m completing my dissertation and I just feel overall I’ve developed my confidence and education and knowledge around public health.” Masters in Public Health

In a recent survey of students on the Masters in Public Health as well as the Masters in Public Health (International) and our MSc Applied Epidemiology, 100 % of respondents praised the enthusiasm of the lecturers, whilst 96% said the course was well-organised and that students were actively encouraged to take part in class discussion.

Key facts

- 2013 marks the 20th anniversary of the Masters in Public Health
- Our flexible modular structure allows for different pathways through the course
- We offer a wide range of optional modules
- Our students come from a variety of backgrounds and countries
- We have over 400 graduates working throughout the world
- We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma and Certificate

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Become a leader in public health on this dynamic Masters in Public Health (MPH) programme and make a positive change in the world.

Who is it for?

This course is for professionals from clinical and non-clinical backgrounds who aspire to solve public health problems. Students often want to move into a leadership or management role and find the content – which covers everything from planning evaluation studies to designing a public health programme – comprehensive and relevant.

Objectives

The Masters in Public Health programme will equip you with skills in research methods and theoretical knowledge in public health sciences, which you will need to lead and evaluate public health programmes.

Our approach is non-clinical and informed by evidence-based practice. We explore how public health is mapped and measured, and use case studies to unpick how socio-economic and political forces influence the public health agenda. We also consider the unique ethical issues that arise within public health interventions.

As a School we lead high-quality research and practice that advances public health, paying particular attention to the world's poorest populations. The School offers you the opportunity to interact and learn from the expertise of eminent academic staff, specialising in diverse topics.

Placements

We do not have organised internships or placements as a formal requirement of the programme. We do, however, offer advice on how to secure opportunities and we support you through this experience.

City’s Career Service offers a wide range of support to enhance your employability, including skill-building workshops for resume writing and mock interviews, online job-matching, special events, and alumni networking opportunities, and individual career counselling.

Teaching and learning

You learn through a mix of lectures, class discussions, seminars, presentations, case study analyses, interactive computer-based exercises, a virtual learning environment, guided independent learning and individual supervision.

Lectures are discussion-oriented and there is a lot of group work giving you the opportunity to discuss solutions to problems, or to design a public health programmes drawn from your own experiences. Group presentations also form a significant part of the programme.

In terms of contact hours, for every 15-credit module you study, you will have 30 hours of teaching time and around 120 hours of self-directed/independent study. This means that as a full-time student you will have 3 hours of teaching time and 12 hours of self-directed study for each course each week.

Assessment

You are assessed on a range of areas including your project dissertation, exams, assignments and group work.

Modules

From the basic concepts of epidemiology to the kinds of socio-economic conditions that influence health equality, the programme’s core content gives you a strong foundation in public health theory and research methods.

There are seven core modules and a dissertation. The dissertation gives you an opportunity to design and carry out a major research project in a public health topic of your choice. Many students use the dissertation as an opportunity to apply their learning to a public health issue that is important to them. The full course content represents 180 credits which includes 60 credits for the dissertation. As a part-time student, you will take 30 credits per term and as a full-time student you will take 60 credits per term.

This course will give you a thorough grounding in research methods so you will be able to analyse data and design evidence-based public health programmes. You will also develop a thorough understanding of public health theories – from exploring the socio-political context in which public health is positioned to unpicking the key measures you need to put in place to inform policy, practice and research.

Public Health modules
-Public health (15 credits)
-Epidemiology (15 credits)
-Global health (15 credits)
-Social determinants of health (15 credits)

Research methods modules
-Introduction to research methods and applied data analysis (30 credits)
-Advanced data analysis (15 credits)
-Advanced research methods (15 credits)

Dissertation (60 credits) - Drawing on your research skills and theoretical knowledge developed from the other core modules, you will investigate a particular problem or issue within your specialist area of interest. This will enable you to further develop your abilities in research design, data collection, analysis and critical interpretation.

Career prospects

The Masters in Public Health is an internationally recognised degree. Our graduates work globally in the public and private sectors including international agencies, charities, government, industry and private practice.

From international NGOs to government ministries of health, donor organisations and the NHS, you will graduate with the ability to apply your skills in conducting research, report writing and leading public health programmes. In addition, you will be able to use the strong foundation in public health theory and research methods gained on the course to work within professional bodies and study at doctoral level.

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(Previously known as MSc Public Health in Developing Countries) This course equips students with skills needed to appreciate and analyse the state of public health in low- and middle-income countries and to design and evaluate actions to address public health concerns. We consider public health and the provision of health services from a multidisciplinary perspective.

Students on the MSc Public Health for Development have substantial experience planning or implementing public health programmes, of teaching or public-health-related research, based in a low- or middle-income country and wish to hone their critical professional skills. We complement formal teaching with peer learning that builds on this professional experience and frames knowledge of public health within a development context.

Students develop public health research skills including statistics and epidemiology, and build on these to tailor a course to suit their professional needs. In the summer, students undertake a supervised research project which focuses on a Public Health question in a low- or middle-income country.

- Programme specification (pdf) (http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/phdc_progspec.pdf)

This course is accredited by the Agency for Accreditation of Public Health Education in the European Region (APHEA) which is the accreditation body of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER).

Visit the website http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/msphdc.html

Objectives

By the end of the programme, students will able to:

- articulate a critical understanding of a range of topics related to public health in low- and middle-income settings;

- apply public health research skills to examine critically a range of public health questions;

- evaluate actions designed to improve public health;

- formulate evidence-based and appropriate strategies to control health problems and promote health;

- frame their knowledge of public health within a development context.

Structure

Term 1:
Students take the following compulsory modules, which are assessed formatively during the term and form the basis of one of the final exam papers in the summer:

- Extended Epidemiology
- Health Policy, Process & Power
- Introduction to Health Economics
- Principles of Social Research
- Statistics for Epidemiology and Population Health

Terms 2 and 3:
Students take five modules in terms 2 and 3, working with personal tutors to identify a pathway through the course which best serves their career. They may choose to develop research skills in statistics and epidemiology; qualitative methods; health policy; or health economics. They may also choose to develop a specialist public health focus such as: vector control; maternal and newborn health; sexual and reproductive health; or water, sanitation and health.

Most students take the unifying module Applying Public Health Principles in Developing Countries in Term 3. This module builds on the learning from Terms 1 and 2 so students apply public health disciplines to review evidence, produce policy recommendations, develop strategic public health programme plans and conduct strategic reviews.

Details of recommended modules for MSc Public Health for Development students (http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section2_coursedescriptions/tphd.html)

Field Trip:
There is a compulsory residential field trip at a cost of £200.

Examinations:
All students take two examinations in the summer, one to assess understanding of the material covered in Term 1 and the other to assess their overall understanding of Public Health for Development.

Project Report:
During the summer months (July - August), students draw on all their academic skills by undertaking a project on a subject of importance to public health in a low- or middle-income country, for submission by early September. The project can take the form of a literature review, analysis of a data set, a policy report or a study protocol. The project is an independent piece of work, but students have contact with their supervisors who guide them in this work.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/msphdc.html#sixth

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Public health aims to promote health, prevent disease, reduce inequalities in health, and prolong life. The population perspective of public health ensures that its practitioners are well placed to improve health wherever they are. Our Master of Public Health degree reflects the multidisciplinary nature of public health through its flexible and innovative curriculum. Our programme enjoys strong links with the NHS, its public health practitioners and other regional and national bodies, ensuring student access to some of the country's leading authorities in public health.

Why this programme

◾The University of Glasgow has provided education in public health since 1839 and has offered a diploma in public health since the early 20th century. The Master of Public Health (MPH) programme has been offered here since 1981.
◾The Master of Public Health programme is taught by academics and practitioners from a wide variety of organisations and disciplines including; Health Protection Scotland, environmental health, environmental protection, public health medicine, health economics and business/management.
◾The programme is multidiscplinary in focus attracting students with undergraduate degrees in nursing, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and other health related specialisms.
◾Public health has a central role in guiding health care practice, influencing health policy, protecting the public, and improving population health. If you work or intend to work in an organisation which has public health responsibilities or aims to improve population health then this Master of Public Health Degree will be suited to you.
◾Public Health at the University was among the earliest academic fields to move towards a multidisciplinary range of programmes involving staff from a number of areas. Current disciplines represented include: Health promotion, health protection, sociology, psychology, epidemiology, statistics, and health economics.
◾Public health practitioners are employed in health services, academia, national and local government, the voluntary sector, as well as in international humanitarian relief. The MPH degree is recognised in most countries as an essential qualification for a career in public health.

Programme structure

You will attend interactive lectures, seminars and individual tutorials and take part in project and team work.
You will attend interactive lectures, seminars and individual tutorials and take part in project and team work.

Core courses
◾Principles of public health
◾Introduction to statistical methods
◾Introduction to epidemiology

Optional courses (three courses chosen)
◾Communicable diseases
◾Environmental health
◾Further epidemiology and statistics
◾Globalisation and public health
◾Health economics
◾Health promotion: principles and practice
◾Managing healthcare organisations
◾Oral health (this course is offered every second year)
◾Psychosocial approaches to public health
◾Qualitative research methods.
◾Research methods

If you are studying for the MPH, you will also undertake a research project of 15,000–20,000 words and your project studies here will incorporate a series of research methods lectures.

Career prospects

Career opportunities include: lecturer, health development manager, public health advisor, health programme specialists, epidemiologist, medical practitioner positions in public health, clinical university teacher, research positions.

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The MSc in Public Health course has been designed within a multi-professional, modular framework that draws on a wide range of disciplines.

The course combines a set of four compulsory core modules (Principles and Practice of Public Health, Epidemiology, Essential Statistics in Health and Medical Research, and Research Methods and Critical Appraisal) with a range of optional modules (eg Health Protection, Nutrition in Public Health, International Health etc) which allows students to focus on areas relevant to their work and professional interests. The research dissertation module provides an excellent opportunity to integrate study-based learning with a work-based research project improving students' competencies and skills to enhance their long-term career in public health.

The course delivers a solid grounding in public health theory and practice to provide a mechanism for analysing and instituting change in practice and to support public health leadership and registration. This is particularly pertinent in a challenging time of change and the course addresses recent moves in responsibility for the delivery of public health programmes. Teaching sessions are delivered by academicians and practitioners who are active in the field. The inter-professional background of the course participants fosters an environment in which occupational experiences are shared and a wider understanding of multidisciplinary public health issues is gained.

KEY AREAS OF STUDY

• Principles and practice of public health
• Epidemiology
• Research methods and critical appraisal
• Essential statistics in health and medical care
• Health protection
• Nutrition in public health

COURSE STRUCTURE

Most modules are assessed by means of a 3,000 word in-depth evaluation of a topic agreed by the student and module leader.

The course has two streams: Public Health and Public Health and Management

PGCert in Public Health:

• MDM50 Principles and Practice of Public Health (20 credits)
• MDM12 Epidemiology (20 credits)

PLUS

• One other module from the core or optional list (20 credits)

PGDip in Public Health:

• MDM50 Principles and Practice of Public Health (20 credits)
• MDM10 Research Methods and Critical Appraisal (20 credits)
• MDM12 Epidemiology (20 credits)
• MDM66 Essential Statistics for Health and Medical Research (20 credits)

PLUS

• Two modules from the optional module list (20 + 20 Credits)

MSc in Public Health:

PGDip essential modules

• PLUS Two modules from the optional module list (20 + 20 Credits)
• PLUS MDM164 Dissertation (60 credits)

Optional Module List:

• MDM33 Health Protection (20 credits)*
• MDM83 Nutrition in Public Health (20 credits)*
• MDM161 Global Public Health (20 credits)
• MDM110 Leadership and Change Management in Clinical Services (20 credits)

OR

• MDM111 Commissioning for Quality Care Improvement in Clinical Services (20 credits)

*Modules run in alternate years. Health protection runs every odd year (eg 2017, 2019) and Nutrition in Public Health runs every even year (eg 2016, 2018).
Global public health

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Course participants are empowered to develop public health practice which has a positive impact on their communities.
Successful completion of the course will assist the graduate in pursuing a career in academic and research institutions, public or government services or voluntary organisations, and national and international non-governmental organisations.

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The Masters in Dental Public Health (MDPH) will enable you to develop a career in government-based/national public health programmes of Dental Public Health. Alternatively, it is a good foundation if you intend to follow an academic pathway in dental public health.

Why Dental Public Health at Dundee?

This course is unique to Scotland and is a joint venture between the Dental Health Services Research Unit (DHSRU) and the School of Dentistry.

Both DSHRU and the School of Dentistry are world renowned and have formal links with the World Health Organisation (WHO). DHSRU has made long term contributions to oral epidemiology and public health, caries diagnosis and management and, in particular, to practice-based dental research and evidence based dentistry. DHSRU remains unique in dentistry, in the UK and internationally, by maintaining a long term portfolio of projects focusing on matters of importance to health services and providers of routine dental care.

Using the World Health Organization (WHO) Oral Health Programme strapline 'think global act local', the course will provide you with the necessary Dental Public Health knowledge, understanding and skills to develop a country specific oral health strategy to promote oral health and reduce oral health inequality.

This programme also focuses on evidence-based dentistry and has input from Derek Richards, Director for the Centre of Evidence-Based Dentistry and Professor Jan Clarkson, Co-ordinating Editor of the Cochrane Oral Health Group.

Flexible Degrees

The table below shows the flexibility of the degrees offered:

Degree Length of study
Full time / Part time
MDPH 12 months / 24 months
PGDipDPH 9 months / 18 months

Who should study this course?

The MDPH is designed to attract dental practitioners with a policy and research interest in Dental Public Health. In particular there is support for specialty trainees in Dental Public Health undertaking this course during their training in Tayside and elsewhere. The course structure is compatible with specialist training and therefore will be attractive to dentists hoping to undertake CSST to obtain specialist/consultant status.

In keeping with the current increase in interest in Dental Public Health in the UK and globally this course will also be appropriate for other dental health professionals and to social scientists wishing to work with in the Dental Public Health environment.

Teaching & Assessment

The Masters in Dental Public Health is a joint venture taught by staff in both the Dental Health Services Research Unit and the School of Dentistry both of which are world renowned.

The full time MDPH course lasts for one year. The taught component takes around seven months and is followed by research leading to a dissertation. All students initially enrol on a diploma programme (PGDipDPH) which includes the taught component only. To progress to the Masters programme and undertake the Masters dissertation students must obtain an overall pass of 60% in the taught component. Both programmes may be undertaken on a part-time basis.

How you will be taught

A variety of teaching methods will be used including lectures, tutorials, discussion groups, self-directed learning including the use of internet based resources and supervised research.

The programme of studies will provide structured support sessions for students who encounter difficulties. In addition, students are encouraged to contact lecturers to raise specific questions.

What you will study

The programme consists of the following modules:

Semester 1 -
Public Health
Epidemiology
Health Promotion
Basic Statistics

Semester 2 (part 1)
Research methods
Dental Public health
Oral Epidemiology
Intermediate statistics
Behavioural Sciences
Preparation for Dissertation

Students studying for an MDPH then undertake research and write a dissertation.

How you will be assessed

Performance is monitored by continuous assessment throughout the programme. Written and oral examinations are held in December, March and May. Examinations are graded passes (A to D) or fail.

Students must obtain grade D or above in all written and oral examinations in order to be awarded the Diploma.

To be eligible to progress from the Diploma onto the Masters, students must pass the examination of each subject and achieve a minimum overall pass at B or above (60%).

Careers

The Masters in Dental Public Health will enable students to develop careers in government-based/national public health programmes of Dental Public Health as well as those wishing to following the academic pathway in Dental Public Health.

This programme will, in addition, enhance current dental careers with research skills and knowledge and give a broad base of dental health knowledge applicable in other dental health care fields. This course is anticipated to be attractive to specialist trainees in Dental Public Health who require to complete a Masters in Dental Public Health, to dentists who wish to enhance their research knowledge; to other dental health professionals working in NHS Boards who wish to develop skills in research; to overseas students who wish to become specialists in Dental Public Health and scientists wishing to engage in Dental Public Health research.

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Over six core modules, two electives and a dissertation, you explore and critique key concepts and models in public health theory, policy and practice.

The course is interesting to

• (public) health practitioners currently working in the UK or overseas: each year, the cohort has been made up of around 60% overseas students from all over the world alongside students from a range of public health organisations in the local area. If you currently work in a public health role you can gain academic credit for work based learning in the public health practice elective
• practitioners not in a public health role, but working in organisations with a (potential) public health remit, for example local authorities, housing associations, schools, social services, criminal justice system, voluntary and community organisations
• practitioners working with population groups who experience inequality, for example people with disabilities, older people, asylum seekers and refugees, people who are unemployed, people with mental health conditions, people with chronic illness, and who wish to explore these communities in a public health context.
• students who have just completed their undergraduate studies in a related discipline. In the past we have had students from social work, education, sports science, food and nutrition, nursing and a range of professions allied to medicine.

You explore the links between policy, evidence and practice and you address key questions including

• how is the health of individuals, groups and populations determined?
• who is responsible for health and what is the role of the government?
• how can health be promoted?
• which skills are required for health promotion and developing the public health agenda?
• what are the implications of emerging agendas?

The course builds on the growing importance of health promotion, public health, and health and community development on local, national and international levels.

You learn how successful management of public health requires development of critical approaches to theory, practice, and outcome measurement. We give you the knowledge and skills to be more effective in your role.

You develop knowledge in the 10 key public health competencies and standards needed to join the UK Voluntary Register for Public Health specialists. This registration allows you to work at a senior level in public health.

These include • strategic leadership for health • working with and for communities • developing health programmes and services • reducing inequalities.

Work experience

If you don’t already work in this sector, we work closely with local health organisations and may be able to provide you with access to work experience that will help you get the most out of your studies and improve your chances of find a job after the course.

International students are most welcome on this course. At Sheffield Hallam University we provide international students with a wealth of support, from pre-arrival right up to, and including, study support whilst you are studying here. Please see the International Experience Team webpage for more information.

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. 

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
• Inequality, health and poverty
• Health, culture and public health development work
• Public health evidence
• Foundation of epidemiology A
• Foundation of epidemiology B
• Infectious diseases and long term conditions
• Dissertation

Options

Choose one from

• Public health nutrition
• Public health practice

Assessment

Students are assessed using a variety of methods: reports, presentations, book reviews and essays and for all but three assessment tasks students are able to choose a public health topic and/or population group on which to focus their work. There are no examinations.

Employability

By successfully completing this course, you may find that it makes it easier to gain promotion, or enter jobs in public health departments of primary care trusts. Previous graduates have gained roles such as teenage pregnancy coordinator, health promotion specialist and five-a-day co-ordinator. Others have joined local authorities, the voluntary sector such as Agewell, and become Sure Start managers.

A number of graduates have remained in their roles as health visitors, public health nurses or midwives, working more strategically and in more depth. Overseas students have used the qualification to work successfully in their own countries. Some people have taken the course to work towards becoming a nurse consultant.

The course also provides an excellent foundation for further academic study including PhDs.

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IN BRIEF:

• The course provides a mix of online and face-to-face delivery (one week intensive teaching in Salford), which enables you to study in a flexible way
• The course explores the social determinants of health: is multidisciplinary; and uses research informed teaching
• The programme is a platform from which to complete a Pg Dip or MSc Public Health in Salford
• A part-time only course
• International students can apply

COURSE SUMMARY

This course will challenge the way that you think about health, using state-of-the-art public health principles and practice. The block and blend teaching methods starts with academic staff from the University of Salford delivering a week’s intensive teaching in Salford per module, giving you a thorough grounding in Evidence Based Public Health and Research Methods applied to international public health priorities, and an overview of the online facilities available to support the programme (e.g. library/blackboard/e-mail etc).

Active researchers in the field of evidence-based public health deliver the teaching, and the programme is designed to satisfy the updated Public Health Skills & Knowledge Framework (UKPHSKF, 2013) and aligns with the UK Faculty of Health’s nine key areas.

The face-to-face (Block) is followed by weekly online input (Blend) and study that builds towards your PG Certificate. Following the intensive week, there are live sessions online and work that you can schedule as it suits you and specialist support from academic staff as well as access to all the (online) facilities that the University of Salford has to offer.

The PG Certificate is a qualification in its own right but can also be a building block towards an MSc in Public Health. Six months further study in the UK and successful completion of relevant modules mean that you can progress on to your dissertation leading to the award of MSc.

The University of Salford’s School of Health Sciences is an institutional member of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region.

COURSE STRUCTURE

January – May (Module 1 – Evidence Based Public Health)

September – December (Module 2 – Research Methods Applied to Public Health)

TEACHING

For the PgCert Public Health (Block and Blend), students will be taught face-to-face for one week per module, which will be complemented through the use of online learning (University’s Blackboard VLE and Collaborate). Both written and/or oral feedback will be provided using online technology. Students will also be expected to undertake independent reading and learning, to consolidate what is being taught/learned and to broaden knowledge and understanding of the subject.

ASSESSMENT

For both modules (Evidence Based Public Health and Research Methods Applied to Public Health) assessment will be by written assignments (four in total).

CAREER PROSPECTS

With this PG Cert you will be well placed to begin developing your public health career, beginning with junior public health roles in local or national government health departments and NGOs.

The qualification will also enable you to bring a public health perspective to your current career/role, in a range of professions.  There is a wide variety of public health jobs, which can include health promotion, health policy development, research or health advocacy.

LINKS WITH INDUSTRY

Lecturers on the MSc Public Health have close links with a range of national and international agencies and community partnership, most through research, with an ‘applied’ focus. Examples of these links include: Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER), The Royal Society for Public Health; The NHS; Department of Health; Strategic Health Authority; and The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE).

The benefits of these links to students include: research informed teaching; a strong applied focus to the programme; and the opportunity to engage with key public health professionals and practitioners.

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