MSc PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMME 2015-16
University of the West of England, Bristol, UKDepartment of Health and Social Sciences, Frenchay Campus
Programme Leader: Dr Nick de Viggiani - [email protected]
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Welcome to the postgraduate Public Health programme at the University of the West of England (UWE), Bristol, and thank you for choosing to study with us. We very much hope you enjoy your time at UWE and feel fulfilled and challenged by the programme.
Programme Aims
The MSc in Public Health has recently been validated and accredited by the European Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA), and is therefore one of the leading Public Health Masters programmes in Europe. It provides a cutting edge, multidisciplinary programme in Public Health that seeks to provide:
a relevant and contemporary postgraduate education that serves the needs of the professional field of public health.
students with critical awareness of the multiple factors, influences and contexts associated with global public health.
a postgraduate education founded on core public health competences and skills. students with access to the full range of public health resources, research and policy literature.
students with the opportunity to realise career aspirations and build upon pre-existing professional experiences.
students with a unique experience of studying with a dedicated, experienced academic team.
Programme Structure
All teaching takes place on Thursdays and Fridays across two semesters, with additional support tutorials and seminars for full time students on Wednesdays (see timetable).
Full time international students (on study visas) should expect to attend Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays across semesters 1 and 2 (September 2015 to May 2016). They then complete the Dissertation in December 2016 and receive the MSc Public Health award in March 2017. Graduation is scheduled for July 2017, requiring a return visit to the UK.
Full time UK/EU students take the same Wednesday to Friday schedule of taught modules across two semesters but can then choose whether to submit the Dissertation in December 2016 or to defer the Dissertation module to commence September 2016, with submission in September 2017.
Part time students attend the programme of taught modules on Thursdays in year 1 (September 2015 to May 2016) and Fridays in year 2 (September 2016 to May 2017). They then undertake the Dissertation in year 3, September 2017 to September 2018), attending a workshop programme on Wednesdays in semester 1.
For academic year 2015-16, the course induction takes place Thursday 17th September (Room 1L1) at Frenchay Campus. The first teaching day is Thursday 24th September 2015. All teaching takes place at Frenchay Campus:
http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/comingtouwe/campusesmapsandtravel
The MSc programme is modular based, which means that each taught module carries a postgraduate credit rating of 15 credits. For the MSc, all modules are compulsory; there are no option modules. Modules are timetabled in a logical sequence to enable students to gain the most from the curriculum and to enable sufficient flexibility to study full time or part time towards the Postgraduate Certificate (60cr), the Postgraduate Diploma (120cr) or the full Master of Science (180cr) in Public Health. Modules are assessed by coursework, seen or unseen exams and presentations.
Module Summaries
Wednesdays (semesters 1&2)Study skills and Peer Assisted Learning workshops (full time students) Dissertation workshop programme (Year 3 part time students)
Thursdays (September to December 2015, full time & part time Y1 students) Introduction to Public Health (UZVRT4-15-M)
This module is the foundation module for the MSc Public Health programme that introduces students to theoretical, philosophical and conceptual foundations of
multidisciplinary public health. It explores public health from natural, social, human and environmental science perspectives, with particular attention to the broad determinants of health and illness in relation to social, environmental and political contexts and health inequalities. For the summative assessment, students are required to undertake a two hour ‘seen’ examination where they critically discuss a public health issue from a multidisciplinary perspective, based on a selection of contemporary public health issues in the newspaper press.
Assessment: seen exam, November 2015
Quantitative Health Research (UZVSML-15-M)
This module introduces students to quantitative approaches used in public health research, including epidemiology and statistics. It has a strong focus on study designs and critical appraisal skills, preparing students to undertake quantitative research and to apply published research findings to public health practice. It is assessed by a summative
two-hour ‘unseen’ examination that includes multiple choice and short answer questions to assess students’ knowledge and understanding of epidemiological concepts and data interpretation skills.
Assessment: unseen exam, January 2016 Health Promotion (UZVRT3-15-M)
This module introduces students to the principles and practices of health promotion, and is focused principally on the translation of theory into practice, building students’ knowledge and understanding of the theoretical, philosophical, ethical and political foundations of health promotion and how these may be operationalised. The module draws on core WHO principles, including empowerment, participation, social responsibility and healthy settings. The assessment requires students to create a web based promotion resource (website) based on their research of the health promotion literature.
Assessment: website creation and presentation, April 2016
Thursdays (January to May 2016, full time & part time Y1 students) Leadership for Public Health (UZVSMS-15-M)
This module is strongly skills and practice orientated. It introduces students to key theoretical and practical dimensions of leadership theory and management relevant to public health practice contexts. Team building, group dynamics, self-reflection and
organisational change are key themes within the module, and students are required to work collaboratively during the module. The module is assessed via group presentation and individual reflective essay, which demonstrate application of leadership theory to public health practice, presentation skills, group collaboration and responsiveness to peer feedback and discussion.
Assessment: Group presentation and short essay, April 2016
Epidemiology of Non-communicable Disease (UZVSMR-15-M)
This module introduces students to the broad field of non-communicable disease
epidemiology, exploring international trends and patterns. It examines different examples and contexts of health and illness, with focus on vulnerable and excluded groups, as well as those key areas where the burden of disease is most marked. The module includes critique of key social, political and economic health determinants, risk factors and responses
associated with differential patterns of non-communicable disease and inequality. Students are assessed via a summative two-hour examination, which assesses knowledge and
understanding of non-communicable disease epidemiology, with a section focused on a key health topic of their choice.
Assessment: seen exam, May 2016
Fridays (September to December 2015, full-time Y1 & part time Y2 students) Public Health Policy and Politics (UZVSMN-15-M)
This module introduces students to the relationships and synergies between political
explores key underpinning organisational, economic, social and ideological factors instrumental to public health policy making, and the processes involved in policy development and analysis. The summative assessment comprises a 3000 word written project in a negotiated area, where the student is required to research, critique and apply knowledge and understanding to public health policy-based action.
Assessment: coursework/essay, February 2016 Qualitative Health Research (UZVSMM-15-M)
This module introduces students to the range of qualitative methodologies and methods used in health and social research, providing philosophical, theoretical and conceptual grounding for undertaking primary and secondary research. It also introduces students to critical appraisal techniques for interpreting published qualitative research. The module is assessed via a two-hour seen examination, where students are required to write a critical comparison of the qualitative research methodology and methods used in two published research papers.
Assessment: seen exam, January 2016
Public Health Economics (UZVSMP-15-M)
This module introduces students to the principles and practices of health economics, specifically those key health economics approaches used to measure ‘value’ or ‘costs’ associated with public health policies and practices. It examines the trade-off within public health decision making between efficiency and equity,and critically examinesmethodologies employed to evaluate social and economic impacts, outputs and returns, especially with regard to the prioritisation and commissioning of public health resources. Students are assessed via a summative 3000 word project report in which they must undertake a critical appraisal of approaches used to economically evaluate an identified area of public health policy or practice.
Assessment: coursework/report, February 2016 Fridays (January to May 2016)
Dissertation Workshops (preparation of research proposal) – for full time Y1 students. Health Protection (UZVSMQ-15-M)
This module introduces students to the field of communicable disease epidemiology and management, with focus on surveillance, risk and hazard management, outbreak control and immunisation. It explores key environmental determinants of health, including
contemporary issues such as air pollution. The module examines the global and UK burden of disease, relevant to a wide range of contrasting public health contexts. The module is supported by input from Public Health England specialists, with strong affinity with professional competencies.
Assessment: Two-hour unseen examination comprising multiple choice and short answer questions.
Dissertation (UZVSMT-45-M)
The dissertation module requires students to undertake a research project relating to a public health area of their choice, which is submitted as a 15,000 word dissertation. Students are allocated a supervisor and supported via a series of scheduled workshops designed to support them in preparing their research protocols; this is a compulsory stage of the dissertation planning process. Students can opt to undertake primary research using qualitative, quantitative or mixed methods approaches, or they can undertake research using secondary data, for example using systematic review methodology, qualitative
synthesis or discourse analysis. All student research protocols are risk assessed and required to undergo ethical scrutiny and approval.
Full time international students (on study visas) should attend a programme of workshops scheduled in January each year (see timetable), with submission the following December (12 months). There is the option to submit earlier, if you are on track. The MSc is awarded the following February/March, with graduation in July.
Full time UK/EU or non-visa restricted students can either opt for the January-to-December format above, or opt for enrolment on the dissertation in September of year 2, with a programme of workshops on Wednesdays in semester 1 and submission the following September (12 months). With this option, the MSc is awarded in November, with graduation the following July.
Part time students normally enrol on the dissertation in September of year 3, undertaking the programme of workshops on Wednesday mornings in semester 1. Submission is the following September (12 months), with the award in February and graduation in July. Part time students can opt to fast track the dissertation by beginning it in year 2, the January to December run (as above), once the research modules have been completed.
Semester Dates / Vacation Periods
Pre-Semester Induction Day – compulsory for new students: Thursday 17th September Semester 1: 23rd September 2015 to 11th December 2015, 09.30-16.30hrs
Christmas Vacation: 12th December 2015 to 3rd January 2016 (university closed)
Semester 2: 21st January 2016 to 18th March 2016, then 7th April 2016 to 22nd April 2016, 09:30-16:30.
Easter Vacation: 21st March 2016 to 3rd April 2016. Assessment Dates (these are compulsory):
3rd December 2015, 7th January 2016, 16th January 2016, 7th April 2016, 28th April 2016, 5th May 2016, 6th May 2016. Resits are scheduled for April, July and August.
Some Suggested Reading
The following texts are relevant to the modules studied in the programme: Baggott R (2011) Public Health Policy & Politics. 2nd Edition. London: Palgrave.
Bowling A (2009) Research Methods in Health: Investigating Health and Health Services. 3rd Edition. Maidenhead: McGraw Hill Open University Press.
Buse K, Mays N, Walt G (2005) Making Health Policy. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Greenhalgh T (2006) How To Read A Paper: The Basics of Evidence-Based Medicine. 3rd Edition. Oxford: Blackwell.
Hawker J, Begg N, Blair I, Reintjes R, Weinberg J (2005) Communicable Disease Control Handbook. 2nd Edition. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Hudson J, Lowe S (2009) Understanding the Policy Process: Analysing Welfare Policy and Practice 2nd Edition. Bristol: The Policy Press.
Lee K, Collin J (2005) Global Change and Health Maidenhead: Open University Press. Moon G et al (2000) Epidemiology: An Introduction. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Naidoo J, Wills J (2010) Developing Practice for Public Health and Health Promotion. 3rd Edition. Edinburgh: Balliere Tindall/Elsevier.
Noah N (2006) Controlling Communicable Disease. Maidenhead: Open University Press. Orme J, Powell JE, Taylor P, Grey M (eds) (2007) Public Health for the 21st Century: Key Issues in Policy, Participation and Partnership. Maidenhead: McGraw-Hill/Open University Press. Silverman D (2010) Doing Qualitative Research: A Practical Handbook. 3rd Edition. London: Sage Publications.
Stewart A (2007) Basic Statistics and Epidemiology: A Practical Guide. 2nd Edition. Abingdon: Radcliffe Medical Press.
Distinctive Features of Studying Public Health at UWE
The MSc Public Health programme is multi-disciplinary in focus and approach. It draws upon skills and experience of a multidisciplinary team of experienced academics. Its distinctive features include:
Location within a healthy and sustainable university; this underpins the programme’s ethos and value base, with its commitment to strong socially responsible civic leadership. A curriculum that is mapped against the ten UK Public Health Competencies, the
European Core Public Health Competencies, and is aligned with the US School of Public Health Core Competencies.
A highly competent and experienced academic team, supported by several professors in areas that include public health, sustainability, health service research, arts and health, health economics, and planning.
Academic expertise in the social sciences, epidemiology, social medicine, health sciences, social care, health promotion, health economics, the built environment and
environmental health.
Being part of UWE’s research Institute for Sustainability, Health and Environment (ISHE) and research centre for Health and Clinical Research (CHCR).
A programme taught exclusively by an academic team with strong research profiles, with demonstrable excellence in selected areas of research.
The wide portfolio of student backgrounds, cultures, academic disciplines and professions, creating a stimulating learning environment.
Study skills support tailored to the curriculum and embedded within the programme. Peer Assisted Learning and Support (PALs), built into the programme and based on peer mentorship.
A Personal Tutor scheme that each student with dedicated pastoral and academic support.
Its Internationalization Strategy, to ensure that international students gain from relevant and appropriate teaching and excellent pastoral support.
Its multidisciplinarity, being underpinned with a socio-ecological model of health that has evolved to meet the changing needs of the public health profession.
Its ability to be dynamic and responsive to the changing policy landscape of Public Health.
Strong partnership relations with external professionals, agencies and organizations. Our fundamental goal to prepare graduates as public health leaders of the future, who are highly effective, able to make positive contributions to society, and who are
committed to meeting the needs of the poorest and most vulnerable in our global society.
WK Dates
WEDNESDAYS THURSDAYS FRIDAYS
10.00-12.00 12.30-14.00 9.30-12.30 13.30-16.30 9.30-12.30 13.30-16.30 9 23/24/25 Sept STUDY SKILLS WORKSHOPS (full time students) (weeks 9-20) DISSERTATION WORKSHOP PROGRAMME (weeks 9-17) (part time students) PAL WORKSHOPS
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
10 30/1/2 Sep/Oct
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
11 7/8/9 Oct
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
12 14/15/16 Oct
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
13 21/22/23 Oct
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
14 2829/30 Oct
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
15 4/5/6 Nov
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
INTRODUCTION TO PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
16 11/12/13 Nov
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
HEALTH PROMOTION
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
PUBLIC HEALTH POLICY & POLITICS
17 18/19/20 Nov
HEALTH PROMOTION
HEALTH PROMOTION
DISSERTATION W’SHOP (21/11)
PUBLIC HEALTH ECONOMICS
18 25/26/27 Nov
HEALTH PROMOTION
HEALTH PROMOTION
PUBLIC HEALTH ECONOMICS
19 2/3/4 Dec
INTRO. PUBLIC HEALTH EXAM
HEALTH PROMOTION w/s
PUBLIC HEALTH ECONOMICS
20 9/10/11 Dec
HEALTH PROMOTION
HEALTH PROMOTION
PUBLIC HEALTH ECONOMICS
14/12/15 to 03/01/16
V A C A T I O N P E R I O D
24 7 Jan
QUANTITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
EXAM
9:30-11:30
25 15 Jan
QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH
EXAM
9:30-11:30
26 20/21/22 Jan
PAL WORKSHOPS
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
DISSERTATION WORKSHOP (22/1, ALL DAY)
27 27/28/29 Jan
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
HEALTH PROTECTION
PH ECONOMICS (29/1)
28 3/4/5 Feb
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
HEALTH PROTECTION
DISSERTATION w/shop (5/2)
29 10/11/12 Feb
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
HEALTH PROTECTION
PH ECONOMICS (12/2)
30 17/18/19 Feb
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
HEALTH PROTECTION
DISSERTATION w/shop (19/2)
31 24/25/26 Feb
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
HEALTH PROTECTION
PH ECONOMICS (26/2)
32 2/3/4 Mar
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
HEALTH PROTECTION
DISSERTATION w/shop (4/3)
33 9/10/11 Mar
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
EPID. OF NON-COMM. DISEASE
HEALTH PROTECTION
PH ECONOMICS (11/3)
34 16/17/18 Mar
HEALTH PROTECTION
DISSERTATION w/shop (18/3)
21/03/16 to 03/04/16
V A C A T I O N P E R I O D
37 6/7/8 Apr
PAL WORKSHOPS
LEADERSHIP FOR PUBLIC HEALTH
PRESENTATIONS
(7/4 ALL DAY)
DISSERTATION WORKSHOP (ALL DAY)
38 13/14/15 Apr
39 20/21/22 Apr
DISSERTATION WORKSHOP (ALL DAY)
40 27/28/28 Apr