Courses

Programme Specification

MPH Public Health

Academic Year 2022/23

A programme specification is required for any programme on which a student may be registered. All programmes of the University are subject to the University's Quality Assurance processes. All degrees are awarded by Queen's University Belfast.

Programme Title

MPH Public Health

Final Award
(exit route if applicable for Postgraduate Taught Programmes)

Masters of Public Health

Programme Code

MED-MPH

UCAS Code

HECoS Code

101317 - Environmental and public healt - 100

ATAS Clearance Required

Mode of Study

Full Time

Type of Programme

Postgraduate

Length of Programme

Full Time - 1 Academic Year

Total Credits for Programme

180

Exit Awards available

Institute Information

Teaching Institution	Queen's University Belfast
School/Department	Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences
Quality Code https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code Higher Education Credit Framework for England https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/higher-education-credit-framework-for-england	Level 7
Subject Benchmark Statements https://www.qaa.ac.uk/quality-code/subject-benchmark-statements The Frameworks for Higher Education Qualifications of UK Degree-Awarding Bodies https://www.qaa.ac.uk/docs/qaa/quality-code/qualifications-frameworks.pdf
Accreditations (PSRB)
No accreditations (PSRB) found.

Regulation Information

Does the Programme have any approved exemptions from the University General Regulations
(Please see General Regulations)

Programme Specific Regulations

Awards, Credits and Programme of Learning Outcomes
The following regulations should be read in conjunction with the University’s General Regulations.
1) Students must pass all taught modules and the dissertation to be awarded the degree of Master of Public Health
2) In the case of failed modules, students will normally be permitted one resit attempt in each module. Students who fail any module twice will normally be required to withdraw.
3) Any student who fails 60 credits or more of taught modules will not be able to proceed to the dissertation module until the taught modules are successfully completed. Students can then choose whether to graduate with the Postgraduate Diploma or re-enrol to take the Dissertation in the next academic year.
4) Students will not be permitted to submit the Dissertation until all taught modules have been successfully completed.
5)Students who pass all the taught modules but who fail to submit a dissertation, or fail the dissertation following resubmission, shall be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health
6) Students who have failed to pass all taught modules but who have accumulated a minimum of 60 CATS points will be eligible for the award of Postgraduate Certificate

Students with protected characteristics

N/A

Are students subject to Fitness to Practise Regulations

(Please see General Regulations)

Yes
No. Fitness to Practise programmes are those which permit students to enter a profession which is itself subject to Fitness to Practise rules (Except for those students whose primary programme is medicine or dentistry)

Educational Aims Of Programme

To introduce the breadth of the public health approach and perspective:
- population based;
- collective responsibility for health, its protection and disease prevention;
- the key role of the state, linked to a concern for the underlying socio-economic and wider determinants of health, as well as disease;
- a multidisciplinary basis, which incorporates quantitative, as well as qualitative methods; and - partnerships with all of those who contribute to the health
of the population.

To introduce the 'science of public health' practice which requires a robust, systematic, and evidence-based approach to define and understand population health issues and problems, and to identify optimal solutions for health gain within available resources.

To introduce the 'art of public health' practice which requires interpersonal and organisational skills to work in partnership with others, influence decisions, support implementation of policy, programmes or interventions, and effect real change.

To provide learners with a public health knowledge and skills base, as a foundation for further training and career opportunities in public health practice or academic research.

To facilitate learners in the integration and application of public health related knowledge and skills to:
- identify, characterise, define, describe and communicate public health issues or problems;
- collect, generate, synthesise, appraise, analyse, interpret and communicate quantitative or qualitative information that relates to health status, health determinant s, health outcomes, health risks or health needs of defined populations;
- critically assess and interpret available health evidence, and formulate options for effective, efficient and equitable actions and interventions;
- support and influence health policy, health system, and individual health decisions; and
- implement, manage and evaluate agreed public health solutions.

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes: Cognitive Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Critical thinking

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
group discussion
problem based learning
self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Analytical skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Demonstrated computer-based practicals in statistical methods
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Systematic approach to problem solving

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Systematic approach to assessment or evaluation

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Learning Outcomes: Transferable Skills

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Self-directed learning

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Written and verbal communication skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Information technology skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures, demonstrated computer practicals and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Time management skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Team work

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures and interactive seminars
Group discussions
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Research skills

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Lectures and interactive seminars
Group discussions
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Learning Outcomes: Knowledge & Understanding

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Discuss the collection of demographic data, demographic analysis techniques and health effects of population characteristics;
Apply public health research concepts and methodologies, and the appropriate interpretation of descriptive and analytic study findings;
Describe the basic principles of theory and practice in qualitative health research
Critically assess and interpret published health evidence.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures, demonstrated computer practicals and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations

Select appropriate statistical methods for summarising data, for testing statistical hypotheses, for describing relationships and for assessing confounding. Perform statistical analyses using a computer package and interpret the output from such analyses.
Appraise the assumptions required for these statistical methods and their limitations.
Define the important role played by statistics in science and medicine

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures, demonstrated computer practicals and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Describe and discuss the main social, environmental and political determinants of health within a bio-psychosocial model; the lifecourse approach; inequalities in health; approaches to public health policy, theory and practice. Compare psychological and sociological concepts of health and ill-health

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Identify methods of improving the health of the public through evidence-based policy and strategy development and implementation, using collaborative working and public health leadership skills.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Recognise key threats to public health from communicable diseases, environmental hazards, major incidents and outline the key elements of responding to such threats.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Discuss health and social care systems within the UK and globally and how these can be strengthened.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Identify health needs of population groups and describe the key processes involved in planning, commissioning and delivering high quality healthcare and population screening services.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Gain more in-depth knowledge and skills in relation to quality improvement, team working and health impact assessment.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignments
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Learning Outcomes: Subject Specific

On the completion of this course successful students will be able to:

Apply a general public health approach and perspective to relevant issues, including appropriate research methods

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation
Dissertation

Use public health intelligence for assessment of the population's health and well-being, and for assessing the evidence of the effectiveness of health and healthcare interventions; programmes and services

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Group discussion
Problem based learning
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Apply appropriate statistical approaches and perspectives to medical and public health research; to the surveillance and assessment of the population's health and well-being; in planning, analysing, and assessing the evidence of effectiveness of medical, health and healthcare interventions.

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation
Dissertation

Use public health methods to considering the determinants of health at population level; and in the planning, implementation and evaluation of evidence based interventions to address lifestyle and behavioural choices

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Use appropriate risk assessment and risk management processes for public health incidents;
Apply epidemiological and statistical knowledge to real world situations including processes for infection prevention and control, and for the control of environmental hazards

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Apply the concepts of health economics and economic evaluation

Teaching/Learning Methods and Strategies

Interactive lectures and seminars
Problem-based learning
Group discussion
Self-directed learning

Methods of Assessment

Written examinations
Written assignment
Oral presentations
Dissertation

Module Information

Stages and Modules

Module Title	Module Code	Level/ stage	Credits	Availability		Duration	Pre-requisite			Assessment
				S1	S2			Core	Option	Coursework %	Practical %	Examination %
Advanced Health Economics, Management and Policy	SCM8175	7	10	--	YES	6 weeks	N	--	YES	80%	20%	0%
Intensive qualitative methods	SCM8174	7	10	--	YES	6 weeks	N	--	YES	80%	20%	0%
Noncommunicable Diseases	SCM8176	7	10	--	YES	6 weeks	N	--	YES	70%	30%	0%
Systems thinking and complex systems in public health	SCM8177	7	10	--	YES	6 weeks	N	--	YES	70%	30%	0%
MPH Dissertation	SCM8179	7	60	--	YES	15 weeks	N	YES	--	100%	0%	0%
Advanced Quantitative Methods	SCM8173	7	10	--	YES	6 weeks	N	--	YES	20%	0%	80%
Public Health in the Health Sector	SCM8171	7	20	--	YES	12 weeks	N	YES	--	70%	30%	0%
Statistics in Public Health and Medical Research	SCM8167	7	10	YES	--	12 weeks	N	YES	--	20%	0%	80%
Health and Social Care Systems	SCM8166	7	20	YES	--	12 weeks	N	YES	--	70%	30%	0%
Determinants of Health and Health Improvement	SCM8168	7	20	YES	--	12 weeks	N	YES	--	70%	30%	0%
Health Protection	SCM8169	7	20	--	YES	6 weeks	N	YES	--	70%	30%	0%
Public Health Concepts and Methods	SCM8165	7	10	YES	--	12 weeks	N	YES	--	0%	0%	100%

Notes

Core modules add up to 160 CAT Points with students needing to choose an additional 2 optional modules to equal 180 CAT Points