This module will explore the origins, scope, and development of public health practice and policy across the globe. Through the examination of case studies and examples within the key domains of public health (health improvement, health protection, health service quality and health intelligence), you will explore public health policies including Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as key concepts in health economics, change management, sustainability and climate change. You will also examine the increasing importance of humanitarian crises and their impact on population health – examining issues such as disaster and crisis management, migration, and human rights. The module will also introduce you to the Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework, and key competency frameworks for professional public health practice, for example, UKPHR, FPH, EUPHA and WHO competency frameworks.

Public health is defined as “the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts of society” (Acheson, 1988; WHO). With the creation of the new UK Health Security Agency, health protection has gained a new impetus. This is an introductory module to health protection in the overall function of public health. You will have insights into some of the key communicable diseases, environmental hazards, outbreaks, surveillance systems and the inter-relationship between the protection of public health and the improvement of public health through various strategies. The principles and role of surveillance, outbreak management, immunisation programmes, and prevention and control of infectious diseases such as HIV, tuberculosis, meningitis, hospital-acquired infections and Covid-19 are analysed.

In this module, a wide range of statistical and epidemiological methods and techniques will be used to develop your knowledge and skills through the application of these methods to public health issues. You will learn about basic statistical concepts such as types of data, populations, and samples before moving on to more advanced subjects and statistical techniques such as regression, power, and effect size. You will learn about basic epidemiological concepts such as bias and measuring disease frequency and association before progressing to the main types of epidemiological study including randomised controlled trials. Examples used feature real data and public health scenarios to deepen your understanding on the practical applications of this subject. Contemporary public health and epidemiological priorities will be explored from a global and life course perspective. Teaching on this module interfaces with and complements the research methods and dissertation modules, preparing you for work in a range of public health arenas.

This module introduces you to the key concepts, theories and models in the discipline of health psychology, which is concerned with the study of psychological processes in health, illness, and healthcare. You will be introduced to four main areas of health psychology: the prevention and management of illness; the identification of psychological factors contributing to health-related behaviour; the promotion and maintenance of health; and the use of health psychology research to inform interventions (at individual, community, and population levels). On successful completion of the module, you will be able to explain and evaluate how health psychology theory and research has aided our understanding of the influences on health-related behaviour, how psychological and physiological processes are associated with ill health, and how public health interventions can use evidence-based psychological approaches to inform interventions.

Health promotion enables people to increase control over, and to improve, their health. The concept is rooted in the process of creating the conditions for people to improve their wellbeing. This module emphasises the critical examination of the determinants of health and their role in health inequalities, and employing this knowledge for health promotion. You will examine up-to-date theories, models, and best practices in health promotion to improve health, and what actions are required to address the determinants of health and to achieve reductions in health inequalities. Focusing on various strategies to prevent non-communicable diseases, you will explore exciting, innovative, and creative techniques and processes that public health practitioners employ to improve wellbeing at an individual level and group level.

The ability to develop and design a robust research project and to critique and appraise the quality of evidence requires fundamental understanding of the principles or core concepts of research. You will gain in-depth knowledge and understanding of: the three core principles in the research, namely validity, reliability and generalisation; the application of core principles to design a robust qualitative or quantitative study; how to create quality assessment tools for planning and designing research studies; and critical appraisal skills.

The practice of evidence-based public health involves three major programme planning activities: conducting a needs assessment; developing and implementing a programme; and evaluating the programme’s effectiveness. This module critically assesses and evaluates ways in which public health interventions are planned, implemented and evaluated. It will consider the theory and practice of health needs assessment as the first step towards developing an evidence-based public health intervention, followed by a critical examination of theoretical, conceptual, and practical issues in planning, implementing, and evaluating public health interventions. You will learn how to use and apply health behavioural change theories and logic models such as the behavioural change wheel, intervention mapping, and the PRECEDE-PROCEED model to plan and design a coherent, practical intervention to address a public health issue, and learn theory-driven evaluation approaches.

The diverse and rapidly changing political, technological, economic, and socio-cultural shifts over the last two decades and the outbreaks of infectious diseases have placed a tremendous impact on healthcare delivery systems and public health. What is the role of leadership in addressing the gaps and mitigating these changes and challenges across healthcare and public health settings? What aspects of leadership theory and models might apply to help us effectively lead and manage the healthcare delivery system change and reform? What lessons can we learn to improve the delivery of healthcare and public health in a complex and diverse setting? This module introduces you to the principles, recent theories and approaches required to be an effective leader and manager within public health, and health and social care environments.

Policymaking and implementation are central to achieving desired public health outcomes. This module will develop the evaluative skills necessary to critically understand sociological perspectives on health and to interrogate policies addressing public health issues which have complex social determinants. Through an examination of key concepts in the social determinants of health and rigorous application of models of policy making, you will critically analyse (using a range of policy evaluation frameworks) how policy can help to tackle health inequalities, critically examining how policy drivers such as ethics, economics, and ideology impact on the policy-making process.

Communicating public health messages is a crucial aspect of implementing public health strategies, interventions, and improving population health. It requires a combination of evidence-based, theoretically driven creative approaches and careful consideration of the target audience. The advances in technology and communication had provided new prospects in health communication, which brought huge potentials and risks. This module examines the different approaches and methods to the communication and the dissemination of public health messages. Drawing on theories from the disciplines of social psychology and education, the module will also examine types of messages and the use of technology, such as social media, to deliver public health messages. This will include examining examples of public health messages, the target audience, and the critical evaluation of how these impact health outcomes and health inequalities.

In this module you will design, conduct and evaluate an original research study within the field of public health. You will carry out a research investigation on a topic area of your choosing, and you will demonstrate an in-depth understanding of relevant theoretical frameworks, research methodologies and applications for your chosen area of public health. This module is the independent study element of your Master’s degree, giving you the autonomy to develop your own original research question that is informed by existing knowledge. You will receive academic support in guiding you through the process of designing, conducting, and writing a research project. In completing this module you will demonstrate a strong knowledge, understanding and application of core research skills and principles.