Master of Public Health (MPH) – (M.Sc.)

Course Content

The programme has three major components:

* core modules related to the essential public health disciplines
* optional modules so that students develop individual interests and
* an extended project designed to integrate knowledge and skills acquired throughout the course.

Core modules are listed at the bottom of this page.



We recommend reading the Course Brochure (pdf) for more detailed information.

Course Structure
You will need to complete a total of 180 credits for the Masters course:

* 70 credits from core modules
* 50 credits from optional modules
* 60-credits from your dissertation

Induction Week

The course starts in late September/early October, when all students are expected to attend the School's taught compulsory "Introductory Week" (Monday-Friday inclusive).

International students are also expected to attend the International Office Welcome Week to help them to settle into Nottingham.

Teaching Days

Core modules are taught in Semester 1 on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Full-time students attend on both days, whilst part-time students attend on Wednesdays in Year 1 and on Thursdays in Year 2.

Optional modules are taught in Semester 2 on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and/or Thursdays. Students attend depending on their choice of modules.

Teaching Methods

Teaching and learning methods vary in line with the objectives of the course but include a range of methods from lectures to private study, from guided and independent group exercises to problem-based and self-directed learning.

Use of the Internet, the virtual learning environment (WebCT) and email is expected, and appropriate support and training given. Students will also learn to use Stata statistical software.

Assessment Methods

Assessments vary, and include written assignments demonstrating different styles of writing, verbal communication skills and analysis of data. Depending on the pathway you choose you may also complete further verbal and poster presentations. Some work is assessed as group work.

Assessments may take place during timetabled sessions, but most are prepared by students in their own time.

The pass mark for the Masters is 50%. The pass mark for the Certificate and Diploma is 40%.

Modules
Research Methods in Epidemiology with Basic StatisticsThis module considers the basic concepts of epidemiology and gives students the knowledge and skills to access, describe and interpret epidemiological data - the main research methods used in epidemiology - the strengths and weaknesses of the different types of study and how the evidence obtained contributes to the assessment of causality.- how to carry out critical appraisal of published papers - the basic principles of statistics including descriptive statistics, summarising and presenting data, distributions, parameters of location and dispersion, scale of measurement the basic principles of sampling and sampling error and confidence intervals the basic principles of hypothesis testing, normal distributions, t-test, c², Fisher exact probability test, analyses for paired designs such as paired t-tests and McNemar test, extension of c² to larger contingency tables, regression and correlation, simple linear regression, Pearson correlation coefficient, interpretation and validity, nonparametric methods, Wilcoxon, Mann-Whitney, Spearman, sample size and power, introduction to multivariate analyses. Introduction to Health Care SystemsDescribing Health Care Systems International methods: the WHO approach and other models. Individual health care systems: strengths and weaknesses. Introduction to the UK health care system. What is a health care system for? Relationship between the state and a health care system. What does a health care system do? Prioritisation and rationing. Performance managing healthcare systems: Public health and health outcomes. Why do they matter? Measuring outcomes and introduction to health information. Health Care Systems: ManagementThis module considers the management related to motivation, knowledge management, management of diversity, leadership, recruitment and selection and, finally, organizational culture.Sociology of Health and IllnessPatterns of health and disease in relation to gender, ethnicity, employment status, age, social stratification. Symptom experience and illness action. Culture, health beliefs and patients' explanatory models in relation to health, illness and health care provision. Concepts of primary and secondary deviance, stigma and handicap. Doctor-patient relationships and `compliance'. Professions, professionalisation and professional conflict. Introduction to Health PromotionHealth Promotion: introduction to concepts and theories: definitions, approaches/methods and philosophies To include : historical, social, political and theoretical considerations; comparison of different models and orientations of Health Education; and the role of agents and agencies of Health Promotion including WHO Health Promotion : Problems and Solutions - The identification of health promotion needs and priorities, Approaches/methods: personal, groups, communities (community participation and development), mass media approaches. Evaluation. Issues and dilemmas in the planning, management and implementation of Health Promotion programmes Social capital and its impact on health development. The impact of globalisation and development on healthy public policies and their implication for health promotion issues at local, national and international levels. Developing gender sensitive health promotion and research strategies. Nutrition and health promotion Evaluation TechniquesHealthcare evaluation is a large and complex area as virtually every form of study design could be used in the execution of an evaluation and the theoretical foundations are derived from four distinct traditions. Students will be provided with resources to identify the best design to use, information on the theoretical underpinnings of different evaluation strategies, and exposed to practitioners who conduct evaluations as part of their daily healthcare practice. Structured activities will be used to help students identify key concepts and gaps in their knowledge. Theory and Practice in Public HealthAn introduction to the courses offered by the Division: these share a common introductory pathway. Links taught theory to practice through case studies from students´ own countries & from practice. Delivered in two themes within which taught input complements guided reading, radio & video material, web-based activities & WebCT tasks. Theme 1 Content is based on o Defining public health and concept of inequalities in health o History of public health, with particular reference to individual experience & key successes in improving public health at international & national levels o The role of, & importance of, epidemiology in public health o Power & public health, considering formal & informal influences including theoretical & practical role of the WHO o The current exercise of power over public health in students´ home countries o Key issues in globalisation & the future of public health. Theme 2 Content is based on o Generic key techniques in public health: systematic reviews, health needs assessment & health impact assessment o Case studies addressed in small groups by a practitioner in public health.