ObjectivesIt is expected that on completion of the MPH programme, students will be able to:
* apply epidemiological principles, statistical techniques and critical appraisal ethically to the problems of disease causation, the assessment of the health needs of a community, and the planning and evaluation of public health programmes
* evaluate the influences of environmental, socio-economic, genetic, nutritional, cultural, occupational and political factors on population health and the provision of appropriate health care
* use understanding of how health policy is developed and implemented, how clinical and programme effectiveness is assessed and how health services are planned, commissioned, organised, managed and financed to improve their professional practice
* use skills in problem formulation, research design, data collection, literature reviews, analysis, interpretation and presentation, and the use of modern information systems, including bibliographic databases
* use problem-solving skills and know how to investigate and plan an appropriate response to incidents that could adversely affect public health, such as environmental hazards and outbreaks of infectious disease
* critically evaluate the principles of disease prevention, risk perception and health promotion and be able to apply them in the development of public health strategies
* achieve mastery in a relevant specialist area, including application of critical thinking skills
Entry requirementsEntry Requirements:
Applicants should have a good first degree (2.1 or higher) or at least two years relevant experience with evidence of academic potential. Those whose first language is not English should have obtained an IELTS score of at least 6.5 in the last three years. All applications will be considered on an individual basis by the selection committee. Overseas applications should be received in good time before the start of the course, at least by June. UK applicants might be invited to come for an informal discussion on the course.
Academic titlePublic Health (MPH/Diploma)
Course descriptionCourse Description:
The MPH course starts in September each year and can be taken full-time over one year, or part-time over two years (for UK based students). Part-time students take the core modules (held every Wednesday during terms 1, 2 and 3) in year 1 and specialty modules in year 2 (held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays depending on the subject). Full time students take core and specialty modules concurrently.
Students will obtain 80 credits from the core modules and a further 40 credits from their choice of two specialty modules. The remaining 60 credits will be obtained from the dissertation.
Teaching methods include lectures, tutorials and small group work. The course is assessed by summative assignments and unseen examinations in May. Dissertation work is carried out during the summer for submission in September (part- time) or December (full-time).
Diploma of Public Health: The diploma may be awarded after the examinations to students who do not wish to continue to the full MPH by writing a dissertation.
Certificate in Public Health: Students will have to demonstrate competence in Epidemiology and Health and Health Policy and to have obtained an overall pass in the modules taken.
Module Information
Core Modules:
* Epidemiology: Application of basic epidemiological concepts, and understanding of the nature and uses of epidemiology to explain disease causation and prevention
* Health and Health Policy: Includes health inequalities, stakeholders in public health and social capital
* Statistical Methodology: Application and understanding of statistics in public health using the SPSS computing package for analysis and graphical representation
Specialty Modules - two modules must be chosen from the following four:
* Health Improvement: Health education, health promotion, nutrition, social marketing and health inequalities
* Health Protection: Communicable disease control, environmental health, chemical incident management and emergency planning
* Dental Public Health: Managed by staff in the Dental School the module will concentrate on all aspects of dental health
* International Health: Health consequences of international development, and the significance of a public action approach for addressing these
In preparation for the dissertation full- time and second year part-time students are required to complete a research plan project in February.
Special Features:
* Multidisciplanary and transprofessional in both its content and the students it attracts. The programme is the product of a multi-disciplinary collaboration between the School of Medicine, Cardiff University, the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff, the National Public Health Service for Wales, the Wales Centre for Health, the University of Glamorgan and other academic partners.
* The MPH has been run successfully in Cardiff since 1989 and has a national and international reputation. The course which will be available from 2007 has been modified to fit more closely with the syllabus of the Faculty of Public Health and to take account of the changing nature of public health practice globally.
* Required course for public health trainees in Wales preparing for the examination for membership of the Faculty of Public Health, for whom a supplementary course is available