Course description
MSc/PGDip in Public Health Practice Module overview
Compulsory Modules
Assessment in Public Health Practice
This module will provide the practitioner with the necessary evidence-based knowledge and skills to critically assess individual, family, community and population health needs in a public health context.
Epidemiology and Health Protection
This module will enable the practitioner to: integrate strategic approaches to the promotion and protection of the population's health and wellbeing; critically evaluate impacts of epidemiology; act as health promoters and educators; enhance and utilise skills for the surveillance and assessment of the population's health and wellbeing.
Leading Empowered Partnerships
This module will enable the practitioner to: develop effective skills that can be applied to the facilitation of health-enhancing activities in public health professional contexts; enhance their skills in raising awareness of health needs in acting to promote and protect health and wellbeing; critically appraise policy issues that impact on service provision; develop the necessary knowledge and skills to manage public health practice; critically evaluate the theories underpinning public health practice; critically examine and assess the applicability of management theories and practice in a public health context.
Research for Practice
This module will assist the student to: explore and examine the nature of the research enterprise and its relationship to the natural and social sciences which include health, education and/or social care; develop a critical understanding of the range of theoretical, methodological and ethical issues associated with the study of health, education and social care; examine the convention of dividing research into 'qualitative' and 'quantitative' approaches and their relationship to evidence-based policy and practice, the measurement of clinical effectiveness and evaluation of educational practices; develop their own perspectives regarding research practice for education, health and/or social care.
Dissertation - for the MSc award
(Registered Community Public Health Nurse - Health Visiting/School Nursing)
-Assessment in Public Health Practice
-Community Practitioner Nurse Prescribing
-Clinical Decision Making
-Epidemiology and Health Protection
-Leading Empowered Partnerships
-Protecting and Safeguarding the Child
-Research for Practice
-Dissertation - for the MSc award
Optional modules include:
-Advanced Communication Skills
-Advancing Practice in Acute and Critical Care
-Case Management
-Challenges in Pain Management
-Chronic Disease Management
-Current Issues in Advanced Midwifery Practice
-Ethics
-Independent Learning
-Learning through Professional Practice
-Minor Injuries and Ailments
-Nurse Independent/Supplementary Prescribing
-Nutrition
-Psychosocial Aspects of Care
-Radiotherapy and Supportive Care
-Sexual Health
-Skills for the Children's Workforce
-Valuing Work-based Learning
Typical entry requirements
MSc/PGDip Public Health Practice: students registering for the Postgraduate Diploma will normally hold a previously accumulated credit volume of 360 level three credits of which at least 120 will be at level 3.
MSc/PGDip Public Health Practice with SCPHN: students will normally hold a previously accumulated credit volume of 360 level three credits of which at least 120 will be at level 3 and be named on Part One or Part Two of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register (NMC 2006a).
Students applying for the Postgraduate Diploma Public Health Practice/MSc Public Health Practice with SCPHN endorsement will also need to secure sponsorship from a Primary Care Trust.
Programme length
MSc/PGDip Public Health Practice: normally one academic year full time and two years for the Postgraduate Diploma, and an additional academic year (part-time) to complete the MSc.
MSc/PGDip Public Health Practice with SCPHN: 12 months (52 weeks) full-time, 24 months (104 weeks) part-time
Full-time 46 programmed weeks, 50 per cent of the time in University, 50 per cent in practice (pro-rata part-time)