Core modules

• Addictions and Communicable Disease Management

  Addictions and Communicable Disease Management will assist you to develop skills in presenting detailed clinical information on particular conditions. During this module you will develop a critical understanding of two contrasting types of widespread forms of public health challenge: that presented by addictions (to alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, food etc) and the public health issues associated with infectious disease management within the UK, Europe and globally. The social, economic, cultural and political determinants affecting the health and wellbeing of populations around the world in relation to addictions and infections are addressed. Critical comparisons will be made between developed and developing world strategies, the influence of multinational markets, pandemic and epidemic management, central and local initiatives.

• Essential Issues in Public Health Policy

  During this module you will develop a critical understanding of public health, and are encouraged to engage in critical debate using historical and theoretical perspectives to examine major public health issues and policy developments. You are encouraged to draw on and share your own experience to inform your understanding of contemporary public health. Emphasis is placed on collaborative working by students in evaluating current policies and practices, as well as in generating new ideas. Social inequalities, particularly the widening 'health gap', are a key theme in developing and developed nations. You will have the opportunity to apply generalised knowledge to specific areas of public health policy and practice and to reflect critically on the implications of policy interventions across disciplines and agencies.

• Epidemiological Research Methods

  Epidemiological Research Methods teaches you to use statistical and research techniques to manage the gathering, presentation and interpretation of public health data. Epidemiology is an underlying feature of all course modules, but this module provides the practical skills needed to interpret data, the opportunity to explore and review the research process (research protocols, literature review, design, methodology and presentation of findings) and the skills to evaluate public health research data.

• Strategic Management and Commissioning

  Here you will be familiarised with the planning and types of various community assessment methods that inform priority setting and equable service provision (e.g. Health Needs Assessment). It will introduce the principles and methods of partnership working, leadership and change management. This module offers public health practitioners the opportunity to develop leadership skills within an inter-professional context in order to achieve public health improvement. It is aimed at developing skills in carrying out population needs assessments and setting local priorities and commissioning in health, local government and the third sector services. These skills can be extrapolated to countries outside the European Union. Our module is multi-disciplinary in content, drawing on sociological, behavioural, psychological and contemporary public health perspectives with students from various disciplines sharing practical applied experience.

• Major Project

  The major project is of central importance to the Masters award. You will be expected to bring together aspects of learning from previous modules as well as using the learning as the basis for planning, conducting and writing a research or work-based project.