Aims and philosophy
Aims
On completion of the course, students should have:
- Developed the core knowledge necessary to access, understand and apply research evidence in either the hospital or non-hospital based setting
- The ability to critically analyse measures that aid decisions about how to allocate resources to promote health at a population level
- Developed a population focus to health issues and a detailed understanding of the principal determinants of health at a population level
- The ability to understand and develop skills in order to carry out research in the primary care and public health settings
- Developed a critical approach to the use and application of epidemiology, biostatistics and qualitative research methods in the work environment
Philosophy
The Master of Public Health (MPH) started in 2002 as the first web-based public health master's course in the UK. Students benefit from the advantages of web-based delivery, such as:
- Increased flexibility and control over the timing of their learning
- Simple navigation and links to both course material and the vast amount of resources available on the world wide web
Approach to teaching and learning
The MPH and MRes programmes emphasise a self-directed approach, and encourage participation and discussion between students and tutors through discussion boards and collaborative exercises. Materials feature integrated self-assessment exercises.
The style of teaching and assessment methods focuses on helping students to acquire skills and competencies, particularly those required for an evidence-based approach to population health. The materials have been designed to help meet the public health competencies defined by the UK Faculty of Public Health.
Evidence theme
The theme of evidence underpins the philosophy of the course and there is a keen need:
- To encourage a scientific basis to practice via the collection and use of evidence and for this, the skills of the population health sciences are essential
- To ensure the skills learned on the course can be applied in the workforce - students should use the skills they have learned
Web-based study
The advent of web-based technology allows us to offer this course to those who find face-to-face contact difficult for reasons of geography, employment or personal circumstances. This does not mean that teachers and students will not get to know each other.
The short (non-compulsory) residential components, the email discussion groups and the discussion boards, which form essential parts of the course, ensure that contact is maintained between teachers and students and among the student groups.
Students' professional lives should be enriched and the skills learned will contribute to improving the health of the population. Students should enjoy the process!
