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University of Bedfordshire
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
UK, LU1 3JU
This course focuses on the applied principles of public health and is aimed at both medically and non-medically qualified people. It is relevant to people with health service and non-health service backgrounds including primary or secondary care, nursing and professions related to medicine, health promotion, healthcare research, health management and anyone wishing to develop a career in public health.
The course is dedicated to creating an effective `community of inquiry to foster group learning and support.
Learning is based on the principles set out in the UK Government Public Health White Papers, which the National Health Service (NHS) uses to improve health and prevent disease, and not just to provide treatment for those who are ill. How these principles can be employed internationally will be explored.
The course provides a useful introduction to the academic part of the syllabus for the Membership of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine (MFPHM) part one examination, and will also position students to take the core public health competencies. The course develops participants practical and critical public health skills, underpinned by a sound understanding of associated theories.
The course has three exit awards: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Science degree. During the course you will also have the opportunity to develop your own special interests and embark on academic research. The course is delivered by eminent academics who between them have many years of public health expertise at practitioner and researcher level.
Delivery of the course will be via online interactive material and participation will be required via blogging and wikkies. Technological requirements for distance learning are a computer with Windows 7 or XP running Microsoft Windows 2007; a web camera would be useful for using with Skype or Conference Me. Technical help is available if needed.
Public health has become an increasingly significant focus of government plans worldwide, initiating developments at local and national levels within multiple healthcare settings. Organisations require practitioners who have the specialist skills and attitudes provided by this course, whether experienced practitioners or graduates seeking a working understanding of public health.
During the course you will:
Areas of study you may cover on this course include:
For all the assignment you must consider which Key Area from the Faculty of Public Health will form the basis of your leaning and underpin your assignment.
The assessments have been designed to assist you in meeting your own learning needs in relation to each unit. They provide the opportunity to reflect on and analyse the process of learning from identification of learning needs through to evaluation of the learning process. It also means that you can respond to changes in your own working environment immediately, and re-define what you would like, and need to learn if necessary.
Some assessment consists of 2 elements for example Policy and Issues in Public Health:
The portfolio provides the evidence of your learning and is therefore an important element in your professional development and enables you to present the new skills that you have developed.
Specifically, this masters level programme aims to:
1. Enhance your Public Health capabilities within health, social care and community based agencies and other organisations.
2. Enable you to evaluate services in a range of Public Health disciplines and critically appraise their work.
3. Equip you to evaluate research within Public Health and to advise others on research that could be carried in out their organisations.
4. Provide you with the appropriate learning experiences to enhance your opinion on the value of Public Health.
5. Provide you with a secure basis for further academic study in this area.
6. Enable you to explore the impact of Public Health on those within the community who maybe compromised or disadvantaged.
7. Prepare you for your role in Public Health.
8. Explore, analyse and develop your leadership role within a dynamic and changing public health environment.
9. Critically evaluate the use of public health initiatives and how they could be incorporated into your practice.
10. Critically explore what is meant by the term impact of public health policies locally in ordered to debate, analyse and evaluate your current public health polices within the professional agenda.
The programme aims to equip you with the knowledge and skills to engage positively in a wide spectrum of academic activities. It will provide a firm foundation in the design, implementation and evaluation of research activity in both practice and Higher Education Settings. It provides opportunities for you to develop these skills in Public Health.
Specifically, this masters level programme aims to:
The aim of the pathway is to provide a safe and stimulating environment for the debate of key issues currently challenging professionals in their daily practice.
Support will be offered by through a range of means including contact with the programme lead and with unit co-ordinators, with supervisors and your own peer groups online.
As a student you will have access to a personal tutor who will with you monitor your progress on the programme and offer advice where required. You will also be able to contact the named Unit Tutor. If you are experiencing difficulties with your studies in one of the Units this tutor will be your first point of contact.
One of the key components of this programme is that you are able to work closely with others, colleagues, clients and their families. Production of learning objectives enables you to set objectives and review your strategies for working with others, promoting active exchange of information. Presentation activities with your supervisor, peers and clients, give you opportunities for developing skills in working with others through negotiation, working arrangements and achieving quality outcomes.
This is addressed explicitly throughout all stages of the programme as described above. An active personal tutor programme is a key aspect of this programme which will explicitly look at short and longer term professional development needs. Tutorials with programme team members and dissertation supervisors are designed to foster effective PDP. Feedback on performance at all stages will embrace best practice principles and include explicit information about strengths and weaknesses and specific suggestions on how to develop / address these respectively.
Further Study:
It is anticipated that on completion of this programme it will act as a platform for the full masters in Public Health. Or other defined studies within your practice area. You can discuss you future choices with your personal tutor.
Additional:
A foundation degree will be of particular interest if you have completed a Modern Apprenticeship, vocational A levels, BTEC National or equivalent.
Foundation degrees are also particularly suitable if you want to qualify while working.
Many students studying for foundation degrees come to us through work-based routes so you can apply for a foundation degree even if you don’t have traditional academic qualifications.
We welcome applicants with relevant work experience.
We will consider you as an individual and take into account all elements of your application, not just your qualifications. We are looking for both breadth and depth in your current studies as well as enthusiasm for the subject you wish to study.
The general requirement is one of the following:
Postgraduate applications (MA/MSc) should be made direct to the University using the standard University application form. There are some exceptions, please see individual course descriptions for details.
As a general guide, to apply for a place on an undergraduate course (BA/BSc) at the University you need to have completed your high school education and have the required English qualification.
We have students from all the European Union member countries so we are quick to make decisions on most qualifications.
(Please note that applicants on a full student visa are not eligible for part-time study)
We recommend that you apply directly to the University where possible, as this allows us to offer the quickest turnaround time for your application.
Please read the Direct application instructions before completing the course application form.
Application forms for accommodation in the student halls at Bedford campus and Luton campus are available in the Student life section
APL is available for international students applying for undergraduate (Bachelor degree) study. Please do not use this APL form to apply for postgraduate courses.
Use the APL form to tell us about any non-standard qualifications and/or work experience you have that you think should be taken into consideration with your application. `
The APL form should be submitted at the same time as the course application form.
We regret we are unable to process APL forms from students who have not submitted a formal course application form.
Return your completed application to:
University of Bedfordshire
International Admissions
Park Square
Luton
Bedfordshire
LU1 3JU
United Kingdom
T: +44 (0)1582 489326 (non-EU Students)
F: +44 (0)1582 743469
E: international-admissions@beds.ac.uk
The proposed programme is varied both in terms of the curriculum content to enable you to develop a range wide of academic and practice skills in line with the needs of public health practitioners.
You will be introduced to a wide variety of approaches both in teaching and learning styles.
In order to achieve its overall purposes, however, a number of core values underpin the teaching and learning strategy. These include a commitment to personal growth in a culture that stresses equality of opportunity, recognition of you as an adult learner; with reserves of graduate knowledge and enthusiasm, and the integration of intellectual, professional and practical components with a stress on practice which is evidence-based. Transferable and enterprise skills are promoted and the spirit of lifelong learning offered, engaging you fully in the process of your own learning, both individually and within a group.
Independent study underpins distance learning and will include individual and group work, peer discussions, use of a reflective diary will be on-line. The Universities Virtual Learning Environment (BREO), on-line enables remote access to the Universitys learning resources.
Other on-line resources will utilise some of the current technologies for example:
Range of assessment methods closely aligned to learning and teaching methods and to the development of appropriate research skills and relevance to individuals workplace activity.
The programme is designed with SENDA guidelines in mind. The combination of face to face and online resources enables a flexible approach that aims to be learner centred.
Where individual support needs are recognised, the programme team will work with others within the University to ensure that your needs are addressed.
Communication
To help with the development of this you will:
Communication is central to your practice as a professional. As part of this programme you will take part in one-to-one and group discussions including those incorporating complete debates. This requires you to obtain and read detailed information to support your debate and produce supporting materials either as handouts or as part of your assessments. You will develop your verbal presentation skills in readiness for facilitating groups, you will be able to review and evaluate these skills to ensure change over a period of programme. At the same time you will develop the ability to write in a wide range of styles.
Information Literacy
To help with the development of this you will:
Information technology is central to your studies. You will need to produce assignments on a computer, undertake on-line literature searching or access computer-based databases. You are required to monitor your progress and adapt your IT strategies accordingly. As part of the assessment process you are required to produce high standard handouts for peers. In order that you will achieve the required standard you will be guided to sources of support and training within Learning Resources.
Research and Evaluation
To help with the development of this you will:
At the end of your programme you are required to produce a research based dissertation. This will incorporate all the learning aspects of your programme and shows how you can design, implement, evaluate, and disseminate research as an agent for change.
The aims include:
Creativity and Critical Thinking
To help with the development of this you will:
You ability to develop in this area will be afforded by the design of the assignments, group work and exchanges within your on-line work. Therefore through both formative and summative processes.
Your own learning will be improved through the programme as you take responsibility for your own learning, allocation of study time and meeting deadlines for assessments and teaching responsibilities. As you progress through the programme you will start to set realistic targets, create action plans for your study and eventually work without intense supervision. Self-evaluation is a key component of the assessment process and this helps you to improve your performance and identify ways of further improving your learning and performance.
Public Health has become an increasingly significant focus of Government plans worldwide, initiating developments at both local and national levels within multiple health care settings. Organisations require practitioners who have the specialist skills and attitudes provided by this course, whether experienced practitioners or graduates seeking a working understanding of Public Health.
Your individual Portfolio will enable you to chart your personal progress this can be discussed with your personal tutor as part of your own self assessment and your personal development planning.
During the course you will be using as a guide when you are considering your assignments the Key Areas from the Faculty of Public Health in doing so you will be able to develop an understanding of the professional standards required within Public Health.
You will be able to consider how many Key Areas you have covered and how within your professional practice you could cover the remainder.
