AC0782 - Public Health Fundamentals: Concepts, Theories and Frameworks

On this module you will learn using a variety of approaches to learning and teaching. Lectures will introduce and develop key theories, concepts and frameworks in public health, for example the interconnections between policies and the socio-economic determinants of health.

Lecture materials will be made available through technology enabled learning namely the e-learning portal and Panopto, together with links to key materials, for example the Institute of Health Equity. In this module you will be able to focus on a particular topic area of public health that interests you and that you might want to progress through to dissertation. Through directed and independent study you will be encouraged to integrate contemporary public health theory, policy and practice, and to present your findings to both peers and tutors and to engage in debates on key public health topics. These debates will occur in seminars, where you will form small cross cultural and inter-professional collegiate groups which you will sustain throughout the Master of Public Health programme. Working in these small groups you will be able to present your findings and offer and receive critical peer review to colleagues. Peer learning offers you opportunities to explain concepts to each other within a framework provided by staff, and to extend your learning through collaboration.

You will be supported by the module lead and tutors who teach on the module. The academic staff who teach on the module have extensive experience of working in public health settings. Contact details for all academic and administrative team members are available in the module handbook on the e-learning portal.

Electronic teaching and learning materials are provided and updated on the e-learning portal. This includes module handbooks, assessment information, PowerPoint presentations used in class, reading lists and relevant web links. The University libraries offer an extensive collection of material, both hard copy and electronic, access to international databases and training in information retrieval. In addition, a variety of study skills related help guides and online videos can be found on the library Skills Plus site.

If you are an international student you will also have access to an English for Specific Academic Purposes (ESAP) module to help you further develop English language academic writing and study skills.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. Online reading lists (provided after enrolment) give you access to your reading material for your modules. The Library works in partnership with your module tutors to ensure you have access to the material that you need.

Knowledge & Understanding:

1. You will demonstrate a systematic understanding of fundamental public health concepts and the process of critically evaluating them at a deeper level.

2. You will learn how to critically analyse
the interconnecting links between political, social, economic, biological, technological and environmental determinants of public health and explore underpinning discourses.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:

3. You will explore public health policy and practice issues in the key areas of health protection, health improvement and health care services.

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):

4. You will develop self-awareness of new knowledge gained from both national and global public health contexts.

5. You will be encouraged to reflect on your communication skills when working with peers from a variety of ethnic and cultural contexts.

Summative assessment
You will be asked to write a 4000 word essay demonstrating your understanding and critical evaluation of a key public health topic and its relationship to policy and practice. The assessment will be submitted via ESAF and feedback will be given by ESAF.

Module learning outcomes:
KU: 1,2
IPSA:3
PSA:4,5

Formative assessment
You will be asked to write a 1000 word outline of your final summative essay. This will be
submitted electronically by ESAF and feedback will be given by ESAF and verbally in a tutorial. The formative assessment will assess your developing critical writing skills and developing public health knowledge base. With further development this can inform your summative essay.

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This module offers you the opportunity to develop or further develop a critical understanding of a broad range of public health theories, concepts and frameworks that are fundamental to public health policy and practice in national and international contexts. You will learn about the interconnection between political, social, economic, biological, technological and environmental issues and their impact on individuals, families, groups, communities and societies. The module will focus on the importance of research rich learning in order to provide a firm evidence base for public health practice, an important asset for public health practitioners in the workplace. The module has consistently evaluated well by students for its introduction to critical thinking in public health and the support given by module tutors in that process with both these
factors being noted by external examiners.