Online Public Health Promotion MSc

Principles of Public Health

The three major domains and pillars of Public Health are explored with this module, encompassing: Health Protection, Prevention and Promotion, their principles, and practices. With a focus on both UK and international issues, this module will further your understanding of communicable disease and their control, environmental Public Health and emergency, preparedness, resilience, and response. With a variety of theory, policy and practical elements associated with health improvement and behaviour change, the wider determinants and psychosocial aspects of health will also be investigated. Using case study examples, you will be able to develop your competency in using key terminology and definitions to discuss the principles and applications of Public Health to address issues, as well as giving you a good grounding of the tools utilised for a variety of Public Health issues and epidemiology of selected diseases, identifying and critiquing infections disease protection and control measures. You will develop an advanced understanding of the foundational constructs of health improvement, whilst analysing the social determinants and inequalities of health. The complex nature of behaviour, its influences and how practitioners can effect change will be judged as well as the principles, models and concepts adopted as part of Health Improvement. This module will equip you with the skills to assess Public Health issues, design interventions, evaluate the implementation process and assess the impact whilst considering the commissioning cycle of Health Improvement services in England.

Healthy Ageing

With life expectancy increasing by more years than healthy life expectancy, it has never been more important to analyse the ageing process and lived experiences of older people today across the different biological/physical and psychosocial domains.

You’ll be introduced to key topics associated with ageing including patterns and trends, beliefs and perceptions, culture, theoretical frameworks, health and social care provision, social inequalities and economic security in older life.

You’ll foster critical reasoning throughout the module and be able to apply it to research skills, relevant evidence, policies and services whilst developing a positive attitude to health promotion and a holistic view of health and wellbeing and its determinants in older adults.

Lifestyle, Disease and Health

This module will give an opportunity for you to study the mechanisms by which lifestyle, in particular physical activity and nutrition, can be promoted to improve health. The current guidelines for health benefits will be addressed as well as adherence/compliance to exercise and maintaining healthy eating, to create a more active and healthy population whilst exploring the prescription guidelines and recognising how they can be used to alleviate health inequalities.

You’ll study methods for assessing physical activity and capacity for physical work in the general population. You’ll carry out appropriate screening and testing - specifically using physiological testing to stratify individuals and profile screen.

Obesity is a global epidemic and one of the greatest long-term health challenges England currently faces. Around 63% (two thirds) of adults are above a healthy weight, and half of these are obese. In English primary schools, 1 in 3 are leaving year 6 overweight or living with obesity and 1 in 5 are living with obesity. Those residing in the most deprived parts of the country are more than twice as likely to be living with obesity, which is associated with reduced life expectancy and a range of health conditions. Preventing and tackling obesity is one of the Government’s priorities as it is critical to reducing the considerable health costs that obesity brings. Throughout this module you’ll explore the current profiles, monitor patterns and trends at national/regional/local levels, as well as the international data on adult and child obesity prevalence, to develop a systemic understanding of current issues that affect those living with obesity and the care available to them. You’ll explore the conceptual understanding of the current Government policies/actions/initiatives and NHS documents and their application to health and wellbeing whilst examining the relationship between health, regular physical activity and the capacity to carry out physical work, obesity indicators and contextual indicators to establish how prevalence and inequalities are being addressed. The roles and working relationships of multidisciplinary teams will be reflected upon critically, as well as the limitations of the role of health, nutrition and exercise practitioners. The module will particularly interest those who wish to pursue a career in the health strand of exercise science and weight management.

Urban Health

Human settlement is predominantly ‘urban’ with more than 50% of the world’s population living in city/urban settings, 80% in developed countries. The United Nations Observatory data predicts that by 2025 at least 60% of the world’s population will be city dwellers, and therefore most of the Public Health work will be carried out in cities. It’s important that you have an in-depth understanding of how these living environments and settings influence human health so you can be effective in promoting and improving population health - this will be established through engaging with theoretical concepts and principles. Applying a multidisciplinary approach, you’ll study the influence of ‘place’, the wider determinants of health and the changing urban environment on the health of those residing in cities and city neighbourhoods. Throughout the module you will examine the notions of health crisis, health disadvantage and health advantage for those in cities. You’ll do this by utilising reference material from cities across the country and globally to understand the significance for health and healthcare. By engaging critically with Public Health materials, you will develop an understanding of policy formulation processes, including the New Urban Agenda and sustainable development goals, in relation to the shifting agendas towards health improvement in cities and the specific Public Health issues related to those population groups.

Into ARU

Entering third level education is exciting; but it can also be a daunting experience. At ARU, we want all students to make the most of the opportunities Higher Education provides, so they reach their potential, become lifelong learners and find fulfilling careers. However, we appreciate that the shift from secondary education, or a return to formal education is, in itself, quite a journey. This module is designed to ease that transition. You will be enrolled on it as soon as you receive an offer from ARU so you can begin to learn about university life before your course starts. Through Into ARU, you will explore a virtual land modelled around ARU values: Courage, Innovation, Community, Integrity, Responsibility, and Ambition. This innovative module is designed as a game, where students collect knowledge and various complete mini tasks. You’ll proceed at your own pace, though we expect all students to have completed their Into ARU exploration by week 6. Students who, for whatever reason, are unable to complete by that date, will be signposted to existing services so that we can be confident that they are supported.

Postgraduate Final Project

Research and project work are central to the masters award. As such this final project will provide you with an opportunity to address a Public Health problem or gap in your own practice knowledge. By synthesising learning from your previous modules, you’ll plan a research or professional project, including the selection of appropriate methods of data collection and analysis, implementing the design, and evaluating your findings in a suitable manner. Throughout this process you’ll be supported by a supervisor with expertise within the area to identify and select a meaningful question in relation to your chosen specialism, monitor your progress and demonstrate a depth of knowledge in your field.

Modules are subject to change and availability.