Public Health (MPH)

How will I be taught?

Each module involves e-learning and face-to-face lectures, fireside chats, small group exercises and practical sessions. We utilise a range of learning approaches including debates, discussion forums and plenary sessions delivered by key experts in the field. The use of multiple approaches for you to learn will build a community of practice and enhance your collaboration with your peer and the faculty while respective that individuals will have different learning styles and needs.  The course is supported by a suite of eLearning material housed on a modern web interface, suitable for traditional computers and tablets and using flipped teaching approaches to learning.

Statistical methodology is taught alongside statistical software. This enables you to learn theoretical concepts and their application.

The communication of ideas and team-work are an integral part of all modules, and form part of the formative assessments in all modules. Promotion of basic IT skills is integrated into modules and learning technology support is available to those who need it.

Each module has its own learning outcomes. These outcomes are achieved through such means as recommended reading texts, self-directed learning and self-assessed tasks, formative and summative assignments and the final dissertation.

Studies at MPH dissertation level will largely consist of guided independent study and research, making use of the extensive learning and research facilities available. A project supervisor will be allocated to support and advise you on researching and writing up your specific dissertation topic.

How will I be assessed?

Knowledge and understanding is assessed through a combination of the following assessment types: 

• Unseen class tests using short or structured answer questions, or deploying multiple choice questions
• Oral presentations
• Individual written assignments including reports, structured tasks (such as data analysis and critical appraisal), essays and poster presentations 

The dissertation stage will be assessed based on a written report of your dissertation project. 

How will I be supported?

We place an emphasis on supporting students with independent learning in a research- and service-informed environment, acquiring high quality practical skills and the development of innovative ideas.

A team of academic, administrative, learning technology and library staff are available throughout the year to support you.  Each student is allocated a personal tutor for help and support with academic and pastoral needs, who you can contact to discuss progress and for advice and guidance as needed. You will also have access to the module lead tutor for further support whenever the need arises. 

Feedback is provided throughout the modules via formative exercises and class interaction. Formative assessment is through practical exercises and class presentations and written feedback is provided. Feedback is also provided on summative assessments, and where appropriate through on-line discussion boards and simulation exercises.

What skills will I practise and develop?

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme describe what you will be able to do as a result of your study at Cardiff University. They will help you to understand what is expected of you. 

The Learning Outcomes for this Programme can be found below:

Knowledge & Understanding:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

• Critically evaluate routine epidemiological measures of health and disease, including public health and epidemiological research methods and methodologies, critically appraising the rigour and validity of such to address population health questions and inform decision making.
• Reflect on the role of epidemiology and its’ contribution to public health, including health surveillance, health protection and health promotion using contemporaneous evidence to support discussions and implementation, appreciating the different political and economic contexts and how and why interventions must be tailored to different situations.
• Critically analyse and interpret the distributions and determinants of health and disease grounding these in theoretical perspectives that help understand the impact of behaviour and social determinants of health and well-being.
• Strategically plan the investigation of public health problems, integrating the ability to develop a robust health needs assessment with valid measures to control disease and promote well-being through critical evaluation using high quality evidence and clinical judgement and addressing issues of equality, efficiency and health acre planning.
• Synthesise management and leadership theory to explore their impact on change on management, teamworking, policy, strategy and organisational function, including health service financing.
• Critically debate the concepts that underpin heath economics and synthesise to practice, the most appropriate health economic models to use in the healthcare context justifying models to practical scenario.
• Critically reflect on the major infectious agents, environmental and occupational hazards of public health importance and implications of exposures to these including the role of risk assessment, and the communication and management of risk using communicable disease concepts and supporting emergency planning and preparedness.
• Synthesise quality improvement theory and research to facilitate critical review of clinical practice, including critique of the different theoretical approaches to design and evaluating public health improvement interventions
• Debate concepts of health education, health literacy, and health consciousness and the processes by which they determine health-related lifestyle behaviours and choices synthesising models around the social determinants of health and wellbeing.

Intellectual Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate the ability to:

•  critically debate with informed colleagues on key public health matters, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions through audit, service evaluation and research
• assess the appropriateness of various statistical techniques for inferential analysis of data, apply appropriately, using the logical progression of data analysis effectively and interpret results in a statistical context, appreciating the results from a public health perspective
• use epidemiological data to analyse a problem and formulate an appropriate response, providing a rationale for the actions proposed

Professional Practical Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate the ability to: 

• assess practical approaches to contemporaneous and specific health challenges using statistical software to analyse and interrogate public health data and to summarise statistics for data presentations.
• appreciate a stakeholder perspective on defining and addressing public health issues, and understand the roles and responsibilities of different domestic and international agencies demonstrating fluency in health economic terminology.
• use epidemiological techniques to evaluate surveillance systems and to undertake field investigation 
• develop, deliver and evaluate health promotion activities being cognisant of the ideological dilemmas, behaviour, social factors and policy assumptions underlying different approaches
• synthesise and judge the appropriate level of information to communicate to a range of public health audiences including senior managers, groups or individuals representing the public, politicians and the media understanding their roles and responding appropriately to request for information.

Transferable/Key Skills:

On successful completion of the Programme you will be able to demonstrate the ability to: 

• communicate information clearly both orally and in writing, especially in relation to media responses 
• search for and critically evaluate evidence and synthesise to practice 
• problem solve and plan logically, solving problems independently and in small working groups 
• demonstrate negotiation skills and work well within a team setting, consulting with colleagues and acting professionally at all times 
• recognise and work within the limits of professional competence 
• use the internet to source current information about local, national and global health issues 
• reference correctly using Harvard convention
• debate effectively in a multi-stakeholder environment in order to promote public health concerns