Public Health

Health is best understood as a holistic concept; many social, environmental, genetic and individual lifestyle factors impact upon the health of individuals and communities.

Dahlgren and Whitehead's (1991) determinants of health model is often used to help us understand this.

The public health approach does not have limits. It is concerned with broad issues such as the wider determinants of health and the impact of housing, town planning, globalisation or unemployment on the health of society in addition to tackling disease, prolonging life and changing individual lifestyles. Public health therefore requires a skilled multidisciplinary workforce, drawn from a wide range of agencies, to work with communities to improve health in its broadest sense.

This course is ideal for a wide range of health and local authority practitioners looking to improve their knowledge and skill set within the public health domain. This course will benefit anyone who has an interest in approaches and interventions designed to improve the health of populations globally, in the UK and at individual and community level.

Key facts

• Fit your course around your current job with our flexible study options and up to 5 years to complete
• We offer access to European health promotion and public health through the European summer school
• Our courses are driven by the core competencies for practising public health andthe National Occupational Standards for Public Health Practice, which will help equip you for registration
• Our tutors are experts in public health, health promotion, occupational and environmental health, psychology, health protection, European health promotion,health and social care, and working with partnerships
• We have a range of local, national and international honorary and guest lecturerswho contribute to and enrich the courses and the curriculum
• Our course reflects the diversity of the public health workforce and the emphasison partnership working, community engagement and equity in health
• use the knowledge and skills you develop on the MPH programme to help you register with the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) http://www.publichealthregister.org.uk/

We have recently extended the MPH programme and also offer:

• Module-only study options
• Foundations in Public Health
• Public Health Research
• Health, Social Care and Well-being
• Leadership in Public Health
• Short courses
• Evaluative Research for Practitioners

To help you develop your academic and practitioner skills further, enhance areas of expertise and support registration with the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR). More short courses are under development so please check with the Programme Leader for the latest details.

Get in touch to find out more.

The course is delivered by an experienced and multidisciplinary team of experts from Occupational Health, Environmental Health, Sociology, Psychology, Statistics, Epidemiology, Community Work, Nursing and Health Protection. A range of local, national and international honorary and guest lecturers also contribute to the programme.

Find out more about studying the Masters in Public Health from students Manju, Margaret and Paula.

Course duration

Full-time: 1 year

Part-time: 2 - 5 years

Location: Wrexham

Start month: September

Teaching for part-time study requires attendance at the University on one afternoon a week (currently Wednesday 1-7pm except for year one, semester two which will be at the same time on a Tuesday) so you can study alongside work and other commitments. Teaching for full-time study requires attendance at the University on two afternoons a week. Please check with the University on the latest timetable arrangements for teaching as these are always subject to change.

* subject to validation

Career opportunities

Our public health course is designed to equip people with the necessary knowledge and skills to work within the broad and expanding field of public health, thereby aiding career progression.

Course modules

• Foundations of Public Health
• Research Methodologies in Public Health
• Applied Public Health Research
• Health and Well-being
• Health Services and Public Policy
• Environmental Health and Health Protection
• Dissertation

Optional modules:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Health
• Health and Society
• Physical activity and health
• Behaviour Change Counselling
• Public Health Nutrition
• European Health Promotion
• Public Health Leadership
• Partnership Working and Community Involvement

Entry requirements

An undergraduate degree or equivalent in a health or related subject or at least five years’ relevant experience. We also welcome and actively encourage non-health-related graduates and others who can satisfy the University that they are suitably qualified to undertake a postgraduate course. You can do this by showing a portfolio of evidence to support your application and demonstrating your ability to study at Masters level.We welcome overseas applications.

Assessment

• Written assessments
• Oral presentations
• Dissertation

Masters in Public Health - academic profiles

Dr Lynne Kennedy PhD MPHil RPHNutr. Hon MFPHM (Course Director)

Dr Kennedy has worked in NHS, European and academic public health for nearly 20 years. Lynne spent 14 years at the University of Liverpool where she was involved in the MPH programme and is an Honorary Member of the Faculty of Public Health.

E-mail: l.kennedy@glyndwr.ac.uk

Dr Charlotte Emma Hilton PhD; CPsychol (Programme Leader)

Dr Hilton has worked in mental and public health settings as both a practitioner and academic for over 10 years. She is a Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist with expertise in psychometrics, public health intervention design and evaluation and behaviour change counselling. Charlotte is also a member of the Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers (MINT).

E-mail: c.hilton@glyndwr.ac.uk

Charlotte and Lynne will be able to provide you with further information about the Masters in Public Health, including answers to some of the more frequently asked questions that potential students may have about the course.