Public Health, BSc Hons

All over the world, health is now recognised to be about social, economic and cultural issues taking an equal place alongside medical technology, surgical intervention, hygiene and individual therapy. In fact, the evidence is overwhelming that the non-biological factors affecting health are far greater influences: poverty, deprivation and inequality have combined with crime and addiction to create what we now call social exclusion.

This programme offers a new, socially based approach to improving health. It aims to fill a large and increasing gap for all those who now want to work in the community to improve health, but it does not require individuals to be health workers, such as doctors and nurses. The programme is multidisciplinary in its approach, mirroring central government policies in this area of development. It also offers site visits and a sandwich year. It is one of only three such programmes in the United Kingdom and thus taps into a large new group of potential students.

UCAS code

B902 A BSc/PH

School

Health & Social Care

Location

Avery Hill Campus

Attendance

3 years full-time 6 years part-time

Entry Requirements

Applicants should have:

240 UCAS points FROM

EITHER a minimum of two subjects at A-level or AVCEs

OR a BTEC National Diploma (MMM) or Certificate (DD)

OR a Society, Health and Development Diploma

PLUS a minimum of three GCSEs at grade C or above (including English Language, mathematics or a science subject), or their equivalent

OR an approved Access to Higher Education Diploma (with English and mathematics at level 2 or 3).

• Mature students over 21 with alternative qualifications are considered on an individual basis.

Attendance

Students are assessed through essays, exams, written reports, peer-led assessment and a project report.

Career options

Opportunities exist in the National Health Service, local government, the wide sweep of organisations in the voluntary sector, regional, national and international bodies working on improving health, and industries involved in food, transport, the environment, pollution and the media.

Content

Year 1

• Introduction to Health Promotion (15 credits)
• Public Health (15 credits)
• Academic Skills for Health and Social Care (15 credits)
• Encounters with Public Health (15 credits)
• Understanding Quantitative Health Data 1 (15 credits)
• Environment and Health (15 credits)
• Introduction to Health and Social Policy (15 credits)
• Introduction to the Concepts of Health (15 credits)

Year 2

• Health Promotion (15 credits)
• Introduction to Research Process (15 credits)
• Poverty, Inequality and Social Exclusion (15 credits)
• Understanding Quantitative Health Data 2 (15 credits)
• Health Economics and Social Policy (15 credits)
• Analysis of Health Needs (15 credits)
• One or two options from: Applied Health Care Ethics (15); Healthy Nutrition (15); Academic Preparation (15); Health and Well Being through the Life Span (30); Introduction to Reproductive Sexual Health (15); Contemporary Issues in Intellectual Disabilities (30) (30 credits)

Year 3

• Project (30 credits)
• Understanding Organisational Behaviour in Health and Social Care (15 credits)
• Key Concepts in Health and Social Care Management (15 Credits)
• Global Context of Public Health (15 credits)
• Two to three options from a range including: Child Protection Law (15); Contemporary Parenting (15); Health and Social Care Ethics (15); Mentor Development: The Practice Based Teacher (15); Stress and Burnout: Managing Change (15); Current and International Issues in Intellectual Disability (30); Safeguarding the Welfare of Children and Young People (30); Domestic Abuse (15); Cultural Competence in Health and Social Care (15); European Health and Social Care (15) (45 credits)

Your time at university should be enjoyable and rewarding, and it is important that it is not spoilt by unnecessary financial worries. We recommend that you spend time planning your finances, both before coming to university and while you are here. We can offer advice on living costs and budgeting, as well as on awards, allowances and loans.

Find out more about our fees and the support available to you at our:

• Undergraduate finance pages
• International students' finance pages

Related programmes you may also be interested in

• General Health Programmes
• Health and Safety Programmes
• Nursing and Midwifery Programmes
• Nutrition Programmes
• Psychology and Counselling Programmes
• Social Care Programmes