BSc Public Health / Course details

This unit will explore what we mean by health improvement and promotion including the history and theories that underpin health improvement and promotion policies and practice globally.  We will explore the importance of health improvement and promotion in public health practice and learn how it improves population health and wellbeing.  We will explore specific exemplars from global partners to help illustrate health improvement and promotion policy and practice globally.  We will explore the principal methods and theoretical approaches to the evaluation and assessment of evidence for effectiveness of health improvement and promotion programmes and interventions.  

The unit aims to develop the students' basic understanding of health improvement and promotion, including global exemplars for how the history of health improvement and promotion and the theories that underpin health improvement and promotion policy and practice.

On-campus students only

Academic engagement includes lectures, seminars, workshops and other face to face activities. To achieve the intended learning outcomes for this course unit, we have created a range of activities. Your course unit leads and teaching team will support you including access to the Student Development Programme including peer-support (PASS) and the Programme Director Seminar Series. We will consult with students to identify any additional needs and further academic engagement activities will be provided. Assessments, preparation for assessments, reading time and independent study are also included within you timetabled activities.

Distance/blended learning students only

Students on this mode of study will have the opportunity to study synchronously with the on-campus students and asynchronously via recorded sessions and online resources. 

A1 Understand how the history of health promotion is used to inform professional practice and decision making.

A2 Understand the strengths and limitations of traditional concepts of health promotion theory and methods, and how these relate to their own work or profession.

A3 Understand how the history and theories are then implemented in global exemplars of health promotion.

B1 Identify and evaluate the evidence required for health promotion policy and practice

B2 Critically appraise the implementation of health promotion practice

C1 Find existing sources of evidence relevant to clinical and non-clinical health questions

C2 Be able to critically appraise common research designs and assess the published literature

D1 Reflect on health promotion principles and applications

D2 Develop communication skills to implement health promotion interventions

Written feedback will be provided for the written assignment.  

Students will also have the opportunity to receive written feedback via formative consolidation exercises on discussion boards.   

Boyce T, Peckham S, Hann A, Trenholm S (2010). A pro-active approach. Health promotion and ill-health prevention. King's Fund.

World Health Organization (WHO) - Health Topics: Health Promotion

World Health Organization (WHO) - Declaration of Alma-Ata

World Health Organization (WHO) (2014) Health in all policies: Helsinki statement. Framework for country action.

For every 20 course unit credits we expect students to work for around 200 hours. This amount is only a guidance and individual study time will vary.