BSc Public Health (on campus)

This Unit will run over Semesters 1 and 2 to allow students to carry out an in-depth project focusing on a specific problem with the context of Public Health. Students will build on their skills gathered across the programme to further develop skills in critical thinking and decision making to develop a focused project aim. They will develop a comprehensive search strategy, gather evidence, critically evaluate the evidence using systematic appraisal tools, synthesise and analyse the evidence and make recommendations to practitioners and policy makers for the benefit of the population. Students will be supported in this process through feedback on bitesize formative assessments that lead them through the process as well as support from an assigned supervisor. The project will not require collection of original data. It should comprise elements of critical analysis of existing data.  

The unit aims to:

Allow students to write a Public Health dissertation that brings together their learning across the programme on a focused project of their choice. Students will further develop skills to critically justify a Public Health topic, gather evidence, critically evaluate the quality of that evidence and synthesise the findings to make recommendations that will make a difference to population health. The topic will be relevant to the course aims. Students will develop critical capacity in personal initiative, responsibility and decision making through independent working, organisation and management of time and resources.  

Students learning will be supported by 12 x 2-hour interactive face to face seminars, discussion group activities and supervision (notional 6 x 1 hour supervision across semesters 1 and 2, feedback on a series of formative tasks aligned with the project methods and feedback on one complete draft of the final written project. A project handbook will be provided giving practical support for all aspects of the project methods and write up.  

Students will be able to:

1. Draw on learning across the programme in Health Improvement, Health Care Public Health, Evidence based Practice and Global Health to consolidate understanding of the different domains in a Public Health project that addresses a contemporary real world Public Health problem.
2. Identify and critically evaluate a suitable topic for the Public Health Dissertation and clearly outline the aim of the project and the objectives that need to be achieved in order to meet the aim.
3. Design and complete an in-depth independent study of their choice related to the course aims 

Students will be able: 

1. Work independently to plan, execute and present a Public Health project and communicate the findings in an extensive written report.
2. Apply appropriate frameworks and conceptual models to critically reflect on evidence related to a Public Health topic.
3. Synthesise and critically appraise a body of evidence and apply this to a real world contemporary Public Health problem.
4. Critical reflection on the achievement of the projects aims and objectives 

Students will be able to: 

1. Identify appropriate sources of evidence such as academic databases and grey literature and develop a detailed search strategy.
2. Carry out a systematic search of the evidence and identify relevant articles from academic and wider Public Health sources including the grey literature, NGOs such as WHO and UN and governmental agencies.
3. Carry out an in-depth critical evaluation of identified evidence using appropriate systematic quality appraisal tools. 
4. Write a research report and present outcomes as a coherent whole
5. ANO type of assessment required  

Students will be able to: 

1. Plan, organise and deliver a written report addressing a real-world Public Health problem.
2. Work independently using own initiative and decision making to identify and focus on a Public Health priority using a critical evidence-based approach.
3. Reflect on the wider implications of the project findings to outline creative recommendations to practitioners and policy makers for the benefit of the population. 

Written feedback will be given on Blackboard for all formative task submissions and the final summative submission. 

Walliman, N. (2014). Your undergraduate dissertation : the essential guide for success. 2nd ed. Los Angles, Calif.; Sage.

Greetham, B. (2019). How to write your undergraduate dissertation. Third edition. London: Red Globe Press.

Library support for Dissertations (manchester.ac.uk)

Library support for searching (manchester.ac.uk)

Library support for writing (manchester.ac.uk)

Library support for referencing (manchester.ac.uk)

Students can expect 30 contact hours (with 12 two hour group seminars and 6 hours of supervision). There is also 40 hours of online discussion board activities expected.