module specification

SH7010 - Health Protection: Principles and Practice (2024/25)

Module specification Module approved to run in 2024/25
Module title Health Protection: Principles and Practice
Module level Masters (07)
Credit rating for module 20
School School of Social Sciences and Professions
Total study hours 200
 
74 hours Assessment Preparation / Delivery
96 hours Guided independent study
30 hours Scheduled learning & teaching activities
Assessment components
Type Weighting Qualifying mark Description
Unseen Examination 30%   Exam (online - 1 hour)
Coursework 60%   Development of website content, an information booklet, or a policy briefing document (3000 words)
Coursework 10%   Completion of 10 weekly online tasks
Running in 2024/25

(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change)
Period Campus Day Time Module Leader
Spring semester North Tuesday Afternoon

Module summary

This module explores one of the major domains of Public Health, that of Health Protection. This module will introduce you to Health Protection, and the principles and practice of this domain of Public Health. This module will have both an international and UK focus, and will give you an understanding of communicable diseases and how they are controlled, environmental public health, and emergency, preparedness, resilience and response. This module will also look at emerging health protection issues, as-well-as giving you an understanding of health protection tools.

This module will: -
• Provide you with a broad understanding of Health Protection
• Allow you to develop competency in applying basic terminology, definitions, and principles of key health protection issues
• Allow you to identify and critique infectious disease protection and control measures
• Develop your knowledge, understanding, and application of the principles of Health Protection through the use of case study examples

Syllabus

This module covers the following areas: -

• The basics of health protection, including what it is, who is involved and an introduction to infection microbiology LO1
• The epidemiology and control of selected communicable diseases LO1, LO2, LO3
• The immediate and long-term impacts of selected disaster situations and measures to mitigate and overcome these situations LO3, LO4
• Environmental public health LO3, LO4
• Selected health protection tools. LO5

Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity

You will engage with weekly online lectures, readings, quizzes and discussion group tasks. The module focuses on the application of concepts, methods and principles to practice-related contexts, integrating learning into real world scenarios. This approach to teaching aims to develop your ability to think critically about data and evidence, and to draw appropriate inferences in accordance with the stated learning outcomes.
The above teaching methods will be complemented by independent study on the module. You will be required to read, on a weekly basis, recommended chapters in the core textbooks, or to access other relevant educational material. The module will be using the virtual learning environment WebLearn; guidance will be given during the module about how to best use this.

Learning outcomes

On completion of this module, you will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a systematic understanding and critical awareness of the key concepts, principles and practice of Health Protection
2. Discuss the societal and structural determinants of communicable diseases
3. Evaluate prevention and control measures of communicable diseases and environmental hazards
4. Apply approaches to emergency preparedness, resilience, and response to different scenarios, making sound judgments and communicating decisions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences
5. Critically assess the use of health protection tools in different scenarios

Bibliography