BA (HONS) Public Health & Social Care- September Start

How to pay for your course?

You can apply for tuition fee loans and maintenance loans to help with accommodation and everyday living while studying with us. You would need to apply via Student Finance England. The loan schemes mean you only start to pay back your loan once you have completed your higher education course and are in employment earning more than £25,000 per year.

Additional support for learners with disabilities:

Students with declared learning difficulties, disabilities and/or ongoing health conditions can also apply for Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). DSA is support that covers the study-related costs you have because of a mental health problem, long term illness or any other disability, for example, dyslexia. The type of support and how much you get will depend on your individual needs and not your household income. For more information, please visit the DSA website.

Students will be studying a suite of modules including:

Year 1 (Level 4):

• Developing Academic Literacy: This module aims to develop students’ academic literacy and equip them with study, search, referencing and writing skills essential to their programme within higher education. Students will complete an annotated bibliography and a reflective essay for this module.
• Understanding Self and Principles of Communication: This module provides a theoretical and practical basis on which students can build personal and professional capabilities in communication. Students will be assessed through a role play and a VLE discussion.
• Sociology of Health Care: This module enables students to begin to consider theoretical concepts of health, the social determinants of health and policies of responsive intervention and preventative measures. As part of their assessment, students will complete a written essay and a report.
• Health Assets and Health Needs: This module aims to provide students with the knowledge and understanding of and impact of health inequalities, examining strategies for health needs assessment of individuals as well as vulnerable groups. Assessments include a poster presentation and a written essay.
• Risk Assessment in Health Care: This module introduces students to aspects of risk assessment incorporated within the Health and Safety at work legislation in approaches to care delivery and Public Health. Assessments include a case study analysis and a written essay.
• Introduction to Professional Practice: This module aims to prepare students to work in an area of public health and/or social care. Assessments include the completion of a work portfolio and a written reflective analysis.

Year 2 (Level 5):

• Safeguarding and Children’s Welfare: This module aims to equip students with knowledge in relation to the safeguarding of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Assessments include an examination and a case study analysis.
• Health and the Environment: This module explores the relationship between health and the environment, considering the environmental sources of health disorder and approaches to the improvement of environmentally related health concerns. Assessments include a case study analysis and a written evaluation of an environmental policy.
• Social Care and Value Processes: This module aims to explore the concept of care and the professional values which underpin care approaches. Assessments include a role play and a written essay.
• Ethical Issues and Decision Making: This module explores ethical issues, theories and principles in relation to professional approaches in public health and social care. Assessments include an individual presentation and a written essay.
• Research Methods and Methodology: This module focuses on key methodology and methods used in social sciences research. Assessments include the completion of a literature review
• Health Promotion: This module provides students with the knowledge, understanding and necessary skills to utilise the principles of health promotion. Assessments include a group presentation and a written evaluation of a health promotion campaign.

Year 3 (Level 6):

• Introduction to Epidemiology: This module aims to develop an understanding of epidemiological approaches and theories. It will address the major research methodologies and their application to public health related services. Assessment is through case study analysis and exam
• Global Issues in Health: This module will allow students to critically examine how the processes of globalisation and the promotion of western values/lifestyles have affected the health of populations in developing countries. Assessment consist of group presentation and a written report.
• Professional Evidence Based Practice: It aims to engender both critical appraisal and the application of valid evidence to practice, resulting in thoughtful practitioners who are able to legitimately question the basis on which actions are being carried out. As part of their assessments, students will complete an analytical report, and Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCEs).
• Managing Services in Health Care: This module aims to equip students with insights into managerial processes so that they can engage with organisational objectives and the notion of governance applicable to settings within public health and social care. Students complete a case study analysis for this module.
• Dissertation: This module aims to equip students with sufficient skill and understanding to enable them to utilise an appropriate research type, method and methodology to carry out their own research in a practice related to public health and/or social care.

Note modules are subject to approval.

Successful completion of the course leads some students to undertake initial careers in the public health and social care sector such as:

• health promotion
• safeguarding
• mental health occupational health
• community health
• health educators/trainers
• gain managerial posts in private or local authority provision.

The programme also enables students to progress to higher level degree courses at Masters Level in social work, Adult/mental health nursing or specialise in Epidemiology or Global Health.

A variety of learning and teaching methods are used throughout the programme to engage students. These include:

• Formal lectures
• Seminars
• Group activities
• Forums

Different assessment methods include:

• formal essay writing
• coursework
• examinations
• case study analysis
• role play
• group/individual presentation.

Must have a Level 3 qualification, for example, BTEC L3 Extended Diploma, Access to HE, A Level or equivalent, in a relevant subject.

Additionally, students must evidence:

• Level 2 English/Literacy or above
• Level 2 Mathematic/Numeracy or aboveI

International applicants:

International applicants must satisfy the minimum English requirements as published on the College website and updated periodically (currently IELTS 6.0 or equivalent with minimum 5.5 in each of the four components).

Mature Students:

Mature students who do not meet the entry criteria are encouraged to apply and will be considered on the basis of relevant work experience, passing the course entrance assessment (if deemed necessary by the course tutor) and successful interview.