MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH at University of West of Scotland

OVERVIEW

The Master of Public Health (MPH) degree provides you with a solid understanding in fundamental areas such as public health methodology, epidemiology, health policy, economics, education and health promotion. Delivered through a mixture of face-to-face and online learning it allows a flexible, reflective, challenging, creative ad resourceful environment for postgraduate study. This Masters is aligned with the Faculty of Public Health in the UK and World Health Organization guidance for public health core subject domains.

It is suitable for both established and aspiring Public Health professionals, and it will provide a diverse portfolio of knowledge and experience, leading to many varied career opportunities.

Public Health is concerned with the health of the population as a whole, dealing with topics including hygiene, epidemiology, and disease prevention. As a discipline, it is extremely important both locally and globally as the financial burden of ill health increases its load on the National Health Service providers. Health policies built around changing population needs have improved the health in communities, but they continue to evolve with the expansion of global travel, increased incidence of novel diseases, antibiotic resistance and undesirable lifestyle choices. These are just a few of the recent Public Health issues brought into the spotlight of news and current affairs. With extreme global events such as tsunamis,  earthquakes and weather phenomena, the Public Health issues around the health of those affected are of great concern.

Professional Practice*

The optional, 60-credit module of Professional Practice, additional to the award of MPH, will allow students to gain work experience within a related field and if taken could lead to an award of Master of Public Health (Professional Practice).

The MPH (Professional Practice) award is subject to availability and suitability of placements. Students are encouraged to find their own placements to build on their practical or research skills, which could be in the voluntary sector, local authority or other suitable agreed work environment.

The placement is not guaranteed, nor is it a condition of gaining the award, as it will provide a further 60 credit points to the 180 required through the campus–based modules and dissertation.

JOBS

Our MPH will prepare you for a successful career in Public Health and allied professions both in the UK and globally. This list of potential career prospects is not extensive and the options will vary depending on your first degree, and may include the possible opportunities arising through your local authorities and community projects:

• Public health promotion / practitioner
• Health economist
• Health centre director
• NGO (Non-Governmental Organisation)
• Tropical disease specialist
• Refugee coordinator
• HIV/AIDS educator
• Health education specialist
• Homeless services educator
• Community support worker
• Education- lecturer in public health
• PhD research / Research assistant