2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

NUFF5600M Master of Public Health International: Dissertation

45 creditsClass Size: 35

Module manager: Reinhard Huss
Email: r.huss@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: 1 Jan to 30 Sep View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

Module replaces

This module replaces the former Masters of Public Health (Dissertation) module (NUFF 5680M) and Health Management, Planning and Policy (Dissertation) module (NUFF 5670M).

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module provides students with an opportunity to apply public health and research competence to a topic of their choice. It offers an opportunity to building on theoretical learning on research methods by designing and implementing a dissertation project. This project will be focused on a topical public health issue from an international or national context.

Objectives

This module aims for students on the 12-month variant of the Masters of Public Health International programmes to gain independent experience of designing and implementing a research-based dissertation project in public health.
On completion of this module students should be able to write a coherent dissertation which builds on the public health concepts and methodologies taught during the course and which integrates his/her knowledge, research skills, review of the literature and experience.
Students should be able to:
- establish a clear conceptual understanding of the work required to write a dissertation, perform a situation analysis;
- undertake an appropriate literature review for the topic and have carried out at least one other literature review;
- identify the appropriate format and research methodology to study his/her chosen topic.
This experience will also strengthen the student's personal, planning and organisational skills, independent working and initiative.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module students will be able to:
1. Conduct problem/situation analysis using various tools and conceptual frameworks, where appropriate;
2. Set coherent aim and objectives;
3. Conduct a search strategy for secondary data using various sources including library catalogue, electronic databases, internet;
4. Develop a research framework for analysis and/or for developing a strategy;
5. Analyse an issue related to public health in an international or specific country context.

Skills outcomes
- To conduct problem/situation analysis using various tools and conceptual frameworks;
- To conduct a public health literature review;
- To conduct a search strategy for secondary data in public health using various sources including library catalogue, electronic databases, internet;
- To develop a public health research framework for analysis and for developing a strategy;
- To analyse an issue related to public health in an international or specific country context.

Syllabus

The topic is chosen by the student with the approval of the Programme Leader. The module objectives will be delivered and met through a combination of teaching, tutorials, student presentations, supervision to support the design, development and completion of a written dissertation.
There will be two strands to the work to be covered in this module:
One will be a series of lectures/class exercises on topic definition, reviewing literature and academic writing. The other will be individual work based on meetings with the candidate's supervisor.
Each student will have 6 meetings in-person with their supervisor to discuss issues related to the dissertation. Supervisors will also read and feedback on draft chapters of the dissertation.
The development of a dissertation research methodology will be built on the learning from the previous compulsory module - Health Systems Research Methods (NUFF 5710M).
The topic of research ethics will be covered in this module and the Health Systems Research Methods module. However ethical approval will not be required for the dissertation, because students do desk-based research only, using data and information which is in the public domain and anonymous. In case there are any doubts the Module Leader will advise students accordingly.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	6	1.00	6.00
Group learning	1	3.00	3.00
Lecture	7	3.00	21.00
Practical	6	1.50	9.00
Tutorial	4	1.50	6.00
Independent online learning hours			100.00
Private study hours			305.00
Total Contact hours			45.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			450.00

Private study

Private study
- Pre- and post-supervision reading and writing of dissertation chapters as guided by academic supervisor
- Literature analysis and summary
- Preparation of final dissertation document
Independent online learning
- VLE-hosted plagiarism exercises and a quiz;
- Literature searching using the Library electronic resources.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress is monitored through a number of processes including:
- Proposed dissertation topics are approved by the Programme Leader early in the module.
- Students receive individual feedback on their literature review coursework.
- Students receive individual feedback on the quality of the dissertation structure from peers and an academic in the presentation of their dissertation topic and structure.
- The dissertation supervisor has the responsibility to monitor the progress of the student's schedule of activities during the module and to read and feedback on draft chapters of the dissertation. Students and supervisors agree written minutes of each supervision meeting.

Opportunities for formative feedback include:
- Feedback from the Programme Leader on the choice of topic and host
- Online plagiarism quiz, with an individual mark, feedback and follow-up support for low scorers
- Feedback on literature review assignment
- Feedback from peers and an academic on the dissertation topic and structure
- Supervisors read and comment on drafts of all dissertation chapters during the module
- Agreed minutes of supervision meetings

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay or Dissertation	10,000 word dissertation	85.00
Literature Review	2000 words	15.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/04/2018

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