Public health is everybody’s business, and your perspective, whether or not you work in professional practice, is central to this module. You'll reflect on current policies and interventions, challenge assumptions and develop your practice. You’ll consider communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), and how the demography and epidemiology of both have uncovered health inequality and inequity in society. Mapped against UK Public Health Register (UKHPR) requirements, it offers insights into how social determinants impact the health and wellbeing of diverse social groups. Ideal for those pursuing a career in public health or looking to promote wellbeing, strengthen services and reduce inequalities.
What you will study
Public health is defined as the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organised efforts of society1. Never in recent memory have public health measures, prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic, involved so many people throughout the world in collective and individual action to improve their health and wellbeing. Most recognisably through measures involving public health interventions.
Central to public health are issues of social justice arising from the social determinants of health and illness. This module will play a central role in revealing insights into the ways in which social determinants impact on the health and wellbeing of diverse social groups.
The module is made up of four blocks of study that focus on a particular area associated with public health.
Block 1: An introduction to public health
- What is public health
- The scope of public health
- Health trends and wider determinants
- Theory and policy in health promotion
- Theory and policy in health promotion: health security
Block 2: Evidence-based public health
- The evidence base of public health
- Understanding quantitative research
- Understanding qualitative research
- Using research to plan public health interventions
Block 3: Planning, implementing and evaluating public health on a community level
- Education and empowerment
- Communities
- Settings
- Partnership and teams
Block 4: Going global
- Global public health and governance
- Factors influencing global public health
- Policy making for better health
- Public health in the 21st century
The module is mapped against the current United Kingdom Public Health Register (UKPHR) public-health competencies where appropriate. On successful completion, you can be awarded our Graduate Certificate in Public health (S06).
1Acheson, 1988; WHO
Vocational relevance
This module is mapped against the United Kingdom Public Health Register requirements (UKPHR) for those who are pursuing a career in public health.
Entry
This is an OU level 3 module. OU level 3 modules build on study skills and subject knowledge acquired from studies at OU levels 1 and 2. They are intended only for students who have recent experience of higher education in a related subject, preferably with the OU, such as by completing the modules below:
- either K102 or SDK100, and K118; and
- either K243 or KE206, or SK299 and SK298, and K219
You are not required to have done any study before in this subject area but if you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
Teaching and assessment
Support from your tutor
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module. They’ll help by:
- marking your assignments and offering detailed feedback to help you improve
- providing individual guidance, whether that’s for general study skills or specific module content
- guiding you to additional learning resources
- facilitating online discussions between your fellow students in the dedicated module and tutor group forums.
Online tutorials run throughout the module. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate.
Assessment
The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box.
Future availability
Public health: health promotion and health security (K310) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.