Educational aims
This Certificate of Higher Education (CertHE) aims to provide a broad grounding in healthcare sciences as a foundation for progression to a higher level qualification (Foundation Degree or Diploma of Higher Education), and provides evidence of your ability to commence study at the higher level. Your studies will:
- introduce you to a range of concepts, data and terminology relevant to the health sciences
- expose you to different lines of evidence and key debates relating to topics in the health sciences
- present health topics in their wider personal, cultural and social contexts
- enable you to develop skills in written and computer-based communication, and information literacy, using a variety of text-based, graphical, numerical and online sources, generating, presenting and interpreting numerical data and using a computer to support your learning and practice
- enable you to begin engaging with evidence-based practice and start to assemble a personal portfolio evidencing progression in your own practice
- foster enthusiasm and confidence in studying and working in the health sciences and provide a framework that will equip you with the study skills necessary for further study.
Learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding
On completion of the certificate, you will have knowledge and understanding of:
- many of the key terms, nomenclature, classification systems, conventions and units of measurement that are central to the health sciences
- the structure and function of some of the major systems and organs in the human body, and their association with health, disease, disorder, dysfunction and pathology
- examples of ways in which an individual’s psychological state can impact on their physical health
- the theoretical basis of diagnosis and intervention in defined medical conditions
- appropriate methods to interpret and analyse scientific data and information in defined contexts within the health sciences.
Cognitive skills
On completion of the certificate, you will be able to:
- begin to use and apply knowledge and understanding of essential facts, concepts, principles and theories relating to the health sciences in defined contexts
- begin to apply such scientific knowledge and understanding to address familiar and unfamiliar examples
- analyse, interpret, synthesise and summarise simple scientific data and information appropriately
- develop the ability to recognise different lines of evidence and appreciate the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of current knowledge in defined areas of the health sciences
- begin to address some of the key social, psychological and ethical issues surrounding health sciences topics.
Practical and/or professional skills
On completion of the certificate, you will be able to:
- locate, receive and respond to a variety of information sources (e.g. textual, numerical, graphical and computer-based) in a defined context
- apply number skills to undertake calculations appropriate for your working practice
- communicate scientific information accurately and effectively using written, visual and numerical forms in a style that suits purpose and audience
- prepare, process, present and interpret data in defined ways using appropriate qualitative and quantitative techniques
- use a range of study skills appropriate to CertHE-level study and apply them to improve your own learning
- use your ICT skills as appropriate to locate online information sources, enhance your own learning, carry out simple data analysis, and communicate and discuss scientific information with others
- maintain your own personal development portfolio and reflective diary
- manage your own learning, organise your own time and begin to work independently in a way appropriate for continuing personal and professional development.
Key skills
On completion of the certificate, you will be able to:
- describe your own role within the context of your profession and organisation
- describe and accurately perform a range of procedures, such as basic physiological measurements, relevant to your job
- use your skills in interpreting data derived from health-related investigations with respect to current subject knowledge
- apply your knowledge and understanding to inform and implement safe working practice and identify risks
- describe and implement the procedures for keeping client/patient records with due regard for confidentiality and explain the need for professional standards when dealing with colleagues and members of the public.
Teaching, learning and assessment methods
Teaching will be by a blend of text, video material, interactive DVD, internet activities and discussion forums. Practical skills will also be taught by face-to-face instruction.
Assessment will include interactive computer-marked assignments and tutor-marked assignments, examinations and end-of-module assessments.
You will assemble an ePortfolio showing evidence of achievement of the qualification outcomes.