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Programme Specification for Health Promotion by distance learning BSc (Hons)

Recruitment to this programme is currently suspended.

Final award

BSc (Hons)

Intermediate awards available

Cert HE, Dip HE, Ordinary degree, University Undergraduate (Associate) Certificate

UCAS code

N/A

Details of professional body accreditation

N/A

Relevant QAA Benchmark statements

Health Studies 2002

Date specification last up-dated

July 2011

Profile

The summary - UCAS programme profile

BANNER BOX:

The BSc (Hons) Health Promotion is studied by distance learning with ICS, in collaboration with UEL. This programme offers students the opportunity to study all aspects of health promotion and to consider its relevance in a wider health care context.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Entry to Level 1 or the Full Programme

To enrol on the first Level or the Full Programme you must normally hold 200 UCAS tariff points or equivalent.

A good standard of English is needed in order to successfully complete the programme.

Entry on a Modular Basis

If you do not hold the required tariff points for Level 1 or Full Programme entry, studies will be permitted on a modular basis, following a counselling interview with a programme advisor.

Overseas students should be aware that all exams MUST be taken in the UK at one of the six listed exam venues. Students should also be aware that they are expected to cover all costs in attending the exams.

ABOUT THE PROGRAMME

What is BSc (Hons) Health Promotion?

The Health Promotion Programme looks to examine subjects which impact on the quality of health and offers the opportunity to examine in more detail preventative measures aimed at supporting health.

BSc (Hons) Health Promotion with ICS

  • Health is an exciting and dynamic area of study. There are many careers opportunities available in health care.
  • Study at your own pace to develop knowledge of Health disciplines
  • Broad-based degree preparing you for many careers
  • No entry qualifications needed to start on a module - modules make up degrees!
  • All programme materials designed by experts in the fields of Health
  • No set term times and no need to attend classes
  • An affordable way to learn with a flexible choice of ways to pay
  • Help and guidance from ICS student advisers AND mentors
  • Academic support from a subject specialist tutor
  • Access to the ICS Online Student Community - you are not alone!

Programme structure

To be awarded a Single Honours Degree in Health Promotion, you will have to complete a total of 18 modules, with a value of 360 credits. This will comprise 120 credits at Level 1 or higher, plus 120 at Level 2 or higher, plus 120 at Level 3 or higher. All modules in Level 1 are compulsory. At Levels 2 & 3 you must study four core modules and pick two further modules from a choice of three.

It is also possible to study Health Promotion as part of a Combined Honours Degree, either as a Major/Minor or a Joint Honours. For a Health Promotion Major you must study four core Health modules at each level with the remaining 2 modules (or 40 credits) from another discipline.

A Joint Honours means you can study two disciplines in equal measure. To study Health Promotion as part of a Joint Honours Degree, there are three core Health modules at Level 1. If the level 1 Skills is taken in the other discipline, then you cannot take the Health Skills module and must take the alternative module offered. You must then do three core modules at Level 2, unless the Research Skills module is taken in the other discipline then you must take the alternative Health module offered and three core modules at Level 3 unless the Employability and/or Project modules are taken in the other discipline then you must take the alternative Health module offered.

For a Health Promotion Minor you must study two core Health modules at all levels, with the remaining four modules (or 80 credits) from another discipline.

Learning environment

This programme is offered on a distance-learning basis allowing you to select your learning environment - be it your home, office or a public library. Learning material is presented in the format of textbooks with specially written Study Guides containing interactive activities; feedback is provided to enable you to monitor your own progress.

Student/ student discussion and student/ tutor discussion opportunities are available via our Online Student Community Website. Additional learning resources include access to ATHENS and UK Libraries Plus system.

Assessment

A variety of assessments are used to enhance learning.

There are two opportunities each calendar year at which to take exams or submit final assessments. Your mentor will help you decide when to take each exam/ submit each assessment. There is an expectation that students require this first year to "learn how to learn". This mean that the degree award only draws on marks in level II and III for the final classification.

Work experience/placement opportunities

-

Project work

For Single and Major Programmes a Project module is compulsory at level III. This allows students the opportunity to put into practice what they have learnt on their programme, in particular the "Research Methods" module.

Added value

By successfully completing a distance learning degree programme, you not only display relevant knowledge, skills and understanding to an employer but also that you are able to manage your time effectively, that you are self-motivated and already have a good work ethic - all of which will give you the edge you need to find success in the real world.

There is extensive academic and personal support based on a tutor and mentor system.

Students are expected to be able to organise their time effectively and be skilled at information gathering.

IS THIS THE PROGRAMME FOR ME?

If you are interested in...

  • Health promotion
  • Cultural and social aspect of health
  • Health inequalities
  • Health and social issues
  • Communication
  • Health management skills
  • Public health
  • Health research

If you enjoy...

  • Discovering issues which influence health levels - for both individuals and communities
  • Working with other students
  • Being able to develop research issues in health
  • Examining health promotion policies
  • Accessing health management skills

If you want...

A strong learning support at level I aimed at improving the level of your success in level II and III. A Personal and Professional Skills module at level 1 will support your learning needs and the management of a personal development profile is central to this process. This will allow you to manage your learning needs and register your personal success. This will build into a complete learning profile over your programme and will be useful to an employer to demonstrate your success.

A strong theme through out the programme is research - an appreciation of current developments, research skills and opportunities to conduct research locally.

Your future career

Many opportunities exist in the expanding services within Health Care. Care services nationwide offer many employment opportunities - within both the public and private sectors. Specific to Health Promotion there is a growing demand for practitioners in this area all over the world. There are a variety of employment opportunities when you have graduated including working as a Health Promotion Officer, Teenage Pregnancy Co-ordinator, Campaigns/Event organiser, stop smoking development worker, NHS Health trainers, Health researcher, Healthy schools co-ordinator or Sure start Worker.

Continuing Professional Development

If you are already in employment certain modules may be studied as part of your Continuing Professional Development.

CPD or Continuing Professional Development is the means by which members of professional associations maintain, improve and broaden their knowledge and skills and develop the personal qualities required in their professional lives. As Modules within this programme are available for study individually this will meet the needs of those seeking further qualification in their chosen field within the health sector.

How we support you

On enrolment, you will be provided with an induction pack containing all the information you need to prepare you for your studies.

ICS has a team of dedicated mentors to help you with general needs and respond to your queries in respect of any administrative issues. You can contact your mentor via phone, e-mail, post and fax - and you are guaranteed a timely response. Your mentor will also contact you at regular intervals - initially to welcome you and agree a study plan, and then to talk to you about your progress and remind you of important deadlines.

In addition, you will be allocated a subject tutor for each module you study.

You can contact your subject tutor via your mentor, or directly via the ICS Online Student Community.

In addition, the ICS Online Student Community provides opportunities for you to contact other students.

Bonus factors

-

Outcomes

Programme aims and learning outcomes

What is this programme designed to achieve?

This programme is designed to give you the opportunity to:

Health Promotion aims to:

  • To gain a critical understanding of the relationship between theory and practice in health
  • To develop an understanding of how health beliefs, health practices and health chances are shaped by the historic, socio-cultural, economic, environmental, personal and policy environments
  • To critically evaluate and reflect upon factors affecting health and its representations
  • To apply a critical and analytical approach to the principles and practices of health promotion, public health and health management.
  • To develop knowledge, skills and experience necessary to promote the health of populations.
  • To enable students to understand what employers are looking for when they recruit, develop and promote staff
  • provide opportunities for students to develop, demonstrate, and evidence these skills to prospective employers
  • To develop personal and ethical skills
  • To develop skills required for independent academic research

What will you learn?

Knowledge

  • Selected themes and issues in Health.
  • The historical development of health welfare institutions in the UK, and of their contemporary activities and organisation.
  • The factors which influence on health
  • Research skills

Thinking skills

  • Obtain, summarise and synthesise material from a range of sources to analyse issues in health.
  • Apply theory in the assessment of health policy intervention and development.
  • Identify, synthesise and evaluate relevant primary and secondary data.
  • Recognise the diversity of perspectives underpinning Health Policy.
  • Reflect on your own knowledge base and develop strategies to enhance your learning

Subject-Based Practical skills

  • Problem-solving skills
  • Data collection and research skills
  • Evaluative and analytical skills
  • Sensitivity to the values and interests of others
  • Locate and retrieve information from a variety of sources
  • Independent learning

Skills for life and work (general skills)

  • Convey ideas in an appropriate format, including, where appropriate, the presentation of data
  • Participate effectively in groups to achieve joint learning outcomes
  • Manage time effectively
  • Critically reflect on the value of one's own work
  • The ability to select and utilise appropriate computer software.
  • Set goals, plan a work programme
  • The development of their your style of independent learning
  • Work independently

Structure

The programme structure

Introduction

All ICS/ UEL programmes are credit-rated to help you to understand the amount and level of study that is needed.

One credit is equal to 10 hours of directed study time (this includes everything you do, e.g. reading, activities, formative assessment).

Credits are assigned to one of 5 levels:

  • 0 - equivalent in standard to GCE 'A' level and is intended to prepare students for year one of an undergraduate degree programme
  • 1 - equivalent in standard to the first year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
  • 2 - equivalent in standard to the second year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
  • 3 - equivalent in standard to the third year of a full-time undergraduate degree programme
  • M - equivalent in standard to a Masters degree

Credit rating

The overall credit rating of this programme is 360 credits.

Typical duration

The expected duration of this programme is 3 years when attended in full-time mode or 4-5 years in part-time mode. ICS support, however, is available for eight years, which is the maximum time from first enrolment that students have to complete the programme. Study within this period is entirely flexible and should be determined and planned by you, with the support of your mentor.

How the teaching year is divided

You can commence your studies at any time - enrolment on this programme is not tied to the academic year. We will work with you to formulate a realistic study plan based on the time you have available for study, availability dates for exams and assessments and your preferred completion date.

What you will study when

A typical full-time student will take six 20-credit modules per year, but you may choose to take much less than this. To graduate as an honours degree student you will need to have completed six modules at level one, six at level 2 and six at level 3.

For the BSc (Hons) Health Promotion single programme all six modules at Levels 1 are core modules. At Levels 2 & 3 students must study four core modules and two modules from a choice of three.

To study Health Promotion as a Major in a Major/Minor Combined Honours, four core modules at each Level must be studied. The remaining modules will come from another discipline of choice.

To study Health Promotion as part of a Joint Honours Degree, there are three core Health modules at Level 1. If the level 1 Skills is taken in the other discipline, then you cannot take the Health Skills module and must take the alternative module offered. You must then do three core modules at Level 2, unless the Research Skills module is taken in the other discipline then you must take the alternative Health module offered, and three core modules at Level 3 unless the Employability and/or Project modules are taken in the other discipline then you must take the alternative Health module offered.

For a Health Promotion Minor you must study two core Health modules at levels 1, 2 and 3, with the remaining modules from another discipline.

The following are the core and optional requirements for the single and major pathways for this programme

LEVELTITLECREDITSSTATUS
SINGLE
STATUS MAJORSTATUS
JOINT
STATUS MINOR

1

HS1053 Personal & Professional Skills

20

Core

Core

Core

Not Available

1

HS1050 Understanding Health

20

Core

Core

Core

Core

1

HS1052 Development of Healthcare

20

Core

Core

Option

Core

1

HS1055 Introduction to Management in Health Care

20

Core

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

1

HS1060 Introduction to Health Promotion

20

Core

Core

Core

Not Available

1

HS1061 Public Health Foundations

20

Core

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

2

HS2080 Evidence Based Health and Healthcare

20

Core

Core

Option

Not Available

2

HS2053 Principles and Values in Health

20

Core

Core

Core

Core

2

HS2056 Information Management and Health

20

Option

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

2

HS2064 Research Methods

20

Core

Core

Core

Not Available

2

HS2054 Health Promotion: Working with Groups

20

Core

Core

Core

Core

2

HS2085 Managing Resources in Health

20

Option

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

2

HS2081 Measuring Health and Disease

20

Option

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

3

HS3073 Work-based Learning – Employability

20

Core

Core

Core

Not Available

3

HS3050 Power & Empowerment in Health Promotion

20

Core

Core

Core

Core

3

HS3085 Planning Change in Healthcare

20

Option

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

3

HS3080 Global Context of Public Health

20

Option

Not Available

Option

Not Available

3

HS3063 Project

20

Core

Core

Option

Not Available

3

HS3051 Policies and Practices in Health

20

Core

Core

Core

Core

3

HS3086 Implementing Change in Healthcare

20

Option

Not Available

Not Available

Not Available

Requirements for gaining an award

In order to gain an Honours degree you will need to obtain 360 credits including:

  • A minimum of 120 credits at Level one or higher PLUS
  • A minimum of 120 credits at Level two or higher PLUS
  • A minimum of 120 credits at Level three or higher

In order to gain an Ordinary degree you will need to obtain a minimum of 300 credits including:

  • A minimum of 120 credits at Level one or higher PLUS
  • A minimum of 120 credits at Level two or higher PLUS
  • A minimum of 80 credits at level three or higher

In order to gain a Diploma of Higher Education you will need to obtain at least 240 credits including a minimum of 120 credits at Level one or higher and 120 credits at Level two or higher.

In order to gain a Certificate of Higher Education you will need to obtain 120 credits at Level 1 or higher.

In order to gain a University Undergraduate Certificate students will need to obtain 40 credits at Level 0 or higher.

In order to gain a University Undergraduate Associate Certificate students will need to obtain 20 credits at Level 0 or higher.

Only one final award may be obtained.

Degree Classification

Where a student is eligible for an Honours degree, and has gained a minimum of 240 UEL credits at level 2 or level 3 on the programme, including a minimum of 120 UEL credits at level 3, the award classification is determined by calculating:

The arithmetic mean of the best 100 credits at level 3

×

2/3

+

The arithmetic mean of the next best 100 credits at levels 2 and/or 3

×

1/3

and applying the mark obtained as a percentage, with all decimals points rounded up to the nearest whole number, to the following classification

70% - 100%

First Class Honours

60% - 69%

Second Class Honours, First Division

50% - 59%

Second Class Honours, Second Division

40% - 49%

Third Class Honours

0% - 39%

Not passed

 

Assessment

Teaching, learning and assessment

Teaching and learning

Knowledge is developed through

  • Guided reading
  • Knowledge-based activities with feedback
  • On-line question/ answer forums

Thinking skills are developed through

  • Reflective/ thinking activities with feedback
  • Analytical activities with feedback
  • Evaluative activities with feedback
  • Problem-solving activities with feedback
  • On-line question/ answer forums

Practical skills are developed through

  • Practical/ physical activities with feedback
  • IT activities with feedback
  • Research skills-based activities with feedback

Skills for life and work (general skills) are developed through

  • The study medium, i.e. distance learning
  • Planning activities with feedback
  • IT activities with feedback
  • All other activities with feedback
  • Project work

Assessment

Knowledge is assessed by

  • Coursework
  • Essays
  • Examinations

Thinking skills are assessed by

  • Coursework
  • Examinations
  • Project work

Practical skills are assessed by

  • Practical reports
  • Portfolio compilation
  • IT exercises
  • Case study exercises
  • Project work

Skills for life and work (general skills) are assessed by

  • Project work
  • Group work
  • IT exercises

Quality

How we assure the quality of this programme

Before this programme started

  • There would be enough qualified staff to teach the programme
  • Adequate resources would be in place
  • The overall aims and objectives were appropriate
  • The content of the programme met national benchmark requirements
  • The proposal met other internal quality criteria covering a range of issues such as admissions policy, teaching, learning and assessment strategy, and student support mechanisms

This is done through a process of programme approval, which involves convening a panel of academic experts including some subject specialists from other institutions. Each panel member scrutinises available documents and talks to the staff who will teach the programme before deciding whether it can be approved.

How we (ICS/UEL) monitor the quality of this programme

  • External Examiner reports (considering quality and standards)
  • Statistical information (considering issues such as the pass rate)
  • Student feedback

Drawing on this and other information a Review and Enhancement Plan is drawn up by the staff who teach the programme at ICS. This is then reviewed and endorsed by UEL.

Once every five years the University undertakes an in-depth review of the whole subject area. This is undertaken by a panel that includes at least three External Subject Specialists. The panel considers documents, looks at student work, speaks to current and former students and speaks to staff before drawing its conclusions. The result is a report highlighting good practice and identifying areas where action is needed.

The role of the ICS programmes Study Board

ICS has a Programme Study Board comprising all relevant teaching staff and others who make a contribution towards the effective operation of the programme. The team is responsible for the quality of the programme. The team reviews collected student feedback and uses this as a basis for continuous improvement. It oversees preparation of the Review and Enhancement Plan and proposes changes to improve quality.

The role of external examiners

The standard of this programme is monitored by at least one External Examiner. External Examiners have two primary responsibilities:

  • To ensure the standard of the programme
  • To ensure that justice is done to individual students

External Examiners fulfil these responsibilities in a variety of ways including:

  • Approving exam papers/ assignments
  • Attending Assessment Boards
  • Reviewing samples of Student work and moderating marks
  • Ensuring that regulations are followed
  • Providing feedback to the University through an annual report that enables us to make improvements for the future

Listening to the views of students

The following methods for gaining student feedback are used on this programme:

  • Module evaluations
  • Programme evaluations
  • Polls via our website
  • Student representation at ICS Programmes Study Board Meetings held twice yearly.

Students are notified of the action taken through:

  • Individual mailing letters as required
  • Postings on the ICS Student Community

Listening to the views of others

-

Further Information

Alternative locations for studying this programme

LocationWhich elements?Taught by UEL staffTaught by local staffMethod of Delivery

-

-

-

-

-

Where you can find further information

Further information about this programme is available from:


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