Health Promotion Practice

Master of Science

Course Details

Course Code	SG_SHPRO_M09
Level	9
Duration	2 years
Credits	90
Method of Delivery	Online
Campus Locations	Sligo
Mode of Delivery	Part Time

How to Apply

Non-EU Applicants

Non-EU applications are currently closed. Register to be notified when applications reopen

Course Overview

This programme will equip graduates with the skills and knowledge to work in a variety of health and wellness/health promotion and/or research roles in the statutory, community, and voluntary health and social care sector and the private sector. Such opportunities may include but are not limited to roles in acute hospital services, consumer services, health and wellbeing services, primary care services, mental health services, older person services, disability services, public health services, health and wellbeing projects, employee wellness programmes, research programmes, and the sports, recreation, and leisure sector.

This programme will provide those working to deliver on the ambitions of the Healthy Ireland framework with the skills to plan and deliver multi-disciplinary health promotion projects with professional competence. The programme combines the development of expertise in Health Promotion, including skills in research, analysis, and communication, with skills in the planning and execution of complex initiatives in this field.

The programme includes taught online courses in three areas of specific relevance, namely:

Concepts and Competencies for Health Promotion
Health Project Planning and Design
Public Health Research

These modules will all support a practice-based research project, which will allow the participant to use a major work-based project as the focus for learning and reflection. In those students who are in employment, this research-based project may support the achievement of the employers objectives.

The flexible, online delivery of this programme facilitates a remote learning opportunity for those who are currently in employment and/or are unable to attend on-campus but are keen to further their education in health promotion practice at masters level.

Course Details

Year 1

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
1	Concepts and Competencies for Health Promotion This module will equip students with the core concepts and key competencies required for working within the field of health, health promotion and wellness. Learning Outcomes 1. Demonstrate they have a detailed knowledge and understanding of the core concepts in health promotion and wellness practice 2. Illustrate they have detailed knowledge and understanding of core competencies required for health promotion practicioners 3. Critically appraise health related strategies and polices 4. Self-reflect on the broad nature of health and health promotion work 5. Develop evidence based health promotion related tools and resources	10	Mandatory
1	Health Project Management This module introduces students to the core concepts and theories of project management and how to apply these to the delivery of projects in a health/community setting. This module will give students an understanding of the processes and stages of the project management cycle and the knowledge and skills required. Learning Outcomes 1. Appraise the role of projects within the context of healthcare and community organisations justifying the contexts in which a project management approach would be appropriate. 2. Distinguish between project management frameworks and processes,and tailor these to projects in a health care or community setting. 3. Devise a health focused project plan demonstrating an understanding key project management knowledge areas including but not limited to scope, schedule cost, schedule and quality management. 4. Devise and defend a project management communication plan and a project monitoring and evaluation plan. 5. Identify and analyse strategies for effective stakeholder management and engagement and during all stages of the project 6. Critically analyse approaches to increasing team effectiveness to ensure the successful delivery of project objectives and tasks	10	Mandatory
2	Quantitative Methods for Health Research This module introduces students to the basic principles of research design for quantitative studies in epidemiology. The strengths and weaknesses of various study designs will be discussed and students will gain an understanding of the process of ensuring rigour at all stages of the research process. Students will experience developing research proposal as well as the development of a data collection instrument. Students will also reflect on quality and ethical issues in relation to quantitative research. Learning Outcomes 1. Design a research proposal that is appropriate to a quantitiative methodology and demostrates an understanding of basic principles of epidemiological research. 2. Design appropriate study data collection instrument relevant to a specific study 3. Effectively communicate an informed scientific argument for choice of research design in an epidemiological study 4. Use project management tools in the development of a research proposalsatisfying quality and ethical guidelines.	05	Mandatory
2	Qualitative and Mixed Methods for Health Research This module will explore the concepts involved in establishing and collecting qualitative and mixed methods research data in a variety of health, educational and community settings.Students will reflect on the quality of published qualitative research and learn about the importance of rigour in qualitative research. Students will develop research questions suited to qualitative and mixed methods and be involved in collecting qualitative data and the initial stages of analysis. Learning Outcomes 1. Design a research proposal that is appropriate to qualitative or mixed methods approaches and demonstrates an understanding of the basic principles of qualitative/mixed methods research methodologies. 2. Collect and conduct an initial analysis of qualitative data which is appropriate to a qualitative research question. 3. Critically consider the different ways to combine qualitative and quantitative research in a mixed method study.	05	Mandatory
2	Statistics and Data Analysis This module will equip the student with advanced statistical techniques for analysing data in the Public Health and Health Promotion fields. It provides the students with the ability to apply appropriate statistical techniques to data sets gathered during project work and also to comment on and rate techniques used in existing studies. Learning Outcomes 1. Formulate conclusions on the health of a population by applying a range of advanced statistical techniques in the analysis of population health data. 2. Model the relationships between variables using regression analysis 3. Explain the concept of survival analysis and apply the most commonly used mortality/survival functions 4. Justify the selection and application of appropriate quantitative analysis in global health literature and reports. 5. Use a statistical software package to carry out analysis on health related datasets.	05	Mandatory

Year 2

Semester	Module Details	Credits	Mandatory / Elective
2	Heath Promotion Practice Thesis The research project will allow the learner to investigate an area relevant to health promotion, using knowledge skills and competencies acquired at earlier stages of the Master's Programme, to research an area deemed appropriate by an academic Supervisor. Learners will examine and define the issues/research problem, develop a research proposal, select and execute appropriate methodologies, analyse data, evaluate findings critically and draw justifiable conclusions, demonstrating self-direction and originality of thought. The learner will be allocated a supervisor who will advise on the direction of the work. Regular meetings with their supervisor will engage the student in discussion which will deepen their learning and motivation. These meetings will help the student to maintain focus and challenge them on hypothesis and approaches to their experimental design and implementation. Throughout the period of research, the learner is encouraged to network with other researchers in academia and industry/sector (where an Industry link/project occurs) and to disseminate their research findings in oral and written format to both academic and professional audiences. Critical thinking skills will be developed through analysis of research data and the presentation of research outcomes in the format of thesis, conference style presentation and viva. Learning Outcomes 1. Manage an independent research project with a support structure in place for supervision. 2. Critically evaluate academic literature (and literature/technical information from a wide variety of other sources), to draw inferences from this body of knowledge to conduct an extensively focused critical review. 3. Develop professional practice skills including research project management, time-management and scientific writing skills. 4. Develop a research methodology and project plan for a research project. 5. Conduct the project by selecting and applying appropriate research methodology/techniques and analyse the data according to accepted models of analysis. 6. Interpret, critique and draw coherent conclusions from the research data generated. 7. Produce a thesis/research project which meets postgraduate standards of technical expertise investigating the subject area outlined in the research proposal. 8. Develop the skills to present and defend aspects of their research at seminars, conferences and vivas.	55	Mandatory

Recommended Study Hours per week

Students are expected to attend 2-3 lectures in the evening each week which can range from 1-3 hours. Live lectures normally take place between 6pm and 10pm, Monday to Thursday but this may vary depending on the availability of specific lecturers. It is recommended that students complete up to 10 hours independent learning per 5 credit module.

Examination and Assessment

This programme incorporates a variety of continuous assessment methods.

On-Campus Attendance Requirement

No attendance required.
Note: Check programme Examination and Assessment requirements, as they may involve examinations to be taken on campus.

Progression

Graduates can apply to funded PhD within ATU or other Institutes.

Download a prospectus

Postgraduate Prospectus Online, Flexible & Professional Development Prospectus

Entry Requirements

Applications with a 2.2 Honours award in any discipline may apply. Applicants who do not meet this entry criterion may be considered through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). RPL is a process that may allow you to gain admission to a programme or to receive exemptions/ credit for some parts of the programme based on demonstrated learning that you may have achieved through another programme of study or through your work or career. Further information is available at www.atu.ie/recognition-of-prior-learning which our dedicated RPL portal or by contacting our admissions team at admissions.sligo@atu.ie .

As Healthy Ireland encourages all sectors of society to engage in promoting health we welcome graduates from a wide variety of backgrounds including but not limited to health science/ health promotion, sport and leisure, education, health and safety, social sciences and childcare.

Fees

Total Fees EU: €6,300

Total Fees Non-EU: €6,300

Further information on fees

Professional Accreditation

Graduates from the MSc Health Promotion Practice part-time (Online) are automatically eligible to apply to become an International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) Registered Health Promotion Practitioner. This means that graduates of the combined programmes have qualifications that are recognised worldwide.

Careers

Graduates will be suitably qualified to work in a wide range of health and community settings. Graduates may pursue careers in research, advocacy and policy development including evidence. Other opportunities include careers as health project managers, researchers and as wellness practitioners.

Further Information

Who Should Apply?

As Healthy Ireland encourages all sectors of society to engage in promoting health, graduates are welcomed from any discipline including but not limited to health science/ health promotion, sport and leisure, education, health and safety, social sciences and childcare. Graduates will be suitably qualified to work in a wide range of health and community settings. Graduates may pursue careers in research, advocacy and policy development including evidence. Other opportunities include careers as health project managers, researchers and as wellness practitioners.