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BSc (Honours) Healthcare and Health Science - Learning outcomes

Educational aims

This is a combined qualification in healthcare and health science which aims to equip you with:

  • an understanding of health, including the ethical, social, economic, political and scientific issues that influence healthcare
  • the ability to contribute constructively to debates about healthcare and health policy
  • the skills required to become a reflective learner and practitioner in a range of health-related settings
  • the ability to engage with an evidence-based, scientific approach to health sciences and to develop an appreciation of the limits of scientific knowledge
  • an opportunity to develop a range of scientific skills
  • an opportunity to develop skills in interpreting, generating, and presenting information and data using a variety of text-based, graphical, numerical, audio-visual and online sources.

Learning outcomes

The qualification provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, practical and professional skills in the following areas: 

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this degree, you will have knowledge and understanding of:

  • The development of healthcare and the contemporary context in which care takes place and the contribution of health science to this development
  • The different lines of evidence and an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of current knowledge in defined topics within health science and the delivery of healthcare
  • Health science and the social legal and ethical aspects of competing models of health, ill health and disability
  • Research methods in healthcare and health science and an appreciation of the challenges and practicalities of applying them to practice
  • The diversity of values and perspectives in the context of healthcare and health science including the experience of care from a service user’s perspective
  • The processes associated with the physiology of the human body in the context of the promotion of health and wellbeing.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to:

  • analyse evidence and situations from a range of perspectives and evaluate the appropriateness of different interventions or approaches 
  • apply concepts and theories to inform and critique both theoretical perspectives and practice situations
  • critically evaluate evidence from research and its application to practice
  • make use of a range of sources of evidence and information and use them to sustain an argument or develop new insights into healthcare practice.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to:

  • observe, describe and record accurately, and assess evidence and make informed decisions
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of the ethical, cultural, political, social and scientific dilemmas of health science and healthcare practice and the contexts within which care takes place
  • assimilate theoretical concepts to be able to critically evaluate approaches to service provision and use strategies for improving practice, contributing to the development of quality services and care
  • practise critical self-reflection and examine and reflect on effective practice, both direct and indirect, with a range of service users experiencing different forms of healthcare and in a variety of settings
  • analyse the factors and processes that facilitate effective interdisciplinary, inter-professional and interagency collaboration and partnership
  • demonstrate sensitivity to the diversity of values and interests of others.

Key skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to demonstrate the following skills:
  • communicate effectively for the intended audience and purpose in an appropriate style and level using different media
  • use numbers within a health and social care context and interpret statistical data
  • read, select and manipulate information from a range of resources including electronic sources 
  • manage own learning through the identification of learning needs, objective setting, monitoring progress by critical reflection, identifying strengths and weaknesses and areas to improve and responding to feedback 
  • contribute to debates about the provision of healthcare and work within teams to implement policy.

Teaching, learning and assessment methods

The level and depth of your learning gradually increases as you work through the qualification. You’ll be supported throughout by the OU’s unique style of teaching and assessment – which includes a personal tutor to guide and comment on your work; top quality course texts; elearning resources like podcasts, interactive media and online materials; tutorial groups and community forums.