Public health: health promotion and health security
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 demographics and epidemiology of both have revealed health inequalities and inequities 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 has been described as the art and science of preventing disease, prolonging life, and promoting health through the organised efforts of society.¹ Events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have highlighted the vital role that public health plays, not only in shaping national and international policies but also in influencing the behaviours of individuals and communities to protect and improve wellbeing.
In this module, you will examine how social, economic, and environmental factors influence patterns of health and illness. This will help you understand why some groups experience poorer health outcomes than others, and how health inequalities can be reduced. You will also explore evidence-based interventions, collaboration between communities and policymakers, and the importance of critically evaluating public health initiatives.
K310 will equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to improve the health and wellbeing of populations in diverse settings. It encourages you to think critically, reflect on your own practice and values, and engage with the real-world challenges facing public health today.
The module comprises four blocks of study, each focusing on a specific area related to 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
1Acheson, 1988; WHO
Entry requirements
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 K119; and
either K243 or KE207, or SK299 and SK298, and K212
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 forums.
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Assessment
Course work includes:
4 Tutor-marked assignments (TMAs)
1 Interactive computer-marked assignment (iCMA)
End-of-module assessment
What's included
You'll have a module text book – Health Promotion: Global Principles and Practice – and access to a module website, which is the focal point of your study, and includes:
a week-by-week study planner
course-specific module materials
audio and video content
assessment details and submission section
online tutorial access
forum to discuss the module with fellow students and the module teaching team.
Computing requirements
Primary device – A desktop or laptop computer with at least 8 GB of RAM and a quad-core processor (2.4 GHz minimum speed). It’s possible to access some materials on a mobile phone, tablet or Chromebook; however, they will not be suitable as your primary device.
Peripheral device – Headphones/earphones with a built-in microphone for online tutorials.
Operating systems – Windows 11 or the latest supported macOS.
Internet access – Broadband or mobile connection.
Browser – Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge are recommended; Mozilla Firefox and Safari may be suitable.
Our OU Study app operates on supported versions of Android and iOS.
Software – Any additional software will be provided or is generally available for free.
If you have a disability
The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone, and this Accessibility Statement outlines what studying K310 involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.
To find out more about what kind of support and adjustments might be available, contact us or visit our Disability support website.
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 2027.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.