England

Please tell us where you live so that we can provide you with the most relevant information as you use this website.
If you are at a BFPO address please choose the country or region in which you would ordinarily be resident.
Accessibility statement
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.
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
Block 2: Evidence-based public health
Block 3: Planning, implementing and evaluating public health on a community level
Block 4: Going global
1Acheson, 1988; WHO
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:
You are not required to have done any study before in this subject area but if you have any doubt about the suitability of the module, please speak to an adviser.
You’ll get help and support from an assigned tutor throughout your module.
They’ll help by:
Online tutorials run throughout the module. While they’re not compulsory, we strongly encourage you to participate. Where possible, we’ll make recordings available.
Course work includes:
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:
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.
Public health: health promotion and health security (K310) starts once a year – in October.
This page describes the module that will start in October 2026.
We expect it to start for the last time in October 2029.
Back to previous page