BSc Public Health (on campus)

Year of entry: 2026

Course unit details:
Health Promotion through the Life Course

Course unit fact file
Unit code POPH20031
Credit rating 20
Unit level Level 5
Teaching period(s) Semester 1
Offered by Division of Population Health, Health Services Res
Available as a free choice unit? No

Overview

This unit will embed and revisit the key concepts and theories of health promotion introduced in Year 1, taking a life course approach to explore the behavioural, social, economic and environmental factors which influence health and well-being at different life stages. Students will learn to apply models, theories and the evidence  to consider health promotion practice at community, regional and national levels.

Students will take a lifecourse approach to explore UK-based and international exemplars of health promotion, policy and practice, and develop their own personal reflective practice. 

The approach links strongly with contemporary evidence-based practice such as the Marmot Principles and related framework.
 

Aims

The unit aims to: build on the students’ basic understanding of health promotion, through taking a life course approach to explore the behavioural, social, economic and environmental factors which influence health and well-being at different life stages. This will include examination of the evidence and theory that underpin health promotion policy and practice as well as the development of personal reflective practice.

Teaching and learning methods

There will be x10 weekly 2-hour seminars over the course of the unit, and students will be able to develop discussion from these sessions via the online discussion boards within the VLE (Canvas).
 

Knowledge and understanding

Students will be able to:
A1 Apply a life course approach to the exploration of behavioural, social, economic and environmental factors which influence health and well-being at different life stage

A2 Apply a life course approach to explore the key theories and models of health promotion using real-world UK and international examples of health promotion practice

A3 Explain how health promotion is used to inform  public Health practice and decision making on population health and well-being. 

A4 Identify the strengths and limitations of traditional concepts of health promotion theory and methods, and how these relate to population health and well being. 

A5 Demonstrate knowledge and critical understanding  how the history and theories are then implemented in global exemplars of health promotion
 

Intellectual skills

B1 Apply the main theories and models of health promotion to real-world examples of health promotion practice across a range of populations and settings

B2 Discuss how the social, cultural, economic, commercial, and environmental determinants of health inform approaches to health promotion

B3 Evaluate the role of health promotion practice in addressing health inequalities

B4 Evaluate the underpinning research evidence for health  promotion policy and practice

B5 Discuss the role of policy and ethics in health promotion practice at community, regional and national level

B6 Compare and evaluate the methods used in the implementation of health promotion  practice 

 

Practical skills

C1 Locate existing sources of evidence relevant to health promotion practice
 

Transferable skills and personal qualities

D1 Reflect on own understanding of health promotion theories and their real-world application.

D2 Communicate the main approaches used in health promotion practice  

 

Assessment methods

Method Weight
Written assignment (inc essay) 100%

Feedback methods

Written feedback will be provided for the written assignment (2000 words).  

Students will also have the opportunity to receive written feedback via formative consolidation exercises on discussion boards.  
 

Recommended reading


Boylan. M. (2023) ‘International public health policy and ethics’, 2nd edition, Switzerland, Springer.

Exworthy, M., Mannion, R. & Powell, M. (eds) (2023) ‘The NHS at 75: the state of UK health policy’, Bristol, Policy Press

Corbin, J. et al. (2021) ‘Arts and Health Promotion: Tools and Bridges for Practice, Research and Social Transformation’, Springer Nature

Kooko, S. & Baybutt, M. (eds) (2022) ‘Handbook of settings-based health promotion’, Switzerland, Springer

Mittelmark, M.B. (2022) ‘Handbook of Salutogenesis’, Springer Nature
Potvin, L., & Didier, J. (eds) (2022) ‘Global Handbook of Health Promotion Research’, volume 1, Switzerland, Springer

Thompson, S.R. (2023) ‘The essential guide to Public Health and Health Promotion’ (2nd edition) London, Routledge

Wills, J. & Naidoo, J. (2023) ‘Foundations for Health Promotion’, 5th edition, Amsterdam, Elsevier
 

Study hours

Scheduled activity hours
Seminars 20
Tutorials 20
Independent study hours
Independent study 160

Teaching staff

Staff member Role
Rebecca Rippon Unit coordinator

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