Module manager: Mayeh Omar
Email: m.a.omar@leeds.ac.uk
Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable
Year running 2025/26
The same as the programme
NUFF5645M: Introduction to Global and Public Health
This module is not approved as an Elective
People and governments around the world face many complex health challenges. How can we identify what health issues to address, and how to respond to them, to enable people to live healthier lives? This module will introduce the study of global public health and epidemiology, and will provide the foundation for your subsequent learning on your programmes. The module will also enable you practice the key academic skills such as literature search, academic writing, critical analysis and referencing which will help you navigate throughout your programme. - Decolonised approach Students and lecturers are invited to reflect on diverse knowledges that are not often seen in formal global public health literature. Teaching will allow space for reflections on the experiences students have of their own health systems and working practice. Teaching content emphasises literature, teaching, and learning from “Global South” countries, and uses these experiences to facilitate discussions. - Inequities, rights and social justice Issues of addressing inequities and rights-based approaches are a core part of the module learning and assessment marking criteria. Students will be challenged to use a social justice approach to addressing these challenges. Students are taught on equity, intersectionality, rights and social justice in the module.
The aim of this module will be to introduce the study of global public health and epidemiology, providing the foundation for subsequent learning on the programme. This learning includes comprehending the principles, concepts and frameworks of health; epidemiology, measuring and interpreting key health issues; realising how responses to global health issues are planned and implemented; and understanding the global health policy context for such responses. The module will also focus on strengthening the key academic skills required for the (predominantly international) students to feel confident in studying in Leeds.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:
1. Critically assess global health challenges, trends, and transitions, along with public health responses to them;
2. Evaluate and interpret epidemiological and statistical methods that measure the burden of disease, its trends and other health needs;
3. Identify the relationship between the social, behavioural, economic and health system factors that determine health and disease outcomes;
4. Examine key maternal, neonatal and child health issues and interventions to address them;
5. Demonstrate understanding of climate change and how it affects food security, and other health emergencies;
6. Critically analyse major challenges that impact global public health and health systems in low-middle income countries;
7. Assess the role of various global health actors and their influence on global health policy responses;
8. Comprehend and apply techniques of health planning, monitoring and evaluation;
Skills Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:
Technical Skills
1. Critical analysis of global public health challenges, their causes, potetial responses, and their impact on health and health systems.
Work related skills
2. Communicate complex epidemiological and statistical concepts to an audience through written and verbal means.
3. Use and analyse statistical and epidemiological data to construct and interpret measures of health disease burden and other health needs;
4. Work effectively in small and large groups on specific tasks associated with a global public health professional
5. Plan and effectively use time available manage coursework
Academic Skills
6. Use enhanced skills for postgraduate study, including critical reading, group working, preparing an assignment, data presentation and presentational skills, and use of information and communications technology.
7. Uphold the highest standard of ethics, integrity and professionalism in the preparation and submission of assessments, while using appropriate technology. This includes understanding how generative AI can lead to issues in research design.
8. Accurately use referenced sources that have informed their work.
The indicative syllabus is given below but the number and format of teaching sessions by topic varies. The specific syllabus for an academic year may be subject to revision by the Module Leader
Introduction to global health
1. Introduction - terminology and concepts
2. Determinants of health and disease
3. Introduction to health epidemiology and statistics
4. Burden of disease and the health transition
5. Gender and equity
6. Ethics and human rights
Responding to global and public health issues
7. Global health policy and actors
8. One Health
9. Climate change and health
10. Emergency and disaster preparedness: epidemics, natural and man-made disasters
Epidemiology and Public health responses
11. Introduction to Epidemiology as the backbone of Public Health
12. Introduction to Communicable and Non-communicable diseases
13. Introduction to Maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health
14. Introduction to Planning for health
15. Introduction to Financing for health
16. Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation
| Delivery type | Number | Length hours | Student hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group Project | 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Fieldwork | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Lecture | 20 | 2 | 40 |
| Practical | 4 | 3 | 12 |
| Seminar | 10 | 2 | 20 |
| Independent online learning hours | 40 | ||
| Private study hours | 178 | ||
| Total Contact hours | 82 | ||
| Total hours (100hr per 10 credits) | 300 | ||
Students are provided with formative feedback through the opportunities listed below. Students with particular difficulties with progress during the module are encouraged to seek advice from the Module Leader or their Personal Tutor.
- Students scoring low on the formative maths and statistics skills test, i.e. less than 50% in week 2 are given additional support and advice.
- The Module Leader holds short feedback sessions during the module, to gauge general progress in the student group and any learning issues that need immediate attention.
- Assignment 1 marks are known before assignment 2 is handed in.
- Formative maths and statistics skills test in week 2, with results and feedback provided within 1 week
- Exercises in the practicals and lectures, with immediate group feedback from the teacher
- Some post-session exercises are accompanied by example solutions
- Completion of the University's Academic Integrity Test (online MCQ format), with immediate feedback
- Individual and group feedback on assignment 1 is returned to students before assignment 2 is submitted.
- Before getting feedback from teachers, students are encouraged to use self-assessments in Epidemiology exercises.
- Students are encouraged to approach the marker for further explanation on the feedback, or advice on improving their assignments.
| Assessment type | Notes | % of formal assessment |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | Short answers to questions evaluating published articles (1,500 words) - This involves evaluating published article. The purpose of this assignment is to enable students to practice reading and evaluating a research article and thinking about its implications. It will assess their ability to use enhanced skills for postgraduate study in academic reading, planning an assignment, academic writing and presentation; and applying an international health idea to a familiar context | 30 |
| Coursework | 3,000 words written report - The purpose of this assignment is to assess your ability to critically examine a global health issue; identify the determinants of this health issue; critically examine public health responses by actors to a global health issue; and use the skills of academic writing and presentation | 70 |
| Coursework | Formative assessment - Formative maths and statistics skills test University's Academic Integrity Test (online MCQ format), with immediate feedback | 0 |
| Total percentage (Assessment Coursework) | 100 | |
Short answers to questions evaluating published articles - The purpose of this assignment is to give students practice in reading and evaluating a research article and thinking about its implications. It will assess student’s ability to use enhanced skills for postgraduate study in academic reading, planning an assignment, academic writing and presentation; and applying an international health idea to a familiar context. 3,000 words written report - The purpose of this assignment is to assess ability to: 1. critically examine a global health issue; identify the determinants of this health issue; 2. critically examine public health responses by actors to a global health issue; and 3. use the skills of academic writing and presentation. Because elements of assessment within a module test different learning outcomes compensation, in the event of failure of one component, the module mark will be capped at 50 on successful resit.
The reading list is available from the Library website
Last updated: 09/04/2025
Errors, omissions, failed links etc should be notified to the Catalogue Team