Established by: Programme council for the International Master Programme in Public Health (PRPH), 2016-09-22
Contents
This course is an introduction to methods for the evaluation of public health programmes, with complementary discussion of a number of associated issues. The course combines concepts and experience from different disciplines in order to facilitate a comprehensive perspective, and it includes: the history of evaluation in public health; measures of exposure levels and of both positive and adverse health effects caused by an intervention; qualitative and realistic evaluation; issues of equity, ethics, and politics; uses and users of evaluations; and dissemination.
Expected learning outcomes
Knowledge and understanding After completion of the course the student should be able to: • Explain the different health evaluation approaches discussed in the course; • Explain advantages and drawbacks with the different methods and discuss which method would be preferable in a given situation.
Skills and abilities After completion of the course the student should be able to: • Review public health evaluations that have been done in health care and discuss strengths and weaknesses of those evaluations; • Make a written plan for the evaluation of a public health intervention; • Independently develop a means of disseminating the findings from an evaluation study.
Judgment and approach After completion of the course the student should be able to: • Recognize high and low quality evaluations of public health interventions, and – within the prevailing political, social, and economic structures – be able to judge what action and/or decisions should be made accordingly.
Required Knowledge
For non-programme students applying as single-course students, the requirements are 120 ECTS, of which a minimum of 30 ECTS are within one of the following: health sciences, environmental health or social sciences.
English proficiency equivalent to English B/6 from Swedish Upper secondary education. Basic entrance requirements for higher studies in Swedish language proficiency is also required if the course is taught in Swedish.
Form of instruction
Teaching on the course takes place over three weeks during the course period, and it is conducted through lectures and group exercises. There are also seminars where students present and discuss their evaluation plans. These seminars are compulsory. Teaching is given in English.
Examination modes
The examination is done in three parts. (1) Student will present his/her critique of an evaluation in public health during a seminar; (2) Students will develop their own evaluation plan, including a dissemination strategy; (3) At the end of the course there is a written exam. The grading scale is Fail or Pass for the evaluation critique and the evaluation plan, and Fail, Pass, and Pass with distinction for the written exam. In order to be awarded Pass for the course, the grade Pass is required for the written exam, the evaluation critique and the dissemination strategy. In order to be awarded Pass with the distinction for the course, the grade Pass with distinction is required for the written exam and the grade Pass is required for the evaluation critique and the dissemination strategy.
For students who have not received a passing grade at the first written exam on the course, a re-sit exam is arranged. Correspondingly, an extra seminar is arranged for students who did not receive a passing grade on the evaluation critique. A student who fails two examinations has the right to a change of examiner according to the University’s set of rules. A request to change examiner should be sent to the Board of the Faculty of Medicine.
Other regulations
Start-of-study respite A respite for the start of studies may be granted under special circumstances. Examples of such circumstances are illness, military service, pregnancy, care of children or other nursing responsibilities etc. A negative decision about start-of-study respite may be appealed to Överklagandenämnden för högskolan.
Course roll call Attendance is compulsory for the course roll call. A student may be relieved from this obligation only through a decision by the course coordinator and only under special circumstances. Non-attendance without a valid reason may lead to the seat being given to another applicant. A decision about this is made by the course coordinator.
Students have the right to examine whether previous education or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired can be credited for the corresponding course at Umeå University. Application is submitted to Studentcentrum/Examina. Details on crediting can be found at Umeå University's student web, www.student.umu.se, and the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 6). A refusal of accreditation may be appealed against (Higher Education Ordinance Chapter 12) to the University Appeals Board. This applies to the whole or part of the application for accreditation is refused. Academic credit transfers are always reviewed individually according to the University’s set of rules and academic credit transfer regulations.
