POPLHLTH 776 Public Health in Practice - Course Outlines

Course Prescription

Students will apply population health concepts, principles and methodologies from formal course work to current public health problems, and develop skills in communicating their solutions to a range of diverse audiences, while critically reflecting on their own position.

Course Overview

Public Health action is at the forefront of the news. We've all been part of it in the major actions taken to control the COVID-19 pandemic - from the introduction and enforcement of legislation to control our movement, locally and internationally, to local community action to inform and support people and radical changes in the way health services have been delivered. Throughout it all, here in Aotearoa New Zealand, there has been the rhetoric, if not always the reality, of putting equity at the centre of the response.

This course will consolidate your knowledge and facilitate the integration of your prior learning by applying it to real-world case studies -such as COVID-19, but to other issues as well.

The course assumes you are already familiar with core public health concepts such as the relationship between social and environmental factors and public health; the application of theories in public health to a range of health practices and contexts; and your own role in giving voice to, and advocating for, health equity.

Throughout the course - in classes and assignments - we refer to the following public health graduate learning outcomes for your public health programme of learning:

1) application of public health principles applied to particular health issues;

2) drawing on public health frameworks and public health tools;

3) evaluating, using robust methods, responses to public health issues;

4) critically reflecting on your own position and ability to problem solve and communicate solutions to a range of audiences on public health issues.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 45 points from Master of Public Health Schedule

Course Contacts

Prof Chris Bullen, Building 507 Room 1064, National Institute for Health Innovation, School of Population Health

Email: c.bullen@auckland.ac.nz

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

Apply public health principles applied to public health issues (Capability 1.3)
Draw on public health frameworks and public health tools (Capability 2.2)
Evaluate using robust methods, responses to public health issues (Capability 3.2)
Critically reflect on your own position and ability to problem solve and communicate solutions to a range of audiences on public health issues (Capability 4.1)

Assessments

Assessment Type	Percentage	Classification
Assignments	30%	Individual Coursework
Assignments	35%	Individual Coursework
Assignments	35%	Individual Coursework
3 types	100%

Assessment Type	Learning Outcome Addressed
	1	2	3	4
Assignments
Assignments
Assignments

Late assessment policy

It is very important to get your assessments in on time.

If you are not able to meet the deadline for submission you must notify the course coordinator/lecturer and the course administrator BEFORE the due date/time to avoid the penalties resulting from not having an approved extension. If circumstances prevent a student from making an application before the assessment due date/time, the Academic Director will consider and may approve an application for a late submission.

The School of Population Health policy on late assessments is as follows:

Due dates for assessments must be strictly observed

Extensions will only be given in very exceptional and unavoidable circumstances, and if approved by the course coordinator/lecturer prior to the assessment due date.
Penalties will be imposed for extensions (see below)
Late assessments where an extension has not been given will be penalised as follows:

Up to 2 weeks (including weekend days) late - 5% off the assessment total mark for each day late e.g.

if an assessment is out of 40 and is 1 day late, then 2 marks (5% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved
if an assessment is out of 40 and is 5 days late, then 10 marks (25% of 40) will be deducted from the grade achieved
More than 14 days late – the assessment will NOT be graded.

Assignment presentation

Number the pages and include your ID on each page (header or footer); Keep within the word limit (you will be penalised for being significantly under or over) .

Referencing

Either the APA system (author, date) or the Vancouver system (numbered) styles may be used for citing references. Please refer to the Library website for further details on referencing systems: https://www.library.auckland.ac.nz/study-skills/referencing

Either end notes or footnotes may be used, but stay with one system on a particular assignment.

Turnitin

In this course we use Turnitin (internet-based software) to check for plagiarism

Your written assignment will be submitted to Turnitin via the link in CANVAS.

DO NOT email assignments directly to the academic coordinator or course administrator unless by prior approval.

Guidelines on confidentiality of student material

Some student assignments may draw on or cite confidential material. The University has prepared general guidelines for the use of the information contained in student assignments and thesis material.

The following guidelines apply to student assignments:

1. In general, student assignments are not subject to the provisions of the Official Information Act.

2. Students and staff should, however, be conscious of the provisions of the Act, particularly if discussing documents in class.

3. Where a document is discussed in class, then any person named in that document could claim access to the document under the personal information provisions of the Act.

4. This places an obligation on staff and students particularly regarding the use of personal information, but may also extend to other information subject to confidentiality requirements.

5. Students should not use confidential information without the permission of their employer and/or the person(s) to whom the information belongs or refers.

6. Staff should not allow the discussion of confidential information in class or tutorials.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 25 hours of lectures/class-based discussions and exercises, 15 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 40 hours of work on assignments.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience or Online

This course is offered mainly in campus experience delivery mode but will use online delivery as needed if restrictions are required:

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities to get the most value from the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings.

The course will include live online events including group discussions and panel discussions

The activities for the course are scheduled as a block delivery.

Online delivery will be used in the event of restrictions on physical gatherings

Attendance is expected at scheduled online activities to get the most value from the course.

The course will include live online events including group discussions and panel discussions and these will be recorded.

Study material will be available at course commencement and some material will be released progressively throughout the course.

This course runs to the University semester timetable and all the associated completion dates and deadlines will apply.

Learning Resources

There is no recommended text or course book.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Digital Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against online source material using computerised detection mechanisms.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Capability 1:	Disciplinary Knowledge and Practice
Capability 2:	Critical Thinking
Capability 3:	Solution Seeking
Capability 4:	Communication and Engagement

POPLHLTH 776 : Public Health in Practice

Medical and Health Sciences

2021 Semester One (1213) (15 POINTS)