BSc (Honours) in Healthcare and Health Science

The qualification provides opportunities for you to develop and demonstrate knowledge and understanding, practical and professional skills in the following areas:

Knowledge and understanding

On completion of this degree, you will have knowledge and understanding of:

• The development of healthcare and the contemporary context in which care takes place and the contribution of health science to this development

• The different lines of evidence and an appreciation of the uncertainty, ambiguity and limits of current knowledge in defined topics within health science and the delivery of healthcare

• Health science and the social legal and ethical aspects of competing models of health, ill health and disability

• Research methods in healthcare and health science and an appreciation of the challenges and practicalities of applying them to practice

• The diversity of values and perspectives in the context of healthcare and health science including the experience of care from a service user’s perspective

• The processes associated with the physiology of the human body in the context of promoting health and well-being.

Cognitive skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to:

• Analyse evidence and situations from a range of perspectives and evaluate the appropriateness of different interventions or approaches

• Apply concepts and theories to inform and critique both theoretical perspectives and practice situations

• Critically evaluate evidence from research and its application to practice

• Make use of a range of sources of evidence and information and use them to sustain an argument or develop new insights into healthcare practice.

Practical and/or professional skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to:

• Observe, describe and record accurately, and assess evidence and make informed decisions

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the ethical, cultural, political, social and scientific dilemmas of health science and healthcare practice and the contexts within which care takes place

• Assimilate theoretical concepts to be able to critically evaluate approaches to service provision and use strategies for improving practice, contributing to the development of quality services and care

• Practise critical self-reflection and examine and reflect on effective practice, both direct and indirect, with a range of service users experiencing different forms of healthcare and in a variety of settings

• Analyse the factors and processes that facilitate effective interdisciplinary, inter-professional and interagency collaboration and partnership

• Demonstrate sensitivity to the diversity of values and interests of others.

Key skills

On completion of this degree, you will be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Communicate effectively for the intended audience and purpose in an appropriate style and level using different media

• Use numbers within a health and social care context and interpret statistical data

• Read, select and manipulate information from a range of resources including electronic sources

• Manage own learning through the identification of learning needs, objective setting, monitoring progress by critical reflection, identifying strengths and weaknesses and areas to improve and responding to feedback

• Contribute to debates about the provision of healthcare and work within teams to implement policy.

This degree has three stages, each comprising 120 credits.

• You’ll start Stage 1 with a broad introduction to health and social care and health science.
• At Stage 2, you’ll build on the knowledge and skills acquired at Stage 1 and study modules covering key concepts in health and wellbeing, human biology and the science of the mind.
• Finally, at Stage 3, you will study modules covering infectious disease and public health and conclude your degree with a project-based module.

Stage 1 (120 credits)

You'll study both of the following:

• Introducing health and social care (K102)
• Science and health: an evidence-based approach (SDK100)

Stage 2 (120 credits)

You'll study all of the following:

• Brain, mind and mental health (SK298)
• Critical Ideas in Wellbeing and Public Health (K212)
• Human biology (SK299)

Stage 3 (120 credits)

You'll study:

• Infectious disease and public health (SK320)

You'll also choose one from:

• Approaches to mental health (K314)
• Investigating health and social care (K323)
• Leading, managing, and caring (K318)
• Public health: health promotion and health security (K310)

You'll complete your degree with:

• Science project module: health sciences (SXH390)

Assessment

Our assessments are all designed to reinforce your learning and help you show your understanding of the topics. The mix of assessment methods will vary between modules.

Computer-Marked Assignments

• Usually, a series of online, multiple-choice questions.

Tutor-Marked Assignments

• You’ll have a number of these throughout each module, each with a submission deadline.

• They can be made up of essays, questions, experiments or something else to test your understanding of what you have learned.

• Your tutor will mark and return them to you with detailed feedback.

End-of-Module Assessments

• The final, marked piece of work on most modules.

• Modules with an end-of-module assessment won’t usually have an exam.

Exams

• Some modules end with an exam. You’ll be given time to revise and prepare.

• You’ll be given your exam date at least 5 months in advance.

• Most exams take place remotely, and you will complete them at home or at an alternative location.

• If a module requires you to take a face-to-face exam, this will be made clear in the module description, and you will be required to take your exam in person at one of our exam centres.

Skills for career development

You will gain some of the skills required for working in health science and be able to apply scientific methodology to health-related issues. The broad knowledge base in healthcare and health science that you will acquire will equip you with the necessary skills to identify key factors that influence individuals' and populations' health.

You will develop skills in handling scientific data and applying this to debates about the provision of healthcare. You will also gain skills in constructing an evidence-based argument which will enable you to contribute to debates about health policy.

Career relevance

This degree will enable you to contribute to the planning and delivery of a range of healthcare services, as well as the development of policy about healthcare. The degree provides a sound and critical understanding of the relationship between scientific understandings of health and the social influences on health, and of health and social care policy, theory, and practice. You’ll also understand how ethical, legal, scientific, social, and political factors influence the provision and development of services; and gain the critical and analytical skills that underpin evidence-based practice.

Other careers

Many graduate-level jobs are open to graduates of any discipline, particularly in business, finance, management consultancy and the public sector. Some careers may require further study, training and work experience beyond your degree.

With our unique approach to distance learning, you can study from home, work or on the move.

You’ll have some assessment deadlines to meet, but otherwise, you’ll be free to study at the times that suit you, fitting your learning around work, family, and social life.

For each of your modules, you’ll use either just online resources or a mix of online and printed materials.

Each module you study will have a module website with

• A week-by-week study planner, giving you a step-by-step guide through your studies

• Course materials such as reading, videos, recordings, and self-assessed activities

• Module forums for discussions and collaborative activities with other students

• Details of each assignment and their due dates

• A tutorial booking system, online tutorial rooms, and your tutor’s contact details

• Online versions of some printed module materials and resources.