Health and Organisational Research

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Academic Year of Entry: 2023/24
Course overview
(MA) Master of Arts
Health and Organisational Research
Withdrawn
University of Essex
University of Essex
Health and Social Care (School of)
Colchester Campus
Masters
Full-time or by credit accumulation
MA B99112
10/05/2023

Details

Professional accreditation

None

Admission criteria

A degree with an overall grade of 2.1, including research training and a dissertation. We are also happy to consider applicants who have a 2.1 degree whose professional experience includes research, including data analysis etc.

IELTS (International English Language Testing System) code

IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum component score of 5.5

If you do not meet our IELTS requirements then you may be able to complete a pre-sessional English pathway that enables you to start your course without retaking IELTS.

Course qualifiers

A course qualifier is a bracketed addition to your course title to denote a specialisation or pathway that you have achieved via the completion of specific modules during your course. The specific module requirements for each qualifier title are noted below. Eligibility for any selected qualifier will be determined by the department and confirmed by the final year Board of Examiners. If the required modules are not successfully completed, your course title will remain as described above without any bracketed addition. Selection of a course qualifier is optional and student can register preferences or opt-out via Online Module Enrolment (eNROL).

None

Rules of assessment

Rules of assessment are the rules, principles and frameworks which the University uses to calculate your course progression and final results.

Additional notes

None

External examiners

External Examiners provide an independent overview of our courses, offering their expertise and help towards our continual improvement of course content, teaching, learning, and assessment. External Examiners are normally academics from other higher education institutions, but may be from the industry, business or the profession as appropriate for the course. They comment on how well courses align with national standards, and on how well the teaching, learning and assessment methods allow students to develop and demonstrate the relevant knowledge and skills needed to achieve their awards. External Examiners who are responsible for awards are key members of Boards of Examiners. These boards make decisions about student progression within their course and about whether students can receive their final award.

Key

Core You must take this module.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Core with Options You can choose which module to study.
You must pass this module. No failure can be permitted.
Compulsory You must take this module.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Compulsory with Options You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.
Optional You can choose which module to study.
There may be limited opportunities to continue on the course/be eligible for the degree if you fail.

Year 1 - 2023/24

Exit Award Status
Component Number Module Code Module Title Status Credits PG Diploma PG Certificate
01 BE486-7-AU-CO Organisational Behaviour and Human Resource Management Compulsory 20 Compulsory Optional
02 HS947-7-AU-CO Theory and Method in Health Research Core 15 Core Optional
03 HS927-7-FY-CO Core 15 Core Optional
04 BE950-7-AU-CO Research Evaluation Core 20 Core Optional
05 HS948-7-SP-CO Qualitative Health Research Core 15 Core Optional
06 Option from HSC list Optional 15 Optional Optional
07 BE489-7-SP or BE554-7-SP or BE555-7-SP Optional 20 Optional Optional
08 HS982-7-FY or BE981-7-FY Core with Options 60

Exit awards

A module is given one of the following statuses: 'core' – meaning it must be taken and passed; 'compulsory' – meaning it must be taken; or 'optional' – meaning that students can choose the module from a designated list. The rules of assessment may allow for limited condonement of fails in 'compulsory' or 'optional' modules, but 'core' modules cannot be failed. The status of the module may be different in any exit awards which are available for the course. Exam Boards will consider students' eligibility for an exit award if they fail the main award or do not complete their studies.

Programme aims

This degree will offer an opportunity to study in health and organisational studies in an inter-disciplinary environment. It will be best suited for graduates who wish to pursue a career in health services and health research.

1. To provide advanced training in researching psychosocial aspects of health and wellbeing.
2. To provide a solid understanding of the epistemological debates concerning different approaches to research in the organisation and provision of healthcare.
3. To provide firm knowledge of core substantive areas of social science, organisational studies and health, e.g. health policy, public health, epidemiology, medical sociology.

Learning outcomes and learning, teaching and assessment methods

On successful completion of the programme a graduate should demonstrate knowledge and skills as follows:

A: Knowledge and understanding

A1: Advanced understanding of key explanatory frameworks in health and organisational research

A2: Advanced understanding of the principles of research design

A3: Knowledge of the relationships between relevant academic theories and empirical health and organisational related research

A4: Ability to translate principles of research design into both qualitative and quantitative studies

A5: Understanding of the role of computer assisted analysis in research

A6: Advanced understanding of the role of well formulated and relevant research questions

A7: Understanding of relevant ethical and legal issues around health and organisation related research

A8: Advanced understanding of the underlying epistemological and ontological positions common in health and organisation related research

A9: Plan and carry out, with supervision, health and organisation related research to a high professional and ethical standard

Learning methods

Lectures, seminars, workshops

Assessment methods

100% coursework - written assignments and presentations

B: Intellectual and cognitive skills

B1: Advanced knowledge of how to systematically gather and critically appraise relevant evidence bases

B2: Ability to review and analyse competing theories and evidence

B3: Ability to engage in advanced debates of theoretical, practical and research issues

B4: Ability to develop and construct appropriate research questions to investigate research related issues

B5: Advanced knowledge of qualitative data collection methods and techniques and existing repositories of qualitative data

B6: Advanced knowledge of quantitative data collection methods and techniques and existing repositories of quantitative data

B7: Interpret empirical evidence from different forms of research

Learning methods

Lectures, seminars, workshops

Assessment methods

100% coursework - written assignments and presentations

C: Practical skills

C1: Perform advanced and systematic search for information relevant to specific topics

C2: Perform evaluation and appraisal of existing research and the evidence base

C3: Ability to collect and analyse interview material and ethnographic data

C4: Process and analyse qualitative data, using a software package (e.g. MaxQDA)

C5: Process and analyse data using a statistical software package (e.g. SPSS)

C6: Demonstrate ability to analyse data from different sources using appropriate techniques

C7: Demonstrate ability to conduct work in a self-directed manner and the ability to appropriately use time management techniques

Learning methods

Lectures, seminars, workshops

Assessment methods

100% coursework - written assignments and presentations

D: Key skills

D1: Able to communicate effectively verbally in a group; able to summarise and communicate complex findings to others; able to communicate with professional and lay audiences appropriately; able to write well-structured and well-argued essays

D2: Able to use Internet resources, word processing packages; spreadsheets and statistics packages; presentation packages; data analysis software

D3: Ability to read and interpret tables of data and statistics from a variety of official sources

D4: Able to use advanced knowledge and cognitive skills to address theoretical, practical and research problems

D5: Able to work effectively with others, in particular able to adopt a collegial approach to participation in group discussions and providing feedback to peers.

D6: Ability to reflect upon ones own knowledge and research practice

Learning methods

Lectures, seminars, workshops

Assessment methods

100% coursework - written assignments and presentations


Note

The University makes every effort to ensure that this information on its programme specification is accurate and up-to-date. Exceptionally it can be necessary to make changes, for example to courses, facilities or fees. Examples of such reasons might include a change of law or regulatory requirements, industrial action, lack of demand, departure of key personnel, change in government policy, or withdrawal/reduction of funding. Changes to courses may for example consist of variations to the content and method of delivery of programmes, courses and other services, to discontinue programmes, courses and other services and to merge or combine programmes or courses. The University will endeavour to keep such changes to a minimum, and will also keep students informed appropriately by updating our programme specifications.

The full Procedures, Rules and Regulations of the University governing how it operates are set out in the Charter, Statutes and Ordinances and in the University Regulations, Policy and Procedures.

Contact

If you are thinking of studying at Essex and have questions about the course, please contact Undergraduate Admissions by emailing admit@essex.ac.uk, or Postgraduate Admissions by emailing pgadmit@essex.ac.uk.

If you're a current student and have questions about your course or specific modules, please contact your department.

If you think there might be an error on this page, please contact the Course Records Team by emailing crt@essex.ac.uk.