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PCS-40036 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

For academic year: 2025/26 Last Updated: 15 December 2025

PCS-40036 - MPH - Statistical Methods and Epidemiology
Coordinator: Ross Wilkie Room: MSPC1.74 Tel: +44 1782 7 34845
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 733928

Programme/Approved Electives for 2025/26

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2025/26

This level 7 module will continue to develop research skills and knowledge gained in the Applied Epidemiology module. You will learn more about a range of methodologies and perspectives that are used to study public health and critically appraise literature, which will contribute to your written assessment. You will also gain hands on experience of working with data. These skills will be useful in any career which requires an evidence base to support its practice.

Aims
This module aims to enable students to develop skills in quantitative data analysis and its application to improve population health.

Intended Learning Outcomes

critically analyse the fundamental concepts and principles of epidemiology, applying these to answer research questions and to improve population health: 1,2
demonstrate a critical understanding of different data types and how to identify, summarize and employ them appropriately to public health: 1
critically evaluate the principles of statistical inference and how to implement appropriate statistical tests using specific software: 1
critically appraise epidemiological methods and statistical techniques from existing research literature for application to improve population health: 1,2

Study hours

Lectures/workshops 36 hours will include, practical sessions, lectures, workshops, small group work, tutorials, case based discussions, critical appraisal sessions on scientific literature
114 hours of independent self-study broken down as follows:
60 hours - background reading, reviewing given material, private study, preparation for online and in-person activities (this includes the materials provided for asynchronous study)
54 hours – completion of portfolio and preparation for assessment.

School Rules

Completion of module Applied Epidemiology (PCS-40024)

Description of Module Assessment

1: Portfolio weighted 50%
Satisfactory completion of portfolio


2: Report weighted 50%
Use data and present the results as an abstract for a lay audience


The University undertakes a continuous review of its teaching and research provision to ensure programmes are of a high quality and changes may be made to modules where it is necessary and reasonable to do so. Please be aware that minor changes to modules, such as a change to an individual assessment, can occur up until enrolment, although we endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes. Details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/legalgovernancecompliance/governance/actcharterstatutesordinancesandregulations/studenttermsconditions/

Last Updated: 15 December 2025