Vision of the programme
To be a global centre of excellence in education, research and innovation in public health
Mission of the programme
To provide world class teaching, research and innovation in public health for individual transformation and sustainable global development
Philosophy of the programme
To harness and impart knowledge and skills in public health for the service of humanity.
Rationale and Justification of the programme: Global and National Public Health Issues
Global public health issues: This curriculum responds to global and national public health issues. World Health Organization (WHO) has identified four priority areas interlinked, interdependent and mutually supportive. Priority area 1 is investing in health and disease prevention through a life-course approach, empowering people, providing safe and sustainable environment for the attainment of their full health potential. Improving health and health equity begins with pregnancy and early childhood development. Healthy children learn better, healthy adults are more productive, and healthy older people can continue to contribute actively to society. Priority area 2 is tackling major health challenges of non-communicable and communicable diseases with continuous health monitoring. Both types require combining determined public health action and health care system interventions. The effectiveness of these strategies is underpinned by actions on equity, social determinants of health, empowerment of people to take control of their own health, and supportive environments. Priority area 3 is strengthening people-centred health systems, ensuring the availability and accessibility of health services, focusing on health protection and promotion and disease prevention, strengthening public health capacities and emergency preparedness, continuous health monitoring and securing appropriate emergency response. Priority area 4 is creating resilient communities living in supportive environments. Building resilience is a key factor in preventing disease, protecting and promoting health and well-being at both the individual and community levels. People‘s health chances are closely linked to the conditions in which they are born, grow, work and age.
National Public Health Issues: In determining training needs assessment emanating from national public health issues, Kenya has been taken to generally represent developing countries in Eastern Africa and beyond. The Government of Kenya has committed itself to providing equitable, affordable and quality health care of the highest standard to all Kenyans through the Constitution 2010 under the Bill of Rights. The strategic direction towards realization of this constitutional right to health care, the Government of Kenya developed the Kenya Vision 2030 to create “a globally competitive and prosperous country with a high quality of life by 2030” by transforming the country from a third world country into an industrialized, middle income country. National health sector objectives are stipulated as to reduce Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) from 488/100,000 to 150/100,00; under five mortality rate from 74/1,000 to 35/1,000; infant mortality rate (IMR)from 52/1,000 to 30/1,000; percentage of HIV/AIDS prevalence from 5.6% to 4%; and malaria in-patient case fatality from 15% to 5% as well as improve under one immunization coverage from 83% to 90%. To achieve these targets, the Government of Kenya has identified six policy objectives: (1) Eliminate communicable conditions: This it aims to achieve by forcing down the burden of communicable diseases, till they are not of major public health concern. (2) Halt, and reverse the rising burden of non communicable conditions. This it aims to achieve by ensuring clear strategies for implementation to address all the identified non communicable conditions in the country. (3) Reduce the burden of violence and injuries. This it aims to achieve by directly putting in place strategies that address each of the causes of injuries and violence at the time. (4) Provide essential health care. These shall be medical services that are affordable, equitable, accessible and responsive to client needs. (5) Minimize exposure to health risk factors. This it aims to achieve by strengthening the health promoting interventions, which address risk factors to health, plus facilitating use of products and services that lead to healthy behaviors in the population. (6) Strengthen collaboration with health related sectors. This it aims to achieve by adopting a ‘Health in all Policies’ approach, which ensures the Health Sector interacts with and influences design implementation and monitoring processes in all health related sector actions.
Global trends on MPH curriculum
The common and the concentration course units in the MKU MPH programme is comparable to global trends in the MPH curriculum. Many universities offer masters of public health programs with various concentrations. Student’s choices on concentration depend on their career path. These are: (1) Biostatistics which provides training in quantitative methods in design and analysis of studies that span the entire spectrum of research in health care. (2) Environmental Health Sciences which prepares students to work in organizations concerned with human exposure to both chemicals and physical agents. Graduates go into careers in academia, industries in chemicals or pharmaceuticals, and also environmental protection agencies. (3) Epidemiology which prepares students for a career in conducting research into causes, prevention and control of human diseases. (4) General Public Health which deepens students’ knowledge of public health concepts, theories, and practices, and hone ability to work collaboratively with other public and private sector professionals whose work often intersects with the field of public health. (5) Social and Behavioral Sciences in which students study methods and concepts of social and behavioral sciences related to the international development and making solutions for modern public health problems. (6) Disaster Management & Emergency Preparedness which prepares students to respond to disasters and catastrophes which pose a great risk to communities. (7) International Public Health Management prepares students for roles in leadership in international organizations. (8) Public Health Policy & Management which gives students a broad understanding of the development and the implementation of health policies. (9) Public Health Education teaches students the educational, interpersonal, community and legislative issues that promote the best health behaviors in the communities. (10) Health Services Administration focus on the planning, organization, administration, management and policy analysis of health programs and prepares students for a career in policy development, health management and health policy analysis.
Justification
In Kenya and other developing countries in the region, there is increasing disease burden largely due to physical, biological, cultural, social and environmental conditions. The disease burden includes communicable and non-communicable diseases as well as emerging and re-emerging diseases and effects of globalization and industrialization. This increase in disease burden and their causes and effects make capacity building in the field of public health a necessity. However, the labour market demand for public health practitioners over the years has not been matched with training opportunities in the country and the region at large, hence the inability to respond to the health challenges.
The MKU MPH programme intends to produce skilled public health professionals who will be capable of integrating theory and practice in assessing, analyzing and managing health challenges. The health professionals are also required to develop and evaluate public health policies affecting the health of the individual and the community at large.
Goal and objectives of the Programme
The goal of the MPH programme is to provide world-class education, research and innovation for the prevention, promotion and protection of public health with special reference to developing countries.
Objectives of the programme
The objectives of the MPH programme are to:
- Prepare students to use multi-disciplinary skills to address contemporary public health practice challenges.
- Prepare students for position of senior responsibility in public health practice research, community service and training particularly at community level and government
- Prepare student to play an effective role in the development and expansion of opportunities for individuals wishing to continue their education in the public health.
- Train students to have competencies to address emerging and re-emerging public health issues.
- Train students on appropriate use of natural and human resources to promote good
health and sustainable development - Train students to understand ecological approach to public health with emphasis on the linkages and relationship to multiple determinants of health.
Expected Learning Outcomes of the Programme
Upon completion of the prescribed course of study for Master of Public Health the graduates will have acquired knowledge, skills and attitude to be able to: –
- Apply multi-disciplinary skills to address contemporary public health practice challenges.
- Demonstrate knowledge, skills and professional development needed for public health research and training for senior positions of responsibility.
- Play an effective role in the development and expansion of opportunities for individuals wishing to continue their education in the public health.
- Apply the concept and principles of community service in public health.
- Formulate and implement interventions needed to address emerging and re-emerging public health issues.
- Assess whether public health interventions use natural and human resources appropriately for sustainable development.
- Use ecological approach to address multiple determinants of health.
- Acquire knowledge, skills and appropriate attitude towards health systems strengthening and management
Mode of Delivery of the programme
There shall be four modes of delivery of the MPH programme: Regular, Evening, Weekend and Virtual. Each mode shall utilize several of the following methods: lectures, tutorials, group discussion, demonstrations, assignments, practical work, field trips and research projects.
Mode of delivery of the programme.
The mode of delivery shall be;
- Face to face
- Online/Web- based learning – (Note that 1 contact hour is equivalent to 2hours online)
Table showing online/ Web-based learning activities
| Week | Activity 1 | Activity 2 |
| 1 | LESSON 1 |
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| 2 | LESSON 2 |
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| 3 | LESSON 3 |
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| 4 | LESSON 4 |
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| 5 | Lesson 5 |
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| 6 | LESSON 6 |
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| 7 | LESSON 7 |
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| 8 | LESSON 8 |
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9 |
LESSON 9 |
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| 10 | LESSON 10 |
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| 11 | LESSON 11 |
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| 12 | LESSON 12 |
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| 13 | LESSON 13 |
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| 14 | LESSON 14 |
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Academic Regulations for the Programme: Admission Requirements
All candidates admitted to the Master of Public Health programme in the School of Health Sciences must satisfy the following requirements:
Entry Requirement
- They must satisfy common university requirements for admission.
- In addition, candidates must have obtained at bachelor’s degree with at least an upper second class honors in the following areas; Environmental health; environmental studies; water and civil engineering; pharmacy; nursing; clinical medicine; biomedical laboratory technology; biomedical sciences; public health; community health, nutrition and other relevant biological science and health related courses recognized by the University Senate
or
- Candidate should have obtained a bachelor’s degree with a second class lower division and two years relevant work experience in Environmental health; environmental studies; water and civil engineering; pharmacy; nursing; clinical medicine; biomedical laboratory technology; biomedical sciences; public health; community health, nutrition and/or other biological science and health related courses recognized by the University Senate
Registration
A candidate, who qualifies to enter the programme as specified in the entry requirements above, can register with the university to undertake the degree course. Registration is done by payment of fees and completing the necessary university forms as detailed in the university fees structure and registration regulations provided in the Students Information Handbook.
De-registration
A student who fails to register by the end of the fourth week of a semester shall be assumed to have deserted the degree course and shall be de-registered forthwith.
Deferment
Subject to the approval of university senate, a newly admitted student who for some good reason is unable to register in first year may be allowed to defer his/her admission for up to two academic years.
Academic leave
Subject to the approval of the University Senate, a continuing student who for some good reason is unable to register in any year of study may be allowed to stay out of the university for a period of up to two complete academic years.
Credit Transfers
A student who qualifies for admission and has undertaken course units in another university recognized by the Senate of Mount Kenya University may receive credit transfer on the following conditions:
- Request for credit transfer is supported by an authenticated transcript for master of Public health showing at least a pass in the units requested for transfer. A pass shall be a grade of not less than C.
- (2) That the units requested for transfer are deemed equivalent to MKU units by the School of Public Health Academic Board and approved by the University Senate.
- (3) The maximum number of credit units transferrable should not be more than a half of the total number of units.
Programme Requirements
Student requirement
In addition to completing common course units in the first semester, students shall pursue their professional objectives through a choice of three career-oriented concentrations, which offer electives in areas of interest namely Epidemiology and disease control, International Health and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation. The concentrations and/or areas of interest enable students to establish links with one or more of the school’s academic tracks. At the culmination of the program, students shall write a thesis which is then defended in presentations demonstrating the application of their knowledge in a real world context.
Minimum unit requirement
(a) Master of Public Health (MPH) students are required to take a minimum of 13 course units consisting of 7 common course units, at least 5 core/career-oriented units in the various areas of concentration. In addition students can choose a maximum of 4 elective units, including field attachment. A unit consists of 42 contact hours.
It is a requirement that students attend at least a 75% of the recommended lectures before he/she is allowed to sit for final examination
(b) A student is expected to write a thesis under the supervision of at least two supervisors assigned to him by the School of Postgraduate Studies. The thesis involves proposal development, data collection and thesis writing. A student is expected to defend a research proposal in a school seminar to be attended by among other people his/her supervisors. The thesis shall be examined by a board of examiners.
Learning and Teaching Strategies
Several approaches will be used but emphasis will be put on interactive methods such as lectures, educational field trips, and writing of research projects. The lecturers are obliged to prepare sufficient materials for teaching and use relevant teaching strategies to competently deliver the course.
Student Assessments
The common Regulations for the University Examination shall apply.
Mode of Examinations
All units shall be examined at the end of the semester in which they are taken, unless the course runs longer than a semester. The assessment of the students’ work shall be on the basis of percentage (%) marks. The pass mark in all unit courses shall be 50% of the total marks.
Student Assessment Policy/Criteria
Examinations shall consist of continuous assessment tests (CATS) and assignments which shall contribute 40% and end of Semester University examinations which shall contribute 60%.
Supplementary examination
If a student fails, he/she will be required to sit for supplementary examinations. A student can only be allowed to sit for supplementary examinations only if he/she fails not more than two examination papers/course units.
Discontinuation
(a) A student who fails more than two examination papers (course units) shall be discontinued.
(b) A student who fails any supplementary paper shall also be discontinued.
Thesis
All students taking master of public health degree are required to write a thesis. This involves conducting independent personal research, written by a candidate for a master’s degree. The thesis shall expose the student to skills of scientific writing involving writing of a research proposal, conducting the research and writing the report that will be defended. A thesis is equivalent to 8 units. External and internal examination of thesis shall constitute 80%. The students must defend their thesis accordingly. Defense constitutes 20%.
Grading Systems
Each unit shall be marked out of 100. The marks shall be translated into letter grades as follows;
Letter Grade Range of Marks (%)
70 and above A
60—69 B
50—59 C
49 and below F (fail)
The internal examiners shall participate in the moderation of drafts of examinations. External examiners shall moderate examinations papers and also evaluate the marked examination scripts.
Examination Regulations
The University examinations shall be scheduled to take place in the last two weeks of each semester. The duration of the each course unit examination shall be 3 hours
Moderation of Examinations
The Board of Examiners in the University and external examiners shall moderate the end of semester examination.
Graduation Requirements
For the award of the Master of Public Health degree, a student must have:
(a) Attended 42 contact hours in each course unit and passed all (13) units
(b) Defended proposal and thesis successfully in not less than one year
Degree Classification
The Master of Public Health degree shall not be classified.
Regulation for Thesis/Dissertation
All students must undertake research leading to a thesis report. A thesis report shall constitute 80% of marks. The student must defend their thesis. Thesis defense constitute 20% of marks.
Course Evaluation
The MPH course undergoes:
- Evaluation by CUE for Programme accreditation purposes
- Evaluation by Management of Health Systems Association
Management and Administration of the Programme
The Master of Public Health (MPH) programme will be housed in the School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics headed by Head of Department. He or she is in charge overall administration and management of the programme as well as teaching.
Evaluation of Teaching and Learning
The evaluation of teaching shall be undertaken by students, peers, lecturers themselves (self-evaluation) and Director of Quality Assurance in the University.
Evaluation of the Process
Students shall be given opportunities to rate their lecturers towards the end of each semester. The completed student evaluation forms shall be forwarded to the Director of Quality Assurance and analyzed. In addition there shall be lecturers self-evaluation, peer evaluation, evaluation by the Director and students assessment of teaching-learning. All these evaluations will be conducted on a specified period. Occasionally, the Commission of University Education (CUE) may carry out programme evaluation for the given programme. Initially the Commission of University Education shall assess the proposed curriculum of the programme for approval before it is launched
Evaluation of the Academic Staff
Students’ Evaluation– students are asked to complete evaluation forms. The evaluation forms are handed over to the office of the Director Quality Assurance for analysis
- Self – evaluation by individual Staff members
- Peer- review
- Evaluation by Director of Quality Assurance in the University
- Staff Appraisal by the Office of the Vice- Chancellor, which is done administratively once a year
Evaluation of curriculum
The MPH curriculum shall be evaluated after every programme delivery cycle. Curriculum evaluation will involve review of content, instructional process, infrastructure and equipment, and reference materials.
2.0 COURSE STRUCTURE/UNITS OFFERED FOR THE PROGRAMME
Duration and Structure
The duration of study for the programme shall be 2 academic years.
Master of Public Health Units shall be coded as: MP- which stands for Master of Public Health. The 3 digit in the codes of the course units are interpreted as follows:
- 1st digit indicates the year of course unit offered
- 2nd digit indicates the semester the course unit is offered
- 3rd digit indicates the course unit number
Hence, the course coding systems is as follows:
MP511-519: Denotes Year 1, 1st Semester Course Common Units
MP (E,I,E) 521-529: Denotes Year 1, 2nd Semester Course Track Core Units
MP ( E,I,E): Denotes title/name of the track/concentration, (Epidemiology and disease control, International Health and Development, Monitoring and Evaluation).
Post graduate course units will be numbered from 500 onwards
(1) The course unit structure consists of:
- Common units to all specializations
- Core units for each of the three specializations
- Elective units
- Research thesis
(2) Common units. A student shall take eight (8) common course units in the first semester of learning in first year.
(3) Areas of Specialization Number of core units
- Epidemiology and Disease Control 5
3.3 Course Distribution Table
- SEMESTER ONE: COMMON UNITS/CORE UNITS
| UNIT CODE | UNIT TITLE | CONTACT
HOURS |
Credit hours | Online hours |
| MPH 5101 | Foundations of Epidemiology | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| MPH 5102 | Principles of Public Health | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| MPH 5103 | Social Dimensions of Health | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| MPH 5104 | Health Education and Promotion | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| MPH 5105 | Health care organization and management | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| MPH5126 | Public Health Biostatistics | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| HMCU001 | Research Methodology | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| MPH5127 | Maternal and Child Health | 42 | 3 | 42 |
(2) SEMESTER TWO: EPIDEMIOLOGY AND DISEASESE CONTROL CONCENTRATION UNITS
(5) ELECTIVE UNITS
| UNIT CODE | UNIT TITLE | CONTACT
HOURS |
Credit hours | online |
| MPH5128 | Environmental and Occupational Health | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| MPH 5226 | Food Quality Assurance | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| HMCU006 | MPH (Field attachment)-semester three | 42 | 3 | 42 |
| Any course units from other areas of concentration/tracks | 42 | 3 | 42 |
- SEMESTER THREE AND FOUR: UNIT
| UNIT CODE | UNIT TITLE | CONTACT
HOURS |
| HMCU003 | Research Thesis | Once per month |