MSc in Advancing Professional Practice
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Taught Masters
- Code
- F52
- Level
- Postgraduate
- Made up of
- 180 credits
Description
This MSc course is designed to equip practitioners with knowledge and skills, as well as the personal, professional and inter-professional insights and qualities you need to function as a successful change agent, skills analyst and researcher or practice innovator in the advancement of your own field of practice. Throughout your study you will explore module themes with regard to your own practice situation.
The qualification comprises a series of modules, each with its own investigations or activities that enable you to explore your work as a place of learning and to further your enquiries using the study group, print and electronic resources of the qualification. As a graduate of the MSc in Advancing Professional Practice you will be equipped to lead others in measures designed to improve practice, to conduct your own or group practice projects, to design and conduct research and to make cogent recommendations for practice improvement, those based upon evidence, practice experience, skill analysis, policy and a close attention to the objectives and mission of the health or social care organisation or team.
Planning your studies
All entrants to the MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice course are expected to be registered healthcare professionals and to have:
- A bachelors degree or higher in a relevant subject.
- Access to a relevant practice environment. This can be clinical, management, education, research, health promotion, systems or service development or technical in nature. Access may be on the basis of part-time work, we do not assume that you are a full time professional. This qualification is not however suitable though for those currently taking a career break or on extended period of leave.
- Current professional registration with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, the General Dental Council, the General Medical Council, the Health Professional Council, or the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
If you do not hold a bachelors degree but have a track record of professional achievement (e.g. innovative practice, clinical leadership, research or publications, work in a relevant charity but without professional registration), you may still be considered for non-standard entry. You will be required to provide documentary evidence of professional achievements and may be asked to complete an exploratory assignment answer in order to ascertain your ability to deal with masters level study and assessment. Exploratory assignments are used for admission assessment purposes, no fee is levied for their assessment but we cannot undertake to provide written feedback on these assignments.
You can gain this qualification by successfully completing three 60-credit modules, which each run over twelve months. Please note that you will need to spend approximately 11 hours per week studying for each of the modules in this qualification, and therefore you are strongly advised to study no more than one 60-credit module in each year.
If you began your studies in February 2010 or earlier you can complete the MSc by following the previous structure throughout (by taking up to six compulsory modules plus a final 60-credit project module) or transfer over to the current structure as described below.
To be awarded this qualification, all modules must be successfully completed within eight years.
You should note that the University’s unique study rule applies to this qualification. This means that you must include at least 60 credits from OU modules that have not been counted in any other OU qualification that has previously been awarded to you.
Career relevance and employability
The need for creative, innovative and entrepreneurial practitioners within professional caring services has been recognised by healthcare departments across the world and it is widely agreed that many roles are best supported by masters graduates with a qualification in advancing practice. You will therefore typically aspire to senior and influential roles, as consultants, practice development directors, practice change agents and designers of innovative services. The qualification is well suited to those with a developing vision for the future of services and who wish to influence and lead others.
The programme is suitable for healthcare professionals from medical, nursing, midwifery, health visiting and allied health backgrounds in public and private healthcare systems, and within the community and the voluntary sector. It is suitable for professionals working to promote the health of others working within public health or schools. Practitioners working within technical areas of healthcare (e.g. laboratories) may also find it valuable, although it is emphasised that the qualification focuses upon themes valuable to all service improvement and delivery. The qualification is valuable to project officers working within or with healthcare charities or patient support groups and services.
There is more information about how OU study can improve your employability in the OU’s Employability Statement from our Careers Advisory Service. You can also read or download our publication OU study and your career and look at our subject pages to find out about career opportunities.
Modules
For this 180-credit masters degree you require:
180 credits from the following compulsory modules:
| Postgraduate compulsory modules | Credits | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Oct 2012 |
|
60 | Oct 2012 |
|
60 | Oct 2012 |
If you started your studies in February 2010 or earlier
For this 180-credit masters degree you require:
120 credits from the following compulsory modules:
| Postgraduate compulsory modules | Credits | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
20 | Sep 2012 FINAL |
and the discontinued modules K821, K822, K823, K824, K826
And 60 credits from the following optional modules:
| Postgraduate optional modules | Credits | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | May 2012 |
Or the discontinued module K801
Or if you have already completed, or are working towards completing, the Postgraduate Certificate in Advancing Healthcare Practice or the Postgraduate Diploma in Advancing Healthcare Practice under the previous structure, you may complete your MSc Healthcare pathway as follows:
| Postgraduate compulsory modules | Credits | Next start |
|---|---|---|
|
60 | Oct 2012 |
|
60 | Oct 2012 |
and the discontinued modules K821, K822, K826
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes of this qualification are described in four areas:
- Knowledge and understanding
- Cognitive skills
- Practical and professional skills
- Key skills
Read more detailed information about the learning outcomes, and how they are acquired through teaching, learning and assessment methods.
Credit for previous study elsewhere
If you have already completed some successful study at postgraduate level at another institution we may be able to give you credit that you can count towards this Open University qualification. Please see our Credit Transfer site for details. If you make a successful claim for transferred credit it may affect your choice of modules, so you are advised to investigate this option as soon as possible.
Credit transfer details for this qualification:
On completion
On successful completion of the required modules you can be awarded an MSc Advancing Professional Practice (Healthcare) entitling you to use the letters MSc Adv PP (Open) after your name or if you complete this qualification by 31 December 2012 it will be awarded as a MSc in Advancing Healthcare Practice entitling you to use the letters MSc Adv HCP (Open) after your name. You will have the opportunity of being presented at a degree ceremony.
Regulations
As a student of The Open University, you should be aware of the content of the Qualification Regulations and the Student Regulations.
Qualification Regulations
- Introduction to the Qualification Regulations
- General Qualification Regulations
- MSc in Advancing Professional Practice
- Schedule B to the Qualification Regulations
Student Regulations
The Student Regulations (including the Code of Practice for Student Assessment and the Code of Practice for Student Discipline) are available on our Policy Documents for Students website.
How to register
To register for this qualification, read the description and check you meet any specific requirements (for example, some of our qualifications, require you to be working in a particular environment, or be sponsored by your employer). Then select the module you wish to study first and ensure it is suitable for you before following the registration procedure for that module.
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A postgraduate qualification in Health and Social Care.
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