Postgraduate Prospectus

Health and Human Sciences | www.essex.ac.uk/hhs
Susan McGill, Hertford,
Hertfordshire – MSc
Occupational Therapy
Student
profile
Studying to be an occupational
therapist was, in some ways,
the most difficult and the easiest
decision I ever made! At 42
years of age, with a well paid job
and young children, giving up our family
security unnecessarily seemed rather risky.
However, I knew something had to change
if I was to be passionate about my job.
I was employed in customer-focused and
business roles, and knew that working
with people was a motivating factor for
me. However, as I climbed into managerial
responsibilities, I discovered I was getting
further from the actual customer and more
dissatisfied with each role I took.
Once my children were in full-time school,
so money and time were less scarce, I
began to research a career change. I saw
a life coach, spoke to friends and family,
and conducted extensive research through
the internet. I knew I needed to work with
people and do something purposeful, that
made a difference.
I gradually narrowed my search and
came up with occupational therapy
– it met all my requirements and then
some! I have always been 'a do-er',
trying out many different life experiences,
and I believe passionately in the sense of
purpose and zest for life that occupation
can bring. Learning that the central
philosophy in occupational therapy
mirrored this, and that such a career
met all my motivating drivers, was
an epiphany!
It is early days on my course at Essex
but I'm enjoying every minute of it.
I thought it would be tough going
into the world of academia and on
to an accelerated Masters course but
I have not doubted my decision for
one second. In fact, as I learn more
about the profession, it feels that
where I am now is a culmination
of everything I've done before
and I know I have made the
right choice.
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Interpretative policy analysis of
health care
Mental health services
Nursing theory and practice
Physiotherapy education and practice
Political economy of health care
Post-trauma responses/stress
disorder/growth
Professional/clinical education
and practice
Public health management
Public health practice and policy
Qualitative methods
Quantitative methodologies and analysis
of large-scale datasets (panel and
cohort studies)
Service evaluation and development
Social aspects of HIV/AIDS
Social epidemiology and health
inequalities
Social inequality and health
n Social issues around health and the
intersection of theories of delinquency
and health
n Social organisation of health care
n Sociology of happiness and wellbeing
n Sociology of health and illness
n Sociology of mental health
n Sociology of risk
n The third sector and health care
provision
n Understanding and application of
research in health settings
This is not an exhaustive list and more can
be found on our website.
If you are looking to carry out research in
a different area to those listed above, then
please contact us to discuss this further.
We encourage the consideration of brief
research proposals, prior to the submission
of your full application.
122 | Postgraduate Prospectus 2012