College of Medicine and Health

2012/2013

Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection

NFQ Level 9, Minor award

This Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection is a part-time programme running from January to April/May. The programme is designed on a module basis to meet the needs of working professionals. A student who subsequently applies and is admitted to continue to Master's level (Master's in Public Health) will hold exemptions in passed modules taken in the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection if she/he applies for the Master's in Public Health within 5 years from the date of successful completion of the Certificate Examinations.

Entry Requirements
Candidates must have the following:

• An appropriate degree or professional qualification in healthcare or health services management (such as registered nurses, pharmacists, midwives, health services managers);
• Minimum of two years' post qualification experience in healthcare or health services management;
• Candidates may be required to present for interview.

Admission to the programme will be subject to the approval of the College of Medicine and Health. Application for entry should be made online at http://www.pac.ie.

Programme Requirements
Students take taught modules to the value of 30 credits incorporating 140 hours of structured contact time.

Students take 30 credits as follows:

EH6019 The Principles and Practice of Multi-disciplinary Health Protection (10 credits)
EH6020 The Global Burden of Communicable Diseases (5 credits)
EH6035 Practice Portfolio (5 credits)
MB6000 Microbiology for Health Protection (5 credits)

and

EH6032 Environment and Health (5 credits)
or
NU6003 Infection Control: Theories, Modules and Management (5 credits)

Module descriptions are contained in the Book of Modules 2012/2013.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2013 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules 2012/2013.

Programme Learning Outcomes for Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection (NFQ Level 9, Minor award)
On successful completion of this programme, students should be able to:

• Investigate the transmission of endemic and epidemic infections from sufficient knowledge of the characteristics and transmission of causative organisms
• Select appropriate methods for control of hospital and community acquired infectious disease
• Design, implement and evaluate co-ordinated control methods
• Assess constraints of health protection delivery services
• Describe the global impact of infectious diseases and strategies which are effective, partially effective and ineffective in management and prevention
• Discuss the wider aspects of Health Protection
• Discuss effective methods in bring about practice change.