About This Course
Fact File
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Title
Health Protection (Online)
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Code
PCHPTN
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College
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Duration
6 Months Part-time
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Teaching Mode
Part-Time. See Additional Teaching Mode Information for more info.
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Qualifications
PG Cert
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EU Fees
€2,800 (per academic year)
See Fees and Costs for full details. Non-EU Fees
€2,800 (per academic year)
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Entry Requirements
See Requirements for full details.
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Closing Date
08 August 2023
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Course Delivery Method
Online
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Start Date
23 August 2023
Course Outline
The programme aims to provide students, from a range of different professional backgrounds, with core knowledge and skills related to the practice of Public Health and Health Protection. This course supplies the knowledge and skills necessary for health protection (infection control) and public health on a global scale. The emphasis is on the use of evidence-based healthcare and practice that will enable participants to work in infection prevention and control, putting patient safety and public health principles into effect in both research and professional contexts.
Learning Outcomes/Objectives
Completion of the course will equip students with the knowledge to support them in the coordination and management of infection prevention, control and health protection services in a broad number of settings.
On completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection students should be able to;
- Demonstrate an understanding of the principles of public health.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the appropriate management of infections caused by different pathogenic microorganisms.
- 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 coordinated control methods utilising tools such as audit and surveillance.
- Assess constraints of health protection delivery services and provide possible solutions to barriers.
- 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 and identify effective methods to bring about practice change.
Modules
The programme consists of a total of 30-credit modules; two 10-credit modules and two 5-credit modules. This is a structured online programme that requires approximately 15 to 25 hours of study commitment for the duration of each module. After successful completion and passing of the postgraduate certificate in health protection students will have the option of progressing to a Diploma and Master of Public Health.
Students take the following modules:
- EH6094 Public Health: Principles and Practice (10 credits)
- EH6150 Introduction to Health Protection (5 credits)
- EH6151 Advanced Health Protection (5 credits)
- EH6101 Microbiology, Environmental Health and Infectious Diseases (10 credits)
See College Calendar for additional information on the Programme and the Book of Modules for further information on the modules.
Additional Teaching Mode Information
This is a part-time course. This programme will be taught online over 7 months (September-March).
Modules
Further details on the modules listed above can be found in our Book of Modules. Any modules listed above are indicative of the current set of modules for this course but are subject to change from year to year.
University Calendar
You can find the full academic content for the current year of any given course in our University Calendar.
Course Practicalities
The course runs from September to March each year. The Certificate (30 credits) must be completed within 36 months (i.e. 3 years) of programme commencement. Progression to Diploma and Master of Public Health is possible once all assessment is successfully completed. However, acceptance onto the Diploma or MPH will only be considered within five years from the date of above Certification.
Each 10-credit module will be delivered over 8 weeks, and each 5-credit module is delivered over 4 weeks. Students take one module at a time according to the pre-determined programme calendar. Each 10-credit module consists of an estimated student workload of 200 hours and a 5-credit module 100 hours. This consists of online, self-directed learning, required readings and subject investigation, E-tivities and assignments for preparation, participation and submission.
The course allows for progression to an Online Master of Public Health, also delivered by the School of Public Health.
Assessment
A range of continuous assessments is used across the modules. These may include essays, case studies, online presentations, quiz, accumulative report writing, reflective journal and E-tivities.
Who teaches this course?
The course is delivered by the School of Public Health staff in conjunction with external lecturers with experience in relation to health protection and public health.
Requirements
- Candidates must possess a Second Class Honours Grade II in a primary honours degree (NFQ, Level 8) in a relevant subject area. Relevant subject areas are biological sciences, medical and health sciences, public health and social sciences.
Note: In some circumstances, applicants without a primary degree or applicants without a relevant primary degree may be recommended for entry to the programme under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) following a review of their individual qualifications and experience by the course committee. Such applicants may be called for interview, and their admission will be subject to the approval of the School of Public Health's Executive Committee.
Technical Requirements
This programme will be delivered wholly online. As such, there are specific technical requirements that you need to meet.
1. You will need access to a laptop or desktop (either Mac OS or Windows) running a relatively recent operating system (Windows 7, 8, 8.1, 10 or Mac OSX 10.8, 10.9, 10.10 or later). Access to the Canvas Virtual Learning Environment is supported by
UCC through IOS and Android apps, which are available from the respective App stores.
2. You will need access to a reliable broadband connection with at least 2MB download speeds. You can test your broadband or 4G speeds by visiting http://www.speedtest.net.
3. You must have a modern web browser installed. The most reliable options for use with UCC online learning are Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Download and installation instructions will be provided. Safari is not suitable.
4. You must have Java and Flash Runtimes installed. Download and installation instructions will be provided.
5. You will require an Office suite of software (Microsoft Office 2003 or later or equivalent) and a PDF reader (preferably Adobe Acrobat Reader XI or later). Please note that registered UCC students have access to discounted software from Microsoft and Adobe.
To engage productively and successfully with the content, basic technical computer skills such as familiarity with word processing, web browsing and email is recommended.
For Applicants with Qualifications Completed Outside of Ireland
Applicants must meet the required entry academic grade, equivalent to Irish requirements. For more information see our Qualification Comparison page.
International/Non-EU Applicants
For full details of the non-EU application procedure visit our how to apply pages for international students.
- In UCC, we use the term programme and course interchangeably to describe what a person has registered to study in UCC and its constituent colleges, schools, and departments.
- Note that not all courses are open to international/non-EU applicants, please check the fact file above. For more information contact the International Office.
English Language Requirements
Applicants that are non-native speakers of the English language must meet the university-approved English language requirements. Please visit our PG English Language Requirements page for more information.
Fees and Costs
The EU fee for this course is €2,800 (per academic year) .
The Non-EU fee for this course is €2,800 (per academic year) .
Deposits
If your course required a deposit, that figure will be deducted from your second semester fee payment in January.
EU student fee payment
Fees for EU students are payable in two equal instalments. First payment is at registration in August and the second in January.
International student fee payment
International Students can pay in two equal instalments once they have paid the appropriate deposit. The initial payment is due on registration and the balance usually by the end of January.
How can I pay?
You can pay by Credit/Debit card online or by credit transfer.
Questions?
If you have any questions on fee payment email our Fees Office at fees@ucc.ie.
How Do I Apply
1. Check Dates: Check the opening and closing dates for the application process in the fact file boxes at the top of the page.
- For Irish and EU applicants we operate a rounds system and you can check the rounds closing dates here.
- Note that not all our programmes are subject to the rounds system so check the opening and closing dates for your specific programme in the fact file boxes above.
2. Gather Documents: Scanned copies of supporting documents have to be uploaded to the UCC online application portal and include:
- Original qualification documents listed on your application including transcripts of results from institutions other than UCC.
- Any supplementary items requested for your course if required.
3. Apply Online: Apply online via the UCC online application portal. Note the majority of our courses have a non-refundable €50 application fee.
- Any questions? Use our web enquiry form to contact us.
Additional Requirements
Please note you will be required to provide additional information as part of the online application process for this programme. This will include the following questions:
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You may enter the details of professional or voluntary positions held. We strongly encourage you to complete this section with all relevant work experiences that will support your application.
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In addition to your previously declared qualifications, please outline any additional academic courses, self-learning and professional training relevant to this programme.
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Please describe your motivation and readiness for this programme.