This Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection is a part-time programme, delivered online, running from September to March. 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 of Public Health) will hold exemptions in passed modules taken in the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Protection if she/he applies for the Master of Public Health within 5 years from the date of successful completion of the Certificate Examinations.

Candidates must possess a NFQ Level 8 degree in a relevant subject area (minimum 2H2).

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 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.

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

To access and interact with the course content, assignments and assessments etc. students will require access to at least a PC/ Laptop running Windows 7 or later and Mac OSX 10.7.4. Students will be required to have internet access. Common plug-ins such as Microsoft Silverlight, Java and Flash will also be required. Students must have access to MS Office or an equivalent suite of applications such as Liber Office. They must also have access to a modern standards compliant web browser. UCC recommends either Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

To engage productively and successfully with the content, basic technical computer skills such as familiarity with word processing, web browsing and email is recommended.

Students must satisfactorily complete modules to the value of 30 credits.

Core modules
Induction Week (non-credit bearing module)
EH6094 Public Health Core Principles and Overview (10 credits)
EH6101 Microbiology, the Environment and Infectious Disease (10 credits)
EH6150 Introduction to Health Protection (5 credits)
EH6151 Advanced Health Protection (5 credits)

Module Semester Information may be found here. Module Descriptions may be found here.

Examinations
Full details and regulations governing Examinations for each programme will be contained in the Marks and Standards 2020/2021 Book and for each module in the Book of Modules, 2020/2021.

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:

• 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 co-ordinated 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.