Program Overview

---

Zoonoses and Public Health

2024/25 Part-time Postgraduate Short course and CPD

Award

Contributes to the Postgraduate Certificate of Professional Development.

Faculty

Faculty of Life and Health Sciences

School

School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

eLearning

This course is taught online so you can study where you want, when you want.

Credit points

10

Start date

27 January 2025

Overview

This course focuses on a comprehensive, detailed and systematic understanding of the impact of zoonoses on public health and pharmacy practice.

Summary

This course provides participants with a comprehensive, detailed and systematic understanding of the impact of zoonoses on public health and the role of government, local authorities and pharmacy practice on zoonoses prevention and monitoring.

About this course

About

This short course aims to provide students with a comprehensive, detailed and systematic understanding of the impact of zoonoses on public health and the role of government, local authorities and pharmacy practice on zoonoses prevention and monitoring.

It is well recognised that there is a need for better control and prevention of zoonoses. The list of diseases communicable between animals and humans is significant and includes salmonellosis, rabies, toxoplasma, Lyme disease and (although rare in humans) foot and mouth disease.

The risk is not restricted to those in contact with infected animals, because disease may be transmitted via food or contact with a contaminated surface or liquid.

It has been suggested that there is more of a need for a concerted multidisciplinary approach to the control of zoonoses. Pharmacists are in a front-line position to contribute to recording and reporting possible food borne infections, while working closely with the medical profession.

Pharmacy occupies a special position and unique scope for acting as a link between medical and veterinary professionals. Pharmacists must be equipped with the knowledge and skills required to meet this need.

Linked programmes

• MPharm (Hons) Pharmacy
• PgCertPD Professional Development

Assessment

• Written Assignment (Coursework) [90%]: A written piece of work of maximum 2000 words which will involve the critical appraisal of a current topic related to zoonoses.
• Class Test (Written) [10%]: Class tests will consist of 10 Multiple Choice Questions after each of the five learning sections. These will be open-book assessments and will need to be passed at 50% in order to move to the next set of learning materials.

Attendance

This course is delivered fully online for 12 weeks in Semester 2, starting 27 January 2025, with no on campus attendance requirements.

Entry requirements

• Any undergraduate degree.

English Language Requirements

• Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the minimum English entrance requirements of the University and will need to provide recent evidence of this (certified within the last two years).
• Most of our courses require a minimum English level of IELTS 6.0 or equivalent, with no band score under 5.5. Trinity ISE: Pass at level III also meets this requirement.

Start dates

• 27 January 2025

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Attendance and Independent Study

• The content for each course is summarised on the relevant course page, along with an overview of the modules that make up the course.
• Each course is approved by the University and meets the expectations of:
  • the relevant generic national Qualification Descriptor
  • the applicable Subject Benchmark Statement
  • the requirements of any professional, regulatory, statutory and accrediting bodies.

Assessment

• Assessment methods vary and are defined explicitly in each module. Assessment can be a combination of examination and coursework but may also be only one of these methods.
• Assessment is designed to assess your achievement of the module’s stated learning outcomes.

Fees and funding

Prices

• Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland and EU Settlements Status Fees: £388.90
• England, Scotland, Wales and the Islands Fees: £388.90
• International Fees: £949.40

Fees information

• Payment of Fees and Deposits: Information about how to pay for a course including different payment options is available.
• Fees and Funding: Information and advice about course fees and a guide to budgeting for your living costs, as well as sources for financial assistance including hardship funding, scholarships, prizes and awards.

Academic profile

• The University employs over 1,000 suitably qualified and experienced academic staff - 60% have PhDs in their subject field and many have professional body recognition.
• Courses are taught by staff who are Professors (19%), Readers, Senior Lecturers (22%) or Lecturers (57%).
• We require most academic staff to be qualified to teach in higher education: 82% hold either Postgraduate Certificates in Higher Education Practice or higher.
• Most academic and learning support staff (85%) are recognised as fellows of the Higher Education Academy (HEA) by Advance HE - the university sector professional body for teaching and learning.
• Many academic and technical staff hold other professional body designations related to their subject or scholarly practice.

Sustainability at Ulster

• Ulster continues to develop and support sustainability initiatives with our staff, students, and external partners across various aspects of teaching, research, professional services operations, and governance.
• At Ulster every person, course, research project, and professional service area on every campus either does or can contribute in some way towards the global sustainability and climate change agenda.
• We are guided by both our University Strategy People, Place and Partnerships: Delivering Sustainable Futures for All and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Faculty of Life and Health Sciences – Sustainability in Focus

Learning and Teaching

• Our Faculty is dedicated to integrating sustainability across our curriculum, preparing students to address global environmental challenges.
• The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) have been incorporated throughout each course within the Faculty and each module outlines how and where they meet these SDG’s.
• Subject specific guidance on sustainability has been provided in the QAA benchmarks statements for Biomedical Science and Biomedical Sciences; Biosciences; Chemistry; Optometry; Psychology; Earth Sciences; Veterinary Nursing; Agriculture; Rural –Environmental Sciences; Animal Studies; Consumer Science; Forestry, Food Horticulture –and –Human Nutrition; Health Studies; Earth Sciences and Geography.

Research and Knowledge Exchange

• Our Faculty has key centres of research excellence within all Schools and our interdisciplinary approach brings together researchers from diverse fields to develop impactful solutions.
• By advancing knowledge in various fields within the faculty, we aim to identify sustainable approaches to:
  • Health promotion
  • Achieving food security improved nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture
  • Ensuring healthy lives and promote wellbeing
  • Promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all
  • Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls
  • Ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
  • Taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
  • Conserving and sustainably using the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
  • Promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
  • Promoting peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development
  • Implementation and revitalisation of the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development

External Partnerships

• Collaboration is key to driving sustainability. Our Faculty partners with external stakeholders including professional bodies and learned societies to enhance the sustainability journey for all our students and to promote sustainable practices.
• External partnerships enable us to apply research and innovation to real-world challenges. We drive meaningful change in local communities, industries, and global ecosystems, fostering a more sustainable society through impactful projects and community engagement.