Infectious Disease Control, 60 credits

Validation

This programme syllabus was validated by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2011-05-05 according to the stipulations in the Higher Education Ordinance. This programme syllabus was revised by the Faculty Board at Södertörn University on 2012-10-29.

Entry requirements

The equivalent of English B. Bachelor´s degree in Enviromental Science, Bioscience, Geography, Development Studies: Specialisation International Health, or an equivalent degree in the field of Medicine or Public Health Science

Programme outcomes

Knowledge and understanding

Upon completion of the programme, the student is able to:

• define biological mechanisms behind major infectious diseases and explain the increased epidemiological risks in relation to changes in the environment and climate
• describe and generalise epidemiological principles important in infectious disease control so that suitable surveillance step can be suggested
• generalise socio-economic factors important for infectious disease control with a regional, national and international perspective
• relate the influence of cultural and social factors at an individual level
• compare the effects of infectious diseases and epidemics in relation to riskgroups, e.g. immunocompromisation, age, gender, ethnicity and country
• distinguish the importance of presenting geographical data concerning differences in scale and representativeness.

Competence and skills

Upon completion of the programme, the student is able to:

• relate infectious disease control to concepts and processes and distribution patterns connected to space and place, including changes in time
• work with epidemiological infection data to identify suitable methods of control strategy
• analyse molecular epidemiological problems so that evolution, virulence and spreading patterns for single biological agents can be determined
• organise and execute an independent degree project work in environmental science with a focus on infectious disease control.

Judgement and approach

Upon completion of the programme, the student is able to:

• critically examine and assess published epidemiological infection studies
• reflect on how strategies within infectious disease control effectively combine with gender, ethnicity and other social factors
• reflect on how changes in the environment and climate affect the risk for epidemics of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases
• motivate infectious disease control with global sustainable health perspectives
• reflect and discuss the need of diversity in strategy and methodology within infectious disease control.

Applicability

An understanding of the contribution Environmental Science can make to knowledge about the spread and control of infectious diseases is increasing in both public and private sectors. This multidisciplinary education gives the student the tools needed to survey, control and evaluate the risk for epidemic infections, as well as a deep understanding of the connection between spreading patterns for infectious diseases and global environmental changes, urbanisation and mobility. Great emphasis is placed on project work, which is presented orally and in writing in English, and which develops international communication skills.

Qualification

Title of qualification:

Degree of Master of Science (60 credits) in Enviromental Sciences

Filosofie magisterexamen inom huvudområdet miljövetenskap

Qualification stipulation:

The degree of Master of Science (60 credits) is awarded on completion of courses equivalent to 60 credits with a degree of specialisation determined by the individual institute of higher education. At least 30 credits must be awarded for in-depth courses within the main field of Environmental Science including a minimum of 15 credits for an independent project in the main field. A student must previously have been awarded a degree of Bachelor of Science for courses equivalent to 180 credits, or have an equivalent qualification from abroad.

Programme design

The emergence and re-emergence of epidemics of infectious diseases is a gigantic health problem that is likely to increase in the near future. Due to lack of resources, these risks are mainly observed in developing countries but also countries with a well-functioning health care infrastructure will be affected by a great number of pathogens and re-emerging epidemics. A consequence of globalisation is that events in one part of the world may rapidly impact on the local health status in multiple world locations. This programme bridges Environmental Science, Health Science, and biological, medical and socio-economical aspects of infectious disease control. How local and global changes in the environment and climate are connected with the spread, presence and evolution of infectious diseases are addressed. Biological mechanisms behind important infectious diseases are highlighted with a focus on control, diagnostics and therapy with national as well as international perspectives. Statistical models suitable for epidemiological studies are studied. Spatial perspectives on the connections between the environment, health and society are covered on the course in Medical Geography. The epidemiology course is arranged in collaboration with the Department of Analysis and Prevention at the Swedish Institute for Communicable Disease Control (SMI) and includes quantification, surveillance, outbreak investigations, case-control studies, cohort studies and mathematical modelling of infectious diseases. The programme also includes a methodology course which provides deeper knowledge of statistical data analysis within epidemiology of infectious diseases, geographical information systems (GIS) and methods within molecular epidemiology which are a preparation for the individual degree project on infectious disease control.

Compulsory courses

• Infectious Disease Control in Changing Environments 7,5 credits
• Statistical Data Analysis in Infectious Disease Control 7,5 credits
• Medical Geography 7,5 credits
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology 15 credits
• Scientific Methods in Infectious Disease Control 7,5 credits
• Degree project in infectious disease control 15 credits

A student on a study programme is guaranteed a place on the compulsory courses or on the specializations/courses within the programme. (For entry requirements, see, Other Stipulations.)

Optional courses

A student is guaranteed a place on a range of courses equivalent to a full workload. There is no guarantee that a student is offered a place on his/her first choice of course. For entry requirements, see course syllabus.

Degree project

Degree project comprising 15 credits in Environmental Science with a focus on infectious disease control

Credit transfer for prior studies

A student has the right to have prior learning assessed for accreditation within the study programme.

Other stipulations

For entry requirements for courses within a study programme, see course syllabus.