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Make a difference in public health by building expertise in the control and elimination of communicable diseases in times of crisis. Develop advanced knowledge and skills in epidemiology, infection control, and the interaction of environmental factors with human and animal health. You'll be equipped to advocate for, develop and implement tailored responses to communicable disease outbreaks, reducing risks to communities.

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#1 in Queensland

for median graduate salary Good Universities Guide 2023, PG Health Services

#1 in Queensland

for full-time employment Good Universities Guide 2023, PG Health Services

Enhance your future

Increase your opportunities

Online

Online: February, July

$4,585.00⁺

$13,600.00^{^}

⁺total estimated Commonwealth Supported Fee

^{^}total estimated tuition fee

Plus Student Services and Amenities fee
Fee deferral and scholarships available if eligible

6 months full-time

or part-time equivalent

AQF level 7 bachelor degree in health or closely related discipline; or at least 5 years’ experience in a health profession

119011

What to expect

Pursue your passion for public health and develop the skills to aid communities during times of crisis including during epidemics and pandemics, natural disasters and conflict. In JCU’s Graduate Certificate of Communicable Disease Control, you will gain advanced knowledge of public health approaches tailored to outbreak settings including the interaction between environmental factors, human health and animal health in relation to their role in communicable disease outbreaks.

By completing this degree, you will be able to develop a communicable disease control response strategy to identify, analyse and contain a communicable disease outbreak. You will study three core subjects including Epidemiology for Public Health, Communicable Disease Control, and Infection Prevention and Control in Health Care Settings, and have the flexibility to select one of two elective subjects that is most relevant to your career goals and interests.

Upon completion of the Graduate Certificate of Communicable Disease Control, you will be a “disease detective” with the ability to develop a Communicable Disease Control response strategy that identifies, analyses and contains a communicable disease outbreak. Your knowledge and experience will enable you to create culturally appropriate approaches to work with communities, policy makers, health professionals and other stakeholders on surveillance, risk factors, and intervention strategies to control a communicable diseases outbreak.

Your work in designing and/or implementing measures to prevent and control outbreaks will promote and protect the health and wellbeing of vulnerable communities during times of health crises.

Consult the handbook for further information.

Inherent requirements

Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University’s learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please review the inherent requirements for the Graduate Certificate of Communicable Disease Control.

Career Opportunities

JCU Graduate Certificate of Communicable Disease Control graduates have specialist knowledge to help identify and adequately respond towards communicable disease outbreaks, including pandemics.

Graduates work as communicable disease specialists in a wide range of national and international organisations in multidisciplinary teams, including Ministries of Health, international relief agencies, hospitals, aged-care facilities and local public health units.

Handbook

Handbook year	Information valid for students commencing in 2023
Course code	119011
Course type	Graduate Certificate (AQF Level 8)
Owner	Academy
College	Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences

Award Requirements

Admission Requirements

Course pre-requisites	Completion of an AQF level 7 bachelor degree in health or closely related discipline; or At least 5 years’ experience in a health profession.
Minimum English language proficiency requirements	Applicants of non-English speaking backgrounds must meet the English language proficiency requirements of Band 2 – Schedule II of the JCU Admissions Policy.
Additional selection requirements	Information published by JCU or otherwise made available to students when applying, may specify additional criteria to be considered in ranking applicants in order of merit if the number of applications exceeds a quota or other limit on the places made available for the course. Information provided by applicants during the application process and any other information obtained by JCU in the application process may be used by JCU to rank applicants in order of merit by reference to those additional criteria.

Academic Requirements for Course Completion

Credit points	12 credit points as per course structure
Course learning outcomes	On successful completion of Graduate Certificate of Communicable Disease Control, graduates will be able to: Synthesise knowledge and public health solutions tailored to specific outbreak settings, including the interaction between environmental factors, human health and animal health in reference to their role in communicable disease outbreaks Develop a Communicable Disease Control response strategy to identify, analyse and contain a communicable disease outbreak Create information resources to educate communities, policy makers, health professionals and other stakeholders on policies, intervention strategies and the required resources to control a communicable diseases outbreak. Design measures to prevent small and large outbreaks in health care settings and in the community

Inherent Requirements

Inherent Requirements	Inherent requirements are the identified abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours that must be demonstrated, during the learning experience, to successfully complete a course. These abilities, attributes, skills, and behaviours preserve the academic integrity of the University's learning, assessment, and accreditation processes, and where applicable, meet the standards of a profession. For more information please visit: Graduate Certificate of Communicable Disease Control.
Reasonable adjustments	All JCU students have the opportunity to demonstrate, with reasonable adjustments where applicable, the inherent requirements for their course. For more information please visit: Student Disability Policy and Procedure.

Course Structure

CORE SUBJECTS

Level 1

TM5515:03 Epidemiology for Public Health

TM5525:03 Communicable Disease Control

HS5555:03 Infection Prevention and Control in Health Care Settings

OPTIONS

Select 3 credit points from List 1

List 1

TM5547:03 Public Health Program Planning and Evaluation

TM5600:03 Introduction to One Health

Location

COURSE AVAILABLE AT	NOTES
External

Candidature

Expected time to complete	6 months full-time or part-time equivalent
Maximum time to complete	2 years
Maximum leave of absence	1 year

Progression

Course includes mandatory professional placement(s)	No
Course includes mandatory fieldwork	No
Special assessment requirements	Nil
Professional accreditation requirements	Nil
Supplementary exam for final subject	Not applicable

Credit

Eligibility	Students may apply for credit for previous tertiary study in accordance with the Credit Transfer Procedure
Maximum allowed	6 credit points
Currency	Credit will be granted only for subjects completed in the 10 years prior to the commencement of this course
Expiry	Credit gained for any subject shall be cancelled 12 years after the date of the examination upon which the credit is based if, by then, the student has not completed this course.
Other restrictions	Studies and/or professional experiences undertaken to fulfil the entry requirements to JCU awards may not be used for credit.

Award Details

Award title	GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL
Approved abbreviation	GCertCDC
Inclusion of majors on testamur	Not applicable
Exit with lesser award	Not applicable
Course articulation	Not applicable
Special awards	Students may receive an Award of Recognition in accordance with the Recognition of Academic Excellence Procedure

Fees and scholarships

Estimated annual Commonwealth Supported fee: $AUD4,585.00

Estimated annual tuition fee: $AUD13,600.00

A Student Services and Amenities fee is payable per subject up to a maximum amount per year.

A variety of Scholarships are available to suit different student types.

Pathways to JCU

Consult the admission requirements section in the Handbook for prerequisites and pathways into this course.

How to apply

Complete an online application through our Online Application Portal.

Lecturer

Dr Diana P. Rojas

Public Health and Tropical Medicine

A transdisciplinary approach, One Health, that recognises the interconnections between people, animals, and their shared environment is the key approach to control the known communicable diseases threats and prevent new ones from emerging. Join us to get the skills to help prevent the next outbreak or pandemic.
Lecturer

Lars Henning

Associate Professor

Having worked and lived in Asia and Africa, I have seen the impact CDC experts can have on outcome of epidemics. JCU’s Graduate Certificate of Communicable Disease Control consists of a unique set of subjects that will prepare you for the challenges lying ahead. Be sure the next outbreak will come.