Masters in Public Health (One Health)

Curricula and Courses

November 17, 2017 

One Health Institute

Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Zakir Hossain Road, Khulshi 

Chittagong – 4225

Preface

Recent outbreaks of emerging and re-emerging diseases across the world posed the highest threat in public health sector. Any outbreak in any continent is likely to spread all over the world with one week. Movement of people around the globe increased tremendously in the last decade. There are various reasons for that and it can be stopped. Scientists are trying to develop supersonic jet aeroplane where people can cross Pacific Ocean within three hours means disease can transmit more rapidly. No technology has yet developed so that incubating organism can be detected during immigration in airport. Every individual is some way or other are connected with the whole world. The problems are also multifarious and it cannot be tackled by one cohort of specialist.  Scientists feel that to harness the strength of solidarity in participation of different section of people is key to solve above mentioned issues. High population density, high level of environmental pollution and effects of global warming are few drivers making Bangladesh vulnerable to diseases with public health significance. To tune ourselves with the rapidly changing public health issues we have to be prepared well ahead with effective intervention strategies. The role of public health stands crucial here to develop efficacious and improved surveillance and management system. Prerequisites of developing effective response activities and policies are developing efficient and capable public health professionals. Geographical, social and cultural difference between different countries and regions within seeks targeted responses and complex transmission dynamics of zoonotic agents involving human-animal-ecosystem made the task of public health professionals even challenging. One Health approach is a well known multidisciplinary, cross-cultural and collaborative effort to attain optimal health for all the inhabitants in the planet earth. It is founded on the need for a more integrated understanding of the connections among humans, animals and the environment within the political, economic and social systems in which they operate. One Health Institute (OHI) of Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences (CVASU) was established with the aim to make a common platform for collaborative education, research and training on One Health hence public health issues. Prevention of emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) is in the forefront of OHI goals. It is expected that through better understanding the disease transmission comprehensively, the public health, veterinary, agriculture and environmental communities can work together to identify more effective solutions for any relevant issues. Therefore, OHI is offering this Masters in Public Health emphasizing One Health program to promote expert hands in the public health sector who are not only upskilled in public health but also efficient to face any challenges in the population they works with. This need based curriculum was finalized with the help of expert opinions from home and abroad to maintain international standards. It is expected that the trained public health experts from this institute will contribute more effectually in resolving One Health issues in Bangladesh and around. 

Course title: 

Master’s in Public Health (One Health)

Course aim: 

To provide a comprehensive foundation in public health to assist fellows learning disease prioritization, developing research skills, development and implementation of efficient interventions and awareness development.

Course objectives:

1. Comprehensive understanding on the purpose, basis and application of knowledge on epidemiology, research methodology, health economics and anthropology in solving public health challenges
2. Capacity development to achieve public health objectives through evidence-based research
3. Understand the biological, social and economic variable of health problems in Bangladesh
4. Develop attitude for self-learning and self-assessment across professional life.

Duration: 

1.5 years (3 semesters)

Academic year: 

January 1^st to December 31^st

Date of first intake: 

January 2018

Number of positions in first intake: 

10

Number of Positions (Current): 

40

Frequency of intake: 

Annually in January

Eligibility for enrollment:

Academic and Research Committee of OHI will screen the submitted applications and final list of eligible candidates will be placed in CASR, CVASU for final decision of admission.

Admission prerequisite:

All prerequisite of the below will be posted in the application announcement. Lack of any of the following prerequisite will result disqualification of the candidate. Prerequisites assessed on CV and certificates:

1. MBBS/ DVM

Venue: 

One Health Institute, CVASU

Tuition fee: 

1. Tuition fees for the degree will be Tk.1,00,000/- (One Lac) only for Bangladeshi candidates. 
2. Students of non-Bangladeshi nationals will pay tuition fees Tk.2,00000/- (Two Lac) only. 
3. Tuition fees once deposited will not be refundable.
4. The tuition fees may be made by installment.

Course structure and organization:

The distribution of core courses and elective courses along with allocated credits over 1.5 years is shown in the following table (US credit system, 1 US credit=4 UK credit).

• Each credit/unit= 1 hour per week for theory 
• Each credit/unit= 3 hour per week for practical, group works, group discussion and field visit 
• 1 semester=24 weeks

Methods for instruction:

• Lectures
• Discussions
• Exercises
• Field works
• Group discussion
• Field visits

Language of instruction and assessment: 

English

Methods of assessment:

1. Continuous assessment (CA): Students will be assessed during courses based on following methods. The numbers of CA will be added with the summative assessment during final result of each semester.
   1. Class test
   2. Assignment
   3. Seminar presentation
   4. PBL
   5. Reports
   6. Practical skill
   7. Open book exam
   8. Professional development (proposal writing, literature review, time management, training, lab visit, campaign etc.)
2. Summative assessment: Formal examination will be held on each course contents at the end of each semester. All examination would be divided into written, practical works, viva voce etc. In semester 3, students will produce a thesis on the basis of research, will defend their work and then will face a comprehensive viva voce. 

Eligibility criteria for appearing the exam:

• Fellows should attend at least 75% of a course to take part at the exam for that course. 
• To be eligible to produce a thesis in the 3^rd semester, the fellows have to pass all previous term papers.
• Certificate that the student has obtained not less than 50% marks in different continuous assessment held during the tenure of the course by respective faculties

Physical capacity of OHI: 

OHI is currently equipped with two (2) class rooms, one (1) seminar/meeting room and Three (3) rooms for administrative purpose. 

Teaching staff:

OHI is intended to provide the courses in a multidisciplinary approach. Experts from other universities, research organizations can be included into the program as adjunct faculty. Adjunct faculties shall be provided their service by receiving remuneration and other related allowances. 

Distribution of marks by subjects:

Certification: 

CVASU

Masters in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology

CHATTOGRAM VETERINARY AND ANIMAL SCIENCES UNIVERSITY

Rules of the degree for Masters in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology

Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (FETPV) is a skill-based training program jointly being offered by the Department of Livestock Services, One Health Institute, Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU) and Global Health Development (GHD)/The Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network (EMPHNET) with the aim to strengthen the field epidemiological capacity of animal health services in Bangladesh. The program is a unique collaborative approach between the educational institutes and the government services providing agency on the ground in Bangladesh. 

1. Name of the degree

Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU), Chattogram will offer the degree of Master of Science (MS) in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology to a candidate subject to the fulfillment of the requirements prescribed hereunder. The admitted candidate shall have to abide by the rules and regulations that are currently in force, and the documents that will be promulgated by the university authority from time to time. 

1. Eligibility for admission to the degree course 
   1. The program is intended for veterinarians working under the Department of Livestock Services, Forest Department, Public Universities and Research Institutes in Bangladesh.
   2. Candidates for admission to Master of Science (MS) in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology must be a registered veterinarian with a degree in DVM/ BSc Vet Sci  and AH from any recognized university in Bangladesh
   3. Candidates having passed a Bachelor degree in Credit- course system must have secured a minimum GPA of 3.00 out of 4.00 or 4.00 out of 5.00 and B+ (3.25) grade in the concerned subject.
   4. The candidates age should be 40 years or less on the date of application at the university.
   5. In-service candidate must obtain necessary clearance and study leave or deputation for the stipulated period of the program from his/her employer to be eligible for admission.
   6. Candidates shall apply for admission in the prescribed form of the University.
   7. Each student shall have to fill in five prescribed Enrolment Cards for each semester to leave a coded Roll number to carry through all  semesters in order to maintain records in the office of the coordinator, CASR, the Controller of Examinations, the Director, One Health Institute, the Registrar and the student himself/herself.
   8. Admission of students to a Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarians (FETPV) and MS in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology program shall be approved by CASR on the recommendation of the selection committee (Annexure -1).
   9. The selection committee will recommend the candidates based on 2–week screening course results organized jointly by CVASU and DLS. The detail curriculum and evaluation methods of the screening course are attached in Annexure-2.
   10. The number of students to be admitted the FETPV program will be decided by the selection committee based on the availability of funding, teaching and research facilities in the institute.
   11. Candidates will be admitted once for an academic year and shall have to pay the necessary fees including examination fees as per the University rules.

1. Duration of the study: 
   1. An academic year shall consist of two semesters of six months, each extending from January to June and from July to December. There shall be 18 working weeks in each semester covering instructions, on station exercise, field visit and assignments, outbreak investigations, surveillance evaluation and examinations.
   2. The duration of the study for the degree of MS shall be four (4) consecutive semesters. However, one additional consecutive semester may be allowed to a student if the supervisory committee (consisting of a Supervisor and a Co-supervisor) and the Director of One Health Institute recommended such extension and the recommendation is approved by the CASR.
   3. If a student fails to obtain the MS degree in five consecutive semesters, his/her admission shall stand canceled.
2. Course structure and credits requirement:
   1. Masters in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology program is skill-based hands-on training aligned with Field Epidemiology Training Program where the classroom teaching and fieldwork ratio is 30%: 70% of the total course duration.
   2. Ten (10) contact hours/lecture of 1-hour duration is equal to one credit hour and, for field work, 20 supervised on-station tutorial or field exercise will be equal to 1 credit hour. The total credit hours in 2-years program is 120 of which 5 credits are allocated for theory and 115 credits are allocated for field assignments (including 30 credits in thesis semester). The students must achieve all credits to be eligible for the   degree. The details of the distributions of course credits are attached in Annexture-3.
   3. Generally, a student shall be required to register for research work in the “Thesis” semester, usually in the fourth semester. 
   4. The supervisor may propose a co-supervisor if it is necessary for the research program.
   5. Earning of research credits: 20 credits will be earned through satisfactory completion of MS research work where 10 credits will be earned through thesis submission and defense.
   6. The supervisor shall recommend a research program for a student to the coordinator, CASR, for approval by the middle of the second semester. Any subsequent change in the program shall have to be recommended by the Supervisor and be approved by the coordinator, CASR. 
   7. A particular course shall be taught by one or more teachers and evaluated accordingly as decided by the Director, One Health Institute.
3. Examination procedure:
   1. There shall be one final examination for each course in a semester. The final examination shall carry at least 40 percent of the total marks carried by a particular course. The remaining 60 percent of the marks shall be assigned to field assignment, surveillance evaluation, outbreak investigation, report writing, or any other assignments given by the course teacher panel (s)
   2. The duration of the final examination shall be of 2 hours for all courses in the program. Regardless of differences in credits and exam duration, all courses will be evaluated in 200 marks in total.
   3. In order to qualify for final examination, a student must attend at least 90 percent of the contact sessions and 80 percent of the professional development courses prescribed in the curriculum (Annexure – 4). A student must submit the examination entry forms to the Controller of Examinations through the Director, One Health Institute and coordinator, CASR.
   4. The Director, One Health Institute; as a  program director of FETPV shall ensure fulfillment of the requirement of each student to appear in the final examination of a semester concerned. 
   5. All examinations shall be conducted and evaluated by the course teacher(s). The final examinations shall commence at least 30 days before the end of the semester and shall be completed within 10 working days. The course teacher(s) shall also evaluate the assignments, reports etc., and shall submit the marks to the Director, One Health Institute and with a copy to the Controller of Examinations soon after evaluation under intimation to the coordinator, CASR for further necessary action; the Director, One Health Institute shall preserve all such records for a period of three years. Distribution of marks of  each course   is distributed as follows:

1. CASR shall prepare and circulate the schedule for the final examination of the courses offered by different teachers in a particular semester at least 4 weeks before the commencement of the examination. 
2. The Director, One Health Institute along with the assigned course teacher(s) shall tabulate the results of the semester final examinations and send it to the Controller of Examinations for publication. The result of the examination shall be published at least a week before the end of the semester.
3. If a student fails to appear at any semester, final examination marks obtained by him/her in the field assignments will be forfeited. 
4. Numerical marks are given on all component examinations/evaluations (for a course, thesis, thesis defense, etc) shall be finally pooled and converted to letter grade and grade point (4point scale) as follows:

1. Percentage of numerical marks shall be calculated in round figures. A fraction of 0.50 or above shall be considered as next higher number.
2. The grade “C” shall be regarded as the minimum passing grade. A student shall be considered to have earned the requisite credits specified for each course or thesis or thesis defense for which he/she secures “C” or a higher grade. 
3. If a student obtains a “F” grade in Final Exam for a particular course, thesis and thesis defense, the Coordinator, CASR, may allow him/her to repeat the relevant course, thesis and thesis defense on recommendation of the Supervisor and the Director, One Health Institute provided the whole process is completed within the study period of 2.5 years as stipulated in articles 3.2 and 3.3 above. A student may be allowed to carry and repeat no more than one course in a semester but a maximum of three courses during his/her entire study program to clear F grade(s).
4. If a student gets F grade in two courses in a semester, the concerned semester shall be deemed “crashed” and the student shall have to re-enroll to fulfill the course-credit requirement in available semester(s) subject to clauses 3.2 and 3.3. 
5. The semester result and overall final results for different courses and thesis shall be presented in Grade Point Average (GPA) and Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) or Cumulative GPA, respectively. The Maximum attainable GPA or CGPA shall be 4.
6. The calculation of GPA and CGPA (for semester results and final results) shall be done as follows: 

1. If a student is found to be adopting unfair means in the examination (Assignments /Final):
   1. His/her script, assignments or report shall be cancelled instantly by the Tutor/ Invigilator (leading to 0 marks on evaluation); or 
   2. He/she be given “F” grade by the relevant Institutional Examination Committee (EC) in the concerned course as reported by the Tutor/ Invigilator; or
   3. Depending on the nature of the offence his/her case may be referred to the University Examination Disciplinary Committee by the Director, One Health Institute for further punitive action
2. Research Requirements
   1. A candidate for MS in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology degree shall undertake a piece of research work under the supervision of teacher of the university/affiliated colleges/affiliated institutes or under a scientist of any recognized research institute/organization. A teacher or a scientist must have prior approval from the CASR to act as a Supervisor. 
   2. The Supervisory Committee consisting of a Supervisor and a Co-supervisor shall supervise research work of an MS degree student.
   3. The Supervisor shall propose the Co-Supervisor with the consultation of Principal supervisor. The Heads of the Department/Principals of Affiliated collage or Head of Institutes shall submit the proposal  of Supervisory Committee to the CASR for approval during the first semester of the student’s enrolment. 
   4. A student may begin his research work from the first semester and shall complete the research work and thesis writing and submit it at least 30 days before the end of the last semester of the student’s approved study period.
   5. Due to the nature of the Field Epidemiology Training Program for Veterinarian (FETPV) and degree, the research proposal must reflect the needs and priority of the Department of Livestock Services, Bangladesh. 
3. Thesis evaluation: 
   1. Thesis shall be prepared by the student and submitted to the Director, One Health Institute after getting signed by the supervisory committee.
   2. Each thesis shall be individually evaluated by two examiners (one external and one internal) from a four-member panel to be proposed by the Director of One Health Institute and approved by the CASR .The Examiners shall send the marks to the Director, One Health Institute with a copy to the Controller of Examinations. The average of the marks given by the two thesis examiners shall be considered as the marks obtained, and the letter grade and grade point (GP) will be awarded, accordingly.
   3. Supervisor and Co-supervisor shall not be the Thesis Examiners of the student(s) under their guidance. 
   4. If a thesis examiner is absent or unavailable for some unavoidable reasons, or declines to act as an examiner, the Director, One Health Institute may recommend for appointment of the next person in the proposed panel of the examiners; or in case of non-availability of any person in the panel, the Director One Health Institute  may propose a new panel of examiners. 
   5. In case of more than 20% variations in marks given by two thesis examiners, a third examiner from the panel of examiners shall examine the thesis and the average of two nearest marks shall be taken as final. 
   6. The defense of the thesis of all students of FETPV program shall be conducted and graded by a four-member defense committee of which the Director, One Health Institute will be the Chairman. The CASR shall select three members from a five-member panel proposed by the Director, One Health Institute. The committee shall remain valid for consecutive four semesters. All members of the defense committee shall receive copies of the thesis at least 7 days before of the date of the defense of thesis. 
   7. The defense of the thesis shall be held at least two weeks before the end of the semester in presence of a minimum of three members of the defense committee.
   8. If one or more members of the defense committee express their inability to be present during the defense, The director One Health Institute will choose the new member (s) under intimation to the Coordinator, CASR.
   9. The Director, One Health Institute of CVASU shall announce the date and time of defense in consolation with the concerned Supervisor and under intimation with the Co-ordination, CASR.
4. Publication of Results: 
   1. The defense committee shall tabulate and finalize the results, and send the results to the Controller of Examinations for publication with a certificate that copies of the thesis have been sent to the Central Library of ChattogramVeterinary and Animal Sciences University (CVASU). 
   2. The result of the candidates shall be published by the Controller of Examinations by order of the Vice-Chancellor subject to the approval of the Syndicate.
5. Confirmation of the degree
   1. A student will be awarded with Masters in Applied Veterinary Epidemiology if s/he earned all credits within the defined semesters