
MPH Epidemiology and Health Systems programme designed by integration of MAE and MPH (HSDR) by NIE National Institute of Epidemiology
-oOo-

MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(Epidemiology and Health Systems)
at NIE (ICMR), Chennai
01. INTRODUCTION
The National Institute of Epidemiology (NIE) was conducting two programmes of Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram: (1) Master of Applied Epidemiology (MAE) since 2001 and (2) Master of Public Health (Health services Development Research) (MPH-HSDR) since 2008, at NIE, Chennai. These programmes were primarily aimed at developing a cadre of trained public health professionals in the country by training the ‘in-service’ health professionals working in government health departments.
Since July 2011, NIE has been conducting MPH (Epidemiology and Health Systems) programme designed by integration of MAE and MPH (HSDR), building on the strengths of the two programmes. The programme uses the basic learning by doing model with focus on applied epidemiology and health systems.
02. CORE COMPETENCIES
MPH (Epidemiology and Health Systems) programme is designed to introduce the students to the basic principles of public health, with emphasis on public health practices in India. Upon completion of the MPH, the student is expected to develop the following seven technical core competencies:
(1) Understand the scope and concepts and master the methods in epidemiology
(2) Plan, implement and evaluate public health surveillance
(3) Investigate the outbreaks
(4) Conduct public health research in accordance with principles of human subject protection
(5) Communicate public health information to lay and professional audiences
(6) Conceptualize the elements of health systems to effectively design, develop, implement and evaluate the public health interventions
(7) Comprehend the biological, social, behavioural, environmental determinants affecting health
03. COURSE DESCRIPTION
(a) Duration and course organization:
The MPH (Epidemiology and Health Systems) is a two-year programme, comprising of four contact sessions across 13 months at NIE interspersed with three field postings of 11 months duration in total. The details of the contact sessions and field postings are summarized below.
YEAR-1 (Months)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
First Contact Session
First Field Posting
Second Contact Session
· Principles and practice of public health
· Epidemiology – Principles and methods
· Biostatistics
· Principles of disease surveillance
· Outbreak investigation/s
· Ethics
· Communication skills
· Qualitative research methods
· Field exercise: Research methodology
· Manuscript writing
· Public health situation analysis
· Outbreak investigation/s
· Secondary data analysis
· Field exercise: Evaluation of surveillance system
· Health Systems and National Rural Health Mission
· Programme evaluation
· Social and Behavioural sciences
· Infectious disease epidemiology
· Chronic (non-communicable) disease and injury epidemiology
· Demography
YEAR-2 (Months)
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
Second Field Posting
Third Contact Session
Third Field Posting
Final Contact Session
· Description and evaluation of health programme
· Outbreak investigation/s
· Discussion and finalization of dissertation protocol
· Media and communication
· Public health nutrition
· Occupational and environmental health
· Outbreak investigation/s
· Data collection for dissertation
· Data analysis
· Manuscript preparation
(b) Course credits:
The MPH (EHS) is a 60 credits programme. Of these, 22 credits are for the contact sessions at NIE and 38 for various field projects conducted during their ‘field postings’. During the field postings, the students will be placed in their districts/workplace and they will conduct five field projects, i.e., (1) public health situation analysis (2) surveillance data analysis (3) outbreak investigation (4) evaluation of health programme and (5) dissertation. The distribution of credits for the courses that will be covered during the contact sessions and various projects to be conducted during the field postings are summarized in the following table
Courses
Contact session
Field posting
Total credits
Modules
Credits
Field projects
Credits
Principles and practice of public health
Principles and practice of public health
0.5
Public health situation analysis
1.0
1.5
Epidemiology
Epidemiology-principles and methods
2.5
Secondary data analysis
4.0
17.5
Applied Epidemiology
5.0
Outbreak investigation
4.0
Infectious disease epidemiology
1.0
Chronic (non-communicable) diseases and Injury Epidemiology
1.0
Bio-statistics
Bio-statistics
2.5
2.5
Demography
Demography
0.5
0.5
Health systems
Health systems
5.0
Programme evaluation
5.0
10.0
Social and behavioural sciences
Social and behavioural sciences
1.5
1.5
Media and communication
Media and communication
1.5
1.5
Nutrition
Public health nutrition
0.5
0.5
Occupational and environmental health
Occupational and environmental health
0.5
0.5
Dissertation
24.0
24.0
TOTAL
22.0
38.0
60.0
(c) Grading system:
A six letter grading system, as described below will be used to assess the student’s performance for all courses during the contact sessions and the field projects including the dissertation.
Grading system for the MPH (EHS)
Grade
Performance
Percentage
Grade points
A
Excellent
90% or more
4.0
B
Very good
80-89%
3.5
C
Good
70-79%
3.0
D
Average
60-69%
2.5
E
Satisfactory
50-59%
2.0
F
Fail
Below 50%
0
Based on the credits obtained in different courses, Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) will be calculated as the weighted average of numerical values of grades with credits as weights.
In case of failure in any of the courses, one more chance will be given to reappear for examination within three months. If any candidate fails for the second time, the candidate will have to reappear for the course when the same is offered in subsequent academic years within a span of three years of his admission. In such instances, the candidate will have to obtain prior approval from the competent authority. The maximum grade that will be awarded for a re- examination will be limited to C.
(d) Criteria for award of the MPH degree:
The minimum for pass in each course and field projects including dissertation will be grade E. For the award of the MPH degree, the student must obtain a minimum of grade E in all the courses and field projects with a minimum CGPA of 2 in total.
04. SPONSORING AGENCIES
The sponsoring authority (Central/State Government/non-governmental organizations) should nominate and depute the candidates for two years on a full time basis.
05. ADMISSION TO THE PROGRAME
Admission is open to government sponsored and private candidates. Twenty five (25) candidates will be admitted for the course. Preference will be given to the candidates sponsored by the Central/State Governments / Union Territories and Armed Forces.
(a) Eligibility Criteria
Candidates fulfilling the following criteria are eligible to apply for the course:
M.B.B.S. degree recognized by Medical Council of India
Working in public health, preferably in State or Central Government Department or in Medical institutions, sponsored on deputation for two years on full-time basis
Three years experience in public health related activities
Age up to 45 years on the date of admission, i.e., 1st July of the year. SC/ST/OBC/PH candidates will be eligible for age relaxation as per Government of India rules.
(b) Course Fee
There is no course fee for the candidates sponsored by the State/Central Government Departments/Armed forces.
For the non-sponsored government/private candidates and the sponsored candidates from private institutions, the course fee is Rs.1,00,000/= (Rupees One lakh only) (non-refundable), payable at the beginning of the course.
(c) Method of selection
A Selection Committee constituted by SCTIMST will select the candidates based on the following:
§ Review of the application form
§ Written test (if necessary)
§ Personal interview at NIE, Chennai
Reservation of seats will be as per Government of India norms being followed by SCTIMST. Mere possession of the eligibility criteria will not entail selection for the course. The decision of the Director, SCTIMST, shall be final for selection of the candidates.
(d) Application Form
The prescribed application form will be available in the Institute’s Website during the months of January and February.
(e) Commencement of the course
The course will commence from 1st July.
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