School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Public Health Microbiology
  • Unit Code

    HST2131
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    1
  • Credit Points

    15
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Mr Edmore MASAKA

Description

Microbes are responsible for many different types of human disease, many of which are preventable. In this subject you will learn about the importance of microorganisms for Public Health. You will learn about different types of microbes, where and when they cause disease, how they are identified and the best interventions that will protect and maintain the health of our communities. Students will learn how to evaluate emerging infectious disease risk using One Health concepts, a cross-disciplinary approach where the local ecosystem is assessed to identify the most effective response to disease outbreaks.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Describe appropriate interventions in response to environmental microbiological risk that will improve the health of human populations.
  2. Describe current methods used to identify the cause of microbiological diseases affecting public health.
  3. Communicate the features and current impact of specific microbes that cause disease in human populations.
  4. Evaluate human infectious disease using One Health strategies.

Unit Content

  1. Features of different types of microorganisms: Bacteria, viruses, fungi, eukaryotes.
  2. Foodborne diseases.
  3. Vector-borne diseases.
  4. Waterborne diseases.
  5. Epidemiological practise and microbiological disease.
  6. Use of indicator organisms to predict human disease.
  7. Public health microbiology in developing countries.
  8. Standard microbiological assessment practices.
  9. Molecular methods in environmental health.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Students will develop a Public Health Risk Assessment Journal comprising news-related public health articles and produce relevant file notes to develop skills in reporting risks to public health in a way that would be appropriate in the workplace. Students will present information on the features and impact of microbes on public health in online oral presentations.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
JournalRisk Assessment Journal25%
PresentationPublic Health Presentation25%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

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