Postgraduate Course: Zoonotic Diseases: A One Health Perspective (VESC11272)
Course Outline
| School | Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
| Course type | Online Distance Learning |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | This course will examine zoonotic disease through a One Health framework, applying interdisciplinary concepts and systems thinking. The course will introduce the factors underpinning endemic and (re)emerging zoonotic diseases and their control, considering the dynamics of environmental, population and socio-cultural-economic factors within diverse contexts. |
| Course description |
This ten-credit course will begin with a consideration of the myriad drivers of zoonotic disease transmission and (re)emergence. The burden of zoonotic disease will be discussed in terms of their impacts across animal, human and ecosystem health and on wider societal outcomes such as economic development, gender equity and welfare/wellbeing (animal welfare, mental health). We will explore sustainable disease control strategies relevant to differing geographical and socio-cultural-economic contexts. Zoonotic disease surveillance systems and the role of epidemiological and economic data in driving investment decisions will be critiqued. Course participants will engage in critical thinking to link the challenges presented during the course to the SDGs
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
| High Demand Course? |
Yes |
Course Delivery Information
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| Academic year 2025/26, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
MVM Online Learning Block 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
98 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
0 %,
Coursework
100 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Formative assessment: We will provide feed-forward to students on preparative stages (choice of topic and structure) of their summative assessments
Summative assessments
1. Causal Loop Diagram to illustrate the impacts of a zoonoses control strategy of their choice on multiple stakeholders with relevant citations (30%) (LOs 1,2 & 3)
2. Written essay critically evaluating a zoonoses control strategy of their choice (70%) (LOs 1,2 & 3)
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| Feedback |
Students will receive written or oral feedback on all formative and summative assessments within 15 working days of each assessment being due. |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- A critical understanding of socioeconomic and environmental factors that shape the transmission of zoonotic disease and their management in a local and global context
- Synthesise and critically evaluate contextually relevant materials to support inquiry related to the prevention and control of zoonotic disease
- Make informed judgements on the prevention and control of zoonoses to sustainably balance and optimise health of humans, animals and ecosystems by applying the principles of systems thinking and sustainability
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Reading List
| *A course reading list will be provided with relevant resources to support the teaching materials.* |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Personal and Intellectual Autonomy
Graduates of this course will become reflexive independent and collaborative life-long learners who can make informed ethical judgements which consider uncertainty and differing perspectives
Communication
Graduates of this course will communicate their informed ethical judgements on complex issues within a range of oral, written and visual formats to create common understanding amongst diverse stakeholders
Personal Effectiveness
Graduates of this course will effect change through the co-creation of contextually relevant responses to complex challenges
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| Keywords | Zoonoses,One Health,Systems-thinking,disease emergence,disease surveillance,disease control,policy |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Lian Thomas
Tel:
Email: lthomas8@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Michael Winpenny
Tel: (0131 6)50 8825
Email: Michael.Winpenny@ed.ac.uk |
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