Course Outline
UCC's MSc Occupational Health is a part-time programme delivered on Monday and Thursday evening from 6.15pm to 9.30pm. The programme integrates occupational health and safety into a multidisciplinary perspective. It offers students the opportunity to study modern, cutting-edge scientific concepts and research evidence on causation, prevention and management of work-related accidents, injury and disease and the promotion of physical and mental health and wellbeing.
The programme incorporates the following subject areas:
• Public Health & Health Promotion
• Psychology
• Risk Assessment and Management
• Ergonomics & Safety Science
• Occupational Medicine and Hygiene
• Law
• Training and Development
• Epidemiology & Environmental Health
This programme may be suitable for you if you are already working in occupational safety and health, or if you have a strong interest in occupational health and a primary degree in a related area. The course consists of three elements — formal course work, self-directed learning using case studies and project work leading to a thesis.
The course will cover topics including:
• Health and safety management
• Disease prevention & Health protection
• Training and development issues
• Development of interpersonal skills for occupational settings
• Risk assessment
• Health promotion
• Legal aspects of health and safety
• Research methods
On completion of this course, you will be able to:
• demonstrate an awareness of occupational health from a multidisciplinary perspective including epidemiology, psychology, public health, safety science, law and training and development, occupational medicine
• practice measures to prevent disease and injury, and to protect and promote health and safety in occupational settings
• perform risk assessments in the workplace including psychosocial risk factors
• identify the role of psychology in improving the quality of work life
• develop skills to protect and promote the safety, health and well-being of workers
• employ skills to critically appraise publications and statistics and stay up-to-date with the newest research evidence
• apply research evidence to occupational health and safety interventions and health promotion strategies by taking relevant legislation into account
• design occupational health training and development programmes in line with organisational policy
• carry out a focused piece of scholarly research and health and safety programme evaluation.
Further details on the content and modules are available on the Postgraduate College Calendar
Fitness to Practise
Commencing with the 2013/2014 intake, this programme will be subject to the University's Fitness to Practise Policy.
Why Choose This Course
This course offers you the opportunity to study 'classical' occupational health and safety issues, together with contemporary approaches that integrate and strategically combine workplace health and safety prevention with health and wellbeing promotion.
A particular focus of this course is on the management of psychosocial risks and work stress which constitute a growing concern for health, safety and wellbeing in industry and the private sector. The interactive format of the teaching sessions helps student networking, sharing of knowledge and practical experience. In several modules, you will work with practical case studies, engage in project work and reflective inquiry.
Throughout the course, you will be invited to master classes held by experts in the field. The experience and expertise of our previous graduates is also deployed through lecturing, mentoring new students and student tutoring. We support our MSc students to professionally engage in health and safety practice and research and to provide leadership to others.
Course Practicalities
Lectures, tutorials, practicals (computers), seminars, student presentations.
Comment
Who teaches this course
• Professor Ivan Perry - Head of School of Public Health
• Dr Birgit Greiner – Senior lecturer, Head of School of Public Health
• Dr Christie Godsmark – Lecturer, School of Public Health
• Ms Colette Cunningham – Lecturer, School of Public Health
• Prof John Gallagher – School of Public Health, Cognate Health (Managing Director), Health Services Executive Southern Area
• Dr Susan Hill – Consultant Occupational Physician, Cognate Health
• Prof Stavroula Leka – School of Business, UCC
• Dr Dan Gallagher — EHA Soft Solutions (Managing Director)
• Dr Sara Leitao – Researcher, National Perinatal Epidemiology Centre
• Dr Dervla Hogan – Adjunct Lecturer School of Public Health
• Patricia Murray – Psychologist, Inspector – Health and Safety Authority Dublin
• Frank Power – Ergonomist, Inspector – Health and Safety Authority Dublin
• Una Feeney – Occupational Health and Wellness Consultant, Ely Lilly Kinsale
• Guest lecturers from the community of health and safety professionals
You can search UCC's Institutional Research Information System for UCC staff profiles.