PHPS40230

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Academic Year 2025/2026

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One Health (PHPS40230)

Subject: : Public Health & Population Sci

College: : Health & Agricultural Sciences

School: : Public Hlth, Phys & Sports Sci

Level: : 4 (Masters)

Credits: : 5

Module Coordinator: : Assoc Professor Mary Codd

Trimester: : Spring

Mode of Delivery: : On Campus

Internship Module: : No

How will I be graded? : Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

One Health approach provides a comprehensive, transdisciplinary understanding of the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health. Key content areas typically include:\ - Foundational Concepts\ - Definition and History: Understanding the evolution and core principles of the One Health concept, including the roles of the quadripartite organizations (FAO, WHO, WOAH, UNEP).\ - The Human-Animal-Environment Interface: Exploring the complex and dynamic interactions between wildlife, domestic animals, humans, and their shared environment.\ - Systems Thinking: Learning to use a holistic approach that recognizes how dynamic interactions within an ecosystem affect the entire system's functioning. \ \ One Health recognizes that the health of people is connected to the health of animals, the health of plants and the health of the environment. The goal of One Health is to encourage the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally and globally to achieve the best health for people, animals, plants and the environment. Climate Change and environmental health are key threats to human, plant and animal health and will be addressed.\ \ Most of the recent emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19, have an origin in livestock, or wildlife, and almost all have zoonotic potential. For effective reduction of the incidence of zoonotic diseases in humans, control and eradication in the animal reservoirs is important.\ \ Animals share our susceptibility to many infectious diseases and non infectious diseases due to environmental hazards. Because of this, adverse health effects in animals, fish and birds can serve as early warning signs of potential human illness. The canary in the mines used to detect toxic gases is an example of using a bird as a sentinel for an unhealthy environment for humans.\ \ The overall aim is to ensure that the student develops an understanding of the key concepts in One Health: i) epidemiology of key zoonotic agents and the relationship between animal, plant and human health, ii) Food Security, iii) food borne diseases, and iv) environmental hazards. In addition the student should gain an understanding of the use of animals as sentinels of environmental hazards. One Health issues are regularly in the global media. These will be highlighted for students who will be expected to be aware of these issues and can be examined on them. \ \

About this Module

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What will I learn?

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of this module students should be able to:\ (1) Identify the major infectious diseases associated with animals and describe their epidemiology\ (2) Understand the link between environmental health and animal, plant, human health\ (3) Understand and recognise the potential public health threat associated with Climate Change\ (4) Understand approaches to addressing a range of typical public health problems associated with\ domestic animals and wildlife that can occur \ (5) Understand the role of the public heath specialist in a multidisciplinary team addressing One Health issues\ (6) Interpret animal health surveillance data and devise control interventions\ (7) Understand the essential components of investigations into outbreaks of food or water borne disease\ (8) Understand the regulatory environment for food safety globally\ (9) Understand the challenges ensuring Global Food Security\ (10) Understand the role of industry and economics in the One Health landscape

Indicative Module Content:

Module content will follow the expected Learning Outcomes as listed

How will I learn?

Student Effort Hours:

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Approaches to Teaching and Learning:

Interactive classes;\ Group work on defined Case Studies\ One Health in the media\ Relevant readings

Am I eligible to take this module?

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.

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Module Requisites and Incompatibles

Not applicable to this module. \  \

How will I be assessed?

Assessment Strategy

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Carry forward of passed components

Yes

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What happens if I fail?

Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. \

Assessment feedback

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Group/class feedback, post-assessment\

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Group feedback will be provided and if individuals require specific feedback that will be accommodated Students will be able to give feedback during the module and content and delivery will be changed if there is consensus

Reading List

Students will be expected to have a basic knowledge of microbiology and / or have completed PHPS40200Communicable Diseases Epidemiology module\ \ \ \ \

Associated Staff

When is this module offered?

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.

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