Module Specification
An online version of this specification is available to prospective students at
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section3_moduledesc
ript/index.html
GENERAL INFORMATION
Module name
Designing Disease Control Programmes in Developing
Countries
Module code
3457
Module Organisers
Dr Val Curtis and Dr Caroline Lynch
Contact email
Val.Curtis@lshtm.ac.uk or Caroline.Lynch@lshtm.ac.uk
Home Faculty
Faculty of Infectious & Tropical Diseases
Level
This module is at Level 7 (postgraduate Masters ‘M’ level) of the QAA
Framework for Higher Education Qualifications in England, Wales & Northern
Ireland (FHEQ)
Credit
LSHTM award 15 credits on successful completion of this module
Accreditation
Not currently accredited by any other body
Keywords
Design disease control, Behaviour change, Monitoring and evaluation,
international health, situation analysis, problem-tree analysis, applied use of
program design theory
AIMS, OBJECTIVES AND AUDIENCE
Overall aim
To work in groups to design a disease control programme in a developing
country. Participants use principles and approaches from lectures in the study
module, other modules and from their own experience to carry out a task
which reflects real-life constraints.
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Intended learning
outcomes
By the end of this module, students should be able to:
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Target audience
Identify key steps in applying theoretical knowledge to define and solve a
practical public health problem in a given developing country setting, using
the Logical Framework Approach and Theory of Change;
Summarize and evaluate appropriate epidemiological information and
stratify the health problem for the purpose of setting priorities and
selecting appropriate interventions;
Carry out a critical appraisal of different control options and select
appropriate interventions;
Set priorities and formulate appropriate objectives;
Describe how to organize a disease control programme and plan specific
activities to reach set objectives and targets;
Describe how to build an effective monitoring and evaluation system into a
disease control programme;
Demonstrate skills of costing and budgeting of programme activities and
identify key requirements and constraints of externally funded
programmes; and
Acquire group working skills.
This module is best for those who will work in disease control in developing
countries. Past participants have come from a wide variety of MScs including
Public Health in Developing Countries, Control of Infectious Diseases, Tropical
Medicine & International Health, Epidemiology, and Demography & Health.
CONTENT
Session content
The module is expected to include sessions addressing the following topics
(though please note that these may be subject to change):
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Situational analysis
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Logical Framework and Problem-tree analysis
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Options for disease interventions
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Behaviour Change Communication
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Monitoring and Evaluation
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Budgeting for projects
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Group work and collaboration exercises
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Technical forum: Experiences from the field
TEACHING, LEARNING AND ASSESSMENT
Study resources
provided or required
Course folder provided with required reading and supplementary (open
access) materials links provided.
Online tools e.g. videos or talks via Moodle
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Teaching and learning
methods
Participants learn through the definition, study, and solution of a problem in
groups. To the extent possible, the preferences of participants for control
problems are considered in choosing the groups.
Lectures are kept to a minimum (only 7 hours). Lectures cover some practical
aspects of programme planning but the emphasis is on the development of
practical skills through group work. Facilitators are provided for expert
consultation only when requested by the groups but they are usually not
expected to spend more than one hour per group per week. Therefore, most of
the organization, management, and approach of each group are determined by
its participants.
Assessment details
Participants are assessed on (i) their group's final document (60%) of the
overall grade for this module) and (ii) assessment by peers (20%) of the overall
grade for this module) and iii) an individual assessment (20%) The written
group report will have a maximum length of 20 pages.
For students who are required to re-sit, or granted a deferral or new attempt,
the task is to critique the design of a disease control project proposal.
Assessment dates
Assessments will take place or be due on 10 February 2016.
For students who are required to re-sit, or who are granted a deferral or new
attempt, the next assessment deadline will be notified by the Module Organiser,
but there is usually a standard School-recommended date in mid/late
September for this.
Language of study and
assessment
English (please see ‘English language requirements’ below regarding the
standard required for entry).
TIMING AND MODE OF STUDY
Duration
The module runs for 5 weeks at 2.5 days per week; this module runs between
Monday morning and Wednesday lunchtime
Dates
For 2015-16, the module will start on Monday 11 January 2016 and finish on
Wednesday 10 February 2016.
Timetable slot
The module runs in LSHTM timetable slot C1
Mode of Study
The module is taught face-to-face in London. Both full-time and part-time
students follow the same schedule. For full-time students, other LSHTM
modules are available in the other half of the week for the C and D slots.
Learning time
The notional learning time for the module totals 150 hours, consisting of:
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Contact time ≈ 25 hours
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Directed self-study ≈ 50 hours
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Self-directed learning ≈ 30 hours
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Assessment, review and revision ≈45 hours
APPLICATION, ADMISSION AND FEES
Pre-requisites
No pre-requisite modules
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English language
requirements
A strong command of the English language is necessary to benefit from
studying the module. Applicants whose first language is not English or whose
prior university studies have not been conducted wholly in English must fulfil
LSHTM’s English language requirements, with an acceptable score in an
approved test taken in the two years prior to entry. Applicants may be asked to
take a test even if the standard conditions have been met.
Student numbers
Student numbers are typically 30-40 per year; numbers may be capped due to
limitations in facilities or staffing.
Student selection
Preference will be given to LSHTM MSc students and LSHTM research degree
students. Other applicants meeting the entry criteria will usually be offered a
place in the order applications are received, until any cap on numbers is
reached.
Full Registration (full participation) by LSHTM research degree students is
required for this module.
Fees
For registered LSHTM MSc students, fees for the module are included within
MSc fees (given on individual course prospectus pages).
If registering specifically for this module, as a stand-alone short course,
individual module fees will apply.
Tuition fees must be paid in full before commencing the module, or by any fee
deadline set by the Registry.
Scholarships
Scholarships are not available for individual modules. Some potential sources
of funding are detailed on the LSHTM website.
Admission deadlines
For 2015-16:
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For registered LSHTM MSc students, the module choice deadline (for Term
2 and 3 modules) is Friday 20 November 2015.
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If registering specifically for this module, applications may be made at any
time but, as places are limited, early application is recommended. All
applications should be submitted by, at the latest, 8 weeks prior to the start
of the module. Formal registration will take place on the morning of the
first day of the module.
ABOUT THIS DOCUMENT
This module specification applies for the academic year 2015-16
Last revised 06 July 2015 by Caroline Lynch
London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Keppel St., London WC1E 7HT.
www.lshtm.ac.uk
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