Public Health—Emergency Management and Infection Control Online Certificate
Advance in a public health career focused on disaster response and disease control.
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Request InfoPublic Health—Emergency Management and Infection Control Online Certificate Overview
Whether you would like to work in public health, health care or environmental sectors, the online public health certificate in emergency management and infection control from the University of West Florida will prepare you to address a plethora of environmental issues that impact human health. After learning core principles in public health, you will learn how to monitor the progression of infectious diseases in society, identify and fight bioterrorism attacks, develop plans for large-scale emergencies and interact with the public regarding these issues.
The public health certificate in emergency management and infection control can benefit professionals from many industries, including health sciences, education, government, business, social and natural sciences and others. While this certificate program does not lead to professional certification, you can advance your career, secure a higher salary or confidently pursue certification after completion of the program.
The fully online program is delivered asynchronously, meaning that you do not have to log in at any specific time; you can complete coursework and communicate with your professors at times that are convenient for you. Our professors, who are experts in their fields, have real-world experience in public health that translates directly into their teaching.
Candidates for This Program Include:
- Students of all backgrounds who desire a career path in public health
- Working public health professionals seeking to retool their skills
- Those who want to work in infection control and preparedness
You Will Be Able To:
- Pursue career advancement in public health
- Seek professional certification using your knowledge
- Educate others on how to prepare for emergencies and infectious diseases
Refer to UWF Cost of Attendance Estimates and Financial Literacy for more information on UWF costs and financial aid.
Courses and Requirements
The emergency management and infection control certificate requires completion of the following courses with a grade of C or higher. Students must maintain an overall GPA of 3.0 to earn the certificate. The certificate does not lead to industry (CIC) certification.
- BSC 5856 - Bioterrorism
3.0 Credit Hours
Bioterrorism
Biological weapons employed against man (emphasis), animals and plants will be discussed during the semester. The major biological agents targeted for use as weapons against humans will be dealt with in detail including the various clinical forms induced by exposure to the agents, prophylaxis and treatment for the resulting diseases and the primary routes of dissemination of the agents studied. The class will cover the potential for biowarfare / bioterrorist acts, how destruction is produced, and what countries / groups have access to sufficient bioagent or the capacity for producing large quantities of biological agents for use as a weapon. Wargames in which bioagents are employed, including casualty estimates and socioeconomic impact, will be discussed and played out. Government preparedness to deal with biowarfare / bioterrorism will be addressed with emphasis on plans for surveillance and response. Offered concurrently with BSC 4854; graduate students will be assigned additional work.
- HSC 5205 - Public Health Preparedness
3.0 Credit Hours
Public Health Preparedness
This course introduces types of disasters, the National Incident Management System, the Incident Command System, and the five steps of emergency management - prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Students will learn about the structure and organization of medical disaster response, exercises, emergency communication, rapid health assessment, surveillance, and triage. Additionally, students will be introduced to the public health role in responding to chemical, biological, disease, radiological, nuclear, and explosive incidents. Students will also examine social/mental health, environmental services, ethical, and legal issues in disasters. Finally, this course introduces evaluation methods for assessing medical and public health responses.
- HSC 6528 - Prevention of Infectious Diseases
3.0 Credit Hours
Prevention of Infectious Diseases
An overview graduate level course of the methods and strategies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases within a population setting and the application of these tools in public health programs to achieve an epidemiologic impact on disease reduction, elimination or eradication. Methods covered in the course are those applied to population settings and address both vaccine and non-vaccine preventable diseases of public health significance.
- MCB 5273 - Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
3.0 Credit Hours
Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
The basic principles of epidemiology as they apply to infectious disease and the impact of infectious disease on human civilization will be addressed. The causes and distribution of current epidemics of infectious disease, including newly emerging and reemerging diseases, and the approaches being applied to defeat these diseases will be discussed. Offered concurrently with MCB 4276; graduate students will be assigned additional work.
- PHC 5102 - Principles of Public Health
3.0 Credit Hours
Principles of Public Health
This course introduces students to the history of public health, the structure of the public health system and the various sectors of public health practice, in order to gain an understanding of the complex factors that determine the health status of a community. Lectures will draw from the public health field, but also related disciplines such as behavioral sciences, healthcare management, medical ethics, and social work. National state, and local level practices will be analyzed, as well as the role that law and government play in the public's health. The course is also intended to stimulate student interest in other public health courses and program offerings.
- PHC 6251 - Disease Surveillance and Monitoring
3.0 Credit Hours
Disease Surveillance and Monitoring
Disease surveillance and monitoring is the systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of data for use in prioritizing, planning, implementing, and evaluating health programs, activities and practices in the United States as well as in other developed and developing countries. We will focus on these fundamental processes and procedures which are utilized to investigate and track infectious and communicable diseases as well as non-infectious chronic diseases. The course will highlight the importance of designing and reporting quantitative and qualitative contents in disease surveillance.
- BSC 5856 - Bioterrorism
Admission Requirements
To be considered for admission to the University of West Florida’s online Public Health—Emergency Management and Infection Control Certificate program, you must be admitted to the University as a graduate non-degree seeking student.
How to Apply
Once accepted as a graduate non-degree-seeking student, students should contact the MPH academic advisor about course availability and scheduling, and also complete the online Graduate Certificate Declaration Form on MyUWF. Current UWF graduate students interested in completing the graduate certificate are not required to complete the non-degree seeking application but will need to contact the MPH academic advisor to review their degree audit and initiate the declaration of certificate process.
Have questions about this program or the admissions process? Contact our graduate admissions team at gradadmissions@uwf.edu. If you are a current UWF student, please reach out to the department academic advisor.
Costs & Financial Aid
| Component | Cost | Total* |
|---|---|---|
| In-State Tuition | $384.60 per credit hour | $6,922.80 |
| Full Out-of-State Tuition | $1,044.24 per credit hour | $18,796.32 |
| 90% Out-of-State Tuition Waiver | $478.83 per credit hour | $8,618.94 |
Tuition waivers cover up to 90 percent of the non-resident portion of your tuition and are available to non-Florida residents (including international students) admitted to online programs and registered for online courses in active pursuit of that degree or certificate. You must pay all other assessed tuition and fees.
Time to completion varies by student, depending on individual progress. Fees are charged per semester unless otherwise noted. This program takes up to 18 months to complete, depending on course availability.
* Tuition and fees are subject to change.
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Alabama Differential Out-of-State Tuition
Residents of Alabama are eligible for Alabama Differential Tuition, a reduced out-of-state tuition rate. For more information and to verify residency status for tuition purposes, new undergraduate students should contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and new graduate students should contact the Graduate School. Current enrolled students should contact the Office of the Registrar.
Military Students
UWF is a Military FriendlyⓇ School proudly serving active-duty U.S. military members and veterans. As UWF has been a participant in the Yellow Ribbon Program since 2011, you could be eligible to receive free tuition with your military benefits.
See How We Can Serve YouFinancial Aid
Funding your college education should not empty your wallet. We offer various financial aid options for our online students, including loans, scholarships and grants for degree-seeking students.
Learn More About Financial AidCareer Outcomes
Upon completion of our emergency management and infection control certificate, you can pursue a variety of careers within public health. Some careers require additional education, certification or training.
* Salary and job outlook information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and PayScale.
Epidemiologists
These public health professionals address disease and injury in the human population by directing studies, collecting data, communicating findings, managing programs and supervising personnel. Epidemiologists often specialize in fields including chronic disease, infectious disease, maternal and children’s health, environmental health, occupational health or mental health. They make a median annual salary of $78,830, and 26 percent job growth is expected through 2031.
Emergency Management Directors
Emergency management directors prepare plans and procedures for responding to natural disasters or other emergencies. They also help lead the response during and after emergencies. They might work in government, for organizations or nonprofits. In 2021, emergency management directors made a median annual salary of $76,730. Jobs are expected to grow 3 percent through 2031.
Health Educators and Community Health Workers
As a community health worker and educator, you would actively educate your community about wellness strategies and behaviors to improve their health. In this role, you may collect data and analyze the conditions of the community and population you serve. You’ll be able to apply an informed, science and data-backed public health framework that ultimately benefits community health. Health educators and community health workers earned an average salary of $48,860 in 2021, and positions in the field are expected to increase by 12% from 2021 to 2031.