Master of Health Sciences
(Chronic Illness Management)
College of Medicine, Nursing, & Health Sciences
Course overview
This Master of Health Sciences programme is aimed at preparing students to engage in chronic illness prevention and management. The programme is multidisciplinary and welcomes applications from healthcare professionals from the wider multidisciplinary team (including medical doctors, nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, occupational therapists and speech and language therapists). Students may exit after 8 months with a Postgraduate Diploma if they prefer not to complete the full Masters.
The year is divided into two teaching semesters (September to December and January to April). During the summer period (May to August) students’ focus on completing a minor dissertation based on original research. Students complete four core modules and two option modules during the taught element of the programme. Option modules are selected from a menu of choices. Students must complete the taught element of the programme to second class honours standard (i.e. 60%) before proceeding to complete the dissertation element. Students who fail to progress to the dissertation element of the programme will exit the programme with a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences (Chronic Illness Management).
The course is recognised for external CPD by the Irish College of General Practitioners, and has received Category 2 approval from An Bord Altranais.
Key facts
Entry requirements
This course is open to qualified health professionals (doctor, midwife, nurse, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, podiatrist, speech & language therapist, other) currently registered with their relevant professional body and actively involved in clinical practice. Candidates must have secured a final grade of at least second class honours in their primary degree, or hold a relevant Postgraduate Diploma (Level 9).
Duration:
1 calendar year, full-time; 2 calendar-years, part-time
Next start date: September 2013
ECTS weighting: 90
Average intake: 10
Closing date: Please see the offer round dates.
Course outline
Full-time version, one year
Semester 1
Critical Issues in Chronic Illness
Literature Based Research Skills
Option module*
Semester 2
Effective Chronic Disease Management Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Health Research Methods
Option module*
Summer
Research Dissertation
Part-time version, two years
Year 1/Semester 1
Critical Issues in Chronic Illness
Option* (Semester 1 or 2)
Year 1/Semester 2
Effective Chronic Disease Management Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Option* (Semester 1 or 2)
Year 2/Semester 1
Literature Based Research Skills
Option* (Semester 1 or 2)
Year 2/Semester 2
Health Research Methods
Option* (Semester 1 or 2)
Summer (Year 2)
Research Dissertation
*Examples of option modules include: “Collaborative and Interagency Working”, “Clinical Teaching Methodologies”, “Ethics in Health Research”, “Concepts and Principles of Primary Care”, “Diabetes in Primary Care” and “Translational Medicine”.
Applications and selections
Who teaches this course?
Prof. Peter Cantillon
Dr Dympna Casey
Dr Sean Dinneen
Ms Siobhan Smyth
Prof Agnes Shiel
Prof Kathy Murphy
Dr Thomas Kropmans
Dr Mary Byrne
Dr Yvonne Finn
Dr Ger Flaherty
Dr Eva Flynn
Ms Marcella Kelly
Dr Emma Kilgarriff
Dr Reidin Lawlor
Ms Edel Tierney
Ms Alison Van Laar
Find out more
Dr Mary Byrne
T: +353 91 495 205
E: mary.byrne@nuigalway.ie
PAC code
GYM58 (full-time)
GYM59 (part-time)
Fees for this course
EU (Total): €7,650 (Full time) €3,825 (Part time) Inclusive of Levy
- Student levy: €224 (for Full time) / €112 (for Part time)
Non-EU (Total): €n/a
GYM58 (full-time) €7,650
GYM59 (part-time) €3,825
Current students
Carmel O’Donnell, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Palliative Care
"This is a very dynamic, interesting, challenging and relevant course. It reflects what is happening (and is predicted to happen) in clinical practice due to the increasing demands and burdens (personal, societal, global and economic) associated with chronic disease. The person-centred philosophy embedded in the course content is unique, and this person-centred approach is further embraced by all the lecturers. The balance of professionalism with friendliness, support and the time they afford to students is very reassuring when studying at Masters level. A very practical, multi-professional course suitable for a range of specialities."
