Higher Education Programmes

The Senate of the University of Ibadan approved the revised Master of Science in Epizootiology curriculum that mainstreames One Health competences in the surveillance of human-animal diseases in the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine (Senate paper 7073) on 30 September, 2024. The new curriculum actualized the CCPZ initiatives https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/12/70/full/. 

Revised Curriculum for the Degree of Master of Science in Epizootiology            
Revised Curriculum for Master of Philosophy/Doctor of Philosophy in Epizootiology

Master of Science in Epizootiology

Cardinal to achieving improvement in postgraduate programmes for surveillance of human-animal diseases in West Africa is the MSc Epizootiology curriculum at the University of Ibadan. The curriculum is flexible in subject combination, trans-disciplinary in nature, and uniquely designed to attract candidates from varied background for the actualization of a “One- Health” initiative. The MSc Epizootiology programme is particularly suitable for Sierra Leone and Liberia to build the capacity in veterinary manpower. The track provides courses that focus on concepts and practice of epizootiology, biological basis of endemic, emerging and neglected zoonoses, diagnostic techniques and molecular characterization of the causal pathogens of zoonoses, logical framework for the design and Implementation of outbreaks Investigation, geo-referencing and mapping of disease risk factors (clusters, foci, hotspots and coldspots), biological risk management, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of zoonoses prevention projects. http://ir.library.ui.edu.ng/handle/123456789/7847.

Admission requirement for Master of Science in Epizootiology (Zoonoses Surveillance Track)

Applicants are required to hold a minimum of Second Class Honour Division in any degree in Public Health and related biomedical sciences, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture, Animal Health, Animal Production, Biology, Zoology, Sociology, Statistics. The programme leading to the Award of MSc. degree in Epizootiology shall normally last for three semesters of fulltime, two of which would be spent on course work while the third would be spent on West African Fieldwork and research projects (A semester with CCPZ in the west coast of Africa). A student shall register for minimum of 30 units including all compulsory and required courses. To be awarded the MSc. degree in Epizootiology, a student must pass a minimum of 30 units which shall include all compulsory courses. All candidates must satisfy the minimum graduation requirements of the University of Ibadan.

M.Phil.-PhD and PhD

The M.Phil.-PhD and PhD focus on research and mentorship. This includes hands-on practicum on detection, prevention and containment of zoonoses, using selected communities in West Africa, including the southern part of Nigeria. The M.Phil.-PhD and PhD programme focus on training of manpower that will effectively utilize the state-of-the-arts in zoonoses detection, prevention, and containment system in Nigeria and in West Africa.

The programme leading to award of PhD degree in zoonotic surveillance shall normally last for a minimum of six semesters of full time study.

Admission Requirement for M.Phil and M.Phil/PhD Degree

· Candidate with relevant application MSc. degree can proceed to M.Phil/Ph.D.

· Candidate may be required to take and pass and approved combination of 800 level courses

· Candidates will be required to carry out an original research and submit a dissertation on a topic chosen in consultation with the supervisor and approved by the University senate.

Admission Requirement for PhD

Entry into the PhD programme shall be on competitive basis. The following are criteria for admission for of student to the programme.

· Admission is open to candidates who have attained a minimum average of 60% in any of the relevant and applicable Master’s programmes.

· Candidates for the M.Phil degree programme of the University of Ibadan who have satisfied the course requirements for the degree and have permitted by senate to upgrade their registration on the satisfactory progress in research.

Regulations governing the Award of the Degree

Examinations shall be conducted in accordance with existing regulations of the postgraduate school, University of Ibadan. To qualify for the award of PhD, the following conditions must be fulfilled. The candidate must sit for and pass all the compulsory courses as well as any combination of one set of elective courses. The candidate must also satisfy all other requirements of the postgraduate school governing the award of the PhD degree.

Preference will be given in the selection process to middle career officers from related Ministries, Research and Academic Institutions in West Africa.

A semester with CCPZ in the West Coast of Africa

A Semester with CCPZ in the West Coast of Africa offers a unique summer opportunity to master the arts and science of disease surveillance. See activities at https://ccpzui.maps.arcgis.com - The 2013-2014 cohort was in Liberia and Ghana. The rubber plantation environment and Lassa fever epidemics in Liberia, 2008-2012: A spatial regression. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sste.2014.04.005

Certificate of Participation in Human-Animal Disease Surveillance (Short Cource Programme)

This short course is essential for building a critical mass of skilled manpower in human-animal disease surveillance in West Africa. In particular, by working together within sub-regional zoonoses hotspots, the CCPZ certificate programmme is flexible in module, trans-disciplinary in nature, and uniquely designed to attract participants from diverse educational backgrounds. The short course builds “One-Health, One-West-Africa” network. This programme is essential in post-Ebola outbreaks in West Africa. The short course modules focus on detection and diagnosis of human-animal disease pathogens, identifying exposure risk factors, their pattern of spread, time series analysis of cases and indigenous knowledge and practices that may contribute to spatial patterns seen in local communities. This training fosters sub-regional (international) biosecurity engagement training programme for human-animal disease surveillance in West Africa.

Social Responsibility for Epizootiology in West Africa

 Interns at CCPZ contribute to a network of multi-disciplinary experts in human-animal disease surveillance in West Africa. The network recognizes the need for harmonized and peer-reviewed social responsibility agenda for professionals in the sub-region. To this end, an archive of sub-regional Systematic Epizootiology is compiled into the

Journal of Epizootiology and Animal Health in West Africa