Program Overview
This interdisciplinary master's program in Diabetes provides comprehensive academic and research training to prepare graduates to effectively contribute to diabetes management. Delivered through blended learning, the program covers fundamentals of diabetes, health promotion, research methods, lifestyle risk factor modification, and research project execution. Graduates will gain in-depth knowledge and skills to lead diabetes research, act in professional contexts related to diabetes, and contribute to the urgent need for specialist training in this growing health concern.
Program Outline
Degree Overview:
Diabetes is a global health emergency with over 600 million people expected to have the condition by 2030, representing 10% of the world’s population. Therefore the World Health Organisation (WHO) has classed diabetes as an epidemic requiring urgent action for both prevention and management. This has been echoed in Ireland’s Health Service Executive national policy and clinical strategy for diabetes. It is a chronic metabolic condition that can cause significant cardiovascular morbidity and mortality if not managed correctly. Central to this management is controlling key physiological indices such as blood sugar, blood pressure and blood lipid levels, as well as promoting health behaviours such as regular exercise, healthy eating and not smoking. Unfortunately achieving these biological targets and lifestyle goals is extremely challenging.
- Have a critical awareness of the current problems / new insights in diabetes.
- Demonstrate a range of standard and specialised research tools for diabetes
- Develop new skills to a high level including novel and emerging techniques in diabetes
- Be able to act in a variety of professional contexts on the topic of diabetes
- Be able to take significant responsibility for leading diabetes research
- Be able to self-evaluate and take responsibility for continuing academic / professional development in diabetes
- Be able to scrutinise and reflect on diabetes social norms and relationships and act to change them
Outline:
This programme aims to prepare graduates to effectively contribute to diabetes management through comprehensive academic and research training.
Structure:
- The course is delivered through blended learning (online content and face to face workshops), with an attendance requirement of approximately 10 days per 4 month semester (please note some workshops may be scheduled at weekends).
- Year 1 Semester 1 & 2 are theoretical based and represents 60 ECTS credits which is equivalent to a Postgraduate Diploma Diabetes at completion (which students can exit with, if they wish, at the end of Semester 2). Semester 3 is research thesis based which builds on the knowledge and skills learned in Semester 1&2 and represents 30 ECTS credits, thus providing a total of 90 ECTS which is the requirement for the awarding of a Masters of Science Diabetes.
Course Schedule:
Year 1
- Semester 1
- GPN10 Diabetes 10 ECTS
- HP8101 Foundations of Health Promotion 10 ECTS
- MD1562 Research Methods for Evidence Based Practice 10 ECTS
- Semester 2
- MD 578 Lifestyle Risk Factor Modification 30 ECTS
- (Optional exit opportunity with PDipSc Diabetes or continue on for MSc Diabetes.)
- Semester 3
- HP8101: Foundations of Health Promotion: This module explores the principles of health promotion and how they can be applied to diabetes prevention and management.
- MD1562: Research Methods for Evidence Based Practice: This module provides students with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct research in diabetes.
- MD 578: Lifestyle Risk Factor Modification: This module focuses on the role of lifestyle factors in diabetes management, including diet, exercise, and stress management.
- MD 577: Research Project: This module allows students to conduct an independent research project on a topic related to diabetes.
Assessment:
The course assessments reflect the blended learning approach by using a combination of continuous assessment through examining the students’ online e-tivities, traditional essays, formal module exams and assigned project activities.
Teaching:
The programme is delivered using a blended learning format, combining on-line learning and face-to-face workshops.
Faculty:
In addition to the faculty of the College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS), the Programme Board for the Masters of Science in Diabetes play an active role in teaching on this course including:
- Programme Director: Professor Derek O’Keeffe Consultant Endocrinologist UHG HSE, Professor College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Sciences, University of Galway
- Programme Board
- Ms Helen Burke, ANP Diabetes, University Hospital Galway, HSE
- Dr Marua Dowling, Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway
- Professor Sean Dinneen, HSE Clinical Lead Diabetes, Consultant Endocrinologist UHG
- Dr Eva Flynn, General Practitioner, Lecturer, School of Medicine, University of Galway
Careers:
Specialist training in diabetes at postgraduate level will demonstrate an academic commitment to diabetes care and research, and therefore will allow the graduate to be competitive in pursing future healthcare opportunities.
Other:
- The program is endorsed by Professor Sean Dinneen, Clinical Lead for National Diabetes Programme.
- The program is part of a suite of courses in Preventive Medicine and Cardiovascular Health, which also includes:
- MSc Preventive Cardiology
- MSc Obesity
- MSc (Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation)
- PgCert (Cardiac Rehabilitation)
Fees: EU €9,140 full-time; €4,605 part-time p.a. 2024/25 Fees: Tuition €9,000 full-time; €4,500 part-time p.a. 2024/25 Fees: Student levy €140 full-time; €105 part-time p.a. 2024/25 Fees: Non EU €18,000 p.a. (€18,140 p.a. including levy) 2024/25
