Antimicrobial Resistance MSc

• Antimicrobial Resistance: Past, Present, and Future - 20 credits
  This module will introduce you to the global and historical importance of antimicrobial resistance. You will learn about the key reports both globally and in the UK that have publicised this growing problem. The module then aims to give you a thorough grounding in the modes of action of current antimicrobial agents, the mechanisms by which microbes can resist these agents, how they can share that resistance with one another, and the discovery and development of new antimicrobial agents. The module also aims to help you to understand the concept of One Health in relation to antimicrobials in human health, veterinary health and environmental health.
  
  A wide-ranging programme of lectures, workshops, tutorials and discussions will be used to explore these issues. Finally, the module will help you to develop the skills and expertise to communicate the problem of antimicrobial resistance, and some of the steps being taken to overcome it, to a wide-ranging audience and thus influence both public and professional practice in antibiotic use. You will be introduced to the subject of science communication and will learn how to use a selection of media to help network with, and influence, stakeholders.
• Infection Prevention and Control - 20 credits 
  This module aims to give you an in-depth specialist knowledge of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practices, and outbreak management policies and procedures (national and global). This module is also designed to enhance your ability to critically evaluate and discuss outbreak data and to apply the appropriate management policies and procedures to control outbreaks. In addition, the module will look to develop your communication and team-working skills to give you the confidence to effectively communicate the necessary outbreak responses to healthcare professionals of all levels.
  
  You will apply existing and enhanced knowledge and skills to provide informed results and support to IPC teams, Clinical Scientists, Biomedical Scientists, and other healthcare professionals in managing patient care and in preventing and/or containing outbreaks. Furthermore, you will be introduced to a range of hospital environmental testing methods used in, and the relevant standards aligned with, prevention of infections in healthcare settings to better equip them to evaluate outbreak data.
• Antimicrobial Stewardship - 20 credits
  The aim of this module is to develop in you a detailed understanding of local, national and global policies and procedures relating to Antimicrobial Stewardship, which is a system-wide approach to using antimicrobials responsibly. Although the challenge of Antimicrobial Resistance is multi-factorial in nature, with many different interventions necessary to tackle successfully the issue, effective Antimicrobial Stewardship plays a vital part in this. A further aim of the module is to introduce you to the surveillance systems, used both locally and nationally in the UK, and globally, to monitor the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance, and the use of these systems to evaluate the impact of antimicrobial resistance in selected microbial species.
  
  In addition, the module aims to give you an understanding of the processes driving prescribing decisions by healthcare practitioners both in the UK and globally. Finally, the module aims to develop effective communication skills to influence public understanding of the risks of antimicrobials resistance and the principles of antimicrobial stewardship, and so drive positive change in our use of antimicrobial agents. 

• Practical Techniques for Antimicrobial Resistance Investigation - 20 credits 
  The aim of this module is to enable you to become competent independent laboratory researchers and so enhance your employability after graduation. To facilitate this, the module will introduce you to the health and safety concerns of a microbiology laboratory. It then aims to afford you a range of both conventional and molecular microbiology laboratory skills that are core to the detection and analysis of antimicrobial resistance in individual species and in microbial populations. In addition, the module aims to provide you with a range of bioinformatics skills that are applied to the study of Antimicrobial Resistance.
  
  Furthermore, the module aims to give you skills in data analysis and presentation. The content includes a comprehensive laboratory programme including the culture and molecular analysis of micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi and yeasts. The content also includes an extensive series of workshops that consider both modern bioinformatics techniques and the appropriate statistical analysis of data.
• Antimicrobial Resistance Impact Project - 20 credits 
  This module aims to meet the needs of a diverse range of students and makes accessible a wide range of topic areas bespoke to your interests and career goals. You will identify and define a key issue and need in the Antimicrobial Resistance landscape that is of relevance to your career development, workplace or the global scenario. You will pitch your study proposal to an approval panel. Here you will be assessed on the presentation and defence of your proposal with regards to the importance and impact of your study in the local, national or global Antimicrobial Resistance arena.
  
  Feedback will be received to help refine, formulate and implement a robust independent study design, culminating in a proposed service improvement, research output or provision and dissemination of knowledge to target groups, demonstrating impact in either research, public education, professional training, international collaborative learning, infection control, monitoring and auditing or the regulatory landscape.
• Leading Strategic Change through Creativity and Innovation - 10 credits
  This module aims to provide you with a framework of knowledge and understanding of how to manage change using creativity and innovation whatever the master’s degree of specialisation you elect to follow, in different types of organisational scenarios.  You will critically assess strategies for change and change management and explore the leadership skills required to lead successfully. You will explore, for example, the complexity of innovative strategic plans, implementation plans and how to apply analytical techniques, theories, models and creative problem-solving to manage change with confidence. Ultimately, you will be given the opportunity to develop an innovative framework to deliver a change management strategy in a changing organisational context. Finally, the module requires you to reflect critically on your personal learning and development needs and how you work with others, from an ethical and professional standpoint, to encourage your continuing professional development.
• Research Principles and Preparation - 10 credits
  This module provides a detailed consideration of the complex processes necessary to formulate, develop and test a scientific/clinical hypothesis. You will apply these principles to the design of an individual research question in a chosen area pertinent to your degree title, including the consideration of appropriate controls and replicates and suitable data analysis approaches. The module will enhance skills in selecting and applying appropriate statistical methods and will encompass guidance on health and safety and ethical considerations. You will be required to submit your proposal for ethical and health and safety approval, and to consider key aspects of project management and logistics. You will be supported through the module by regular project planning meetings with your designated supervisor.
• Research Project - 60 credits
  In this module you will carry out a series of investigative, analytical or experimental studies in your selected discipline area, analyse and present your findings in a scientific report. Normally, the project undertaken in this module reflects the proposal generated in the Research Principles and Preparation module. You are required to demonstrate critical analysis of the literature, authentic data collection and recording, appropriate data analysis and data presentation and critical evaluation with reference to published literature. You are supported and guided by your supervisor, but are expected to work independently with limited supervision, be able to deal with complexity and uncertainty, and identify and troubleshoot problems. 

Compulsory