Infection Prevention Certificate Curriculum
Infection Prevention Certificate courses are designed to provide students with key technical and administrative skills and infection prevention:
- MSI 501: Introduction to Epidemiology (3 Semester Credits)
- MSI 510: Principles & Epidemiology of Infectious Disease (3 Semester Credits)
- MSI 525: Antimicrobial Stewardship (3 Semester Credits)
- MSI 530: Reprocessing & Environment of Care (3 Semester Credits)
- MSI 540: Principles of Surveillance and Reporting (3 Semester Credits)
Total Semester Credits: 15
Certificate Costs
The University of Providence is committed to affordability and providing pricing transparency for all School of Health Professions programs. Pricing transparency at UP includes:
- Accessible and up-to-date information on tuition costs, university fees, application and admission fees, deposit amounts, and additional program costs.
- Cost of attendance worksheets outlining specific tuition layouts by program and semester.
- Information about scholarship opportunities and tuition discounts for specific groups.
- Information about the financial aid process.
Visit the Tuition and Fees page to access the latest pricing information for the Infection Prevention Certificate. To learn more about the financial aid process, visit the Financial Aid page.
Careers in Infection Prevention & Control
Students who graduate from the Infection Prevention Certificate can pursue a number of different careers in infection prevention and control. Graduates of the certificate can find positions across healthcare, including in hospitals, ambulatory care, public health, long-term care, and home healthcare. Additionally, new and emerging disciplines in business, sports, education, consulting, and more are contributing to the rapid growth of the field.
In a recent report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, common infection prevention careers such as epidemiology and health and safety regulation are expected to increase by 19 percent and 14 percent respectively, a rate much faster than the average national job growth rate of 4 percent. In a national analysis compiled by ZipRecruiter, infection preventionists can expect to make anywhere from $41,000 to $160,500, with the average salary for infection preventionists being $99,408. Individual salaries vary by job location, demand, certifications, employer, and experience.
Learn more: Infection Control Specialists and Infection Control Nurses
Application and Admission Requirements
The University of Providence’s Infection Prevention Certificate accepts applications for fall enrollment, with application deadlines in August of each year. For updated information on graduate application requirements, deadlines, and certificate-specific requirements, please visit the University of Providence admissions page.
Program Application: Applicants must complete a graduate application through GradCAS.
Official Transcripts: Applicants must submit official transcript(s) that show completion of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution(s).
- An undergraduate GPA of 3.0 is required. Applicants with a GPA below this number may be required to complete the GRE exam at the discretion of the program coordinator.
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum cumulative GPA requirements, or does not have a GPA on their transcript, must complete the graduate record examination (GRE) within five years.
Curriculum Vitae or Résumé: Applicants must submit a current CV or résumé
Application Fee: Students must pay an application fee of $38 (required by GradCAS).
Recommended Pre-Requisites: Anatomy & Physiology I & II with labs & Microbiology
Additional Certificate Information
Learning Outcomes
- Understand and apply basic terminology, definitions and principles of epidemiology to infection prevention.
- Identify the risk factors for an epidemiological problem and how these risk factors could have been prevented, if possible.
- Explain the foundational principles of disease transmission to inform decision-making within the organization.
- Create interventions to enhance healthcare worker awareness of transmission-based precautions and hand hygiene.
- Explain the pathophysiology of hospital-acquired microbial infections that contribute to significant patient morbidity and mortality.
- Analyze data from antimicrobial susceptibility testing programs and antibiograms to anticipate emerging threats from resistance pathogens.
- Conduct a facility-level infection control program risk assessment and develop a prioritized program infection prevention plan based on findings.
- Evaluate patient care areas for possible vehicles of infection.
- Gain a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of cleaning, disinfection and sterilization, including areas of risk and quality control requirements.
- Explain the foundational principles of infection prevention surveillance to inform decision-making and enhance information sharing.
Skills You’ll Learn
- Industry nomenclature
- Epidemiologic characteristics
- Host-parasite relationships
- Trends and analytics in infection prevention and control
- Natural history of diseases and disease management
- Diseases of significance
- Standard and transmission-based precautions
- Screening methods
- Risk assessment and management of infectious diseases
- Surveillance, research and investigations of infectious diseases
Certificate Themes
- Surveillance and outbreak management
- Infection prevention and control (IPAC)
- Antimicrobial stewardship
- Cleaning, sterilization, and disinfection
- Evidence-based practice
- Environmental monitoring
- Specific Pathogen Knowledge
- Facility construction and renovations
Additional Links & Resources
Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive
The University of Providence is committed to supporting the healthcare workforce by empowering current healthcare professionals in their careers in healthcare. The Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive (HPTI) Program provides currently employed healthcare professionals with the opportunity to apply tuition discounts to in-demand programs offered through the School of Health Professions catalog. Visit the Healthcare Professionals Tuition Incentive Program page to learn more.
Providence Health & Services Partnership
UP’s unique partnership with Providence Health allows eligible Providence Caregivers and their dependents to receive an exceptional education from an accredited, faith-based, university. Caregivers and their dependents who enroll at the University of Providence may receive many possible benefits, such as discounted tuition rates and preferred admission, as part of their education benefits. Visit the Providence Human Resources Service Portal to learn more about caregiver education benefits, the application process for the programs, and tuition discounts.
Learn to Identify and Control Infectious Diseases with the Infection Prevention from the University of Providence
The online infection prevention certificate from the University of Providence will prepare you for a future in infection identification, prevention and control. Enter this emerging field with skills in prevention strategy and implementation, investigation of epidemiological patterns, and the ability to apply data and research across industries.
Find out more about the program by Requesting Information or learn How to Apply.
