M.Sc Course Structure at Vector Control Research Centre

VCRC is one of the permanent institutes of Indian Council of Medical Research established in 1975 at Pondicherry. It M.Sc. Programme is divided into two parts. Each part consists of two Semesters as given here.

Semester-Odd- Semester-Even

Part I - First Year - Semester – 1 - Semester – 2 -

Part II - Second Year- Semester – 3 - Semester – 4

Semesters 1-3 (two odd semesters and one even semester) consist of four papers each. Semester 4 comprises of Dissertation. It is a must for each student to complete a Dissertation at the end of 4th Semester.

The schedule of papers prescribed for various semesters shall be as follows:

PART I: Semester – 1

1 MPHE 101 Biology & Ecology of Arthropods of Public Health Importance

2 MPHE 102 Morphology, Taxonomy, and Biodiversity of Vectors

3 MPHE 103 Physiology and Biochemistry of insects of Public Health Importance

4 MPHE 104 Biostatistics

PART I: Semester – 2

5 MPHE 201 Vector-Borne Parasites and Pathogens of Public Health Importance

6 MPHE 202 Application of Molecular Biology, Immunology, and Bioinformatics in Public Health Entomology

7 MPHE 203 Pesticides used in Public Health

8 MPHE 204 Control of Vectors of Public Health Importance

Field Training

PART II: Semester – 3

9 MPHE 301 Epidemiology of Vector Borne Diseases

10 MPHE 302 Environment and Public Health

11 MPHE 303 Integrated Vector Management

12 MPHE 304 Vector-Borne Diseases Control Programme

PART II: Semester – 4

13 MPHE 401 Dissertation

Field Training

At the end of Semester II, students of the institute will be visiting various ICMR Institutes, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme and other National laboratories for observational training in the R & D activities and hands-on training in the operational aspects of vector-borne disease control.

After the completion of field visits, the students have to submit a report and make a presentation of their field training.

Dissertation

It is mandatory for all the students to undertake dissertation work at the final semester (IV semester). Each student is individually placed under a faculty at VCRC to work on the dissertation.

This process includes:

1. the conceptualization of the independent research that will comprise the dissertation,

2. the preparation of and satisfactory defense of the dissertation proposal,

3. the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data,

4. presentation of findings in the dissertation format and oral defense of the dissertation.

Dissertation activity must be completed within prescribed time frame for the semester.