EPID 6210 Principles of Epidemiology
[3 Credits, Fall] This course provides an introduction to epidemiology as a basic science for public health and clinical medicine. It will address the principles of the quantitative approach to public health and clinical problems. The course will discuss measures of frequency and association, introduce the design and validity of epidemiologic research, and give an overview of data analysis. It is an introduction to the skills needed by public health professionals to interpret critically the epidemiologic literature and will provide students with the principles and practical experience needed to develop these skills. Lectures are complemented by seminars devoted to case studies, exercises, or critiques of current examples of epidemiologic studies. Prerequisite: None.
EPID 6211 Intermediate Epidemiology
[3 Credits, Spring] This course provides an integrated coverage of the principles of epidemiologic design, analysis, and interpretation at an intermediate level, suitable for epidemiologists and other public health professionals interested in a more thorough understanding of these concepts. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, BIOS 6221 and Pre- or Co-requisite: BIOS 6222 or equivalent.
EPID 6212 Introduction to Statistical Packages
[2 Credits, Fall] Designed to familiarize students with the use of statistical software, this course teaches students to use SAS for data management, data manipulation, data analysis and graphical techniques. Pre- or Co-requisite: BIOS 6221 or BIOS 6266.
EPID 6213 Epidemiology Seminar
[1 Credit, Spring] This seminar series provides exposure to current research and special topics of interest in epidemiology. Prerequisite: EPID 6210.
EPID 6214 Infectious Disease Epidemiology
[2 Credits, Fall] This introductory course provides an overview of infectious disease epidemiology. It is a companion course to Chronic Disease Epidemiology (EPID 6223). The course addresses the most important groups of infectious diseases, including respiratory and enteric infections, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Diseases. It focuses on the biological basis, incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of infectious diseases. Students will learn how to conduct outbreak investigations, learn about hospital acquired infections and antibiotic sensitivity. Students will also learn to apply epidemiologic methods in studies of infectious disease prevention and control and to understand the importance of surveillance and applied research as a basis for Public Health interventions. Prerequisite: EPID 6210.
EPID 6215 Monitoring and Evaluation
[3 Credits, Spring] The purpose of this course is to introduce the student to the concepts of monitoring and evaluation of community, health promotion, and other public health programs. This course presents models, techniques, and practices of designing and implementing program evaluation plans. Prerequisite: EPID 6210.
EPID 6216 Biological Basis of Health
[3 Credits, Spring] This course is designed to provide a background in the biologic basis of disease for MPH students who do not have a background in health sciences. The course will focus on the most salient topics and diseases. Prerequisite: None.
EPID 6217 Database Management
[2 Credits, Fall] This course provides students with the basic skills to design good relational databases through hands-on experience in creating and managing databases using Microsoft Access. It also introduces sources of information for the construction of databases in public health. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, BIOS 6221, and EPID 6212.
EPID 6218 Spatial Analysis
[3 Credits, Fall] This course introduces students to a range of geospatial analyses uses and methods. Students will apply problem-solving abilities, critical thinking skills, and creative thinking to diverse examples of medical geography and spatial epidemiology. Content will focus on the management of geographic data and the interpretation of spatial analysis. Students will develop a critical and creative approach to questions can benefit from spatial epidemiology. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, BIOS 6221, and EPID 6212.
EPID 6219 Nutritional Epidemiology
[3 Credits, Spring] This course is an introduction to the methodological issues related to the design, conduct, analysis, and interpretation of studies investigating the relationship between nutritional status, diet, and disease. An emphasis will be placed on the types of dietary and nutritional status assessment methods and their advantages and disadvantages in epidemiologic research. Students will gain a practical experience in the actual collection, analysis, and interpretation of dietary intake. The interpretation of studies in nutritional epidemiology given the dietary instrument used and the study design will be considered. Issues such as intra- and inter-individual variation, measurement error, misclassification, homogeneity of intake within populations, and correlations among nutrients, micronutrients, and food groups will be discussed. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, EPID 6212, EPID 6221, and BIOS 6221.
EPID 6220 Molecular Epidemiology*
[3 Credits] This course covers the theoretical concepts and practical issues involved in conducting research involving molecular biomarkers in human populations. Class topics include the theoretical advantages of biomarkers, criteria for evaluating potential markers, sample collection and storage, laboratory quality control considerations, issues in epidemiologic study design and analysis, ethical/legal concerns, and discussion of specific examples of research involving molecular markers of internal dose, susceptibility, early pathological alteration, and prognosis. The course will emphasize examples from the cancer research literature. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, EPID 6212, EPID 6221 and BIOS 6221.
EPID 6221 Qualitative and Quantitative Research Methods
[3 Credits, Fall] The purpose of this course is to provide students concentrating in Epidemiology a practical introduction to conducting research and preparing reports using qualitative and quantitative methods. Students will conduct specifically tailored projects as a class that illustrate some of the key skills necessary in basic epidemiological research. Qualitative research methods will be illustrated through the use of a focus group study conducted as a class project, and quantitative methods will be illustrated through the use of secondary survey data. Prerequisite: EPID 6210, EPID 6212, and BIOS 6221.
EPID 6222 Cancer Epidemiology*
[2 Credits] This course provides students with an understanding of the theory of carcinogenesis and major etiologic factors for cancer, including tobacco, diet and nutrition, alcohol, viruses and bacteria, drugs, occupation, and radiation. The epidemiology of major cancer sites (e.g., lung, breast, prostate, colon and rectum, cervix and uterine corpus) and selected cancers of specific interest to the class will also be presented. Study design and methodology used in cancer research are discussed throughout the course. Prerequisite: EPID 6210 and BIOS 6221.
EPID 6223 Chronic Disease Epidemiology
[2 Credits, Spring] This introductory course provides an overview of chronic disease epidemiology and prevention strategies. It is a companion course to Infectious Disease Epidemiology (EPID 6214). The course addresses the most important groups of chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, cancer, diabetes, lung diseases and neurologic diseases. It focuses on the biological basis, incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of chronic diseases as well as etiologic factors accounting for differences in incidence and mortality. Students will learn how to apply epidemiologic methods in studies of chronic disease prevention and control and to understand the importance of surveillance and applied research as a basis for Public Health interventions. Prerequisite: EPID 6210.
EPID 6224 Emergent Epidemiology
[2 credits, Summer] This is an advanced epidemiology course for students interested in new developments in epidemiology. The course is focused on epidemiologic techniques used to address emerging diseases and public health issues of concerns such as bioterrorism, disasters, pandemics, detection of opportunistic pathogens, environmental concerns, and institutionalized populations. It does not address management of disasters, environmental health issues, or disease control in institutions. Students will learn to apply and adapt traditional and new epidemiologic methods to detect and evaluate progress in response to emerging diseases. Pre-requisite: EPID 6210.
EPID 6600 Field Epidemiology
[4 Credits, Spring] This course provides applications of epidemiologic methods and concepts of analysis of data from epidemiologic studies. It serves as a Capstone to students in the Epidemiology Program and provides a culminating experience in independent research and scientific writing under faculty guidance. Prerequisite: EPID 6210; EPID 6211, EPID 6212, BIOS 6221, and BIOS 6222.
* Courses not offered in 2006-2007
