Epidemiology
PostgraduateACU-PUBH6212023
Course information for 2023 intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Epidemiology
About this subject
On successful completion of Epidemiology, students should be able to:
- Describe epidemiological concepts and methods and their importance to public health practice (GA5).
- Identify, calculate and interpret epidemiological measures (GA5, GA6).
- Compare and contrast major epidemiological study designs, especially in relation to appropriateness of study design, major features, strengths/limitations and interpretation of results (GA4, GA5).
- Critically appraise epidemiological research, particularly in relation to underlying study design and inferences made from results (GA2, GA5, GA6, GA8).
- Assess epidemiological information and integrate epidemiological concepts and methods to public health practice, such as screening programs, disease surveillance and research (GA2, GA5, GA6, GA8).
- Critically appraise epidemiological research or evaluation of a public health program, particularly in relation to study design and inferences made from results (GA4, GA5, GA8).
- Principles of epidemiology
- - Fundamental epidemiological concepts, data sources and methods
- - Measurement of exposure and risk of disease
- - Measures: including rates, odds ratios, relative risk, attributable risk, lifetime risk (and others)
- - Bias, confounding: types (e.g. measurement, selection), minimization
- - Levels of evidence in quantitative research
- - Observational and experimental study designs: cross sectional studies, case-control studies, case-crossover studies, nested case-control studies, case-cohort studies, prospective and retrospective cohort studies, randomised control trials, ecological studies
- Applied epidemiology
- - Disease prevention and treatment: screening and diagnostic test evaluation
- - Specialised epidemiology: social, behavioural, clinical and infectious disease
- - Critical appraisal of epidemiological research
- - Systematic reviews of health interventions: methods, data extraction and analysis, interpretation
- Practical epidemiology
- - Application of epidemiology in public health practice: role in needs assessment, impact evaluation and health policy
- - Health protection: monitoring and surveillance, notifiable diseases and legislative requirements
- - Practice scenarios: contact tracing and notification (e.g. STIs)
Epidemiology is an integral area of practice that informs and supports public health action to prevent disease and promote the health of populations. Within this practice, students need to apply skills and knowledge to understand and analyse the causes and distribution of disease within populations to determine how best to respond to a situation. In this unit, students will acquire comprehensive knowledge of fundamental epidemiological concepts and methods, including study designs, measures of frequency and association, bias and confounding, data collection and management for public health monitoring and surveillance. Students will build an understanding of the importance and relevance of epidemiology to public health research and practice with an emphasis on patterns of disease distribution in Australian and international contexts, and further develop skills to be able to apply these principles within real world scenarios.
The aim of the unit is to develop knowledge, skills and understanding of epidemiological principles and methods for application to key practice areas such as: screening and diagnostic test evaluation; critical appraisal of epidemiological research articles and systematic reviews; social/behavioural epidemiology and chronic disease.
A range of assessment procedures will be used to meet the unit learning outcomes and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements. In order to successfully complete this unit, students need to complete and submit three graded assessment tasks and obtain an aggregate mark of greater than 50%.
ACU-PUBH621 has three assessment tasks designed to introduce students to a range of applied epidemiology activities, and to demonstrate achievement of each unit learning outcome and develop graduate attributes consistent with University assessment requirements Assessment task 1 assesses knowledge of fundamental epidemiology concepts and interpretation of measures within a given research article. Assessment tasks 2 and 3 then assess the student’s ability to assimilate and apply epidemiological knowledge developed through the unit to a simulated public health activity (Assessment Task 2) and critically appraise epidemiological research or evaluate a public health program (Assessment Task 3).- Short answer questions on a research article (30%)
- Simulated Contact Tracing and Exposure (30%)
- Evaluate a public health program (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
Explore ACU courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 35
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.