Enrolments for 2019 have closed.
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Outbreak: The Detection and Control of Infectious Disease
Undergraduate | RMI-SCB160 | 2019
Course information for 2019 intake View information for 2024 course intake
Learn how professionals respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Play your part in an outbreak response team in a simulated epidemic setting. Analyse the cause and spread of an outbreak, learn how to control it, and plan communication strategies
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed,
- No prior study
- Duration
- -
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Outbreak: The Detection and Control of Infectious Disease
About this subject
At the completion of this subject students will be able to:
- understood how to go about naming the agent responsible for an outbreak;
- describe the environment in which the outbreak has occurred, noting all possible routes of transmission;
- select tests that will determine which mode of transmission is responsible for the outbreak;
- list and describe the roles of individuals that will be required to participate in the outbreak response team;
- determine whether the agent of the outbreak is presenting typical traits of previous outbreaks or whether it is a new emerging agent;
- explain why the outbreak occurred;
- monitor control measures for their effectiveness;
- list changes to operating procedures to prevent further outbreaks;
- design an information campaign to inform the public of the nature of the outbreak;
- feedback to team members ideas for improvements in strategies;
- rethink current and past control strategies and suggest improved practice for the future.
- Identification of hazards that lead to outbreaks of infectious disease
- Sourcing of information relevant to controlling outbreaks
- Team work in infectious disease control
- Outbreaks involving topics such as tropical diseases, food borne diseases, bioterrorism and health care outbreaks
- Reporting and effective communication of outbreaks
Learn how humanity responds to outbreaks of infectious disease. The subject will create simulated outbreaks where you will assume the role of a key person in an outbreak investigation and work in teams online. Although you are placed in a team you will produce your own reports and your work is assessed as an individual submission. You will sharpen your research and analytical skills and develop an understanding of infectious disease. This subject is relevant to students studying biological and health sciences and many other areas including nursing, journalism, public relations, international studies and business students.
There are two hurdles in this subject - you must pass the first 4 assignments (aggregate score) and then pass the following 3 assignments (aggregate score).
This subject is part of the Science Pathway.
OUA Pathways recommends the best subjects to start your studies, even if you're not sure which degree you want to do. Each pathway includes four subjects based on your area of interest. Once you complete your recommended path you'll be able to choose from a range of degrees in your area of interest. Plus, each of the subjects you complete through OUA Pathways can also be credited towards your chosen degree.
Learn more about OUA Pathways.
This subject will be assessed by individual contribution to online discussions, an online quiz, submission of individual workshop reports, a final individual project report and an individual peer review of another groups outbreak project. Students should be aware that assessment tasks start early in the Study Period; any student enrolling after the start of the Study Period must email the subject coordinator to get immediate access to the subject's learning hub portal and be assigned to a team. There is no exam other than an online quiz; no attendance is required on campus.
- Exercises (30%)
- Critical Analysis (20%)
- Assignment (40%)
- Quiz (10%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2024:
- 11
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2024:
- 16
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Additional requirements
- Software requirements - Access to word processing software and spreadsheet software such as 'Word' and 'Excel'. OpenOffice software is sufficient.
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.
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