Last chance to study this subject for 2026—enrol by 28 June
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Introduction to Epidemiology
PostgraduateTAS-CAM5282026
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 28 June 2026
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 12 weeks
- Start dates
- 23 Feb 2026,
- 6 July 2026
- Price from
- $3,069
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Introduction to Epidemiology
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Evaluate the strengths and limitations of different epidemiological study designs, including innovative and emerging approaches
- Explain strategies to minimise common sources of error, bias and confounding in epidemiological research
- Analyse public health intelligence and justify public health decisions by applying epidemiological concepts and tools
- Communicate epidemiological findings effectively
- Identify, calculate and interpret key epidemiological measures of disease frequency and association
- Module 1: Introduction to Epidemiology, Descriptive Epidemiology
- Module 2: Association. Study designs. Linking exposure and disease.
- Module 3: Alternative Explanations. The role of chance. Error. Confounding.
- Module 4: Integration and Interpretation. Association and causation. Reading and writing epidemiological papers. Assembling the building blocks: reviews and their uses.
- Module 5: Practical Applications. Outbreaks, epidemics and clusters. Prevention better than cure? Early detection.
This subject explores the principles, theories and practice of epidemiology. Students are provided with a comprehensive introduction to the collection and interpretation of epidemiological data within the framework of health, health care delivery and human services. The subject content covers the broad areas of disease distribution, study design, basic quantitative measures, causality, interpretation of data and critical appraisal of the literature. These concepts are explored in the context of contemporary health and health care issues such as non-communicable diseases, cancer screening, mental health, domestic violence, disability and drug and alcohol addiction. The subject focuses on the development of essential skills for logical and scientific assessment and evaluation of the literature. Critical thinking, scientific and analytical competencies are emphasized throughout this subject which builds core skills essential to health and health services research, planning and evaluation of programs and policy formulation.
The aim of the subject is to introduce core epidemiological principles, theories and practice. These concepts are explored through contemporary population level health issues. Skills developed will enable students to describe patterns of health in populations, critically evaluate different epidemiological study designs, calculate measures of association, identify and minimise sources of error, bias and confounding and interpret research results using epidemiological principles. Students will also learn to critically appraise studies and apply epidemiological reasoning to inform population-level decision making.
- Exercises (Multiple Choice Questions) x 5 (15%)
- Written Assignments: Scenario Analysis x 3 (45%)
- Critical Analysis Interactive Oral Report (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 14
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- TAS-MPH-GCE-2026 - Graduate Certificate in Public Health
Elective
- TAS-CPH-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Clinical Pharmacy
- TAS-ADP-GCE-2026 - Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice
- TAS-ADH-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Digital Health)
- TAS-APD-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Dementia)
- TAS-CDP-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Communicable Disease Prevention)
- TAS-AQS-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice ( Applied Quality and Safety)
- TAS-AWP-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Workplace Psychology)
- TAS-SCL-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Supply Chain and Logistics)
- TAS-AOR-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Organisational Resilience)
- TAS-AOP-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Organisational Performance)
- TAS-AMS-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Medication Safety)
- TAS-HSI-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Health Service Improvement)
- TAS-APH-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Healthcare Education)
- TAS-APG-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Governance)
- TAS-ADH-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Digital Health)
- TAS-APD-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Dementia)
- TAS-CDP-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Communicable Disease Prevention)
- TAS-AQS-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice ( Applied Quality and Safety)
- TAS-APG-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Governance)
- TAS-AWP-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Workplace Psychology)
- TAS-SCL-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Supply Chain and Logistics)
- TAS-AOR-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Organisational Resilience)
- TAS-AOP-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Organisational Performance)
- TAS-AMS-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Medication Safety)
- TAS-HSI-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Health Service Improvement)
- TAS-APH-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Healthcare Education)
- TAS-CUC-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Community and Urgent Care)
- TAS-CCR-MAS-2026 - Master of Advanced Practice (Critical Care and Retrieval)
- TAS-CUC-GDI-2026 - Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Community and Urgent Care)
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangement: Independent Learning 8 hours weekly; Tutorial (Online) 1 hour fortnightly
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.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Graduate Certificate in Public Health
PostgraduateTAS-MPH-GCE
Graduate Diploma of Clinical Pharmacy
PostgraduateTAS-CPH-GDI
Graduate Certificate in Advanced Practice
PostgraduateTAS-ADP-GCE
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Digital Health)
PostgraduateTAS-ADH-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Dementia)
PostgraduateTAS-APD-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Communicable Disease Prevention)
PostgraduateTAS-CDP-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice ( Applied Quality and Safety)
PostgraduateTAS-AQS-GDI
Master of Advanced Practice (Workplace Psychology)
PostgraduateTAS-AWP-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Supply Chain and Logistics)
PostgraduateTAS-SCL-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Organisational Resilience)
PostgraduateTAS-AOR-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Organisational Performance)
PostgraduateTAS-AOP-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Medication Safety)
PostgraduateTAS-AMS-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Health Service Improvement)
PostgraduateTAS-HSI-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Healthcare Education)
PostgraduateTAS-APH-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Governance)
PostgraduateTAS-APG-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Digital Health)
PostgraduateTAS-ADH-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Dementia)
PostgraduateTAS-APD-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Communicable Disease Prevention)
PostgraduateTAS-CDP-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice ( Applied Quality and Safety)
PostgraduateTAS-AQS-MAS
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Governance)
PostgraduateTAS-APG-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Workplace Psychology)
PostgraduateTAS-AWP-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Supply Chain and Logistics)
PostgraduateTAS-SCL-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Organisational Resilience)
PostgraduateTAS-AOR-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Organisational Performance)
PostgraduateTAS-AOP-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Medication Safety)
PostgraduateTAS-AMS-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Health Service Improvement)
PostgraduateTAS-HSI-GDI
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Healthcare Education)
PostgraduateTAS-APH-GDI
Master of Advanced Practice (Community and Urgent Care)
PostgraduateTAS-CUC-MAS
Master of Advanced Practice (Critical Care and Retrieval)
PostgraduateTAS-CCR-MAS
Graduate Diploma of Advanced Practice (Community and Urgent Care)
PostgraduateTAS-CUC-GDI