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Introduction to Epidemiology (POPH10001)
Undergraduate level 1Points: 12.5Dual-Delivery (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Semester 2
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: MSPGH Website
- Email: Enquiry Form
Overview
Availability | Semester 2 - Dual-Delivery |
---|---|
Fees | Look up fees |
This subject will creatively expose students to key concepts and approaches within epidemiology and public health, through the lens of an island-dwelling population. From the very first lecture, a narrative will be established in which the students are public health professionals at the Department of Health of an island nation. Throughout the course of the subject, students will navigate challenges that threaten the health of the local island community, learning about topics such as infectious and non-infectious epidemiology, the social determinants of health, environmental threats to health, and scientific communication along the way. This engaging subject will see the students working in teams to apply their skills in a range of different scenarios that mirror current real-world health challenges with inputs from public health professionals working on these very challenges.
Intended learning outcomes
Upon completion of the subject, students will be able to:
- Identify and discuss the social determinants of health;
- Describe the basic principles in infectious disease transmission to characterise the burden of such diseases in a population
- Explain how epidemiological data is collected to describe and analyse the health of populations
- Critique the methods used to collect epidemiological data for the purpose of considering the applicability of the data collected
- Describe the interventions that are commonly implemented to improve health and reducing disease in populations, for the purpose of selecting interventions to address health needs
- Communicate health messages based on scientific evidence to lay audiences.
- Comprehend the requirements for engaging respectfully with First Nations peoples to improve health outcomes.
Generic skills
- Analytical skills: The ability to investigate and interpret data and methodologies;
- Evidence synthesis skills: The ability to critically synthesise and evaluate literature to confront unfamiliar problems;
- Communication skills: The ability to communicate ideas effectively in written, visual and oral formats to academic and lay audiences;
- Collaborative skills: The ability to collaborate respectfully and professionally with peers of differing disciplinary and cultural backgrounds;
- Time management skills: The ability to meet regular deadlines while balancing other competing commitments.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Corequisites
Non-allowed subjects
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Assessment
Description | Timing | Percentage |
---|---|---|
Four Short Quizzes (MCQ) 20 minutes each.
| From Week 2 to Week 8 | 35% |
Short video presentation (5 mins)
| Week 10 or 11 | 15% |
Weekly Tutorial participation | Throughout the teaching period | 15% |
Written Assessment
| During the examination period | 35% |
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Dates & times
- Semester 2
Coordinator Melissa Russell Mode of delivery Dual-Delivery (Parkville) Contact hours Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 25 July 2022 to 23 October 2022 Last self-enrol date 5 August 2022 Census date 31 August 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 23 September 2022 Assessment period ends 18 November 2022 Semester 2 contact information
Melbourne School of Population and Global Health
OR
Currently enrolled students:
- General information: https://ask.unimelb.edu.au
- Email: Contact Stop 1
Future Students:
- Further Information: MSPGH Website
- Email: Enquiry Form
Time commitment details
An additional six-eight hours per week in reading, research and assessment preparation, including during the period two weeks after completion of formal teaching, totalling approximately 170 hours overall time commitment.
Last updated: 31 January 2024
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
There are no specifically prescribed or recommended texts for this subject.
- Breadth options
This subject is available as breadth in the following courses:
- Bachelor of Arts
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Animation)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Dance)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Film and Television)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Screenwriting)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Theatre)
- Bachelor of Fine Arts (Visual Art)
- Bachelor of Music
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Last updated: 31 January 2024