Introduction to Epidemiology (POPH20002)

Undergraduate level 2Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 2
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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;
  • Utilise the basic principles of infectious disease transmission in identifying appropriate disease prevention interventions
  • Collect epidemiological data and appraise data collection methods
  • Collect, analyse, interpret, and communicate public health surveillance information for the purposes of public health decision making
  • Recommend and plan population health interventions to reduce disease prevalence across different settings.
  • Work as a member of a team to 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: 4 March 2025

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: 4 March 2025

Assessment

DescriptionTimingPercentage

Two Short Quizzes - 40 minutes each

  • 80 minutes (total)
From Week 4 to Week 730%

Group short video presentation (450 word equivalent) and associated individual document (350 words) (3-4 student groups)

  • 800 words
Week 1120%

Workshop participation - discussion and brief summary presentations to the class

  • 400 words (equivalent)
Throughout the teaching period10%

Written assessment 1,250 words + data visualisations (250-word equivalent)

  • 1500 words
During the assessment period40%

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 2
    CoordinatorHannah Morgan
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period28 July 2025 to 26 October 2025
    Last self-enrol date 8 August 2025
    Census date 1 September 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail26 September 2025
    Assessment period ends21 November 2025

    Semester 2 contact information

    morgan.h1@unimelb.edu.au

    Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

    OR

    Currently enrolled students:

    Future Students:



Time commitment details

Approximately two hours instructional material and guided learning activities per week delivered online, totalling approximately 24 hours; two hours per week in interactive small group learning on campus totalling 24 hours; one hour per week content review seminar on-campus, totalling 12 hours; 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.

What do these dates mean

Visit this webpage to find out about these key dates, including how they impact on:

  • Your tuition fees, academic transcript and statements.
  • And for Commonwealth Supported students, your:
       -  Student Learning Entitlement. This applies to all students enrolled in a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP).
     

    Subjects withdrawn after the census date (including up to the ‘last day to withdraw without fail’) count toward the Student Learning Entitlement.

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Further information

Last updated: 4 March 2025