Real World Epidemiology (POPH30003)

Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

Availability
Semester 1
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Real World Epidemiology is one of the four subjects in the Public Health and Epidemiology major in the Bachelor of Biomedicine.

In this subject, students will apply their new epidemiological skills and knowledge to real-life health and public health scenarios. Within the different scenarios encountered students will be asked to make decisions as health professionals and public health professional based on their interpretation of the epidemiological evidence. A variety of non-communicable diseases, injuries and infectious diseases will be considered in the scenarios presented. Students will consider the issues that can occur in epidemiological investigations and how such issues can lead to incorrect healthcare and public health decisions being made. Students will also learn how to synthesise and present the evidence from epidemiological studies and learn how to choose the best evidence to base decisions on for specific populations. Within this subject the different components of health systems will be explored and how epidemiological evidence can be used to improve policy and practice will be discussed. Students will also learn to develop mathematical models to predict the trajectory of infection spread. The hands-on delivery of this subject combining lectures, Q&A sessions and tutorials allows the students to practically apply their new skills to scenarios that mirror current real-world health challenges.

This subject would be appropriate for students considering careers in public health, the health professions or health research.  

Intended learning outcomes

On completion of this subject, students should be able to:

  • Discuss the strengths and limitations of epidemiological investigations (including surveillance systems-based investigations, case control studies and systematic reviews)
  • Describe the concepts of causal inference, bias and confounding for the purpose of critical appraisal and designing investigations to answer questions of public health importance
  • Appraise a variety of epidemiological investigations and synthesise such appraisals to inform decision making in public health and health professional practice
  • Describe the basic concepts underlying the susceptible-infectious-recovered infectious disease model, for the purpose of infectious disease modelling
  • Analyse data, and present and interpret the results from a variety of epidemiological investigations for the purposes of decision making in public health and health professional practice
  • Identify the key components of a health system and describe the points in the system where epidemiological evidence can be used to improve policy and practice across different contexts.

Generic skills

  • Problem solving: The ability to define a problem, determine the cause and implement a solution;
  • Research: The ability to find, evaluate and use relevant information;
  • Technology skills: The ability to use software to find, store and present data;
  • Teamwork: The ability to work in a team to make shared decisions

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Eligibility and requirements

Prerequisites

None

Corequisites

None

Non-allowed subjects

None

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

Workshop participation - discussion and brief summary presentations to the class

  • 500 words
Throughout the teaching period10%

Written Assessment

  • 1000 words
Week 625%

Open book in-class test

  • 1 hours
Week 925%

Written assessment

  • 1500 words
During the assessment period40%

Last updated: 4 March 2025

Dates & times

  • Semester 1
    CoordinatorsMelissa Russell and Beauty Tebaa
    Mode of deliveryOn Campus (Parkville)
    Contact hours• One hour lecture per week, delivered on campus, totalling 12 hours • Two hours per week in interactive group learning workshops, delivered on campus, totalling 24 hours • One to two hours instructional material and guided learning activities per week, delivered asynchronously online, totalling 24 hours.
    Total time commitment170 hours
    Teaching period 3 March 2025 to 1 June 2025
    Last self-enrol date14 March 2025
    Census date31 March 2025
    Last date to withdraw without fail 9 May 2025
    Assessment period ends27 June 2025

    Semester 1 contact information

    Beauty Tebaa

    beauty.tebaa@unimelb.edu.au

    A/Prof Melissa Russell

    melissar@unimelb.edu.au

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