School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for Semester 1 2020 Units. Students will be notified of all approved modifications by Unit Coordinators via email and Unit Blackboard sites. Where changes have been made, these are designed to ensure that you still meet the unit learning outcomes in the context of our adjusted teaching and learning arrangements.

  • Unit Title

    Epidemiology
  • Unit Code

    HST5120
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    1
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kimberley Douglas CLARK

Description

Epidemiology is the foundation science of public health, which studies the patterns and causes of disease in populations. This unit introduces key concepts on how public health research and surveillance is undertaken, evaluated, and used in industry. Students in this unit will learn how to find, review, interpret and use epidemiological literature to support their practice. These skills are designed to support learning in future units.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate contemporary epidemiological research literature to inform public health policy.
  2. Apply epidemiological methods to large dataset using statistical software, to answer a specified research question.
  3. Apply epidemiological study designs, to improve public health planning and disease management.

Unit Content

  1. Introduction to Epidemiology: the nature and role of epidemiology, fundamental epidemiological concepts, data collection, ethical conduct.
  2. Study designs and data analysis: epidemiological study designs, measures of disease occurrence, measures of association.
  3. Sources of error in epidemiological studies: Chance, bias, confounding, statistical inference, critical evaluation of epidemiological studies.
  4. Practical applications of epidemiological methods: causation, disease outbreaks, surveillance, prevention, screening

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The use of statistical software has been incorporated to build practical skills. Authentic assessments are designed to allow students to apply skills developed in the unit to real-world scenarios. The unit comprises weekly lectures and tutorial activities.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PosterData analysis and scientific poster20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PosterData analysis and scientific poster20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
ExaminationEnd of Semester Examination50%

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

HST5120|3|1

School: Medical and Health Sciences

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

Please note that given the circumstances of COVID-19, there may be some modifications to the assessment schedule promoted in Handbook for this unit. All assessment changes will be published by 27 July 2020. All students are reminded to check handbook at the beginning of semester to ensure they have the correct outline.

  • Unit Title

    Epidemiology
  • Unit Code

    HST5120
  • Year

    2020
  • Enrolment Period

    2
  • Version

    3
  • Credit Points

    20
  • Full Year Unit

    N
  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online
  • Unit Coordinator

    Dr Kimberley Douglas CLARK

Description

Epidemiology is the foundation science of public health, which studies the patterns and causes of disease in populations. This unit introduces key concepts on how public health research and surveillance is undertaken, evaluated, and used in industry. Students in this unit will learn how to find, review, interpret and use epidemiological literature to support their practice. These skills are designed to support learning in future units.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Evaluate contemporary epidemiological research literature to inform public health policy.
  2. Apply epidemiological methods to large dataset using statistical software, to answer a specified research question.
  3. Apply epidemiological study designs, to improve public health planning and disease management.

Unit Content

  1. Introduction to Epidemiology: the nature and role of epidemiology, fundamental epidemiological concepts, data collection, ethical conduct.
  2. Study designs and data analysis: epidemiological study designs, measures of disease occurrence, measures of association.
  3. Sources of error in epidemiological studies: Chance, bias, confounding, statistical inference, critical evaluation of epidemiological studies.
  4. Practical applications of epidemiological methods: causation, disease outbreaks, surveillance, prevention, screening

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 213 x 3 hour seminarNot OfferedNot Offered

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

The use of statistical software has been incorporated to build practical skills. Authentic assessments are designed to allow students to apply skills developed in the unit to real-world scenarios. The unit comprises weekly lectures and tutorial activities.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationPresentation related to epidemiology in the context of the global pandemic20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
TestEnd of Semester Test50%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
PresentationPresentation related to epidemiology in the context of the global pandemic20%
AssignmentCritical analysis of epidemiological literature30%
TestEnd of Semester Test50%

Core Reading(s)

  • Celentano, D., Szklo, M., & Gordis, L. (2019). Gordis epidemiology (6th ed.). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/1079273274

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

HST5120|3|2