Course Outline

PUB701 Foundations of Epidemiology

Course Coordinator:Katharina Merollini (kmerolli@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Public Health

2026Session 3

Online

Online You can do this course without coming onto campus, unless your program has specified a mandatory onsite requirement.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this advanced course you will explore the science of epidemiology which is about understanding the distribution, patterns, determinants of health and wellbeing, and disease in populations. Knowledge gained from epidemiology is used to inform research, policy, and practice decisions to protect and promote the health and wellbeing of the population. You will develop your knowledge about epidemiological concepts and study designs, and apply epidemiology skills to current and emerging public health priorities.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Online
Online – 5 hours of structured asynchronous online learning materials and an optional 1-hour online drop-in consultation session. 6hrs Week 1 8 times

Course Topics

Introduction to epidemiological concepts

Measuring and interpreting disease occurrence and associations between exposures and disease

Epidemiological study designs, bias, confounding, and concepts of causation

Appraising and interpreting epidemiological literature

Applying epidemiological concepts to health surveillance, outbreaks, and disease prevention activities

What level is this course?

700 Level (Specialised)

Demonstrating a specialised body of knowledge and set of skills for professional practice or further learning. Advanced application of knowledge and skills in unfamiliar contexts.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * International Union for Health Promotion and Education
1 Calculate and interpret epidemiological measures of occurrence and association used to assess public health impact. Empowered
B.3, B.8, 6.3, 6.4, 9.4
2 Identify and critique epidemiological study designs. Creative and critical thinker
Ethical
B.3, B.8, 6.4, 9.1
3 Appraise and communicate epidemiological evidence to inform health policy decision making. Creative and critical thinker
4.1, 4.2

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
International Union for Health Promotion and Education
B.3 The determinants of health and their implications for health promotion action
B.8 The evidence base and research methods, including qualitative and quantitative methods, required to inform and evaluate health promotion action
4.1 Use effective communication skills including written, verbal, non­verbal, and listening skills
4.2 Use information technology and other media to receive and disseminate health promotion information
6.3 Collect, review and appraise relevant data, information and literature to inform health promotion action
6.4 Identify the determinants of health which impact on health promotion action
9.1 Identify and use appropriate health promotion evaluation tools and research methods
9.4 Use research and evidence-based strategies to inform practice

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

Enrolled in any postgraduate program

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

PUB210

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Weekly activities designed to provide feedback on understanding of weekly course concepts to support assessment will be available to students.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1 Written Piece Individual 60%
Completed template and short answer responses of approximately 1000 words
Week 5 Online Submission
All 2 Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece Individual 40%
Completion of a template of approximately 1500 words
Week 8 Online Submission
All - Assessment Task 1:Short answer questions and critical appraisal
Goal:
To apply your skills in epidemiology to deconstruct extracts, assess epidemiological research designs, perform calculations related to disease occurrence and measures of association, identify foundational epidemiological concepts and critically appraising a peer reviewed epidemiological study.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will complete short answer questions and a template for critical appraisal. Further details will be available on Canvas. This assessment will be submitted online.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Accuracy of routine epidemiological calculations.
1
2
Accuracy of interpretation of epidemiological data and study findings.
3
3
Appropriate integration of evidence.
1
4
Critique of epidemiological concepts, data and evidence.
2
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Epidemiology Evidence Report
Goal:
To use and apply epidemiological evidence to develop a professional epidemiology evidence report for informing public health action.
Product: Artefact - Professional, and Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format:
You will you will develop a professional epidemiology evidence report to inform public health action, based on the critique of epidemiological evidence from Task 1. Further details will be available on Canvas. This assessment will be submitted online.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1
Application of epidemiological concepts to develop the report.
1 3
2
Integration of epidemiological data to develop the argument.
1 2 3
3
Appropriateness of recommendations made for public health action.
3
4
Adherence to evidence report genre.
3
5
Appropriate integration of evidence.
2 3
Generic Skills:
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Recommended Webb, P., Bain, C., and Page, A. 2020 Essential epidemiology: An introduction for students and health professionals 4 Cambridge University Press

Specific requirements

You need access to a basic calculator.

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

For course-specific questions, contact your teaching staff or Course Coordinator.  

For other enquiries or to access support, please contact Student Central: