Epidemiology, 5.0 credits

Epidemiologi, 5.0 hp

8FO0113

Course level

Third-cycle Education

Description

Epidemiology can be described as the science of understanding disease patterns in populations and improving health by using this knowledge.

This course aims to teach the epidemiological toolbox, as most researchers in medicine will require the skills to interpret and critically evaluate evidence from epidemiological studies, also those who will never conduct epidemiological research.

The course will consist of instructor-led lectures and student-led seminars. The lectures will focus on the fundamentals of the epidemiological toolbox, while the seminars will explore its application on existing and planned research. The course allows the students to shape their learning around the medical subject which they are currently studying, and will, ideally, be a natural part of the student’s research.

More information about the learning outcomes and formalities of the course can be found in the syllabus. A few weeks before the course begins the shared online space in LISAM will be updated with information regarding lectures, seminars, course activities, and reading material.

The next course will be held Spring 2025.

Contact

Entry requirements

Entry requirement for studies on third-cycle education courses

  • second-cycle degree,
  • 240 credits in required courses, including at least 60 second-cycle credits, or
  • acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other manner

Specific entry requirements for this course is approved course Basic Biostatistics (4 credits) or acquisition of equivalent knowledge in some other manner.

Learning outcomes

By the end of the course the students will be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

Account for relevant methods that can be used to measure health in a population

Account for the identification of factors that influence health status on a population basis

Competence and skills

Plan and critically appraise the conduct of epidemiological studies.

Judgement and approach

Judge how epidemiological methods may be used under different circumstances.

Contents

Theoretical aspects on epidemiological methods, study design, statistics and causal relations. Practical application of epidemiological methods will be addressed*. *

Educational methods

The pedagogical approach applied at the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences is student centered, problem based learning (PBL). The student takes responsibility for his/her own learning, and seeks and evaluates information and knowledge based on own queries and formulated problems. The role of the teacher is to guide and support the students.

Educational methods applied in this course are lectures, seminars and individual tasks. Mandatory elements are seminars.

Examination

Oral presentation at seminars. Individually written report, together with critical appraisal of another student’s report.

Students who fail are offered one re-examination occasion in close connection to the course. After that participation in a coming course examination is offered. The re-examination should be equally comprehensive as the ordinary examination.

Change of examiner

Students who have failed the course or part of the course twice are entitled to request another examiner for the following examination occasion.

Grading

Two-grade scale

Course literature

The course coordinator provides a list of relevant literature before the start of the course.

General information

The course material is in English and the course language is normally English.

The course material is in English and the course language is normally English. The course is planned and carried out according to what is stated in this syllabus. Course evaluation, analysis and suggestions for improvement should be fed back to the Research and PhD studies Committee (FUN) by the course coordinator.

If the course is withdrawn or is subject to major changes, examination according to this syllabus is normally offered at three occasions within/in close connection to the two following semesters.