Skip to main content
Courses

Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I

June 10 - July 12, 2024
Online Course
5 Credits
Course Number: 340.721.89

Course Instructor:

Description:

Introduces principles and methods of epidemiologic investigation of disease and other health states. Presents different types of study designs, including randomized trials, cohort and case-control studies; measurement of exposures and outcomes; risk estimation; surveillance; program evaluation; and causal inference. Discusses evaluation measures for screening programs and health interventions. Links epidemiologic inferences with the development of policy. Activities provide experience in applying epidemiologic methods, interpreting findings, and drawing inferences.

Learning Objectives:

Upon successfully completing this course, students will be able to:

  1. Define epidemiology, describe how it is used in public health, and recognize how exposure, disease and health states may vary based on person, place and time

  2. Identify, calculate and interpret measures of disease frequency, validity and reliability, and associations (relative and absolute) as appropriate to the research question and study design

  3. Describe and compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses (biases) of epidemiologic study designs, including ecologic, cross-sectional, case-control, cohort, and clinical trials

  4. Explain the role of epidemiologic methods in determining the etiology of disease and other health states (e.g., aging, injury, mental health) in preventing disease and improving health

  5. Summarize how epidemiologic methods are used in public health practice, including in conducting outbreak investigation and surveillance, evaluating screening programs and health interventions, and in developing health and environmental policy

Methods of Assessment: Assignments 50%; Mid-term Examination 25%; Final Examination 25%

Instructor Consent: No consent required

Special Comments: Course replaces 550.694.81 and 550.695.81. Students who have completed 340.601 or 550.694 and 550.695 should not need to take this course.

First time participants taking an online course from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health must complete the Introduction to Online Learning course. This is a free, non-credit mini course that must be completed before you can enroll in any online courses. Please register here.