Epidemiology

Catalog description

Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease in human populations. In recent years, the epidemiological approach has been used to address a wide range of problems, including infectious diseases, genetic risk, environmental threats, social stratification patterns, substance use, violence prevention, and even the spread of knowledge and innovation through social networks. This course introduces the basic principles of epidemiologic study design, analysis, and interpretation. Course activities will consist of lectures, computer lab lessons in using statistical software, written assignments, exams, and critical appraisal of both classic and contemporary research articles. We will learn how to calculate and interpret some basic epidemiological measures and investigate the possibilities of using data to make causal inferences. We will examine the strengths of epidemiological science as well as its limits. Prerequisite(s): STAT 1021 recommended. Formerly offered as PUB 1236.