Syllabus

All Sections meet MW 10:00-11:30 AM

On January 4th, February 1st, March 8th, and April 10th all sections will meet together at 10 AM (see course schedule below) in 1020 SPHII. Exams will be held at normal class times.

Professors

Office hours by appointment

Graduate Student Instructors:

Office hours by appointment and to be scheduled for exams

Course Description

This course offers an introduction to the principles, concepts, and methods of population-based epidemiologic research. It is intended to be the introductory course for students who are NOT majoring in Epidemiology. The course will be divided into three sections. The first section will serve as an introduction to the basic principles of epidemiology and the measures used in epidemiology. This section will also cover special topics that are important to an introductory understanding of epidemiology (including outbreak investigations, screening, and the role of epidemiology in public health). The second section will discuss epidemiologic study design (including case-control, cohort studies) and analysis (including bias, confounding, and effect modification). The third section will address sources of bias and causality.

Course Materials

• Gordis, L. Epidemiology, W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia, 2014. (5th edition)
• Canvas Course Website

Pre-requisites

This course is intended for Master’s students or Doctoral students who are NOT majoring in Epidemiology. BIOSTAT 501, 521 or another graduate course in basic statistics, which may be taken concurrently with EPID 503, is required. Consent of instructor is required for students who are not enrolled in a School of Public Health program or those who are but do not have these prerequisites.

Course Goal

To provide a broad understanding of epidemiological measures and methods.

Competencies

• C. 1. Identify key sources of data for epidemiologic purposes.
• C. 2. Identify the principles and limitations of public health screening programs.
• C. 3. Describe a public health problem in terms of magnitude, person, time and place.
• C. 4. Explain the importance of epidemiology for informing scientific, ethical, economic and political discussion of health issues.
• C. 5. Comprehend basic ethical and legal principles pertaining to the collection, maintenance, use and dissemination of epidemiologic data.
• C. 6. Apply the basic terminology and definitions of epidemiology.
• C. 7. Calculate basic epidemiology measures.
• C. 8. Draw appropriate inferences from epidemiologic data.
• C. 9. Communicate written epidemiologic information to professional audiences.
• C.10. Evaluate the strengths and limitations of epidemiologic reports.
• C.11. Identify sources of bias that can influence epidemiologic findings.

The materials for this course will be available on Canvas. This website requires your student unique name and password. Resources include:

• online lecture videos
• printable lecture companion slides
• online quizzes
• practice problems
• review materials for exams

A daily or weekly ‘To Do’ List will be set up to help you stay on track, especially with time sensitive tasks like watching the lecture videos, readings, and quizzes before class.

Online lecture videos will provide background on each topic covered in the course. Links to the videos can be found on the “To Do” List on the appropriate tab in the Canvas site. The videos can be viewed on any computer/tablet/phone that has audio capability.

A cornerstone of this class is in-class exercises that will provide you with a hands-on learning opportunity to apply fundamental epidemiologic principles. These structured small group exercises are designed to integrate information from the text, online lectures, and other readings. (For technical instructions, see detailed instructions posted on Canvas.)

Since in-person participation is a key component of this course, credit will be given for your active participation (engaged learning please) rather than correct answers. You will be allowed 2 absences from in-class exercises to accommodate illness/conference travel/interview/personal issues. Each additional absence from an in-class exercise will be unexcused and will result in earning no participation credit for that session. You are expected to be present for at least one hour of class to earn your participation credit. No attendance is taken for the three exam review lectures.

Thirteen online quizzes will be administered via Test Center through the Canvas site. Completion of quizzes is required by the date posted on the syllabus at 10 am. Quizzes can be taken 2 times with the final score being counted towards your grade. (For technical instructions, see detailed instructions posted on Canvas.) You will be allowed to miss one quiz or drop your lowest quiz grade.

There will be three examinations for this course. Each exam will include the following question types: short answer, multiple choice, and problems requiring calculations that are very similar to those in the in-class exercises. We will also draw from information covered in online lectures. Bring a working calculator to all exams (not your phone). Each exam will be focused on the corresponding third of the class but will include/build on material from earlier in the semester.

Classroom Expectations/Etiquette

This is a graduate level course, and so we rely on certain expectations to create a professional learning environment.

1. Bring all of what you know to bear on the subjects we cover.
2. Think deeply about the big picture of public health while simultaneously mastering the specific details of epidemiological strategies and methods.
3. Do the background reading and review the online videos ahead of the discussion groups.
4. Write at a professional level. This includes using complete sentences, appropriate referencing, and acknowledging important contexts of salient details such as when, where, and how a study was performed. It also includes being precise with epidemiological terms, units of measure, labeling, historical figures in the field, authorship and principal investigators of the studies we cover.

In-class participation

1. You will be assigned to a different group for each third of the course (i.e., we’ll swap membership after each exam). Because public health is a profession that works across disciplines, the groups will be diverse with respect to department affiliation. 
2. All students should bring their laptop or tablet to class each day to work on the in-class exercises. Students without access to a laptop or tablet should speak with the course instructor for a loaner device. 
3. The exercise of the day will be available under the 'Assignments' tab on Canvas. Each group will complete the exercise in class and upload their responses to a Google drive folder. The folder will be shared with all the group members, the instructor, and the GSIs.
4. The Instructors and GSIs will be available during class to help groups with key questions, but ultimately it is the responsibility of the group to complete the exercise. 
5. Instructors and GSIs will check the Google Drive documents throughout the class period to monitor progress and to see if there are collective misconceptions. 
6. At the end of the class period, groups will be expected to contribute to the discussion of the exercise. 
7. Attendance will be taken for each in-class exercise. 
8. Progress will be assessed by effort and completion of the exercise. 
9. Students may not miss more than 20 minutes of each class to receive their participation credit (i.e., coming late or leaving early). 

Policy on collaboration

All exercises will be conducted in groups of approximately four students assigned by the GSI. Groups will be changed three times during the semester. For the online quizzes, concepts may be discussed with your peers but answers may not be shared. All exams are to be completed independently. 

Academic Integrity

The faculty and staff of the School of Public Health believe that the conduct of a student registered or taking courses in the School should be consistent with that of a professional person. Courtesy, honesty, and respect should be shown by students toward faculty members, guest lecturers, administrative support staff, community partners, and fellow students. Similarly, students should expect faculty to treat them fairly, showing respect for their ideas and opinions and striving to help them achieve maximum benefits from their experience in the School.

Student academic misconduct refers to behavior that may include plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, falsification of records or official documents, intentional misuse of equipment or materials (including library materials), and aiding and abetting the perpetration of such acts. Please visit http://www.sph.umich.edu/academics/policies/conduct.html for the full SPH Code of Academic Integrity and further definition of these terms.

Student Diversity

SPH is committed to creating classroom environments that are supportive of diversity, equity, and inclusion. Please visit https://sph.umich.edu/diversity-equity-inclusion/ for more information.

Student Well-being

SPH faculty and staff believe it is important to support the physical and emotional well-being of our students. If you have a physical or mental health issue that is affecting your performance or participation in any course, and/or if you need help connecting with University services, please contact the instructor or the Office of Academic Affairs.

Please visit http://www.sph.umich.edu/students/current/#wellness for more information.

Student Accommodations

Students should speak with their instructors before or during the first week of classes regarding any special needs. Students can also visit the Office of Academic Affairs for assistance in coordinating communications around accommodations.

Students seeking academic accommodations should register with Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). SSD arranges reasonable and appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Please visit http://ssd.umich.edu/accommodations for more information on student accommodations.

Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance shall be provided with a reasonable alternative opportunity to complete such academic responsibilities. It is the obligation of students to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent. Please visit http://www.provost.umich.edu/calendar/religious_holidays.html#conflicts for the complete University policy.