SAMPLE EPIDEMIOLOGY & PUBLIC HEALTH (BSCI 425) ONLINE SYLLABUS COURSE DESCRIPTION COURSE TOPICS COURSE OBJECTIVES

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1 EPIDEMIOLOGY & PUBLIC HEALTH (BSCI 425) ONLINE SYLLABUS Professor: Jeffrey Olimpo, M.S. Office: 4707 Biochemistry Bldg. (office hours by appointment only; to be held virtually) E- mail: COURSE DESCRIPTION Prerequisite: A grade of C or better in BSCI 223. This course is intended for students who are enrolled in or interested in programs in medicine, nursing, or other allied/public health fields. You will be introduced to the study of diseases, the adverse affects of disease outbreaks, and their implications for public health safety and practice. This course is an accelerated, 3- week class that meets asynchronously on Canvas. Please refer to the schedule at the end of this syllabus for a detailed description of what topics will be covered and when assignments will be collected. You should begin by completing the online orientation module prior to the first module on 5/28/13. COURSE TOPICS Determinants of disease; Characteristics of person, place and time; Analysis and interpretation of data; Investigation of outbreaks; Descriptive and analytical studies; Association and causation; Biomedical ethics in an information age, etc. The latter part of the course will entail the application of the fundamentals to particular diseases of current public health interest including chronic and acute, infectious and non- infectious diseases. COURSE OBJECTIVES This course is designed to provide students with a broad introduction to the field of Epidemiology & Public Health. Student Learning Objectives include: Gain an understanding of the central tenets of the field of Epidemiology & Public Health, including goals of epidemiological studies, notable figures in the history of the field, and basic epidemiological terminology. Explain and apply the basic concepts of disease transmission. Explain and apply the basic concepts of morbidity and mortality using real- world data and to be able to calculate morbidity and mortality statistics. Understand the importance of validity and reliability when conducting analytical tests and to be able to apply this knowledge through calculation of statistics related to test accuracy and repeatability. Understand and differentiate between observational and analytical study designs used in the field of Epidemiology & Public Health. 1

2 Apply knowledge of study designs to evaluate findings in the primary literature. Use knowledge of study designs to pose novel research questions that could be explored in the field. Gain a broad understanding of current topics in Public Health research, particularly as they relate to Public Health practice and disease prevention. Show evidence of advanced understanding of a particular disease of interest and the ability to communicate this knowledge through group oral presentations. COURSE TEXTBOOK (RECOMMENDED) Epidemiology, 4th Edition, Leon Gordis Elsevier/Saunders, Publishers ISBN- 13: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY All UMD students are held accountable to the Student Code of Academic Integrity, which outlines expectations pertaining to academic honesty (including cheating and plagiarism). The Code can be found in full at 100A.pdf. At my discretion and based on the recommendation of the honor council, sanctions may range from a failing grade on the relevant assignment to dismissal from the class and a failing grade. The Student Academic Grievance process can be used if you feel they have been treated unfairly by this policy. COMMUNICATIONS You may post general questions about the class in the "Ask Jeff" discussion board forum. If you have questions about the weekly materials, post them in the weekly forum created for that purpose. Expect a reply within 24 hours. E- mail should only be used for issues that are not appropriate for the whole class (e.g. questions about your grade, constructive criticism or personal issues). When you send me an e- mail, please include a proper subject, any message you are responding to, the course name, as well as your name. Use your UMD terpmail account to ensure the e- mail is not blocked by the university's spam filter. If you e- mail directly from Canvas, essential information like the course name and section will automatically be included. I will respond to your e- mail within 24 hours. If you don't get a response in this timeframe, there is probably a technical problem, and you should forward me your e- mail again. Ensure that you regularly check the e- mail account listed for you in Canvas, as this is where I will be sending announcements/e- mails. DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES Students with disabilities who wish to request accommodations should please contact me as soon 2

3 as possible so we may have a private conversation to discuss accommodations. In addition, you may wish to contact DSS services ( if you have not done so already. TECHNICAL SUPPORT For minor issues, I may be able to assist you. However, in the event that you encounter larger issues regarding use of Canvas, password/login resets, or university e- mail issues, the Division of Information Technology (DIT) Customer Support Team can assist you. Hours and other helpful information can be found at COURSE GRADING LECTURE POINTS (500 POINTS): COURSE GRADING & EXPECTATIONS Homework 15 points) = 60 points Exam Problem Sets 20 points) = 40 points Midterm Exam #1 (Week #1, MC & Essay) = 100 points Midterm Exam #2 (Week #2, MC & Essay) = 100 points Final Exam (Comprehensive, MC & Essay) = 200 points DISCUSSION POINTS (70 POINTS): Case Studies 15 points) = 30 points Nutrition Project = 40 points A = >536 pts. B = pts. C = pts. D = pts. A- = pts. B- = pts. C- = pts. D- = pts. B+ = pts. C+ = pts. D+ = pts. F = <342 pts. ATTENDANCE Online attendance and participation in all parts of this class is essential and will impact your learning and final grade in the course. Attendance is defined as the submission of any assignment, including any required posts to the discussion board (more than merely accessing the course). Since this is an online course, excused absences will only be granted in extreme cases when advanced notice is provided. In these cases, any assignments/exams due on the day you were absent must be completed within 24- hours. 3

4 CANVAS This class meets in Canvas ( You will use Canvas to download lectures, access assignments, download or print course materials, and check your grades. You will notice that our Canvas site is set up in a series of modules, one for each week of the course + one orientation module. You must complete the modules in order, beginning with the orientation module. New modules will be released each Saturday (at the latest). LECTURES Though the class meets asynchronously, I recommend that you view two lectures each day in order to pace yourself. Each lecture consists of a pre- recorded video and accompanying PowerPoint notes. A quick pointer here it is in your best interest to print the PowerPoint slides prior to each day s lecture, and then fill in the notes as you listen to each lecture recording. EXAMS All examinations must be taken. Examinations not taken will be averaged in as a grade of zero. There will be two mid- term examinations and a final examination. The midterm exams will be available online on Monday, 6/3 and 6/10, from 8:00am- 8:00pm. Each exam will consist of a section of multiple choice/fill- in questions, matching, and short answer/problems. You will have 2 hours to complete the exam once you open it. PLEASE PREPARE! Though this is an online course and you have access to all of your lecture materials, the questions will be presented to you one- at- a- time, in random sequence, so you must be prepared. Under no circumstances may you work with another individual on the exam this will result in a grade of zero (0) for the exam and/or a grade of F for the course!!! The procedure for the final exam will be explained in detail at a later date (closer to the exam). No make- up examinations will be given. HOMEWORK Homework assignments can be found under the appropriate weekly module. To submit homework #1, for example, you might access the first module, navigate to homework #1 (and download it), click the homework #1 assignment link (it looks like a graded paper), and then submit your work. All homework assignments should be submitted by 5:00pm using the text response box feature in the Canvas assignment tool. Homework topics and due dates can be found in the schedule at the end of the syllabus. PROBLEM SETS (PS) The problem sets will aid you in reviewing appropriate equations, calculations, and concepts for the exam. Problem sets will always be due on the day of the exam by noon (12:00pm). The assignments should be uploaded as Word documents using the Canvas assignment tool. You will have access to each problem set at the beginning of the week, allowing you a full week to complete the assignment before the exam. 4

5 CASE STUDIES (CS) The case studies we will complete this semester focus on issues related to smoking and food borne illnesses and provide an opportunity to review the lecture material covered in the preceding week in preparation for the exam. Typed or scanned- in responses to the case studies should be submitted on the appropriate Friday by 5:00pm. You are permitted to work on these case studies with your peers & submit one group copy if you can/would like to complete the assignment in that manner. NUTRITION PROJECT As part of our discussion, we will examine the issue of obesity as it relates to personal and public health issues. The nutrition project will allow you to track your own eating and exercise behaviors to provide a snapshot of how these factors influence your health. A description of the project, including a grading rubric, can be found under the Nutrition Project module. The project will be due on Thursday, 6/13/13. The assignment should be uploaded as a Word document or PDF using the Canvas assignments tool feature. LECTURE SCHEDULE Please keep in mind that what follows is a recommended outline for how you might go about completing the course. Assignments and exams are the only items that MUST be completed by or on the date specified! This means that you can watch the lectures at your leisure (not necessarily two per day, as I m recommending). Orientation Module: Getting to Know the Course (complete before 5/28/13) Student Learning Objectives: To familiarize yourself with the general layout of an online course To introduce yourself to other members of the course and to get to know your online learning community Canvas Orientation: Please read the PDF entitled Welcome to BSCI 425. This document is intended to introduce you both to the course and to the online delivery format we will use this semester. Hopefully, you will find this document to be a helpful reference for you as you begin to explore the course. Discussion Board: Please navigate to the discussion board links under the Orientation module on our Canvas site. You will notice that two discussion boards are open, one titled Introduce Yourself! and the other titled Questions for Jeff. Your task is as follows: 1. On the first discussion board, provide a brief introduction of yourself, including your 5

6 name, academic major, career interests/goals, and hobbies. If you feel comfortable doing so, please also include a picture of yourself! This will help others to get to know you better and give you a head start on connecting names to faces prior to our first discussion session meeting. 2. After you have taken the time to read the welcome document and explore the course site, please post any questions or concerns you might have on the second discussion board. In addition, if you have any specific expectations for the course, please post those here as well. Module 1: Exploring the Essentials of Epidemiology (5/28/13 5/31/13) Student Learning Objectives: To describe the central tenets of the field of epidemiology & public health, including goals of epidemiological studies, notable figures in the history of the field, and basic epidemiological terminology To explain and apply the basic concepts of disease transmission To explain and apply the basic concepts of morbidity and mortality using real- world data and to be able to calculate morbidity and mortality statistics To describe the importance of validity and reliability when conducting analytical tests and to be able to apply this knowledge through calculation of statistics related to test accuracy and repeatability DATE LECTURE/DISCUSSION TOPIC TO READ Tues., May 28 Introducing the Field of Epidemiology Chapter 1 Disease Transmission Chapter 2 Wed., May 29 Measures of Morbidity Chapter 3 Measures of Mortality Chapter 4 Thurs., May 30 Validity & Reliability of Analytical Tests (Part 1) Chapter 5 Validity & Reliability of Analytical Tests (Part 2) Chapter 5 Fri., May OPEN WORK SESSION/OFFICE HOURS- - CS1 Case Study #1 Mon., June 3 Mid- Term Exam #1 PS1 Note: You will need a calculator!! Module Homework Assignments: Homework #1: Forms of Disease 5/29/13 Case Study (CS1): Foodborne Outbreak at a Church Supper 5/31/13 Problem Set (PS1): Morbidity, Mortality, Validity, & Reliability 6/3/13 6

7 Module 2: Public Health Study Designs (6/4/13 6/10/13) Student Learning Objectives: To explain and differentiate between observational and analytical study designs used in the field of epidemiology & public health To apply knowledge of study designs to evaluate findings in the primary literature To use knowledge of study designs to pose novel research questions that could be explored in the field DATE LECTURE/DISCUSSION TOPIC TO READ Tues., June 4 Descriptive Studies: Person, Place, Time Chapter 2 Cohort Studies Chapter 9 Wed., June 5 Case- Control Studies Chapter 10 Cross- Sectional Studies Chapter 10 Thurs., June 6 Attributable and Relative Risks Chapters 11 & 12 Experimental (Randomized) Studies Chapters 7 & 8 Fri., June OPEN WORK SESSION/OFFICE HOURS- - CS2 Case Study #2 Mon., June 10 Mid- Term Exam #2 PS2 Note: You will need a calculator!! Module Homework Assignments: Homework #2: Identifying Types of Study Bias 6/5/13 Homework #3: Random Number Tables 6/7/13 Case Study (CS2): Framingham Heart Study 6/7/13 Problem Set (PS2): Designing Epidemiological Studies 6/10/13 Module 3: Hot Topics in Public Health (6/11/13 6/14/13) Student Learning Objectives: To gain a broad understanding of current topics in public health research, particularly as they relate to public health practice and disease prevention, and be able to explain this research To show evidence of advanced understanding of a particular disease of interest and the ability to communicate this knowledge through group oral presentations DATE LECTURE/DISCUSSION TOPIC TO READ Tues., June 11 Watch Frontline Video: Vaccine Wars View video online Wed., June 12 Hot Topics: Epigenetics and Disease Hot Topics: The Obesity Epidemic 7

8 Thurs., June 13 Hot Topics: The War on HIV/AIDS Hot Topics: Emerging Infectious Diseases Fri., June 14 Final Exam: Multiple Choice + Essay - Cumulative- Note: Calculator will be Helpful! Module Homework Assignments: Homework #4: Recent Reports in Public Health 6/14/13 Disclaimer: The professor reserves the right to change the contents of this syllabus due to unforeseen circumstances. Students will be given notice of relevant changes through Canvas and e- mail. Exam dates will NOT change. WELCOME TO BSCI 425!!! 8