NU 740 Epidemiology & Population Health
The primary focus of this course is to equip students with a foundation in clinical prevention and population health. This course introduces students to the methods used by epidemiologists to assess factors associated with the distribution and determinants of health and disease in populations and to read, interpret, and apply literature using epidemiologic and statistical methods. Topics include a discussion of the historical background as well as practical applications of epidemiology, methods for identifying and evaluating sources of health applications of epidemiology, methods for identifying and evaluating sources of health information, calculation of key epidemiologic measures and investigation techniques, and an evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses of different study designs. Current concepts of public health, health promotion, evidence-based recommendations, determinants of health, environmental/occupational health, and cultural diversity and sensitivity are integrated throughout the course. Specifically, this course examines methods for describing disease rates and other vital statistics; cohort, case-control, and cross sectional studies; odds ratios, relative risks, their confidence intervals, and tests of significance; and concepts of confounding, effect modification, and bias. A basic understanding of introductory biostatistics is required for this course. This foundation will enable students to analyze epidemiological, biostatistical, occupational, and environmental data in the development, implementation, and evaluation of clinical prevention and population health.