Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2020 - HSCI 805 G100

Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods (3)

Class Number: 6343

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 9 – Dec 8, 2020: Wed, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    HSCI 801 and 802.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Designing, conducting, analyzing, and interpreting epidemiologic research. Theoretical frameworks, concepts of inference, measures of disease occurrence and effect, study designs, issues in measurement, bias, confounding, and interaction. Critical assessment of the epidemiologic and public health literature.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

  • At the end of this course, students should be able to
  • Critique and analyze evidence from the epidemiological literature.
  • Understand the basic study designs in epidemiology, including studies based on individuals as units of observation (e.g. case-control and cohort studies), versus ecological studies. Control selection strategies, nested case-control studies, case-cohort studies, matching
  • Calculate measures of disease occurrence including incidence, prevalence and survival data.
  • Understand the connections between epidemiology and biostatistics (e.g. the role of bias versus random error in formulating a scientific narrative; or distinction between internal and external validity).
  • Understand and communicate the results of epidemiological studies both in writing and through oral presentation.
  • Be familiar with a handful of practical everyday examples of challenging epidemiological problems.

Grading

  • Participation and attendence 15%
  • Midterm 15%
  • Final exam 30%
  • Term paper 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Epidemiology: Beyond the Basics, 4th Edition, Moyses Szklo and Javier Nieto (2018)


RECOMMENDED READING:

Principles of Biostatistics, Marcello Pagano and Kimberlee Gauvreau, 2nd Ed.


Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating.  Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community.  Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

TEACHING AT SFU IN FALL 2020

Teaching at SFU in fall 2020 will be conducted primarily through remote methods. There will be in-person course components in a few exceptional cases where this is fundamental to the educational goals of the course. Such course components will be clearly identified at registration, as will course components that will be “live” (synchronous) vs. at your own pace (asynchronous). Enrollment acknowledges that remote study may entail different modes of learning, interaction with your instructor, and ways of getting feedback on your work than may be the case for in-person classes. To ensure you can access all course materials, we recommend you have access to a computer with a microphone and camera, and the internet. In some cases your instructor may use Zoom or other means requiring a camera and microphone to invigilate exams. If proctoring software will be used, this will be confirmed in the first week of class.

Students with hidden or visible disabilities who believe they may need class or exam accommodations, including in the current context of remote learning, are encouraged to register with the SFU Centre for Accessible Learning (caladmin@sfu.ca or 778-782-3112).