Program Overview

Applied Epidemiology (IEHC0055)

Key Information

• Faculty: Faculty of Population Health Sciences
  • Teaching department: Institute of Epidemiology and Health Care
• Credit value: 15
• Restrictions: MPH Students only

Alternative Credit Options

There are no alternative credit options available for this module.

Description

Epidemiology is the science and craft that studies the pattern of disease in populations with the main aim to understand their causes and the burden they impose.

This module will introduce you to key epidemiological concepts and methods that are applied in this discipline. For example, you will learn about how to measure the distribution of diseases and other health outcomes in a population, how to calculate the association between a disease and a risk factor, and what alternative explanations need to be considered when searching for the causes of a disease.

You will also learn about the history of epidemiology and its importance to public health. The key characteristics of the various epidemiological study designs will also be covered (i.e., case-control studies, cohort studies, randomized controlled trials), and you will develop an in-depth understanding of their strengths and weaknesses. You will learn about concepts, such as bias and confounding, as well as strategies that can be applied to overcome these issues. You will interpret epidemiological data and critically appraise epidemiological evidence for both its methodological rigor and relevance to public health decision-making.

By the end of the module, you will substantially improve your quantitative research skills, and you will be able to assess the strengths and weaknesses of available scientific evidence for public health practice.

Module Deliveries for 2026/27 Academic Year

• Intended teaching term: Term 1
• Postgraduate (FHEQ Level 7)

Teaching and Assessment

• Mode of study: Online
• Methods of assessment:
  • 80% Fixed-time remote activity
  • 20% In-class activity
• Mark scheme: Numeric Marks

Other Information

• Number of students on module in previous year: 42
• Module leader: Dr. Denes Stefler

Last Updated

This module description was last updated on 10th March 2026.