EPID 5317 Epidemiologic Surveillance

3 SCH. This course includes the application of epidemiologic methods to two important professional areas of public health. The first one is devoted to the planning, management, and data analysis of public health surveillance systems. The steps for planning a surveillance system, criteria for identifying high priority health events for surveillance, types of surveillance systems, data collection, data processing, quality control, analysis and the interpretation of surveillance data are included. This part of the course also encompasses the basis for evaluation of surveillance systems and the methods used for screening of disease. A small-scale computerized surveillance system is developed as part of the course. The second part of the course, deals with the basic epidemiologic methodology used to assist in the planning and evaluation of health programs of disease control and prevention. It includes the methodology for the design of instruments for data collection, assessment of health care needs, and the epidemiologic evaluation of the impact of health interventions.
This course introduces students to major public health surveillance systems utilized in the United States and globally to implement public health actions. Major concepts in the planning, management, data analysis, and evaluation of public health surveillance systems are illustrated through various examples. A small-scale data visualization project introduces students to data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of public health surveillance data.
Prerequisite: Concurrent enrollment or completion of BIOS 5300.
Offered Spring
Letter Grade