MHU 392 - Introduction to Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the systematic and rigorous study of health and disease in a population. According to the Institute of Medicine, epidemiology is the basic science of public health. The purpose of this course is to introduce students to core concepts in epidemiology, including history, philosophy, and uses of epidemiology; descriptive epidemiology, such as patterns of disease and injury; association and causation of disease, including concepts of inference, bias, and confounding; analytical epidemiology, including experimental and non-experimental design; and applications to basic and clinical science and policy. The course is designed to require problem-based learning of epidemiological concepts and methods, so that students can use epidemiology as a scientific tool for addressing the health needs of the community.

Students entering 2012 and after: satisfies the Social-Scientific Thought distribution requirement.
Medical Humanities interdisciplinary minor credit.