Overview
Introduction to the principles and practice of epidemiology, including measuring disease frequency; study design and methods; dealing with error, linking exposures with outcomes and critical appraisal of published research.
In the first part of the paper, students will learn how they can identify patterns of health or disease in populations to address questions such as, 'Which groups of people are more likely to suffer poor health?' 'Is health improving over time?' 'Does health vary by place?' Students will learn about epidemiological study designs and methods and identify which types of important public health questions they can be used to investigate. Students will learn how to identify and assess potential error in epidemiological studies and how to measure the potential associations between exposures and disease. By the end of the paper students will be critically appraising published epidemiological studies and addressing questions such as, 'Does this study provide valid evidence about the cause of this disease in this population?'
About this paper
| Paper title | Principles of Epidemiology |
|---|---|
| Subject | Public Health |
| EFTS | 0.125 |
| Points | 15 points |
| Teaching period(s) | 1st Non standard period (27 April 2026 - 19 June 2026)
(On campus)
1st Non standard period (27 April 2026 - 19 June 2026) (On campus) 1st Non standard period (27 April 2026 - 19 June 2026) (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees ( NZD ) | $1,743.38 |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- HASC 411, HASX 411
- Limited to
- MA, MHealSc, MMLSc, MPH, MSc, DPH, PGDipArts, PGDipHealSc, PGDipMLSc, PGDipPHC, PGCertPH, PGCertPHC
- Eligibility
- Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline or recognised equivalent.
- Contact
Wellington Campus: publichealth.wellington@otago.ac.nz
Christchurch Campus: publichealth.christchurch@otago.ac.nz
Dunedin Campus: publichealth.dunedin@otago.ac.nz- More information link
- View more information on postgraduate studies in Public Health
- Teaching staff
Christchurch Campus and Overall Convener: Associate Professor Phil Hider
Wellington Campus: Associate Professor Melissa McLeod
Dunedin Campus: Dr Simon Horsburgh
- Paper Structure
- Introducing Epidemiology
- Hidden Patterns: Descriptive Epidemiology
- Epidemiological study designs
- Measuring associations
- Error: the role of chance, bias and confounding
- Critical appraisal and synthesis of evidence
- Teaching Arrangements
Tuesday morning sessions, 9:00 am - 12:30 pm
Friday morning sessions, 9:00 am - 11:00 am
- Textbooks
Essential Epidemiology. An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals (3rd Edition) by P Webb, C Bain and A Page. Cambridge University Press (2017). (The fourth edition may also be used instead).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- To summarise and interpret the descriptive epidemiology of a public health problem
- To explain and interpret core epidemiological concepts and to use them to critically appraise epidemiological studies
- To integrate epidemiological evidence from more than one source and examine the extent to which the evidence supports the existence of a causal association between an exposure (or intervention) and an outcome
- Assessment details
Assessment:
- In-class test - 40%
- Final Assessment - 60%
Overview
Introduction to the principles and practice of epidemiology, including measuring disease frequency; study design and methods; dealing with error, linking exposures with outcomes and critical appraisal of published research.
In the first part of the paper, students will learn how they can identify patterns of health or disease in populations to address questions such as, "Which groups of people are more likely to suffer poor health?", "Is health improving over time?" and "Does health vary by place?" Students will learn about epidemiological study designs and methods, and identify for which types of important public health questions these can be employed.
Students will learn how to identify and assess potential error in epidemiological studies and how to measure the potential associations between exposures and disease. By the end of the paper, students will be critically appraising published epidemiological studies and addressing questions such as, "Does this study provide valid evidence about the cause of this disease in this population?"
About this paper
| Paper title | Principles of Epidemiology |
|---|---|
| Subject | Public Health |
| EFTS | 0.125 |
| Points | 15 points |
| Teaching period(s) | 1st Non standard period (3 May 2027 - 25 June 2027)
(On campus)
1st Non standard period (3 May 2027 - 25 June 2027) (On campus) 1st Non standard period (3 May 2027 - 25 June 2027) (On campus) |
| Domestic Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for 2027 have not yet been set |
| International Tuition Fees | Tuition Fees for international students are elsewhere on this website. |
- Restriction
- HASC 411, HASX 411
- Limited to
- MA, MHealSc, MMLSc, MPH, MSc, DPH, PGDipArts, PGDipHealSc, PGDipMLSc, PGDipPHC, PGCertPH, PGCertPHC
- Eligibility
Students who have completed an undergraduate degree in any discipline or recognised equivalent.
- Contact
Wellington Campus: publichealth.wellington@otago.ac.nz
Christchurch Campus: publichealth.christchurch@otago.ac.nz
Dunedin Campus: publichealth.dunedin@otago.ac.nz- More information link
- View more information on postgraduate studies in Public Health.
- Teaching staff
Christchurch Campus and Overall Convener: Associate Professor Phil Hider
Wellington Campus: Associate Professor Melissa McLeod
Dunedin Campus: Associate Professor Simon Horsburgh
- Paper Structure
- Introducing Epidemiology
- Hidden Patterns: Descriptive Epidemiology
- Epidemiological study designs
- Measuring associations
- Error: the role of chance, bias and confounding
- Critical appraisal and synthesis of evidence
- Teaching Arrangements
Tuesday morning sessions (9:00am-12:30pm).
Friday morning sessions (9:00am-11:00am).
- Textbooks
Webb, P., Bain, C., & Page, A. (2024). Essential Epidemiology: An Introduction for Students and Health Professionals (5th ed.). Cambridge University Press. (The 4th edition may also be used).
- Graduate Attributes Emphasised
- Global perspective, Interdisciplinary perspective, Lifelong learning, Scholarship, Communication, Critical thinking, Information literacy, Research, Self-motivation, Teamwork.
View more information about Otago's graduate attributes. - Learning Outcomes
- To summarise and interpret the descriptive epidemiology of a public health problem.
- To explain and interpret core epidemiological concepts and to use them to critically appraise epidemiological studies.
- To integrate epidemiological evidence from more than one source and examine the extent to which the evidence supports the existence of a causal association between an exposure (or intervention) and an outcome.
- Assessment details
Assessment:
- In-class test (40%)
- Final assessment (60%)