School of Public Health
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EPID 758: Methods and Principles of Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Course Information
Current Semester: Summer
Instructors: Amy Nelson, Kim Brunette, Steve Valeika and Pia MacDonald
Contact Email: Lorraine_Alexander@unc.edu
Course Start Date: Check course schedule on this website for start date. You will receive an email prior to that date with additional information. The course is 11 weeks long.
Official Course Title: Methods and Principles of Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Course URL: http://blackboard.unc.edu/
Required Book or Coursepack None. Everything you need is online.
Required Software:

In addition to the software listed in "Technical Requirements" below you will need the following installed on your computer:

  1. Word processing program (MS Word 2000 or higher preferred)
  2. MS Excel 2000 or higher preferred
  3. MS PowerPoint 2000 or higher preferred
  4. EpiInfo (most recent version) To get the most recent version go to http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/ (free). Check the "system requirements" at the bottom of the page where you access the software: http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/ in case yours don't meet the minimum requirements. Finally, please see the installation / user support information at http://www.cdc.gov/epiinfo/installation.htm. If you need help with installation, please call the Epi Info help desk (404-498-6190).
  5. Download Google Earth
    During the semester you will use Google Earth for one of the assignments. To download Google Earth onto your computer, go to the URL http://earth.google.com/ Click on "Get Google Earth (free version)" in the top right corner of the screen. The software will automatically download. After you download the software, run the executable (the file with an .exe extension) to install the program.
    NOTE: Please check the minimum computer configuration needed to run Google Earth listed on the following webpage: http://earth.google.com/downloads.html
Course Objectives:
  1. Understand the interaction between an infectious agent, host, and the environment
  2. Learn about modes of infectious disease transmission and what affects transmission
  3. Apply the principles of infectious disease transmission dynamics
  4. Understand the role of immunity in infectious disease epidemiology
  5. Apply course concepts to areas such as bioterrorism preparedness and disease elimination strategies
Course Schedule:

Link to Course Schedule in Word Document format.
Course Format:

Four modules. The modules are a combination of self-paced and/or group activities. There is also a capstone project at the end of the course.

    Self-paced activities. For each module you will have a certain amount of time to complete the individual module activities: (lectures, readings, homework problems and quiz). This time varies per module (2-4 weeks). You can work at your own pace during that time to complete the activities. There are no weekly group discussion forums in this course. However, in the first module you will have an opportunity to introduce yourself to your group in the "Introductions" discussion forum. Please check the course schedule for due dates for all individual activities.

    • Lectures. Each module will have audio lectures.
    • Readings. Required and suggested readings. These readings will be either downloadable documents or URLs linked within Blackboard.
    • Homework Problems.
    • Quiz. Usually 10 questions based on lectures and required readings

    Group Projects. There are two group projects during the semester (Modules 2 and 3). The group projects are done on the group discussion forum and the completed group project document will be then handed in to your TA using the Assignment Tool Link. Your group will have usually 3-4 weeks to complete a group project. Details about each project will be found in the module folder when it is available.

    Capstone Project. At the end of the course there will be a capstone project that will incorporate all the information learned in the course.

Technical Information
Course Access: Course access is controlled by the UNC ONYEN system. Students must have an ONYEN and password to take course.
Technical Requirements: Online Course Technical Requirements
Plugins Used: Flash version 6 or higher, Adobe Acrobat (for more information see Skills Test To Be Completed, below)
Skills Test To Be Completed: UNC School of Public Health Online Skills Test This online skills test should be completed prior to the start date of the course.