MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
MPH5040 Introductory epidemiology is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2025 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Alfred Hospital. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 15 units, leading on to 16 units in all.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2025
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Alfred Hospital
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
This is the 2025 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review MPH5040.
Requisites
Before MPH5040
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
Corequisites
Pass these before, or take them in the same semester.
After MPH5040
15 units list MPH5040 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
- EPM5001Health indicators and health surveysNo reviews yetCoreq
- EPM5006Clinical biostatisticsNo reviews yet
- EPM5007Design of randomised controlled trialsNo reviews yet
- EPM5008Longitudinal and correlated data analysisNo reviews yet
- EPM5013Bayesian statistical methodsNo reviews yet
- EPM5015Biostatistics practical project: single unitNo reviews yet
- EPM5017Machine learning for biostatisticsNo reviews yet
- EPM5018Causal inferenceNo reviews yet
Show 7 more
- EPM5028Regression modelling for biostatistics IINo reviews yet
- EPM5032Applied health data analytics group case studyNo reviews yet
- MPH5213Research methodsNo reviews yet
- MPH5218Infectious diseases: Epidemiology and preventionNo reviews yet
- MPH5236Clinical trialsNo reviews yet
- MPH5239Systematic reviews and meta-analysisNo reviews yet
- MPH5289Professional practice developmentNo reviews yet
Enrolment rules
Must be enrolled in M4006, M4028, M4035, M5007, M5017, M5018, M5030, M6008, M6023, M6024, M6025, M6026, M6028, M6030 or M6036.
Co requisite: MPH5041 for those students enrolled in M4006, M4028, M4035, M5007, M5030, M6008, M6023, M6024.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit is taken concurrently with MPH5041, as together they are prerequisites for clinical epidemiology elective units.
Upon completion of this unit you will be able to measure frequencies of disease i.e. incidence, prevalence, "population at risk"; and measure associations in epidemiological studies; different study designs i.e. observational studies, experimental study designs; bias associated with study designs, misclassification, confounding and effect modification. You will critically appraise different epidemiological studies, apply diagnostic and screening tests, and examine outbreak investigation.
Offerings in 2025
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Alfred Hospital | Online |
| First semester | Alfred Hospital | On campus |
| Second semester | Alfred Hospital | Online |
| Second semester | Alfred Hospital | On campus |
Assessment
- Development activitiesExercise35%
- MCQ (30 Minutes)Quiz / Test10%
- Infographic (1 page of graphics)Artefact20%
- Critical appraisal (2,100 words)Written35%
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Explain and contextualise the purposes of descriptive and analytical epidemiology;
- 2
Explain and contextualise the concepts of study questions, population, sampling, exposure assessment, bias and confounding;
- 3
Analyse the strengths and weaknesses of different epidemiological study designs;
- 4
Critically analyse epidemiological papers from the medical research and OHS literature;
- 5
Evaluate the adequacy of exposure assessment in epidemiological studies;
- 6
Interpret and communicate the results of epidemiological studies; and
- 7
Solve complex problems relating to the use of epidemiological concepts and study designs.
Workload and teaching
- Workshops20 hours
- Tutorials-
12 hours per week including two-hour weekly workshops for 10 weeks.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Nazmul Karim
- Associate Professor Danijela Gasevic
- Chief Examiners
- Professor Flavia Cicuttini
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MPH5040?
MPH5040 has no prerequisites, but enrolment rules apply.
What can I take after MPH5040?
MPH5040 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 15 units, including EPM5001, EPM5006, EPM5007, EPM5008, EPM5013 and EPM5015. Those lead on to 16 units in all.
When is MPH5040 offered?
In 2025, MPH5040 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Alfred Hospital, with an online option.
Does MPH5040 have an exam?
No. MPH5040 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.