MPH6040 Introductory epidemiology
Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
MPH6040 Introductory epidemiology is a level 6, 0-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, offered in 2026 in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Alfred Hospital. It has no prerequisites and unlocks 1 unit.
- Credit points
- 0
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 1, Semester 2
- Alfred Hospital
- Assessment
- No exam
- 4 tasks
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
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Requisites
Before MPH6040
Corequisites
Pass these before, or take them in the same semester.
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After MPH6040
1 unit list MPH6040 as a prerequisite or corequisite.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
To be taken concurrently with MPH6041 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 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| First semester | Alfred Hospital | On campus |
| First semester | Alfred Hospital | Online |
| 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 (2100 words)Written35%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
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
- Workshops24 hours
12 hours per week including two-hour weekly workshops for 12 weeks.
Learning resources
Required resources
See Moodle for details about required resources.
Contacts
- Unit Coordinators
- Associate Professor Nazmul Karim
- Chief Examiners
- Associate Professor Nazmul Karim
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for MPH6040?
None, but you must take MPH6041 before or alongside it.
What can I take after MPH6040?
MPH6040 is a prerequisite or corequisite for 1 unit, including MPH6041.
When is MPH6040 offered?
In 2026, MPH6040 runs in Semester 1 and Semester 2 at Alfred Hospital, with an online option.
Does MPH6040 have an exam?
No. MPH6040 has 4 assessment tasks and no exam.