ALBANY STATE UNIVERSITY

ALBANY, GEORGIA

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION PROGRAM

 

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:                             PADM 5324: Foundations of Epidemiology

Course Number:                       PADM 5324.01

Course Credits:                        3 Semester Hours

Semester Offered:                     Spring Semester, 2009

Class Meetings:                        Tuesday evenings from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m.

Location:                                  Simmons Hall, Room 207

Instructor:                                 Dr. Bruce Neubauer, Simmons, Room 307

                                                229-430-4872, bruce.neubauer@asurams.edu

Office Hours:                            Daily 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and by appointment.

Course Home Page:      http://www.robertcat.net/fall2009/padm5324/index.html

 

TEXTBOOKS

 

Required textbook: Gordis, L. (2008) Epidemiology: Fourth edition. Philadelphia: Elsevier Saunders.

 

Suggested supplemental textbook: Pagano, M. and Gauvreau, K. (2000) Principles of             Biostatistics. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

 

Supplementary Readings:          Additional materials and/or Web sites will be assigned.

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

This introductory course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the basic definitions, concepts, principles and methods of population-based epidemiologic research.

 

ATTRIBUTION OF ONLINE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES

 

This course includes OpenCourseWare (OCW) content from Johns Hopkins University used pursuant to a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License, with appropriate prior notification of use of OCW content. 

 

Use of materials made available from Johns Hopkins University are being used within the constraints of Creative Commons.

 

  • http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/
  • http://ocw.jhsph.edu/courses/FundEpi/index.cfm
  • http://ocw.jhsph.edu/courses/FundEpi/lectureNotes.cfm

 

The instructor of this course gratefully acknowledges Johns Hopkins University for making valuable course materials available for educational use as OCW content.  The responsibility for the appropriate utilization of resources and the for the quality of the course offered at Albany State University rests upon the instructor of PADM 5324 who is am employee of Albany State University.

You will need Adobe Reader to view these files some of the files used in the course made available as OCW content by Johns Hopkins University. This software is available without charge at the following URL.  http://www.adobe.com

COURSE OBJECTIVES

After completing this course, the student will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of epidemiology and its methods including the following abilities:

  • Demonstrate a basic understanding of epidemiologic methods and study design.
  • Combine appropriate epidemiological concepts and statistical methods.
  • Perform exploratory data analysis using descriptive statistics.
  • Evaluate morbidity and mortality using ratios, proportions, and rates.
  • Recognize and describe the elements in the design and conduct of a randomized clinical trial, a cohort study, a case-control study, and a cross-sectional study.
  • Calculate a chi-square statistic to test the significance of a measure of association and interpret it using probability concepts.
  • Describe criteria for characterizing the causality of associations.
  • Describe the impact of epidemiology on national and local policy.
  • Describe the influence of epidemiology on ethical and professional issues

MEANS OF COURSE DELIVERY

 

The presentation and discussion of course content will be accomplished using a hybrid model of traditional classroom meetings and asynchronous online learning.  This means of delivery of educational services reflects Goal Four of Albany State University's strategic plan, which is to provide and maintain state of the art information technology that will support the University's mission and goals, including instructional excellence.   

 

The means by which course objectives will be achieved include readings, classroom presentations by instructor and students, classroom discussion, a course term project, computer lab assignments including an online "in the news" presentation, and assessment by examinations.  Each course activity and deliverable is intended to contribute to the technical insights relevant to the responsibilities of non-technical public and nonprofit managers.

TEACHING METHOD

 

The course will include both theory and application.  The class will meet regularly in the traditional classroom.  There will be substantial use of the Internet to supplement traditional learning methods through a blended (hybrid) approach to learning.  This course will employ techniques to integrate a variety of instructional techniques, encourage independent learning, and use interactive learning methods.

 

CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY

 

Class attendance is mandatory at Albany State University.  The ASU attendance policy states that: “All students are expected to be in class on time for all class meetings.  Attendance begins the first day of class and all students are expected to remain in class for the entire class period unless prior arrangements have been made with the instructor.  Absenteeism cannot exceed the credit hours for the course.  This means if a class meets two times per week, a student cannot miss class more than two times during the semester without suffering a substantial penalty.  Excessive absences may result in the instructor lowering the grade earned by one letter grade, e.g. “A” to “B” or “D” to “F”.  Students should contact the instructor in advance regarding any foreseen instances of absence, tardiness, or early departure.  Students must provide valid documentation by the next class meeting for excused absence.

 

CLASS AND COURSE CANCELLATION/MODIFICATION POLICY

 

The instructor reserves the right to make modifications to the course syllabus and requirements that are in the best interest of the learning environment.  Students will be notified in a timely manner of any such modifications.  In the event a class meeting needs to be cancelled, the instructor will make effort to notify students via email or telephone.  The topics missed during this class will be rescheduled or an independent class assignment given.

 

UNIVERSITY WRITING REQUIREMENT

 

Albany State University has a writing reinforcement policy.  Writing is integral to teaching and learning in all disciplines.  Writing activities in this course will be evaluated and may include a variety of in-class and out-of-class writing assignments and forms of essay writing required on examinations.  The APA Writing Style (current edition) is used for this course.  Plagiarism (representing something you did not write as being something you wrote) is a serious academic offense.  The instructor may use software to detect possible plagiarism.  A "mashup" of sentences or paragraphs from multiple sources is not your work and constitutes plagiarism.  Work that appears to have been produced by plagiarism will not be accepted as your work.  When in doubt, ask.

 

INTEGRATION OF TECHNOLOGY

 

Technology is an integral part of this course.  Assuming that our new computer lab becomes available during the semester, there will be assignments including the use of computers relevant to course content. 

 

 

SEXUAL HARRASSMENT STATEMENT

 

Albany State University does not condone sexual harassment.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

 

Albany State University is an equal opportunity agency of the State of Georgia and as such does not discriminate against students on the basis of race, national origin, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or family status.

 

DISABILITY AND ACCESS STATEMENT

 

Albany State University offers the Disability Student Services Program to ensure equal opportunity education to all students with disabilities.  All eligible students with disabilities must have equal access to student programs, facilities, activities, and services.  Students may contact the ASU Disability Student Services Program at (229) 430-4667 for appropriate disclosure and accommodation procedures.

 

CLASSROOM STANDARDS

 

Students are to adhere to all university policies on attendance, punctuality, make up tests, plagiarism/cheating, withdrawal from class, incomplete grades and final examinations. Please refer to the student handbook, graduate catalog, and any departmental and program guidelines.  In class, respectful and professional conduct is required towards all.  Use of cell phones and ringing of cell phones and pagers in the classroom are not allowed. Children are not allowed in a classroom except in an emergency.  Audio and/or video recordings of class sessions are not permitted.  Students may not sell notes of class presentations.

 

UNIVERSITY'S COMMUNICATIONS POLICY STATEMENT

 

“ASU RAMmail account is the university’s official means of electronic communication with students. Students are required to use the ASU website (www.asurams.edu) and RAMmail for important university’s official information on financial aid, current class schedule, registration holds, account balances, etc. In order to communicate with students by other means as needed, each student is required to provide the university with his/her current telephone number(s) and mailing address via BannerWeb.“

 

STUDENT EVALUATION AND FINAL GRADE

 

There is an opportunity to earn 1000 points in the course.  Course grades will be based upon the following translation of numeric scores to letter grades.  Please also see "Class Attendance Policy" section above.

A         900 to 1000 points
B          800 to 899 points
C         700 to 799 points
D         600 to 699 points
F          < 600 points

 

Percentage

Points of 1000

Midterm Examination

15%

150

"In the News" presentations (total of 5)

10%

100

Homework assignment 1

10%

100

Homework assignment 2

10%

100

Homework assignment 3

10%

100

Term writing assignment

30%

300

Final Examination

15%

150

 

100%

1000

 

A higher grade on the final examination will substitute for a lower grade on the midterm examination.  The final is not optional.  The substitution of grades does not work the other way around.  Assignments should be turned in on due dates.  If turned in during the one-week late period following the due date the grade will be reduced by 20%.  After the one-week late period, no credit will be given for assignments. 

 

An "In the News" report is a verbal presentation in class based on recent news relevant to the course.  The presentation should be about 10 minutes in length.

 

The specifics of the individual written term assignment will be discussed, agreed and announced in class.  My intention is that you will produce this paper using Google docs and that it include multiple Internet links to news stories and video.  I suggest the following outline of the paper.

 

INTRODUCTION

 

VIRUSES AND THEIR MEANS OF TRANSMISSION AND REPRODUCTION

 

THE 1918 PANDEMIC

 

THE PRESENT H1N1 PANDEMIC

 

PRODUCTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF A VACCINE

 

PUBLIC OPINION AND THE PROSPECTS OF A

SUCCESSFUL VACCINATION PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES

 

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE OUTCOMES OF THE PRESENT EVENT

 

 

REVISIONS TO SYLLABUS AND/OR COURSE CALENDAR

 

As instructor, I reserve the right to make reasonable changes in the syllabus and course calendar with appropriate notice. The current syllabus for this course will be available on the course website.  Revisions to this syllabus and/or the course calendar will be announced in class, with appropriate notice, and will be reflected in the edition of the syllabus and the calendar available on the web.