Advanced Infectious Disease Epidemiology and One Health Response, 7.5 Credits

Contents

This is an interactive, multidisciplinary course, which aims to provide students with in-depth knowledge and practical training at the area of Infectious Disease epidemiology, using field or registered based data. The course will discuss risk and occurrence of important groups of infectious diseases such as sexual transmitted diseases, respiratory diseases, vector- borne diseases and their future under climate change alterations, blood-borne diseases- emerging zoonotic diseases, neglected tropical diseases, vaccine preventable diseases and the effects of public health interventions designed to prevent or control them. The course will cover both quantitative and qualitative methods that are used to collect data to study infectious diseases. The course will present infectious disease projects from around the world and the lessons learned from the field experience. This will allow the students to reflect on their own future project, consequently offers an opportunity to learn how to achieve a successful thesis or project within infectious disease epidemiology and One Health.

Expected learning outcomes

Knowledge and understanding
After having passed the course the student should be able to:

• show knowledge about epidemiology of sexual transmitted diseases, respiratory diseases, vector- borne diseases, blood-borne diseases - zoonoses and neglected tropical diseases with public health importance,
• be able to discuss what drives the development of "emerging" and "re-emerging" infectious diseases, and what approaches there are to fight these,
• be able to reflect on the International Health Regulations (IHR), regarding cross-border threats of infectious diseases,
• be able to discuss registered based epidemiology studies,
• be able to discuss vaccine epidemiology,
• be able to discuss the principles of modelling of infectious diseases,
• be able to consider inter-sectoral collaborations that relates health of humans, animals and environment as interconnected. This will reflect the essence of the One Health approach, in order to shape the thinking and actions to combat relevant diseases,
• be able to discuss the principles of formulating infectious disease policy for prevention and control.

Skills and abilities
After having passed the course the student should be able to:

• integrate geographical information system (GIS) as a part of the efforts to better understand infectious disease distribution,
• conduct risk assessment for different categories of infectious diseases,
• develop an early warning system including surveillance to detect infectious diseases of interest,
• develop "One Health" thinking and action such as surveillance for infectious threats at the human, animal and environment interface,
• analyze and interpret data of infectious diseases on health care settings and community level,
• implement integrated management control for different categories of infectious diseases of public health concern.

Assessment and approach
After having passed the course, the student should be able to:

• discuss the applications of epidemiology and the "One Health" approach on the prevention and control of infectious diseases of public health concern.

Required Knowledge

The course Infectious Disease Epidemiology and One Health Response (course code 3IS015), or other relevant course in Epidemiology of minimum 3 ECTS, and also a bachelor's degree (180 Credits) including a minimum of 30 ECTS within one of the following: biomedicine, medicine, public health science, nursing, environmental science, veterinary medicine, economics, social studies, biology, environmental health, environmental science, science-, engineering- and environmental studies, or political science. English for basic as eligibility for higher education.

Form of instruction

The course will be taught through a variety of flexible teaching methods which allow students to gain deep understanding. These may include lectures, seminars, case studies, group discussion, scientific papers reading, computer lab, site visit, scenarios and film show.  Attendance at discussions, case studies and seminars are mandatory. The course is given in English.

Examination modes

The course is graded failed (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG). The exam is done in two parts, one is the continuous assessment during the course in terms of assignments and seminars. The second, is written exam at the end of the course. Only grades of U and G will be awarded for the assignment and seminar. The written exam will be awarded the following grades: U, G or VG. In order to be awarded G for the entire course, it is required that both examination parts must be passed. To be awarded VG, it is required that the written exam is awarded pass with distinction, and G for the assignment and seminar.

If there are special reasons, the examiner has the right to decide whether another form of examination can be used. A student that has failed the course twice can request a new examiner through the prefect at the Department of Clinical Microbiology. For each course, one regular and two re-exams are arranged. The number of opportunities is limited to three/academic years. After three exams, the student is advised to retake the course when a study position at the course is available. A student that has failed, is entitled a new exam (re-exam) at earliest 10 working day, and latest 2 month after the result from the ordinary exam has been announced. A re-exam based on the same syllabus as the ordinary exam can be guaranteed during two years after the students first-time registration on the course.

Deviations from the syllabus' exam form can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support due to disability. Individual adaption of the exam form must be considered based on the student's need. The form of exam is adapted within the framework of the syllabus expected study results. At the request from the student, the course coordinator should, in consultation with the examiner, promptly decide an adapted form of exam. The decision must then be notified to the student.

Other regulations

Students have the right to be tested if previous education or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in professional activities can be credited for corresponding education at Umeå University. Application for credit transfer is sent to Studentcentrum/Examina. More information on credit transfer is available at Umeå University's student web, and in the Higher Education Ordinance (Chapter 6). A refusal to apply for credit can be appealed (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12) to the Higher Education Appeals Board. This applies to both if the whole-, or parts of the application for credit transfer are rejected.
 
In the event the syllabus expires or undergoes major changes, students are guaranteed at least three examinations (including the regular examination opportunity) according to the regulations in the syllabus that the student was originally registered for during a period of maximum of two years from the time the previous syllabus expired.