CREST: Epidemiology II Syllabus, Spring 2013
Besa Smith, MPH, PhD
Tyler Smith, MS, PhD
besmith@ucsd.com
bsmith269@cox.net
619-248-4120
619-251-1275
CREST Teaching Assistant
Rick Calvo
rycalvo@ucsd.edu
The course:
Epidemiology II is designed to introduce you to researchers in various epidemiological content areas, to provide you with an understanding of the
application of epidemiologic methods, and to introduce you to possibilities for research. At the end of this course, each student will take an exam
demonstrating their knowledge of basic epidemiologic principals and concepts and how they are applied in scientific research.
Grading:
For this class, there will be weekly homework assignments plus a final. Your grade for the class will be determined by your grades on the
assignments, the final, class attendance/participation, and submission of weekly class evaluations.
Homework: 1-2 page reviews of assigned research articles
You will be asked to complete weekly readings provided by each instructor in advance of each session. Be prepared to discuss all the assigned
readings in class. In preparation for the lectures, you will also be asked to turn in a brief written (1-2 page) review of two research articles per
week. The format for this review has been provided to you on Blackboard. Please complete the written review prior to the class session it is
assigned so that you will be able to discuss the research article with the instructor. For these assignments, please post your 1-2 page article
review electronically on Blackboard before class. Late assignments will not be accepted without prior approval.
Final Exam
The final exam (take home) will be due June 12, 2013 and will consist of answering specific questions about research articles. Questions may
include issues of study design, sampling frame, sampling strategy, data collection strategy, risk and outcome measurement(s), methods of
analysis, possible bias, confounding and interaction in the study, and the value of the results.
Grading:
Class attendance, participation, evaluation:
Article reviews (18)
Final Exam
Total possible
4 points/class
10 points/review
40 points
180 points
80 points
300 points
CREST Spring 2013 Epidemiology II Class Schedule and Assignments
Wednesdays 4:00-5:50 – University City Center, Room 117
6256 Greenwich Drive, San Diego, 92122
Don’t forget to complete assigned readings and article review prior to each class!
Be prepared to discuss readings at each class.
Date
Instructor
Topic
Homework
1.
April 3
Besa Smith, PhD
Introduction, Peer-reviewed Journals
2.
April 10
Tyler Smith, PhD
Statistics in Peer-reviewed Publications Turn in Reviews
3.
April 17
María Luisa Zúñiga, PhD
Health Disparities
Turn in Reviews
4.
April 24
Wael Al-Delaimy, PhD
Tobacco Epidemiology
Turn in Reviews
5.
May 1
Happy Araneta, PhD
Ethnic Differences: Biological Factors
Turn in Reviews
6.
May 8
Christina Chambers, PhD
Reproductive Epidemiology
Turn in Reviews
7.
May 15
Besa Smith, PhD
Epidemiology in the Military
Turn in Reviews
8.
May 22
Kim Brouwer, PhD
Spatial Epidemiology
Turn in Reviews
9.
May 29
Besa Smith, PhD
Public Use Data Sources
Turn in Reviews
10.
June 5
Ana Navarro, PhD
Meta Analysis
Turn in Reviews
11.
June 12
Besa Smith, PhD
Final Exam