Epidemiology
10:832:335 - Section 01 - Fall 2011
Tuesdays 2:50 AM -5:50 PM, Murray Hall, Room 213
Instructor: Amy Abruzzi, MPH & Doctoral Candidate (Epidemiology, UMDNJ)
Phone: (610) 330-5631
Email: abruzzi@rci.rutgers.edu and abruzzi@alypso.net
Office Hours: 30 minutes after class & other times by appointment
Course Web Site: http://eCollege.Rutgers.edu
Course Description:
This course covers the principles and methods of epidemiology, the study of the distribution and determinants (causes)
of disease and injury in human populations. Upon completion of this course, students will have an understanding of
common study designs, be able to calculate outcome measures, critically read the public health literature and evaluate the
results of epidemiologic studies.
Materials needed for course:
Two books are required for the course: (must be purchased or rented)
Robert H. Friis and Thomas A. Sellers
Epidemiology for Public Health Practice, 4rd edition. Boston: Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 2008
ISBN 9780763751616
Note: this book may be purchased as an eTextbook from CourseSmart (www.coursesmart.com)
or rented through the bookstore for a considerable discount.
Maryn McKenna. Beating Back the Devil: on the front lines with the disease detectives of the Epidemic
Intelligence Service. New York: Free Press, 2004.
ISBN 0-7432-5132-6
Note: this book may also be purchased as an unabridged audio file from www.audible.com
Additional Readings: (articles available on eCollege)
You will notice I assign a number of articles during the semester as well as a research essay that will require you to discuss
a few scientific articles in epidemiology. One of my goals for this class is to go beyond our lectures and textbooks, and
teach you how to locate and critically evaluate epidemiologic reports in the news and professional press. Please do these
readings when they are assigned and be prepared to discuss them the following class.
Films: (in class viewings)
Time permitting, I have scheduled two films for viewing during the semester. We will discuss them after the viewing or
during the following class, and you are responsible for their content or concepts on the relevant unit exam. Some of the
films I may use include:
Chernobyl heart
Deadly neighborhoods
Ebola: the plague fighters
Foreign body
Influenza, 1918
The Next plague: Avian flu
Typhoid Mary
Unnatural causes: is inequality making us sick?
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Course Materials on eCollege (access with your Rutgers NetID account):
♦ The syllabus, including a calendar of class lectures topics, readings, deadlines for quizzes or other assignments, and
examination dates.
♦ Lecture notes and handouts. Please print these out and bring them with you to class. I will post them at least 24
hours prior to class.
♦ Additional required readings, such as newspaper and scholarly journal articles.
♦ Seven online, untimed quizzes (homework)
.
Grading:
The course is based on a total of 400 points arranged over 14 weeks of instruction:
♦ Three in-class exams: each exam is worth 100 points = 300 points total
♦ Seven untimed, online quizzes (homework) = 65 points total
♦ Research essay on Beating Back the Devil = 30 points
♦ In-class group study design = 5 points
Grading is based on the total points earned as described above. The class is arranged into three units with one exam
per unit. While each exam focuses on the content of the materials discussed and assigned within that unit, the
concepts are increasingly cumulative. A research essay on Beating Back the Devil will be due at the end of the term is
also cumulative in nature, in that it requires students to apply and synthesize concepts from the entire course. Grading
is based on the timely and correct submission of all assignments.
Final Grade cut-points:
Your final grade for this class will be assigned using this system:
A: 93% or higher
B+: 86-92%
B: 80-85%
C+: 76-79%
C: 70-75%
D: 60-69%
F: 59% or lower
I round up to the next grade when you are within .5% of the next cut-point. If your grade is borderline, your
enthusiastic and extensive participation in class discussions will be considered when your final grade is assigned.
Class rules:
Attendance:
This course meets once a week so missing a single class means missing an entire week’s worth of material. Students
are expected to attend all classes; if you expect to miss a class, please use the University absence reporting website
https://sims.rutgers.edu/ssra/ to indicate the date and reason for your absence. An email is automatically sent to
me. Any extended absences will require a note from the Dean of Students. In addition, if you have to arrive late or
leave early, please notify me ahead of time. If I notice attendance is lacking, a sign-in sheet will be used and checked
against the ssra data.
Students with Learning Disabilities:
Please turn your paperwork in to me within the first two weeks of school or notify me within this period that you are
in the process of obtaining a letter. If you are able to meet me at 12 noon on our scheduled exam days, I can be your
proctor. Otherwise, you will need to make arrangements with the Office of Disability Services for a proctor.
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Electronic Devices:
I believe we all learn better with fewer distractions. Please do not use laptops, cell phones, PDAs or other texting/internet devices
during class. If you have a special circumstance that makes using your laptop necessary for learning during lectures, please
talk with me about it. I may ask you to furnish the appropriate paperwork in order to use it. You will need a calculator for
this class. Homework typically requires it and so will portions of the in-class examinations. Sorry, but you can’t use PDAs
or cell phones as calculators during exams. (I’ll ask you to put these items under your seat or zipped into a backpack
during tests.) Also, calculators may not be shared during quizzes or examinations. I encourage you to bring a calculator to
every class.
Guidelines for Assignments and Projects:
Exams (300 points) and Make-up Policy:
Three 75 minute exams will be given during the first half of class on the dates listed in the Calendar. Exams will
based on lecture notes, problem sets, in class discussions, readings and films. The format typically consists of true or
false, multiple choice, matching, calculations and short answer questions. Please don’t make other appointments on
exams days as I only administer a test early or give make-ups for truly extenuating circumstances and these must be
discussed with me two weeks prior to the test date. In general, make-up exams taken after the test date carry a 10
point penalty and I am only able to administer them on Tuesdays, prior to class. In the event of an emergency or
serious illness on the day of an exam, you must notify me prior to the start of the exam and provide the requested
verification or you will receive a grade of “0” for that exam.
Quizzes (homework) (65 points):
Homework is administered online in the form of seven untimed quizzes, available through our eCollege course site.
Each quiz will become available on the date it is assigned and with one exception (Quiz #7), all quizzes contain 10
questions (a point a question). Questions tend to emphasize calculations and the interpretation of data, and may be
reasonably thought of as “problem sets”. Quizzes may be taken an unlimited number of times before the due date,
and of course you are expected to use your notes. Each must be completed by Mondays at 11:59 PM on the dates
posted in your syllabus. I will review the answers in class the following Tuesday.
Research Essay on Beating Back the Devil (30 points):
A short (4 pages, double spaced) paper based on one of the books used for this course is due on November 29th. This
project will involve a discussion of the study design used in an outbreak investigation as well as an update on current
research on the topic. Details and guidelines on this assignment will be distributed near the end of the exam on Unit 2.
This project is essentially cumulative in nature in that it will require you to demonstrate your ability to select, locate and
evaluate epidemiologic studies in your discussion. Papers received within a week of the due date will receive a 10%
penalty and must be arranged with me in advance. No papers will be accepted after 12/6.
Group Study Design challenge (5 points):
An in-class group study design “challenge” will be held during class on October 25th. The class will be arranged into
teams of approximately 6 students and teams will compete with each other to come up with an appropriate design for
a number interesting exposure-disease associations. Sorry, no make-ups are possible for this activity so be sure to
attend!
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Calendar of Lectures Topics, Readings, Problem Sets, and Exam Dates Calendar of Lectures Topics, Readings,
Quiz/Problem Sets, and Exam Dates
Tuesdays,
unless
otherwise
indicated
Week 1,
9/6
*Readings from Friis can be done before or after the lecture they accompany.
What we are doing IN CLASS
Readings
To do for NEXT WEEK
THIS WEEK
in Friis*
Quizzes must be submitted by MONDAY at 11:59 PM on
Be sure to print notes and
the date you see below. Please be prepared to discuss the
handouts from eCollege before
readings you see below at the following class.
coming to class
BBD= Beating Back the Devil
Unit 1 Begins
Chapters 1 Read for next class: article (Susser & Susser ) & BBD 1
Lecture 1: Scope and History of
and 2
(Training)
Epidemiology
Week 2,
9/13
Lecture 2: Basic Outcome measures;
Lecture 3: Inferring cause and
preventing disease
Start
Chapter 3
Quiz # 1 (basic outcome measures) must be completed by
11:59 PM on Monday 9/19
Read for next class: (Vaccines and autism) & BBD 2 (Polio)
Week 3,
9/20
Lecture 4: Working with Rates;
Film: (T.B.A.)
Finish
Chapter 3
Quiz #2 (rates) must be completed by 11:59 PM on
Monday 9/26
Read for next class: article (War on Cancer) & BBD 4
(Smallpox)
Week 4,
9/27
Lecture 5: Descriptive Epi;
Cancer data examples (pdfs)
Chapter 4
Study for Exam
Week 5,
10/4
EXAM on Unit 1, covering
Lectures 1-5;
Followed by: Lecture 6: Intro to
Study Designs & Descriptive
designs
Week 6,
10/11
Unit 2 begins
Lecture 7: Case Control Studies;
Start Lecture 8: Cohort designs &
Nested Case Control Designs
Chapter 6
Quiz #3 (2x2 tables, odds ratio) must be submitted by
11:59 PM on Monday 10/17
Read for next class: BBD 5 (Listeriosis) & article (case
control and cohort examples)
Week 7,
10/18
Finish Lecture 8: Cohort designs &
Nested Case Control Designs;
Lecture 9: Experimental and
Intervention Designs
Chapter 7
and 8
Quiz #4 (risk ratio and etiologic fraction) must be
submitted by 11:59 PM on Monday 10/24
Read for next class: articles (Guatemala) & BBD 9 (Malaria)
Week 8,
10/25
Lecture 10: Data Interpretation
Issues;
Group study design challenge
Chapters 9
and 10
Study for Exam
Week 9,
11/1
EXAM on Unit 2, covering
Lectures 6-10;
Followed by: Locating scientific
studies for the Beating Back the Devil
research essay, due on 11/29.
Read for next class: BBD 6 (AIDS)
Read for next class: article (PSA screening)
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Week 10,
11/8
Unit 3 begins
Lecture 11: Screening;
Lecture 12: Infectious disease
Epidemiology, Part I
Chapter 11 Quiz # 5 (screening measures) must be completed by
11:59 PM on Monday 11/14
Read for next class: BBD 3: (West Nile Virus) & article
(Neglected Tropical Diseases)
Week 11,
11/15
Lecture 13: Infectious Disease
Epidemiology, Part II;
Film: (T.B.A.)
Chapter 12
Week of
11/22
NO Class – Thursday classes meet
today
Week 12,
11/29
Research Essay on Beating Back
the Devil due today;
Lecture 14: Environmental and
Occupational Health
Chapter 13 Quiz #7 (SMR – 5 questions only) must be completed by
11:59 PM on Monday 12/6
Read for next class: article (Data vs. Privacy)
Week 13,
12/6
Lecture 15: Data Sources;
Class wrap-up
Chapter 5
Week 14,
12/13
Quiz # 6 (infectious disease outbreak) must be
completed by 11:59 PM on Monday 11/21; Read for next
class: article (environmental health issue) & BBD 8 (War)
**Research Essay on Beating Back the Devil due 11/29
Study for Exam
EXAM on Unit 3, covering
Lectures 11-15
For Add Drop dates see the schedule from the Office of Academic Services:
http://sasundergrad.rutgers.edu/academics/registration/index.html
The Academic Calendar is available from the Registrar at: http://scheduling.rutgers.edu/calendar.shtml
Privacy Statement:
The class website may contain student information that is protected by the Family Educational Rights to Privacy Act
(FERPA). Disclosure to unauthorized parties violates the federal privacy laws. Courses using online websites may make
student names visible to other students in class (e.g., during online discussions). Please remember that this information is
protected by these federal privacy laws and must not be shared with anyone outside of class.
Academic Integrity:
Honesty and Integrity are an essential part of the educational experience. It is expected that students will complete all exams,
and assignments in accordance with Rutgers University’s academic rules and regulations. Any evidence of academic
misconduct, including cheating, failure to cite sources, plagiarism, stealing ideas, or deliberately slanting research results will
result in appropriate action as dictated by Rutgers University. Please note that taking information from an Internet site and
placing it into text without proper citation is plagiarism and students are subject to the same consequences as they would face
for copying information from a text or journal article without proper citation. If you are unsure of the rules of citation, please
ask. Rutgers provides a wealth of resources to help students understand proper citation format and coping with the
pressures of academic life. For the most up-to-date policy information on Academic Integrity at Rutgers, see:
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/integrity.shtml
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Academic Misconduct: A Bloustein School Perspective
Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, failure to cite sources, fabrication and falsification, stealing ideas,
and deliberate slanting of research designs to achieve a pre-conceived result. We talk abut misconduct and ethical
behavior in classes and expectations are set forth in student handbooks and catalogues. For example, it is presented
on pages 545-547 in the New Brunswick Undergraduate Catalogue for the years 2003 through 2005 and on pages 1618 of the Edward J. Bloustein catalogue for the years 2003 through 2005. We are not repeating that material here.
Note, however, that penalties for misconduct can range from failing an assignment/exam or dismissal from the
university.
The Bloustein School is appending this memorandum to your course syllabus because we recently have detected
obvious cases of plagiarism. We have found far fewer cases of other forms of academic misconduct, but we find
several every year. It is imperative that you understand that unethical academic conduct is intolerable, and it is
completely preventable.
Academic misconduct almost always happens for two reasons. One is ignorance of academic rules and practices. For
example, in virtually every recent plagiarism case in the School, material has been taken from an Internet site and
placed in text without appropriate note or attribution. You must learn the proper rules for attribution. If you are not
sure, ask your instructor! If you do not know the rules that govern the use of data sets, attribution, analysis and
reporting of these sets, the faculty will help you. There is no such thing as a stupid question regarding this subject.
Pressure is the second common reason for academic misconduct. Students, faculty, every one of us is subject to
deadline, financial, self-worth, peer, and other pressures. If you are potentially allowing pressure to drive you to
misconduct, please step back and resist that urge. You can cope with pressure in a positive way by reaching out to
friends, counselors, and faculty members. Within the Bloustein School community, you will find understanding people
and positive direction.
The Bloustein School plays an important role in the planning and public policy agenda. Our work and our students
must be above reproach.
Updated 2/8/05
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