Infectious Disease Epidemiology for a Sustainable Future, 7.5 credits
Pharmacy: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Nursing: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Public Health: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Environmental Science: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Medicine: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Biomedical Sciences: First cycle, has at least 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements
Contents
The course focuses on foundational concepts in infectious disease epidemiology, enabling participants to grasp transmission methods, risk factors, and epidemiological study designs that inform strategies for prevention and control. Key topics include disease surveillance systems, outbreak investigations, and response mechanisms. The course is integrating the "One Health" and “Sustainable development approaches” — increasingly adopted global framework that views human, animal, and environmental health as interconnected, offering a comprehensive strategy to address infectious disease threats and sustainable society.
Expected learning outcomes
After completing the course students must be able to:
Knowledge and understanding
• describe and explain key concepts, transmission dynamics, outbreak investigation, and control measures in infectious disease epidemiology, and impact on global health and sustainable development,
• describe and explain the role of climate change in infectious diseases,
• describe and explain the One Health approach and its role in addressing infectious diseases.
Skills and abilities
• apply appropriate epidemiological tools to describe infectious disease patterns in populations,
• develop effective communication strategy for emerging infectious diseases to diverse audiences.
Judgement and approach
• identify ethical considerations and equity issues relevant to infectious disease interventions,
• reflect on the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health in preventing pandemics and promoting sustainable development.
Required Knowledge
60 Credits, of which at least 15 Credits in one or more of the following areas: Medicine, Biomedicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public health sciences, Veterinary medicine, Environmental science. English for basic as eligibility for higher education.
Form of instruction
Teaching is online and will employ diverse and flexible teaching methods designed to foster a thorough comprehension of the subject matter, such as virtual interactive lectures, seminars, collaborative group discussions, analysis of case studies, reviews of academic literature, and videos. The language of teaching is English.
Examination modes
Examination of the course is done individually with the grades: Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with distinction (VG). The course assessment is based on two components. The first consists of continuous evaluations throughout the course, including assignments, group discussions, and seminars with active interactions. Active interactions meaning that you as a student must share reflections, presentations, and providing feedback to other students, graded U, G or VG. The second component is an oral exam, graded U or G. The final grade for the course; U, G, or VG is determined by the results of both components. To successfully complete the course, students must pass both the continuous assessment and the oral final exam.
The maximum opportunities of exams are limited to three per academic year, one ordinary occasion and two re-exams. Examinations based on the same syllabus as in the regular exam are guaranteed for at least two years after the student's first-time registration on the course. The student has the right to get a grade reviewed by the examiner. A student who has failed twice is eligible to ask for an appointment with of new examiner by the head of department. After four failed examinations, the student is offered the chance to participate in scheduled teaching when the course is given next time but can also choose to participate in further re-exams.
Examiners may decide to deviate from the modes of assessment in the course syllabus. Individual adaptation of modes of assessment must give due consideration to the students’ needs. The adaptation of modes of assessment must remain within the framework of the intended learning outcomes in the course syllabus. Students who require an adapted examination – and have received a decision on the right to support from the coordinator at the Student Services Office for students with disabilities – must submit a request to the department holding the course no later than 10 days before the examination. The examiner decides on the adaptation of the examination, after which the student will be notified.
Other regulations
Other regulations, see www.umu.se/regelverk
Literature
The literature list is not available through the web. Please contact the faculty.