FHV320 Epidemiology and Geographical Information Systems

Credits (ECTS):15

Course responsible:Geir Aamodt, Suleman Atique

Campus / Online:Taught campus Ås

Teaching language:Norsk

Course frequency:Annually.

Nominal workload:375 hours.

Teaching and exam period:This course starts in the January block and the teaching and evaluation continues throughout the spring parallel.

About this course

Basic principles in epidemiology, Study designs in epidemiology, Evaluation/assessment of epidemiological information, Geographical Information Systems (GIS) as a general working tool in geographical analyses, GIS as a tool in spatial epidemiology, GIS as a planning tool in public health, Case studies with use of statistical software(s) and GIS, Ethical considerations in epidemiological studies.

Learning outcome

After completing the course, the student must:

Knowledge

Have basic knowledge in the subject of epidemiology, including epidemiological study designs and effect measures, types of bias, theories related to causality, knowledge of systematic summaries of knowledge, types of health monitoring as well as methods for characterizing accumulations, epidemics, and pandemics.

Basic knowledge of the theories, limitations, and practical application of geographic information systems (GIS) and spatial data analyses.

Skills

The students must have skills in performing simple epidemiological analyses with the most common epidemiological methods, such as calculating various effect measures, understanding uncertainties, and choosing relevant statistical methods. Furthermore, identify different types of biases and interpret and convey systematic summaries of knowledge.

The students must have the skills to be able to carry out basic analyses in a geographic information system such as buffer analysis, distance analysis, overlay analyses and the production of maps.

General competence

The students will read, interpret, and discuss epidemiological literature.

The students must be able to discuss ethical issues within the subject of epidemiology.

The students should be able to discuss how geographical information systems are used in epidemiology.

Learning activities
Block teaching. Five gatherings (sessions) where each session lasts 2 1/2 - 3 days. About half of the first session 1 and 3, 4 and 5 are designated epidemiology, while half the gatherings 1 and 2 are designated GIS.
For the epidemiology part of the course: Traditional lectures and flipped classroom. The students will get access to videos and they are expected to view these prior to the sessions. During the sessions, the students will work with relevant projects.
For GIS part of the course: Lectures and exercises. GIS Computer lab.
Teaching support
Teachers will be at hand at lectures and exercises. Other times by appointment. Canvas will be the communication platform.
Prerequisites
FHV315 or equivalent
Assessment method
Written exam (3 hours) which counts 100 % of the grade. A-F.

Written exam Grading: Letter grades Permitted aids: C2 All types of calculators, all other written aids
Examiner scheme
The external examiner shall evaluate and approve the curriculum, the teaching and the evaluation arrangements of the course.
Mandatory activity
Compulsory assignments in both GIS and epidemiology.
Notes
A practical introduction to GIS (Geographical Information Systems) is included in this course. The GIS part is estimated to 125 hours of work (5 credits), and starts with three days of lectures and supervised computer exercises. The rest of the computer exercises will be done in groups of two students each.
Teaching hours
The course consists of 5 gatherings. 2 1/2 - 3 days per gathering. The second gathering is GIS.
Preferential right
M-FOL / M-FOL-DEL
Reduction of credits
5 ECTS reduction based on Basic GIS course (LAD102/GMGI101).
Admission requirements
Minimum requirements for entrance to higher education in Norway (generell studiekompetanse).