Epidemiology, Statistics and Research Methods
This short course provides an introduction to the basic concepts in statistics and the main epidemiological methods used to identify and quantify disease and associated risks. Statistical subjects will include: types of data and data presentation, descriptive statistics, basic probability, distribution theory including the normal distribution and its properties, sampling theory, principles and techniques, inferential statistics, analysis of categorical and continuous data, non-parametric tests, correlation and regression, and survival analysis. You will be introduced to descriptive epidemiology, measures and comparisons of disease frequency, ecological studies, cross-sectional studies, prevalence studies, case-control studies, principles of screening, study design and questionnaires and qualitative research methods.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this short course, you should be able to:1. Demonstrate a critical understanding of the main techniques used to investigate the epidemiology of the important causes of death and ill health
2. Identify, interpret and discuss appropriate epidemiological study designs to address population health questions
3. Interpret and discuss the importance of epidemiological and statistical information that they have collected themselves, or has been presented by others
Credits
20 credits
Attendance Required
Two block weeks of teaching
Course dates
7-11 and 21-25 October 2024. Examination in January 2025.
Course Coordinators
You can choose to study this course as either a microcredential or a non-credit CPD shortcourse.
Why choose a Postgraduate Microcredential short course?
- Usually taken from exisiting modules within a Masters, they can be used as standalone credentials with some also counting as academic credits at postgraduate level
- Add a postgraduate level qualification to your CV
- Develop the specialist skills you need for your career goals
- Alumni status with the University of Birmingham
- Learners will have the same access to our student support and campus facilities as our students on full degree programmes.
Please note that once registered for the microcredential you cannot swap for the non-credit shortcourse version.
Apply for the Microcredential
Non-credit short course
The microcredential and the non-credit short course follow the same course structure, the difference between them both is with the non-credit short course you do not take the assessment at the end therefore you will not receive credits but will recieve a certificate of completion, this certificate cannot be converted to credits.
Please note if you apply for the non-credit short course, you cannot swap to the microcredential version once registered.
Apply for the non-credit CPD shortcourse