Unit Outline

Communicable Disease Epidemiology will explore communicable diseases of humans from an epidemiological perspective. It will provide an introductory overview of the basic biological knowledge needed to understand the interactions within and between populations of microbes, human and other animals. Students will learn to use epidemiological techniques to understand infectious disease surveillance data, disease transmission, and risk factors for infection. The unit will focus on how these methods are used in contemporary public health practice and applied in population-based strategies such as for sexually transmissible infections, blood borne viruses and enteric infections. The unit will introduce students to regional and global aspects of infectious diseases, particularly their social and ecological determinants, emergence and burden.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Apply microbiological processes and principles to the prevention and control of communicable diseases
2	Describe the key elements of population–based disease strategies and emergency responses using communicable diseases epidemiology
3	Examine and critically analyse the biological, social and environmental factors determining the rates of communicable disease
4	Critically analyse the benefits and limitations of disease prevention measures (e.g. education, screening, vaccination, and current laboratory practices)

Alterations as a result of student feedback

Students are encouraged to provide feedback via the University of Tasmania’s eVALUate process at the end of semester. This feedback has been used to continually improve the unit’s content and delivery.

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	Short answer questions	Week 4	20 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Interpretation of data	Week 7	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Essay	Week 12	40 %	LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: Short answer questions

Task Description:

Five reflective short answer questions.

Due in Weeks 4, 6, 8, 10 and 13

Task Length:

300 words each x 5

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

20 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Demonstrate and apply knowledge by correctly answering questions about the epidemiology of communicable diseases	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment Task 2: Interpretation of data

Task Description:

Applied epidemiological exercise – analysis and interpretation of a communicable disease dataset.

Task Length:

2000 words plus tables and graphs

Due Date:

Week 7

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Describe the epidemiology of a communicable disease using tables, rates, and graphs	LO2, LO3
2	Demonstrate an understanding of the microbiological characteristics of the pathogen	LO1, LO3
3	Apply the epidemiology of the communicable disease to develop relevant prevention and control measures	LO2
4	Critically apply evidence to support the interpretation of the data	LO2, LO3, LO4

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Review of results and appeals

You are entitled to ask for a review of the marking and grading of your assessment task if there is an irregularity in the marking standards or an error in the process for determining the outcome of an assessment. Details on how to request a review of a mark for an assignment are outlined in the Review and Appeal of Academic Decisions Procedure.