Online Epidemiology Course and Class Information

Colleges, universities and public health departments offer a variety of online epidemiology classes that may contain general knowledge or examine specific aspects of the field, be asynchronous or time-boxed, free or cost-based, and may fulfill undergraduate, graduate, or certificate requirements for independent learners, students, and public health professionals.

Overview of Online Epidemiology Courses

Most epidemiology classes are classroom-based, but online or partially online courses are unique resources for working professionals and because they facilitate continued training at times less structured than the usual classroom environment. Online program times may be flexible, to allow students to study at their own pace, or more structured, requiring that students log online at specific times. Students can use undergraduate online epidemiology classes to fulfill general core curriculum studies or satisfy prerequisite needs for more specialized work. Online courses in epidemiology can be used to satisfy requirements for degrees such as a Master of Public Health in General Epidemiology and Doctor of Philosophy in Epidemiologic Science. Students may also elect to use the courses to obtain a Certificate in Field Epidemiology.

Physical Requirements for Online Courses

Students require a computer with Internet connection to complete the classes. Other computer peripherals such as word processing programs, a monitor, printers and possibly speakers are also needed. For biostatistics and mathematical modeling exercises, calculators are useful. Many courses require additional reading so access to reference materials, whether physical or online, is needed.

Sample List of Online Epidemiology Courses

Fundamentals of Epidemiology

Introductory epidemiology classes expose the students to the basic terminology, tools and techniques required for the field of epidemiology. The courses may include introductory work in mathematical modeling, sampling, biostatistics and probability as well as examining historical and sociological approaches. The course may also introduce the student to the methodology used to determine correlations between risk factors and causality. These classes may examine biomedical aspects of disease incubation and movement through populations.

Observational Epidemiology

This course furthers the exposure to epidemiology and builds on the student's experience by exposing him or her to case studies and teaching the tools for data analysis. The student learns the techniques and requirements of creating case-controlled studies and experiments, critical evaluation and reporting outcomes.

Psychiatric Epidemiology

This course examines the epidemiology of mental health. Analytical and descriptive epidemiology approaches are used to examine the causes and effects of mental health disorders of the population from childhood through seniority.

Reproductive and Perinatal Epidemiology

This course studies health issues in family planning, fertility, and pregnancy for general and subsets of populations. Also addressed are the biological, social and cultural aspects of maternal mortality, infertility, miscarriage and birth defects.