THE JC SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND PRIMARY CARE
UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMME IN PUBLIC HEALTH SYLLABUS (2025/26)
Common core ■
Elective □
PHPC2017
COURSE TITLE: EPIDEMIOLOGY CREDIT: 3 UNITS
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course aims to introduce the fundamental concepts and principles of epidemiological methods and their applicability
to the field of healthcare research. Students will grasp the knowledge about the rationale, advantages and shortcomings of different types of
epidemiological studies and the basic skills needed to conduct and critically interpret the results of such studies.
GRADE DESCRIPTORS:
Grade Overall course
A Outstanding performance on all learning outcomes.
A- Generally outstanding performance on all (or almost all) learning outcomes.
B Substantial performance on all learning outcomes, OR high performance on some learning outcomes which compensates for less
satisfactory performance on others, resulting in overall substantial performance.
C Satisfactory performance on the majority of learning outcomes, possibly with a few weaknesses.
D Barely satisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes.
F Unsatisfactory performance on a number of learning outcomes, OR failure to meet specified assessment requirements.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon completion of the course, the students are expected to be able to:
1. describe and differentiate the commonly used study designs in epidemiological research and appreciate the advantages and shortcomings of
each.
2. describe and differentiate the commonly used sampling and data collection methods and appreciate the advantages and shortcomings of each.
3. calculate and interpret the commonly used effect measures in epidemiological research.
4. explain with examples important methodological issues such as bias in epidemiological research which may affect interpretation of results.
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COURSE TIMETABLE AND OUTLINE:
Offering term: 1st Term
Length of each session: 2 hrs 45 mins
Format: TBC
Venue: BMS G18
Time: Thu, 1:30 pm - 4:15 pm
Special requirement:
Quota: 118
Teaching format:
LT: lecture; T: tutorial; C: computer session; LB: lab
Venue:
LT: lecture theatre; TR: tutorial room; CL: computer lab
Date WK Topic & objectives Teaching Venue Duration References Learning Outcomes Lecturers
format /tutors
4 Sep 1 (1) Introduction to the course LT with BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes Give an overview of epidemiology & analytic (1) Prof. Joey
2025 (2) Introduction to interactive G18 mins & suggested methods used. Elaborate on the objectives Yang
epidemiological research discussion (including books of epidemiology. Provide illustrations of the (2) Prof. Jean
issues with discussion of two 10- applications of modern epidemiology in Kim + Prof.
common sources of health min health research. Historical development of Joey Yang, Dr.
data & introduction to breaks, epidemiology. To be able to enumerate Ada Wang,
research ethics the same sources of commonly used health data such and tutors
below) as surveillance databases and cancer
registries. Overview of research ethics.
11 Sep 2 Measures of disease LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to describe different measures of Prof. Jean Kim
2025 occurrence, adjustment of min) & T G18 mins & suggested disease occurrence. To understand and
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Date WK Topic & objectives Teaching Venue Duration References Learning Outcomes Lecturers
format /tutors
rates (45 min) books practice direct and indirect standardization. Dr Ada Wang
HW#1 distributed
18 Sep 3 Introduction to descriptive LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to describe the different forms of Prof. Jean Kim
2025 studies & cross-sectional min) G18 mins & suggested descriptive studies used in public health,
studies books their purposes, and their limitations. To be
T (45 min) able to define cross-sectional studies and to Dr. Ada Wang
name their pros and cons and when use is
appropriate in epidemiological studies
25 Sep 4 Sampling methods LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to differentiate between Prof. Joey
2025 min) G18 mins & suggested probability and non-probability sampling Yang
books methods. To be able to explain with
T (45 min) examples how various types of sampling Dr. Ada Wang
are conducted and give the pros and cons
of each.
2 Oct 5 Cohort studies LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To describe the role of cohort studies in Prof. Joey
2025 min) G18 mins & suggested analyzing disease etiology. Understand the Yang
books pros and cons of cohort studies for public
T (45 min) health. To be able to describe how these Dr. Ada Wang
studies are conducted.
9 Oct 6 Case-control studies LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to describe how case-control Prof. Joey
2025 HW#1 due on 10 Oct 2025 min) G18 mins & suggested studies are conducted, their role in Yang
HW#2 & HW#3 (short write- books analytical epidemiology, and their limitations
up of research proposal) T (45 min) and advantages. To be able to calculate Dr. Ada Wang
distributed odds ratio and explain its meaning.
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Date WK Topic & objectives Teaching Venue Duration References Learning Outcomes Lecturers
format /tutors
16 Oct 7 Confounding LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to describe the concepts of Prof. Joey
2025 min) G18 mins & suggested confounding, the methods for controlling Yang
books confounding, and the limitations of each
T (45 min) method. Dr. Ada Wang
23 Oct 8 Intervention studies LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To understand the purpose of clinical trials Dr. Ada Wang
2025 (community base, clinical min) G18 mins & suggested in public health research. To be able to
trial) books elaborate how they are conducted and their
Review of HW#1 T (45 min) advantages and limitations.
30 Oct 9 Data collection methods/ LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to describe the types of data Prof. Jean Kim
2025 questionnaire design and min) G18 mins & suggested collection methods commonly used in
item construction, creating books epidemiological studies. Discussion of types
scales, validity & reliability T (45 min) of pitfalls in questionnaire design and types Dr. Ada Wang
of items and when to use.
6 Nov 10 No Class: 95th Congregation
2025
13 Nov 11 Evaluation of diagnostic and LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to explain quantitatively the Prof. Joey
2025 screening tests min) G18 mins & suggested definitions of sensitivity, specificity, overall Yang
books accuracy, positive predictive value and
T (45 min) negative predictive value. To be able to Dr. Ada Wang
explain with examples of the problems
(bias) in evaluating screening programs.
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Date WK Topic & objectives Teaching Venue Duration References Learning Outcomes Lecturers
format /tutors
20 Nov 12 Effect modification, bias, and LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To be able to describe the concepts of effect Prof. Joey
2025 causal inference in min) G18 mins & suggested modification and the methods for Yang
epidemiology books investigating effect modification.
To be able to describe the common types of
T (45 min) Dr. Ada Wang
bias in epidemiology. To understand the
basic criteria in ascertaining causal
relationship in epidemiology
27 Nov 13 Brief overview of systematic LT (110 BMS 2 hrs 45 Lecture notes To understand the purpose of systematic Prof. Joey
2025 reviews min) G18 mins & suggested reviews, be able to describe the general Yang
[Final course evaluation] books procedures of conducting this type of study,
HW#2 due on 28 Nov 2025 T (45 min) and understand its key features and Dr. Ada Wang
advantages as compared with traditional
reviews.
2 Dec 14 Extra tutorial (optional for T TBC 2 hrs 45 N/A To answer questions students encounter Prof. Joey
2025, Tue, students) mins when revising and preparing for the final Yang
2:30 pm – HW#3 due on 3 Dec 2025 exam.
5:15 pm
(Make-up)
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Assessment
Assessment Scheme (subject to approval):
Assessment Item(s) Description Weight Distribution Submission Deadline (if Use of AI Tools Policy
applicable)#
1. Participation* 5% Prohibit all use of AI tools
2. Three individual take-home assignments 35% 10 Oct 2025, 28 Nov 2025, Use only with prior
3 Dec 2025 permission:
Students are permitted to
In the case of late use AI tools to find
submission, 1 mark examples for illustrating
(equivalent to 1% of the the concepts/ theories/
final grade [i.e., 100 marks] methods taught in this
of this course) will be course, but must write
deducted for every their assignments
calendar day of delay. independently. It is
mandatory to use the
CUHK VeriGuide to verify
that the AI-index of each
assignment is below 20%
before it can be
submitted. Assignments
with an AI-index ≥ 20%
will be given 0 mark.
3. Closed-book final examination 60% TBC N/A
# The submission deadline is subject to change. Please pay attention to the latest announcement of the course teacher(s) / teaching team.
* A student who attends all the 12 lectures (including tutorials) will be given 5 marks. Every time a student is absent (regardless of the
reasons), 1 mark will be deducted. If a student attends ≤ 7 lectures, he or she will be given 0 mark for “participation”.
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Course Feedback Arrangements:
The course coordinator will provide feedback about students’ academic performance via Zoom. Details of the feedback session are as
follows:
Date: 06 Jan 2026
Time: 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm
Zoom details: to be posted on the course Blackboard by early Jan 2026.
Course Policies:
Students should take heed of the course policies listed and see the following URL for details:
[Link]
• Use of AI Tools
• Late Submission
• Absence from Assessment
• Honesty in Academic Work
• Appeal Against Assessment Results
• Protection of Intellectual Property
Required reference materials (all available on reserve in library and university bookstore):
Textbook:
None.
Suggested books on hold in library:
1. Normal Vetter. Epidemiology and Public Health Medicine. Published by Elsevier Publishing, 1999.
2. D. Coggon, Geoffrey Rose, DJP Barker. Epidemiology for the Uninitiated. Published by The BMJ, 2003. (Freely available from:
[Link]
3. Margaret Somerville, K. Kumaran, Rob Anderson. Public Health and Epidemiology at a Glance, 2nd Edition. Published by John Wiley & Sons,
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Ltd, 2012.
Contact:
Prof. Joey Yang (Course Coordinator): zyang@[Link]
Programme Administration Team: sphpc_ug@[Link]
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