At a glance
This course provides an overview of epidemiology, including key terms, sources of data, and study design. Learners will calculate different rates of disease and go through the steps an epidemiologist takes to investigate a disease outbreak.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the course, you will be able to:
- define epidemiology.
- describe basic epidemiology terms and concepts.
- identify types of data sources.
- identify basic methods of data collection and interpretation.
- describe a public health problem in terms of time, place, and person.
- identify the key components of a descriptive epidemiology outbreak investigation.
Available Learning Formats
E-learning Course
Recorded Webinar
Slide Presentation
These slide sets are in the public domain and may be downloaded and customized as needed by the user for informational or educational purposes. Permission from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is not required, but citation of the source is appreciated.
Suggested Citation:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Introduction to Public Health. In: Public Health 101 Series. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2014. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/publichealth101/epidemiology.html.
Quick-Learn Lessons
These skill-based lessons take 20 minutes or less to complete.
- Create an Epi Curve
- Learn how to create a visual display of the onset of illness among cases associated with an outbreak.
- Learn how to create a visual display of the onset of illness among cases associated with an outbreak.
- Using an Epi Curve to Determine Mode of Spread
- Learn how to determine the outbreak's likely mode of spread by analyzing an epidemic curve.
- Learn how to determine the outbreak's likely mode of spread by analyzing an epidemic curve.
- Using an Epi Curve to Determine Most Likely Period of Exposure
- Learn how to interpret an epidemic curve and determine the likely period of exposure that led to the outbreak.
- Learn how to interpret an epidemic curve and determine the likely period of exposure that led to the outbreak.