Epidemiology (Distance Learning)

Overview

Epidemiology is the key discipline underlying medical research, public health practice and health care evaluation. The understanding of its principles and practice is crucial for those involved in the design or assessment of epidemiological studies and programme evaluation. 

Epidemiological methods are also used to describe the size and nature of health problems, to investigate the aetiology of specific diseases, and to evaluate the impact of interventions for treating and preventing ill health.

The Epidemiology (Distance Learning) programme at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine is of interest to people who require an understanding of epidemiology, such as medical journalists and scientific officers in government and industry.

The main educational aims of these programmes are to offer a challenging scheme of study invigorated by research, which advances students' ability to develop the academic and practical skills needed as an epidemiologist. Students will be encouraged to develop a range of transferable and subject specific expertise using their initiative and working out problems for themselves.

Programme aims

The programmes aim to:

• develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamental skills needed to become competent in epidemiology;

• enable students to understand developments in the field of epidemiology;

• encourage independent critical and evaluative skills that can be used to apply independent scientific judgment;

• teach students how to apply the conceptual and practical tools needed to initiate research

• facilitate self-development into professionally organised and interactive individuals by practicing skills of selection, assimilation and communication.