Social Epidemiology:
Concepts and Measures for Studying
Social Factors and Health
EPI 255 Spring 2012 (1.5 units)
Course Director: Irene Yen, PhD, MPH
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine
| OBJECTIVES |
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Epidemiology is the study of the distribution of diseases in populations. Epidemiology often breaks down by diseases, e.g. cancer epidemiology, but it can also be classified by exposure, e.g. genetic epidemiology or environmental epidemiology. Social epidemiology focuses on social determinants of disease, such as socioeconomic status or race/ethnicity.
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
- Identify key concepts in social epidemiology research;
- Discuss concepts and measures for social class or social position, racial/ethnic discrimination (including racism), income distribution, and neighborhood environment;
- Compare and contrast measurement methods used in social epidemiologic research; and
- Place social epidemiologic research in the context of public health research.
| PREREQUISITES |
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Epidemiologic Methods (Epi 203). Exceptions to this prerequisite
may be made with the consent of the Course Director, space permitting.
| FACULTY |
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| FORMAT |
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Please note that Friday, March 30 is an UCSF administrative holiday and there will be no classes held.
The class meets on Fridays (April 6-June 1) from 2:45 PM-4:15 PM at China
Basin Landing, Room 5721.
| OPTIONAL TEXTBOOK |
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Social Epidemiology edited by L. Berkman and I. Kawachi. Oxford University Press. 1st Editon. 2000.
Books may be purchased either through the publisher or a variety of commercial venues (e.g., Amazon.com).
| GRADING |
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Grades will be based on class participation (25%), weekly writing assignments (50%), and a written paper (25%).
| ENROLLMENT |
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Application (Word doc, 20KB) Course fees covered by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
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