Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health (Coursera)

Epidemiology: The Basic Science of Public Health (Coursera)

Often called “the cornerstone” of public health, epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of diseases, health conditions, or events among populations and the application of that study to control health problems. By applying the concepts learned in this course to current public health problems and issues, students will understand the practice of epidemiology as it relates to real life and makes for a better appreciation of public health programs and policies. This course explores public health issues like cardiovascular and infectious diseases – both locally and globally – through the lens of epidemiology.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see Coursera's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

Syllabus

WEEK 1
Course Introduction, History of Epidemiology and Epidemiology Research
This module introduces the history and field of epidemiology.

WEEK 2
Understanding Measures of Disease Frequency
This module introduces measures of disease frequency.

WEEK 3
Study Designs
This module introduces the following study designs: experimental, cohort, case control, cross-sectional, and ecologic.

WEEK 4
Measures of Association
This module introduces measures of association and confidence intervals.

WEEK 5
Causality
This module introduces causality.

WEEK 6
Course Conclusion
This module concludes the course.

Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

Improving Immunity Based on Traditional Eastern Exercises (Coursera) Coursera
Shanghai Jiao Tong University

Improving Immunity Based on Traditional Eastern Exercises (Coursera)

Exercise is medicine. Regular and moderate exercise can effectively strengthen immune system so as to reduce the risk of virus infection and also improve or assist in the treatment of dysthymic disorders like anxiety and depression. This course provides suggestions for the general public about how to actively respond to the outbreak of novel coronavirus. It also explains: how the immune system reacts when viruses invade into the body; why exercises can enhance immunity and what is the mechanism; what the difference is between western sports and traditional eastern exercises.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Non-Communicable Diseases in Humanitarian Settings (Coursera) Coursera
University of Copenhagen

Non-Communicable Diseases in Humanitarian Settings (Coursera)

NCDs are the leading cause of death in almost every region of the world, and place a huge burden on individuals, families and societies. Humanitarian settings have a negative effect on the levels of disease, and the possibility of treatment. The importance of NCDs in global health is acknowledged by their inclusion in the Sustainable Development Goals, which call for a reduction of a third in premature mortality from NCDs by 2030. However, NCDs have until recently received little attention in humanitarian settings, leaving prevention, care and treatment needs largely unaddressed among some of the most vulnerable populations. According to the World Health Organization, 70 percent of global deaths are due to NCDs.

Nov 16th 2026
3 Weeks
Global Health Diplomacy (Coursera) Coursera
The State University of New York

Global Health Diplomacy (Coursera)

The field of global health is often thought of purely in medical or public health terms, but there are important geopolitical and policy dimensions of global health that underlie programmatic responses to global health challenges. By completing this course, learners will be able to explain the specific institutions and initiatives that are fundamental to current global health diplomacy activities and functions, and how these influence global health outcomes. Learners will further be able to summarize real-world examples where global health diplomacy either helped or limited global health outcomes, and explain the reasons for those outcomes.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Community Change in Public Health (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Community Change in Public Health (Coursera)

In bringing about behavior change in public health, we often focus on the individual mother, student, or farmer. We should not forget the community structure and norms constrain for encouraging individual health behaviors. This course examines the community context of the changes needed to promote the public’s health. We begin by examining the various definitions of ‘community’ and the processes by which we ‘diagnose’ or seek to understand the structure and characteristics of different types of communities.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale (Coursera) Coursera
University of Barcelona

Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale (Coursera)

Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications (Coursera) Coursera
University of Copenhagen

Understanding Patient Perspectives on Medications (Coursera)

Inappropriate use of medicines harms patients’ health and increases healthcare costs. When healthcare professionals and patients engage together, healthcare can be based on the patient perspective, so the use of medicines is better tailored to each patients’ needs and preferences. The result is a better relationship between patients and healthcare professionals, more appropriate medicines use, improved patients’ outcomes, and reduced healthcare costs. In this course you will learn about the patient perspective on medicines use, and how to explore and apply it in healthcare and health policy.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life (Coursera) Coursera
University of Chicago

Understanding the Brain: The Neurobiology of Everyday Life (Coursera)

Learn how the nervous system produces behavior, how we use our brain every day, and how neuroscience can explain the common problems afflicting people today. We will study functional human neuroanatomy and neuronal communication, and then use this information to understand how we perceive the outside world, move our bodies voluntarily, stay alive, and play well with others.

Nov 16th 2026
5-12 Weeks
Opioid Epidemic: From Evidence to Impact (Coursera) Coursera
Johns Hopkins University

Opioid Epidemic: From Evidence to Impact (Coursera)

While prescription opioids serve an invaluable role for the treatment of cancer pain and pain at the end of life, their overuse for acute and chronic non-cancer pain as well as the increasing availability of heroin and illicit fentanyl, have contributed to the highest rates of overdose and opioid addiction in U.S. history. Evidence-informed solutions are urgently needed to address these issues and to promote high-quality care for those with pain. This course and the report it is based on are a response to that need. They offer timely information and a path forward for all who are committed to addressing injuries and deaths associated with opioids in the United States.

Nov 16th 2026
4 Weeks
Value-Based Care: Organizational Competencies (Coursera) Coursera
University of Houston

Value-Based Care: Organizational Competencies (Coursera)

This course is designed to introduce you to the changes an organization will need to make to succeed in value-based care and payment. In previous courses in this specialization, you were introduced to the Accountable Care Learning Collaborative (ACLC). One of the models you will explore is the ACLC’s Accountable Care Atlas model. This model, along with additional information from the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (HCP-LAN), will help you begin to understand the challenges and rewards of transitioning to value-based care. In Module 2, you will explore those concepts through the lenses of three types of healthcare organizations, tying those examples back to types of value-based contracts.

Nov 16th 2026
3 Weeks