This two-year part-time MSc programme expands the in-class training to practical epidemiology and field training, where trainees will independently conduct epidemiological investigations and projects in outbreak investigation/risk assessment and evaluation of surveillance systems.

The programme is dedicated to develop expertise in the application of epidemiological techniques for infectious diseases investigation, control and surveillance; and to enhance response capacity to the control of diseases / health problems. The programme also aims to build on existing skills in the development of health information system.

The Master of Science Programme is a continuation of the Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases. It will expand the in-class training to a 3-month full-time / 9-month part-time practical epidemiology and field training, where trainees will independently conduct epidemiological investigarions and projects in outbreak investigation, risk assessment and risk communication; and evalutation of a surveillance system. At the end of the programme, graduates are expected to be able to undertake disease investigation, control and preventive measures. Participants will develop competencies in the following:

• Conduct and interpret field investigation using epidemiological techniques.
• Mobilize response teams to develop and implement plans to prevent and control disease outbreaks in times of pubic health crisis.
• Conduct rapid investigations and responses to public health problems or disease outbreaks.
• Evaluate existing public health surveillance systems and make recommendations for strengthening the system.
• Advocate for necessary public health actions through evidence-based communication with the community, the media and the decision-makers.

Health professionals and policy makers working in public health organizations, disease control agencies, and field or health-related situations, who seek to understand the epidemiology, microbiology, laboratory, and public health measures for the prevention and control of infectious diseases and public health problems.

Master of Science in Applied Epidemiology will be offered by the Chinese University of Hong Kong, if the participant fulfills the respective programme requirements.

The credits gained in the Postgraduate Diploma Programme in Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases are transferable to the Master of Science Programme in Applied Epidemiology, provided that the programme participant has successfully completed the course requirements and meets the entrance requirements set by the Graduate Schools.

Module Certificates (upon satisfactory fulfilling the modular programme assessment requirements) or Certificates of Attnedance, offered by the School of Public Health under the Faculty of Medicine, may be available for particular modules.

• Faculty of Medicine, the Chinese University of Hong Kong
• Postgraduate Programmes in Epidemiology and Biostatistics, the Chinese University of Hong Kong
• International collaborations (University of California, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, CDC Atlanta, and CDC China, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine)

English will be used as the language for instruction. Tutorials may be in Cantonese when appropriate.

Multidisciplinary approach including lectures, classroom exercises, seminars, workshops, tutorials, and take-home assignments will be used.

For Master Programme, field epidemiological exercises and practicum will also be used.

Core Modules (33-34 units)

Basic Epidemiology (3 units)

• Introduction to epidemiology
• Applied health research methods
• Design & Conduct of epidemiological studies

• Data exploration and data presentation
• Probability distribution and theories
• Fundamentals of statistical theories
• Sample size planning
• Statistical computing workshops

• Infectious agents & diagnostic methods
• Pathogenesis
• Host response to infectious diseases
• Treatment & prevention of infectious diseases
• Cases & problem solving

• Infectious disease epidemiological concepts
• Outbreak detection and investigation
• Surveillance
• Clinical trials and observational studies of vaccine efficacy
• Community level intervention
• Practical issues in study design/implementation

• At least 240 hours practicum in health-related settings (1 unit)
• Outbreak Investigation / Risk Assessment / Communication (3 units)
• Evaluation of a Surveillance System (3 units)
• Applied Epidemiology and Field Exercise (10 units)
• Protocol development and research ethics
• Data Collection
• Report writing and presentation

• Infectious disease epidemiological concepts
• Outbreak detection and investigation
• Surveillance
• Clinical trials and observational studies of vaccine efficacy
• Community level intervention
• Practical issues in study design/implementation

• Epidemiology of animal-human diseases
• Principles of veterinary bacteriology, virology, parasitology and immunology

• Generating hypothesis
• Case definition and case finding
• Outbreak investigation approaches
• Data collection and laboratory specimen
• Risk communication

• principles and capabilities of GIS
• application of GIS in public health practice and research
• organisation and utilization of spatial data for epidemiology and other public health applications

• Infection diagnostic methodology
• Infectious disease epidemiology
• Outbreak investigation and risk communication
• Surveillance and information management

• Further Concepts in Epidemiology (3 units)
• Application of Geographic Information System in Public Health (2 units)*
• Evidence-based Healthcare (1 unit)

Potential candidates may include graduates in medicine, public health, nursing, physical or biological sciences, or other health-related disciplines; preferably be currently working in a health-related setting, and have at least two years previous working experience in a health-related setting. Past research experience in health sciences will be an advantage but is not essentials. Applicants who could avail three or more months in the second year of study for full-time field attachment would be an advantage. Applicants should also fulfill the University's English Language Proficiency requirement for admission.

All applications must meet the general admission requirements of the Graduate School. The minimum admission requirements are as follows:

• Graduated from a recognized university and obtained a Bachelor's degree, normally with honours not lower than Second Class; or
• Graduated from an honours programme of a recognized university with a Bachelor's degree, normally achieving an average grade of not lower than "B" in undergraduate courses; or
• Completed a course of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.

Participants must attend at least 80% of the lectures, seminars, tutorials, and practical workshops. Participants need to complete the necessary course requirements (assignments, exam etc) and pass a test on IT proficiency (Details can be obtained from http://www.sitc.cuhk.edu.hk). Participants in Master Programme must also successfully complete a practicum and related field epidemiology projects.