Outbreak investigation is a central aspect of applied epidemiology which aims to control the outbreak and prevent future outbreaks. The Outbreak Investigation course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills to undertake outbreak investigations in the field. The course combines theory with outbreak investigation case studies based on real-life outbreaks.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
- Describe the role of disease surveillance and other intelligence in outbreak detection and investigation.
- Devise and execute the necessary steps in a simple outbreak investigation, and be able to support a more complex one.
- Identify and suggest appropriate outbreak control measures.
- Utilise key pieces of public health legislation and guidelines relevant to outbreak investigation.
- Effectively communicate outbreak investigation findings to a range of stakeholders.
Indicative Assessment
- Participation in the sessions in course blocks related to the course (10) [LO 1,2,3,4,5]
- Online quiz (30) [LO 1,2]
- Preparation of an outbreak Situation Report (SitRep) (60) [LO 2,3,4,5]
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
The expected workload will consist of approximately 130 hours throughout the session including:
- The face-to-face component will be delivered in intensive mode over one week, Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm (total 35 hours).
- Approximately 95 hours of self-directed study, including self-directed learning modules, and pre-reading before the intensive week, and assessments.
Inherent Requirements
No specific inherent requirements have been identified for this course
Requisite and Incompatibility
Prescribed Texts
None
Preliminary Reading
Rasmussen S.A. and Goodman R.A. The CDC Field Epidemiology Manual. New York: Oxford University Press, USA; 2019.
Gregg MB, editor. Field epidemiology (3rd edition). Oxford University Press, USA; 2008.
World Health Organization. Rapid risk assessment of acute public health events. World Health Organization; Geneva, 2012.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 2
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are a domestic graduate coursework student with a Domestic Tuition Fee (DTF) place or international student you will be required to pay course tuition fees (see below). Course tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Quarter 1
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1268 | 01 Jan 2026 | 02 Jan 2026 | 30 Mar 2026 | 31 Mar 2026 | In Person | N/A |