Our programme

Students acquire knowledge and skills cutting across various topics related to measurement and statistics within the context of epidemiology. The course provides students with an understanding of measurement scales and the application of descriptive and analytical statistics. They also learn about a variety of methods and gain confidence in applying those methods. Specific topics covered include multiple linear regression and modelling, logistic and loglinear models, and the basics and application of survival analysis.

This course provides students with an introduction to epidemiology and the design and implementation of epidemiological research. Students learn about the basic foundations of epidemiology including important terms, principles, and methods. They learn to read, interpret, and appraise the results of epidemiological studies. Opportunities for hands-on learning allow students to apply basic and advanced techniques to present data, calculate epidemiological measures, develop and conduct studies, and process and analyse data. They also gain experience in communicating the results of epidemiological and clinical research through the development of research papers.

This course covers the basics of public health and health services. Students learn about the historical development of public health and health services research, along with the concepts, definitions, and determinants of human health. Methods for implementing health services research are accomanied by knowledge about the principles of health services provision, including access, appropriateness, and quality of care. Students also learn about the basics of health management and health economics.

This 8-day course prepares students to independently design, implement, interpret, and communicate regression analyses. Lectures and practical exercises cover the conceptual and practical details and assumptions of linear, logit, Poisson, and Cox regression models, as well as Generalized Additive Models. Students learn how to choose an appropriate regression model for their scientific question, implement the model in R, and correctly interpret and communicate the results.

This course covers the foundational aspects of planning, developing, and presenting a research project. Specific competencies related to the development and implementation of research projects are developed, including the implementation of literature reviews, the development of project protocols and research proposals, writing grant proposals, issues related to research ethics and working with ethical advisory commissions, and data protection. Students also learn about authoring publications, presenting and disseminating research, and issues related to communicating health risks to the public.

This course aims to strengthen the statistical analysis skills of Masters of Epidemiology students, and to strengthen the epidemiology skills of Masters of Statistics students. Students learn to work closely and collaborate with each other to understand, interpret, and explain the statistical and epidemiological approaches of real-world scientific studies. These collaborative experiences are important exercises that prepare students for future professional experiences collaborating with colleagues from different areas of expertise.

This course provides an introduction to health communication concepts and their practical application. Several concepts within the domain of health communication are covered, including health campaigns, health literacy, risk communication, and crisis communication. In addition to lectures, students engage in group work, give a presentation, and conduct and write a review.

This seminar introduces students to interdisciplinary concepts and approaches that fall within the field of health geography. The course focuses on regional factors that influence health and on the methods for the measurement and analysis of spatial patterns of disease and risk factors, including spatial statistical methods. In addition to lectures, practical exercises allow for hands-on learning. Students engage in fieldwork to gather geocoded health factors. They learn to use free open source geographic information system (GIS) software and produce basic maps using their geocoded data.

The course provides an introduction to the complex field of research and application of planetary health and presents the role of changing global conditions and their impact on prevention, disease, therapy and epidemiology within the framework of interdisciplinary and holistic approaches. Students gain a deeper insight into the interconnections and interactions between human health and the health of the planet.

In addition to the electives offered by the Master's programme in Epidemiology, students can also choose to take the following electives from the Master's programme in Public Health, most of which are taught in German:

• Prävention und Gesundheitsförderung (12 ECTS, taught in German)
• Gesundheitssystemforschung und Gesundheitökonomie (12 ECTS, taught in German)
• Sozial- und Verhaltenswissenschaften (6 ECTS, taught in German)
• Global Public Health (9 ECTS, taught in English)
• Qualitative Methoden (6 ECTS, taught in German)
• Developing Surveys and Survey Questionnaires (3 ECTS, taught in English)

Full descriptions of these courses can be found on the Master's programme in Public Health.

In this specialisation, students gain profound knowledge in modern statistical methods in various epidemiological areas that enable them to evaluate the scientific literature
and pursue related academic work independently. Students also acquire knowledge about public health relevant diseases, their epidemiology and possibilities of prevention. Courses include:

Specialisation in Epidemiology I:

• Advanced Methods in Epidemiology
• Applied Epidemiology: Epidemiology of Infectious Disease
• Applied Epidemiology: Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease
• Applied Epidemiology: Pharmacoepidemiology
• Applied Epidemiology: Tumour Epidemiology

Specialisation in Epidemiology II:

• Advanced Seminar in Epidemiology
• Advanced Practical Applications of Epidemiology

This course introduces students to a variety of complex method from the biostatistical literature. By the end of this course, students are able to engage critically with methodological literature from biostatistics journals, understand the standard mathematical notations commonly used in biostatistical literature, understand one complex statistical method in depth and are able to communicate its principles and applications in a pedagogical manner, and have a broad overview of additional statistical methods not covered elsewhere in the master's program.

In this specialisation, students learn to appropriately use technology for their own clinical study projects. They learn to design a clinical study project in accordance with standard regulations and protocols. Students also learn the technical basics and concepts of information technology in hospital environments, as well as the regulatory boundaries of clinical research. Courses include:

Specialisation in Clinical Epidemiology I:

• Medical Informatics and Regulatory Issues in Clinical Research
• Advanced Methods in Clinical Epidemiology: Design, Evidence Synthesis, Safety and Quality

Specialisation in Clinical Epidemiology II:

• Defining and Measuring Endpoints for Clinical Studies
• Clinical Epidemiology: Advanced Statistical Methods

In this specialisation, students learn and understand methods and basic principles of environmental toxicology and environmental epidemiology. They learn how to design, perform, and analyse an epidemiological study of health risks caused by environmental or occupational factors. They also learn the main radiation-induced health effects and become familiar with the main epidemiological studies in the fields of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Courses include:

Specialisation in Environmental, Occupational, and Radiation Epidemiology I:

• Fundamentals of Environment, Occupation, and Health
• Environmental Epidemiology
• Occupational Epidemiology
• Radiation Epidemiology

Specialisation in Environmental, Occupational, and Radiation Epidemiology II:

• Risk Assessment in Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
• Practical Applications of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology

In this specialisation, students learn and understand the main characteristics of the human genome, learn to apply genomic knowledge in epidemiologic research, gain knowledge of the main issues of genetic research, and can critically deal with problems in this field. They learn and apply the most important biological and medical databases as meta information for design and analysis. They also gain experience with the main study designs in genetic epidemiology, the main characteristics of pharmacogenetics, genetic counselling, and ethical issues in the context of molecular epidemiology. Courses include:

Specialisation in Genetic Epidemiology I:

• Introduction to Genetic Epidemiology
• Advanced Methods in Genetic Epidemiology
• Special Issues in Genetic Epidemiology

Specialisation in Genetic Epidemiology II:

• Genetic Epidemiology of Complex Human Diseases

Two mandatory internships (each 12 ECTS) will be conducted in the second and third semester of the master's programme in Epidemiology. The internships should give a concrete insight into the fields of epidemiology. Students get to know various institutions in the field, are actively involved in their work processes (field work, conceptual tasks, data collection, etc.) and projects and work on specific topics in order to gain relevant practical experience prior to graduating.The internship positions are offered by cooperating research institutions and organisations. If students are looking for an internship position independently, this will be encouraged and supported. It is possible to complete the internship at domestic or foreign institutions (e.g. Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Helmholtz Center, LGL, OECD, WHO etc.).

The Epidemiology (M.Sc.) program culminates in the Master's Thesis. Students work with their advisors to develop a project that is most of interest to them within the wide spectrum of topics within epidemiology. Students may choose to do a systematic literature review, conduct a data analysis, or develop another unique project.

Students are encouraged and supported to develop a manuscript from their Master's Thesis and to submit it for peer-reviewed publication.