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Curriculum Overview

The curriculum for the B.Tech in Epidemiology at Iihmr University Jaipur is designed to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of public health science, research methodologies, and disease prevention strategies. The program spans four years (eight semesters) and includes core courses, departmental electives, science electives, and laboratory components.

Semester-wise Course Breakdown

Advanced Departmental Electives

The program offers a rich array of advanced departmental electives designed to deepen students' expertise in specific areas of epidemiology. These courses are taught by faculty members who are recognized experts in their respective fields and often incorporate current research findings.

Global Health Systems

This course examines the structure, function, and performance of health systems across different countries and contexts. Students learn about health financing, governance, service delivery models, and strategies for improving access to care. The curriculum includes case studies from low-income and middle-income countries, emphasizing equity, efficiency, and sustainability.

Maternal and Child Health

This elective focuses on the health needs of mothers and children throughout the life course. Topics include prenatal care, childbirth practices, infant nutrition, childhood immunizations, growth monitoring, and early childhood development. Students analyze global trends in maternal and child mortality and explore interventions that have proven effective in reducing these risks.

Advanced Data Analysis

This course builds upon foundational biostatistics skills to introduce advanced analytical techniques used in epidemiological research. Students learn about regression modeling, survival analysis, multivariate methods, spatial statistics, and machine learning applications in public health. The course emphasizes hands-on experience with statistical software such as R, Stata, and Python.

Health Program Evaluation

This elective teaches students how to design, implement, and evaluate public health programs using rigorous methodological approaches. Students learn about program theory development, outcome measurement, cost-effectiveness analysis, and impact assessment. Case studies from successful interventions in various sectors provide practical insights into program planning and execution.

Outbreak Investigation Techniques

This course prepares students to conduct outbreak investigations using epidemiological principles and tools. Students learn about case definition, data collection methods, hypothesis generation, laboratory testing, and communication strategies during public health emergencies. Practical exercises include simulations of real-world outbreaks and analysis of historical case studies.

Vaccine Development and Evaluation

This course covers the scientific and regulatory aspects of vaccine development, from preclinical research to clinical trials and post-market surveillance. Students study immunology, manufacturing processes, quality control, safety monitoring, and ethical considerations in vaccine research. The course includes discussions on emerging technologies such as mRNA vaccines and novel adjuvants.

Disease Surveillance Systems

This elective explores the design and implementation of disease surveillance systems at local, national, and global levels. Students examine data sources, reporting mechanisms, early warning indicators, and integration of surveillance with public health response. The course emphasizes real-time tracking of infectious diseases and emerging threats.

Ethics in Public Health Research

This course addresses ethical issues in public health research, including informed consent, privacy protection, community engagement, and social justice considerations. Students engage with current debates around global health ethics, vulnerable populations, and the responsibilities of researchers working in resource-limited settings.

Project-Based Learning Philosophy

The department strongly advocates for project-based learning as a cornerstone of its pedagogical approach. Projects are integrated throughout the curriculum to ensure that students develop practical skills while applying theoretical knowledge to real-world problems. The focus is on collaborative work, critical thinking, and communication.

Mini-Projects

Mini-projects are undertaken in the second year of study and typically last 6–8 weeks. Each project is supervised by a faculty member and involves analyzing a public health issue using available data sources or conducting primary research in collaboration with local organizations. Projects may involve descriptive studies, cross-sectional surveys, or simple experimental designs.

Final-Year Thesis/Capstone Project

The final-year thesis is a significant component of the program that requires students to conduct an original research study under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The project must address a relevant public health question and include literature review, methodology design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and recommendations for future action.

Students are expected to present their findings at a symposium organized by the department and may be invited to submit manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals. The capstone project culminates in a formal defense before a panel of faculty members and external experts.

The selection process for projects is highly competitive, with students submitting proposals that are reviewed based on relevance, feasibility, and originality. Mentorship is provided throughout the duration of the project to ensure academic support and professional development.