University of North Carolina School of Public Health
Department of Epidemiology

EPID600, Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health

Course grades (Internet edition, Spring 2012)

Numeric grades, on a 0-100 scale, are computed from examination scores and class participation, as described below. Numeric grades are translated into letter grades through a conversion scale.

Small group participation

Your grade for small group participation, which will contribute 10 points of your overall course grade*, will be computed by multiplying the average score that your small group receives on group case study submissions by your peer evaluation grade.

Group case study submissions: Each small group will work on case studies and submit their consensus answers. Selected answers from each case study will be graded. The average score for graded questions in a case study becomes the group’s case study score. The average of these scores becomes the group grade.**

Peer evaluation grade: You will be asked to evaluate the performance and contributions of the members of your small group (see Blackboard | Grading and Evaluation | Peer evaluations for criteria). The purpose of the peer evaluations is to provide you with: (1) feedback about your performance in the group; and (2) a way to express your opinion about how other students in your group are performing. Peer evaluation is an important function that you will both perform and undergo throughout your professional career. The peer evaluations will be made early in the semester, to give you opportunity to grow as a member of a professional group, and at the end of the semester, for grading purposes. The evaluations that your small group members and, in some cases, your teaching assistant submit about you will be provided to you as averages, along with any comments.

Three individual examinations

Each of the first two examinations will contain 20-30 multiple choice, true-false, computation, and short answer questions. (The case study on HIV and behavior change in Zimbabwe was an examination in a previous semester, and several other case studies contain questions from past examinations.) Each of the two examinations will contribute 35% of the overall grade. Points earned by submitting answers to selected case study questions - see below - can reduce the weight of these exams.

The third examination contributes 20% of the overall grade and consists of 4-10 essay questions that would form part of a structured critique of a published report of an epidemiologic study.

All examinations are take-home, open-book, and untimed. You must not communicate with anyone other than the instructors. You will submit your examination answers via webform. Your identity will be masked during the grading process, which we strive to carry out uniformly across the class.

Option to reduce the impact of examination scores

Exams 1 and 2 together account for 70% of the course grade, but you can reduce their importance by submitting your answers to the starred case study questions (see "About the case studies"). The case studies are primarily for learning rather than evaluation, so answers that reflect reasonable effort, even if incorrect, can receive full credit. Your TA will rate your answers to each case study as full credit (1 point) or something less. You can also earn a "case study point" for submitting the second peer evaluation (with substantive comments) and another for submitting the course evaluation. For example, if you earn 10 such case study points, then Exams 1 and 2 contribute 60% of your course grade rather than 70% (see sample calculations below).

Note that the first and last case studies are required and do not earn case study points. Failure to submit either of them on time can result in a grading penalty.

The UNC-CH Honor Code (link) applies to all submissions described above. However: 1) all exams and case studies are “open book” - you may use any public source; 2) you may discuss your case study answers with others or obtain outside assistance, as long as you work on and write up answers to all questions rather than dividing up the work. You may not communicate with anyone other than an instructor about exams, and you may not use instructor answers to case studies or exams before submitting your answers.

Sample grade calculations (calculator)

More information about this semester’s course

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1/19,30/2011 by Vic