Skip to main content
Unit of study_

PUBH5126: Genomics and Public Health

Intensive October, 2021 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

This unit caters for practitioners, policy and decision-makers, students and researchers in public health, public policy, journalism, law, epidemiology, medicine, science, industry, ethics, philosophy, screening, communication and advocacy. It gives a basic introduction to concepts in genetics and genomics, and covers real-life examples of how genetics and genomics is used in health settings including genomics for COVID-19 control, genomic testing and screening for cancer, familial hypercholesterolemia, newborns, community settings, and in outbreak investigations. It covers epidemiological, psychosocial, legal, ethical, education and policy aspects of genomic testing, and genetic determinants of disease.

Unit details and rules

Unit code PUBH5126
Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prohibitions
? 
None
Prerequisites
? 
PUBH5010 or CEPI5100
Corequisites
? 
None
Assumed knowledge
? 

Basic epidemiology No previous knowledge of genetics is required

Available to study abroad and exchange students

No

Teaching staff

Coordinator Anne Cust, anne.cust@sydney.edu.au
Guest lecturer(s) Leslie Burnett, leslie.burnett@sydney.edu.au
Vitali Sintchenko, vitali.sintchenko@sydney.edu.au
Ainsley Newson, ainsley.newson@sydney.edu.au
Kate Dunlop, kate.dunlop@sydney.edu.au
Ronald Trent, ronald.trent@sydney.edu.au
David Sullivan, david.sullivan@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s) Julia Steinberg, julia.steinberg@sydney.edu.au
Type Description Weight Due Length
Assignment Assessment 5
Peer-assessed teamwork
5% Week 09 Peer-assessed teamwork for assignment
Outcomes assessed: LO7
Presentation group assignment Assessment 3
Group presentation or debate
10% Week 09 5 min
Outcomes assessed: LO3 LO7 LO5 LO4
Assignment Assessment 1
Online MCQ
15% Week 09 30 questions in total (15 per day)
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO8
Assignment group assignment Assessment 2
Written assignment.
25% Week 11 1500 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Assignment Assessment 4
Written assignment (8 questions x 250 words/question)
45% Week 13 2000 words
Outcomes assessed: LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
group assignment = group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name

Mark range

Description

High distinction

85 - 100

 

Distinction

75 - 84

 

Credit

65 - 74

 

Pass

50 - 64

 

Fail

0 - 49

When you don’t meet the learning outcomes of the unit to a satisfactory standard.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

  • Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
  • After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website  provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.  

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

You may only use artificial intelligence and writing assistance tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator, and if you do use them, you must also acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section.

Studiosity is permitted for postgraduate units unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission.

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

WK Topic Learning activity Learning outcomes
Week 09 Workshop day 1 Workshop (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8
Workshop day 2 Workshop (8 hr) LO1 LO2 LO3 LO4 LO5 LO6 LO7 LO8

Attendance and class requirements

1 x 2 day workshop – planned as face-to-face pending COVID restrictions. There is also substantial pre-reading before the course (distributed to students 3-4 weeks before the course starts) and an online component with pre-recorded lectures

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

Pre-readings and pre-recorded lectures will be circulated to students 3-4 weeks before the workshop

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Define the general structure and functions of genes, their roles in health and disease and the concept of ‘penetrance’.
  • LO2. Identify the basic study designs to determine how strongly a disease is genetically determined and the contribution of gene and environment interaction to its cause
  • LO3. Evaluate the potential benefits and harms of genetic testing and genomic screening
  • LO4. Understand and critique the legal, ethical and psychosocial aspects of genomic information, practice and research
  • LO5. Identify and evaluate the potential that genomics and genomic research has to prevent disease and promote health
  • LO6. Identify new directions in genetics and genomics
  • LO7. Work cooperatively and collaboratively with other students on assessment tasks
  • LO8. Direct one’s own continuing education in genomics and public health

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1 Depth of disciplinary expertise

Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.

GQ2 Critical thinking and problem solving

Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.

GQ3 Oral and written communication

Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.

GQ4 Information and digital literacy

Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.

GQ5 Inventiveness

Generating novel ideas and solutions.

GQ6 Cultural competence

Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.

GQ7 Interdisciplinary effectiveness

Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.

GQ8 Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity

An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.

GQ9 Influence

Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes Graduate qualities
GQ1 GQ2 GQ3 GQ4 GQ5 GQ6 GQ7 GQ8 GQ9

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The content in the course is updated every year. We have shortened the workshop to 2 days and put more lectures online.

A basic knowledge of epidemiology is required, but no previous knowledge of genetics and genomics is required.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.