Epidemiology 101: the new frontier.

An introductory course in epidemiology for pre-baccalaureate junior and senior undergraduate students is described as part of a Public Health Option programme. The course was similar to that given in schools of public health with additional material on vital statistics. It was well received by the students and stimulated several students to enter graduate programmes in epidemiology in schools of public health. Epidemiology has now matured as an independent scientific discipline so that consideration should be given to establishing University Departments of Epidemiology similar to those in such fields as statistics and biology.