This course will introduce students to common data collection sources and methods used currently in epidemiological research. Existing medical, insurance, and vital records will be discussed, along with traditional self, telephone, and in-person interviewing methods. Major sources of public health data will also be covered including the National Vital Statistics System, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System, and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). More novel approaches that include internet based surveys and social media will be covered as well. Lastly, we will touch on the complexities involved in the collection and storage of biological specimens. For all methods, issues associated with data quality control, validity and reliability will be covered. Students will practice developing their own surveys and other data collection tools and will evaluate data collection methods published within the scientific literature.