We carried out a new unit-based method in the teaching process of epidemiology for improving undergraduate prevention-oriented medical students' comprehensive ability. The new method integrated heuristic teaching and case teaching, and focused reform on the system of teaching and assessment. The results showed new teaching method can significantly improve students' capacity of analysis and oral expression, and contributes to the comprehensive ability.

The purpose and meaning of epidemiology curriculum,the current problems existing in the teaching and teaching reforms for different specialties were discussed.