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Master of Science (M.Sc.) Public Health (Non-Thesis) (60 credits)

Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics     Degree: Master of Science

Program Requirements

The M.Sc. in Public Health; Non-Thesis focuses on the foundations and principles of epidemiology and biostatistics as applied to public health research and practice, and to design, conduct, and analyze clinical, population-based, environmental, policy, and methodological public health-related research. The program will include a three-month practicum after the first year.

Required Courses (36 Credits)

Students exempted from any of the courses listed below must replace them with additional complementary course credits.

  • EPIB 601 Fundamentals of Epidemiology (4 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to epidemiologic concepts and corresponding terms. After an introduction to the history, definition, and purposes of epidemiology, "core" concepts that are relevant in several areas of investigation (e.g., etiologic research, health care research, and community medicine practice) will be presented.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Paradis, Gilles; Auguste, Aviane; Hollm-Delgado, Maria-Graciela (Fall)

  • EPIB 603 Intermediate Epidemiology (4 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Concepts and methods for epidemiology at the intermediate level, including causation, measures of disease occurrence and effect, study designs, biases in epidemiologic research, interaction, and data analysis for categorical and survival data using statistical software.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Weichenthal, Scott Andrew (Winter)

  • EPIB 605 Critical Appraisal in Epidemiology (1 credit)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : This course provides the opportunity to develop skills to critically evaluate evidence presented in the biomedical and health sciences literature, based on the concepts acquired in the epidemiology introductory courses.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Tamblyn, Robyn (Winter)

  • EPIB 607 Inferential Statistics (4 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Introduction to the basic principles of statistical inference used in clinical and epidemiologic research. Topics include variability; methods of processing and describing data; sampling and sampling distributions; inferences regarding means and proportions, non-parametric methods, regression and correlation.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Mamiya, Hiroshi (Fall)

    • Prerequisite (Undergraduate): A first year course in undergraduate differential and integral calculus.

  • EPIB 613 Introduction to Statistical Software (1 credit)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Introduction to statistical software and data management; including basics of entering, manipulating data and elementary statistical analysis, SAS software, with reference to other packages of potential interest to students (R, Stata, SPSS).

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Parsons, Marc (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Enrolment in Epidemiology stream program or permission of instructor.

  • EPIB 621 Data Analysis in Health Sciences (4 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques for continuous categorical and survival data. Topics include generalized linear models, multiple linear and logistic regression, introductory survival analysis, model selection. Maximum likelihood and Bayesean approaches will be presented.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Zhang, Qihuang (Winter)

  • PPHS 602 Foundations of Population Health (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Introduction to population health and the conceptual basis of the population health approach to measuring disease occurrence and to prevention. Fundamentals of, and methods for, studying burden of disease in population, and how these differ across time, space, and groups. Topics include population dynamics, denominators, occurrence of events, time, person and place, health indicators, standardization, life tables, age, cohort and period effects, disease surveillance and vital statistics. Introduction to the concepts and principles of measurement including measurement error, validity, reliability, and accuracy.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Baumgartner, Jill (Fall)

  • PPHS 612 Principles of Public Health Practice (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Principles and methods in public health practice. Topics will include investigation in public health, public health intervention, program evaluation, public health and the health care system, society and public health.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Paradis, Gilles; Damestoy, Nicole (Winter)

  • PPHS 630 MScPH Practicum/Project (12 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : The practicum provides the opportunity to integrate classroom learning and practice in a population or public health work environment. The student contributes to an organization's mandate and to addressing a population and/or public health problem while developing skills as a population and/or public health professional and/or researcher.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Restriction(s): Open to students registered in the M.Sc. in Public Health; Non-Thesis.

Practicum/Project
If a stream is chosen as part of the complementary courses, the practicum must be related to the subject of the selected stream.

Complementary Courses (9-18 Credits)

Environmental Health Sciences

3 credits from:

  • GEOG 503 Advanced Topics in Health Geography (3 credits)

    Offered by: Geography (Faculty of Science)

    Overview

    Geography : A critical review of current themes and trends in health geography, with emphasis on geographical perspectives in public health research. Topics include the social and environmental determinants of chronic and infectious disease, health and health-related behaviours. Seminars focus on critical appraisal of conceptual and methodological approaches in health geography research.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Riva, Mylene (Fall)

    • Fall

    • 3 hours

    • Prerequisite: GEOG 303 or GEOG 403 or permission of instructor

    • Restrictions: Course open to U3 undergraduate students and graduate students in the Department of Geography OR others with permission of instructor. Not open to students who took GEOG 503 in Winter 2009.

  • OCCH 602 Occupational Health Practice (3 credits)

    Offered by: Occupational Health (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Occupational Health & Hygiene : This course analyzes the functions, structure and organization of occupational health programs and services.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Czyziw, Elizabeth; Ostiguy, Geneviève (Fall)

  • OCCH 604 Monitoring Occupational Environment (3 credits)

    Offered by: Occupational Health (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Occupational Health & Hygiene : Principles and practices of environmental and biological monitoring of workplace hazards are addressed. Familiarization with instrumentation and calibration procedures is undertaken. Students learn to identify workplace health hazards, develop effective sampling strategies, use industrial hygiene equipment and interpret results of exposure measurements.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Leblanc, René (Winter)

  • PPHS 529 Global Environmental Health and Burden of Disease (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : This course presents the grand challenges in global health from environmental and occupational risks along with the multi-disciplinary methods used to identify, control, and prevent them. It will introduce students to knowledge and skills in core disciplines of environmental health and approaches to environmental risk recognition, control and prevention in a global context.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Weichenthal, Scott Andrew (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 529.

    • 1. Permission of instructor required for undergraduate students.

    • 2.This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

    • 3. Previous coursework in statistics and environmental science is useful, though not required.

Or other course, at the 500 level or higher, selected with the Program's Academic Adviser.

Health Services Research Policy and Management

3 credits from:

  • PPHS 525 Health Care Systems in Comparative Perspective (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Comparative perspective to illustrate processes involved in the development and evolution of health care systems around the world. Countries examined will represent different welfare state regimes, health care system typologies, levels of development and wealth.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Quesnel Vallée, Amélie (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 525. Not open to students who are taking or have taken SOCI 525.

    • Note: This course is cross-listed in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and in Sociology

  • PPHS 527 Economics for Health Services Research and Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Key health policy topics in developed economies using analytic frameworks and tools from economics. Major topics include health insurance, health care financing, and the roles of individuals and public and private institutions in the health care system.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 527.

    • NOTE: This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments, with the permission of the instructor. A background in introductory economics is useful, though not required.

  • PPHS 528 Economic Evaluation of Health Programs (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Concepts and methods used to carry out economic evaluations of health programs and interventions, including public health interventions, pharmaceuticals, and other health care interventions. Includes topics such as calculation of unit costs, measurement of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and assessment of uncertainty in cost-effectiveness analysis.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Russell, Alton (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 528.

    • No prior background in economics is required.

    • Open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

  • PPHS 617 Impact Evaluation (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : This course will cover methods for estimating the effects of social interventions on health outcomes. We will provide the intuition for conducting impact evaluation studies in population health and discuss recent developments. We will define causal policy effects within the potential outcomes framework and introduce and formally define policy-relevant research questions based on specific causal contrasts. We will cover the use of randomized and cluster randomized trials for impact evaluation, including cost-effectiveness. We will additionally cover quasi-experimental designs such as interrupted time series, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Strumpf, Erin (Fall)

Or other course, at the 500 level or higher, selected with the Program's Academic Adviser.

Population and Public Health Interventions (social and behavioural science)

3 credits from:

  • EPIB 632 Mental Disorders: Population Perspectives and Methods (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Semester-long seminar on key issues and concepts integral to the epidemiological study of mental disorders, through the lens of a population perspective. Review of the origins of the field, classical studies, and recent major studies. Survey of where the field is now. Discussion of national and global burden of mental disorders. Defining and diagnosing mental disorders. Methods to identify psychopathology in community versus clinical settings. Reliability and validity of psychiatric diagnoses and measurement tools. Research designs including approaches to study etiology, health services delivery, prevention, role functioning, and policy.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 603 or equivalent, or permission of instructor

    • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken or are taking PSYT 713.

  • PPHS 614 Knowledge Translation and Public Health Leadership (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : An examination of knowledge translation in public health, including synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically-sound application of knowledge to policy and programming. Overview of knowledge translation processes for effective evidence-informed public health leadership.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Pai, Madhukar; Labos, Christopher (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: PPHS 612 or permission of instructor

    • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken EPIB 678 when topic was ‘Knowledge Translation, Communications, and Evidence-Informed Public Health Leadership’.

  • PPHS 616 Principles and Practice of Public Health Surveillance (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : The objectives of this course are to familiarize students with the theory and methods of surveillance, a core public health function. The seminars will define surveillance and explore surveillance applications and methods through case studies and in-class exercises. Topics will include: measurement, indicators, analytical methods, and the future of surveillance. Computer-based modules will complement seminars. Topics will include: estimating the burden of a disease, detecting disease outbreaks, and identifying cases of chronic disease.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 603, EPIB 621, PPHS 612, or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

    • Students are encouraged to use R statistical software and to bring a laptop to class.

  • PPHS 618 Program Planning and Evaluation in Public Health (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Major activities in planning and evaluating an evidence-based public health intervention using a structured approach to intervention planning and different evaluation methodologies and techniques. Emphasis on evidence-based program planning, logic model development, participatory approaches, and program evaluation in applied public health settings.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Law, Stephanie (Winter)

Or other course, at the 500 level or higher, selected with the Program's Academic Adviser.

0-9 credits from one of the following six streams.
In consultation with and approval by the program’s academic adviser, students may focus on one of the following areas.

Courses may not satisfy more than one program requirement.

Stream 1: Epidemiology

9 credits from:

  • EPIB 628 Measurement in Epidemiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : This course will focus on methodological issues related to measures of health status, determinants of health status, and other relevant covariates encountered in clinical and epidemiologic research. Topics to be covered include instrument development, assessment of reliability and validity, item response theory, and latent variable-based measurement models.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

  • EPIB 629 Knowledge Synthesis (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : This course will provide a detailed description of the systematic review process, discuss the strengths and limitations of the method, and provide step-by-step guidance on how to perform a systematic review, and how to critically appraise systematic reviews. Specific topics to be covered include: formulation of the review question, searching of literature, quality assessment of studies, data extraction, meta-analytic methods, and report writing. The course will also cover statistical issues of meta-analysis.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Filion, Kristian (Fall)

    • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 601 and EPIB 607, or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 619. Not open to students who have taken EPIB 675 when topic was 'Knowledge Synthesis'.

  • EPIB 637 Advanced Modeling: Survival and Other Multivariable Data (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Advanced applied biostatistics course dealing with flexible modeling of non-linear effects of continuous covariates in multivariable analyses, and survival data, including e.g. time-varying covariates and time-dependent or cumulative effects. Focus on the concepts, limitations and advantages of specific methods, and interpretation of their results. Students will get hands-on experience in the implementation of selected methods by applying them to their own multivariable data, in individual survival analysis projects.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Abrahamowicz, Michal (Winter)

    • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 621, or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

  • EPIB 638 Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Mathematical models of infectious diseases –computer simulations of epidemics–enable detailed analyses and understanding of factors affecting the distribution of infections/diseases in populations and now play a key role in policy making. Covered topics include: short-term dynamics of infections (R0), compartmental models, stochastic models (including agent-based), contact patterns and heterogeneity, and Bayesian model calibration. The learning objectives are: 1) recognize research questions that can be addressed using modeling; 2) develop, parameterize, calibrate, and analyze simple infectious disease models in R; and 3) critically appraise scientific modeling papers.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 621 or permission of the instructor

    • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken EPIB 676 when topic was "Mathematical Models of Infectious Diseases".

    • This is an intermediate-level quantitative course. Previous courses in calculus and biostatistics are recommended (in doubt, contact the instructor prior to registration). A working knowledge of the R statistical software (or equivalent) is mandatory (data structures, function, loop, etc.).

  • EPIB 648 Methods in Social Epidemiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Methods for conducting studies in social epidemiology and population health will be covered. Topics will include causal inference; measurement and concepts of social exposures; methods for study design and analysis. Techniques for descriptive and etiologic investigations of socioeconomic position, gender, race and ethnicity, geography, and social policies will be discussed.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Yang, Seungmi (Fall)

Stream 2: Global Health

3 credits in:

  • PPHS 613 The Practice of Global Health (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Introduction to core competencies in the practice of global health, including historical, colonial roots of global health, project planning and implementation, equitable and ethical conduct, building partnerships, working within interdisciplinary teams, effective communication and personal-social skills.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Larson, Charles Palmer; Ahun, Marilyn (Winter)

6 credits from:

  • EPIB 681 Global Health: Epidemiological Research (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : A review of selected epidemiological research focussing on global health and disease topics. Research will be mostly from developing countries and research methods will be highlighted. Case studies will be used to illustrate specific applications and challenges.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite: With permission of instructor.

  • PPHS 511 Fundamentals of Global Health (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : This exciting and interactive course aims to give students the opportunity to broaden their understanding and knowledge of global health issues, including global burden of diseases, determinants of health, transition in health and drivers of such transition, challenges in healthcare delivery in resource-limited settings, and the variety of agencies and actors engaged in addressing global health challenges. The course consists of lectures, case studies, debates, discussions and small group work.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Pai, Madhukar (Fall)

  • PPHS 525 Health Care Systems in Comparative Perspective (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Comparative perspective to illustrate processes involved in the development and evolution of health care systems around the world. Countries examined will represent different welfare state regimes, health care system typologies, levels of development and wealth.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Quesnel Vallée, Amélie (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 525. Not open to students who are taking or have taken SOCI 525.

    • Note: This course is cross-listed in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and in Sociology

  • PPHS 529 Global Environmental Health and Burden of Disease (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : This course presents the grand challenges in global health from environmental and occupational risks along with the multi-disciplinary methods used to identify, control, and prevent them. It will introduce students to knowledge and skills in core disciplines of environmental health and approaches to environmental risk recognition, control and prevention in a global context.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Weichenthal, Scott Andrew (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 529.

    • 1. Permission of instructor required for undergraduate students.

    • 2.This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

    • 3. Previous coursework in statistics and environmental science is useful, though not required.

  • PPHS 614 Knowledge Translation and Public Health Leadership (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : An examination of knowledge translation in public health, including synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically-sound application of knowledge to policy and programming. Overview of knowledge translation processes for effective evidence-informed public health leadership.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Pai, Madhukar; Labos, Christopher (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: PPHS 612 or permission of instructor

    • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken EPIB 678 when topic was ‘Knowledge Translation, Communications, and Evidence-Informed Public Health Leadership’.

  • PPHS 615 Introduction to Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Introduction to the field of infectious disease epidemiology taught from a public health perspective. Topics include analytic methods, study design, outbreak investigations, surveillance, vaccine development and evaluations, screening, modelling, and infectious causes of cancer or chronic diseases.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Merckx, Joanna-Trees (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: EPIB 601 or Permission of Instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 615.

    • Note: An undergraduate level biology course is highly recommended.

  • PPHS 618 Program Planning and Evaluation in Public Health (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Major activities in planning and evaluating an evidence-based public health intervention using a structured approach to intervention planning and different evaluation methodologies and techniques. Emphasis on evidence-based program planning, logic model development, participatory approaches, and program evaluation in applied public health settings.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Law, Stephanie (Winter)

Stream 3: Population Dynamics

6 credits in:

  • SOCI 545 Sociology of Population (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : The classic literature of sociology of population. Drawing reciprocal linkages between social and population processes: Historical, family and labour force demography, demographic and fertility transitions, mortality, ethnic and race relations, gender, macro-structural interaction theory, and the relation of population and the environment.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Torrisi, Orsola (Fall)

  • SOCI 626 Demographic Methods (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : Introduction to demographic measurement and modeling. Course covers direct and indirect estimation, standardization, life table construction, and population projections.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Torrisi, Orsola (Winter)

    • Specific topics may vary from semester to semester.

3 credits from:

  • EPIB 648 Methods in Social Epidemiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Methods for conducting studies in social epidemiology and population health will be covered. Topics will include causal inference; measurement and concepts of social exposures; methods for study design and analysis. Techniques for descriptive and etiologic investigations of socioeconomic position, gender, race and ethnicity, geography, and social policies will be discussed.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Yang, Seungmi (Fall)

  • EPIB 681 Global Health: Epidemiological Research (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : A review of selected epidemiological research focussing on global health and disease topics. Research will be mostly from developing countries and research methods will be highlighted. Case studies will be used to illustrate specific applications and challenges.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite: With permission of instructor.

  • PPHS 525 Health Care Systems in Comparative Perspective (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Comparative perspective to illustrate processes involved in the development and evolution of health care systems around the world. Countries examined will represent different welfare state regimes, health care system typologies, levels of development and wealth.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Quesnel Vallée, Amélie (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 525. Not open to students who are taking or have taken SOCI 525.

    • Note: This course is cross-listed in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and in Sociology

  • PPHS 527 Economics for Health Services Research and Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Key health policy topics in developed economies using analytic frameworks and tools from economics. Major topics include health insurance, health care financing, and the roles of individuals and public and private institutions in the health care system.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 527.

    • NOTE: This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments, with the permission of the instructor. A background in introductory economics is useful, though not required.

  • PPHS 528 Economic Evaluation of Health Programs (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Concepts and methods used to carry out economic evaluations of health programs and interventions, including public health interventions, pharmaceuticals, and other health care interventions. Includes topics such as calculation of unit costs, measurement of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and assessment of uncertainty in cost-effectiveness analysis.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Russell, Alton (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 528.

    • No prior background in economics is required.

    • Open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

  • PPHS 529 Global Environmental Health and Burden of Disease (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : This course presents the grand challenges in global health from environmental and occupational risks along with the multi-disciplinary methods used to identify, control, and prevent them. It will introduce students to knowledge and skills in core disciplines of environmental health and approaches to environmental risk recognition, control and prevention in a global context.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Weichenthal, Scott Andrew (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 529.

    • 1. Permission of instructor required for undergraduate students.

    • 2.This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

    • 3. Previous coursework in statistics and environmental science is useful, though not required.

  • SOCI 512 Ethnicity and Public Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : Major themes in the theoretical literature on ethnicity. Public policies with direct and indirect implications for inter-ethnic relations will be studied. Policies affecting areas such as language, education, immigration, employment and promotion, multiculturalism and welfare. Examples drawn from several multi-ethnic societies. Political, constitutional, and economic problems associated with these policy initiatives.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite: SOCI 230 or permission from the instructor.

    • Restriction: Not open to students who have taken SOCI 629.

  • SOCI 520 Migration and Immigrant Groups (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : Review of the major demographic, economic and sociological theories of internal and international migration. The main emphasis will be on empirical research on migration and immigrant groups.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Soehl, Thomas (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: 15 credits in the Social Sciences

  • SOCI 535 Sociology of the Family (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : This seminar reviews literature on major research areas in family. The course examines families in the past, the study of family using a life course approach, and considers selective areas which may have had significant influences on contemporary family such as work and family, family violence, and cultural variation in families.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Undergraduate students require permission of instructor

  • SOCI 588 Biosociology/Biodemography (3 credits)

    Offered by: Sociology (Faculty of Arts)

    Overview

    Sociology (Arts) : This course will explore linkages between social and biological systems, their influence on health and well-being over the life course, and on health disparities. Topics include classical sociological approaches to biosocial processes, sociobiology (reductionist, but population-based), and newer demographic studies on gen-environment, epigenetic, and stress-metabolic/allostatic processes.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Stream 4: Health Policy and Ethics

3 credits in:

  • PPHS 624 Public Health Ethics and Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Critical assessment of ethical dilemmas and policy considerations raised by the practice of public health. Specific topics include: measuring and defining health; surveillance and privacy; preparedness, quarantine, and distribution of resources during a health emergency; and health inequalities.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: King, Nicholas (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 624.

    • Students from all disciplinary backgrounds are welcome.

6 credits from:

  • PPHS 527 Economics for Health Services Research and Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Key health policy topics in developed economies using analytic frameworks and tools from economics. Major topics include health insurance, health care financing, and the roles of individuals and public and private institutions in the health care system.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 527.

    • NOTE: This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments, with the permission of the instructor. A background in introductory economics is useful, though not required.

  • PPHS 528 Economic Evaluation of Health Programs (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Concepts and methods used to carry out economic evaluations of health programs and interventions, including public health interventions, pharmaceuticals, and other health care interventions. Includes topics such as calculation of unit costs, measurement of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and assessment of uncertainty in cost-effectiveness analysis.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Russell, Alton (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 528.

    • No prior background in economics is required.

    • Open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

  • PPHS 614 Knowledge Translation and Public Health Leadership (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : An examination of knowledge translation in public health, including synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and ethically-sound application of knowledge to policy and programming. Overview of knowledge translation processes for effective evidence-informed public health leadership.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Pai, Madhukar; Labos, Christopher (Winter)

    • Prerequisite: PPHS 612 or permission of instructor

    • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken EPIB 678 when topic was ‘Knowledge Translation, Communications, and Evidence-Informed Public Health Leadership’.

Stream 5: Infectious Disease

3 credits in:

  • PPHS 615 Introduction to Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Introduction to the field of infectious disease epidemiology taught from a public health perspective. Topics include analytic methods, study design, outbreak investigations, surveillance, vaccine development and evaluations, screening, modelling, and infectious causes of cancer or chronic diseases.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Merckx, Joanna-Trees (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: EPIB 601 or Permission of Instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 615.

    • Note: An undergraduate level biology course is highly recommended.

6 credits from:

  • EPIB 638 Mathematical Modeling of Infectious Diseases (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Mathematical models of infectious diseases –computer simulations of epidemics–enable detailed analyses and understanding of factors affecting the distribution of infections/diseases in populations and now play a key role in policy making. Covered topics include: short-term dynamics of infections (R0), compartmental models, stochastic models (including agent-based), contact patterns and heterogeneity, and Bayesian model calibration. The learning objectives are: 1) recognize research questions that can be addressed using modeling; 2) develop, parameterize, calibrate, and analyze simple infectious disease models in R; and 3) critically appraise scientific modeling papers.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Prerequisite(s): EPIB 621 or permission of the instructor

    • Restrictions: Not open to students who have taken EPIB 676 when topic was "Mathematical Models of Infectious Diseases".

    • This is an intermediate-level quantitative course. Previous courses in calculus and biostatistics are recommended (in doubt, contact the instructor prior to registration). A working knowledge of the R statistical software (or equivalent) is mandatory (data structures, function, loop, etc.).

  • PPHS 527 Economics for Health Services Research and Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Key health policy topics in developed economies using analytic frameworks and tools from economics. Major topics include health insurance, health care financing, and the roles of individuals and public and private institutions in the health care system.

    Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 527.

    • NOTE: This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments, with the permission of the instructor. A background in introductory economics is useful, though not required.

  • PPHS 528 Economic Evaluation of Health Programs (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : Concepts and methods used to carry out economic evaluations of health programs and interventions, including public health interventions, pharmaceuticals, and other health care interventions. Includes topics such as calculation of unit costs, measurement of quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) and assessment of uncertainty in cost-effectiveness analysis.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Russell, Alton (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 528.

    • No prior background in economics is required.

    • Open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

  • PPHS 615 Introduction to Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Introduction to the field of infectious disease epidemiology taught from a public health perspective. Topics include analytic methods, study design, outbreak investigations, surveillance, vaccine development and evaluations, screening, modelling, and infectious causes of cancer or chronic diseases.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Merckx, Joanna-Trees (Fall)

    • Prerequisite: EPIB 601 or Permission of Instructor.

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 615.

    • Note: An undergraduate level biology course is highly recommended.

  • PPHS 618 Program Planning and Evaluation in Public Health (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Major activities in planning and evaluating an evidence-based public health intervention using a structured approach to intervention planning and different evaluation methodologies and techniques. Emphasis on evidence-based program planning, logic model development, participatory approaches, and program evaluation in applied public health settings.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Law, Stephanie (Winter)

  • PPHS 624 Public Health Ethics and Policy (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    PPHS : Critical assessment of ethical dilemmas and policy considerations raised by the practice of public health. Specific topics include: measuring and defining health; surveillance and privacy; preparedness, quarantine, and distribution of resources during a health emergency; and health inequalities.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: King, Nicholas (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 624.

    • Students from all disciplinary backgrounds are welcome.

Stream 6: Environmental Health

9 credits from:

  • EPIB 684 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences 1 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Topics in environmental health sciences: principles of exposure assessment and of toxicology.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Baumgartner, Jill; Mann, Koren; Robaire, Bernard; Basu, Niladri (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Open to graduate students pursuing a career in Environmental Health Sciences or with permission of the course instructors. Not open to students who have taken or are taking EXMD 670 or NRSC 670 or PHAR 670.

  • EPIB 685 Principles of Environmental Health Sciences 2 (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Administered by: Graduate Studies

    Overview

    Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Topics in environmental health sciences: principles of environmental epidemiology.

    Terms: Winter 2025

    Instructors: Mamiya, Hiroshi (Winter)

    • Restriction(s): Open to graduate students in the Environmental Health Sciences or permission of the course instructors. Not open to students who have taken or are taking EXMD 671 or NRSC 671 or PHAR 671.

  • PPHS 529 Global Environmental Health and Burden of Disease (3 credits)

    Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences)

    Overview

    PPHS : This course presents the grand challenges in global health from environmental and occupational risks along with the multi-disciplinary methods used to identify, control, and prevent them. It will introduce students to knowledge and skills in core disciplines of environmental health and approaches to environmental risk recognition, control and prevention in a global context.

    Terms: Fall 2024

    Instructors: Weichenthal, Scott Andrew (Fall)

    • Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 529.

    • 1. Permission of instructor required for undergraduate students.

    • 2.This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.

    • 3. Previous coursework in statistics and environmental science is useful, though not required.

Or other courses, at the 500-level or higher, selected with the Academic Adviser.

Elective Courses (6-15 Credits)

6-15 credits of coursework, at the 500 level or higher. Students may choose to focus on more advanced methods in epidemiology, biostatistics, geography, or substantive areas such as environmental or occupational health, or to select a variety of courses that will deepen their general knowledge of the disciplines that influence population and public health.

Courses will be selected with and approved by the Program's Academic Adviser.

Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences—2024-2025 (last updated Aug. 22, 2024) (disclaimer)
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