EPIDEMIOLOGY COURSES OFFERED
IMPORTANT
- Special students and students from other departments or universities require the permission of the course instructor.
- Course numbers EPIB 641, 643, 668, 670, 671, 672, 675, 676, 677, 678, 679 belong to a group of Special Topics course numbers, and can be used only once. If you have used any of these numbers in a previous course, please contact the Student Affairs Office.
TIMETABLES
- Fall 2012 [pdf]
- Winter_2013 [pdf]
COURSES OFFERED
- FALL: 507 525 528 601 602 604 607 609 613 623 627 628 648 668 702
- WINTER: 501 527 603 605 608 610 612 614 615 621 669 672 679 681 702
COURSE DESCRIPTIONS
EPIB 501 Population Health and Epidemiology
jean-f [dot] boivin@mcgill [dot] ca [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J.-F. Boivin)
This course presents concepts and methods of epidemiology at the introductory level. The use of epidemiologic methods for population and public health research and practice will be illustrated. A review of selected population health questions such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic, the cardiovascular disease epidemic, cigarette smoking, or screening for disease will be presented.
Course not open to students enrolled in Epidemiology or Public Health Programs.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 507 Biostatistics for Health Professionals
celia [dot] greenwood [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. C. Greenwood) / antonio [dot] ciampi [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. A. Ciampi)
Basic principles of statistical inference applicable to clinical, epidemiologic, and other health research. Topics include: methods of describing data, statistical inference for means, statistical inference for proportions, non-parametric statistics, correlation and introduction to linear regression.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of instructor
Restriction(s): Restricted to students registered in Occupational Health, Dentistry, Rehabilitation Sciences, Human Nutrition, Experimental Medicine-Family Medicine Option, Otolaringology, Medical Residents, and Clinical Fellows.
NOTES: Medical Residents & Clinical Fellows can register for this course only during the Summer term.
Course not opened to students registered in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics programs.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 525 Health Care Systems in Comparative Perspective
amelie [dot] quesnelvallee [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. A. Quesnel-Vallée)
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.
Note: This course is cross-listed in Sociology.
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken SOCI 525.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 527 Economics for Health Services Research and Policy.
erin [dot] strumpfloucks [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. E. Strumpf)
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.
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.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 528 Economic Evaluation of Health Programmes
eric [dot] latimer [at] douglas [dot] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. E. Latimer)
Concepts and methods used to carry out economic evaluations of health programmes 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.
Note: This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments, with the permission of the instructor. No prior background in economics is required.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 601 Fundamentals of Epidemiology
arijit [dot] nandi [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. A. Nandi) / jean-f [dot] boivin [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J-F Boivin)
This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to modern epidemiologic concepts and methods. It is designed for graduate students in the MSc and PhD degree programs of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. This course provides, at the graduate level, fundamental concepts, principles, and methods of epidemiologic research and study design. Topics include definitions, measures of disease frequency and effect, epidemiologic study designs, biases and confounding. In addition to lectures, students will participate in a practicum/laboratory session where they will engage in case studies, group discussions, journal article appraisals, and work on problem sets, quizzes, and lab exercises. The companion courses, 602 and 603, will cover other introductory topics in epidemiology and biostatistics.
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in EPIB 602.
Restriction: Not open to students who have taken EPIB 606.
Restricted to students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.
EPIB 602 Foundations of Population Health
gilles [dot] paradis [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. G. Paradis)
EPIB 602 is a companion course to EPIB 601. The course is intended for graduate students in the epidemiology degree programs and is required for MSc students in Epidemiology. The course focuses on three main topics: descriptive epidemiology, sampling methods and measurement. Specific topics will include an introduction to population-based studies, life table and basic survival analysis, probability and non-probability-based sampling, sampling error, sample size estimation, principles of exposure measurement, measurement error, validity, reliability, questionnaire design and other concepts and methods.
Prerequisites: Concurrent enrollment in EPIB 601 and 607.
Restricted to students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 603 Intermediate Epidemiology
sam [dot] harper [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. S. Harper)
This course presents concepts and methods for epidemiology at the intermediate level. It is designed for students interested in conducting epidemiologic research autonomously. The course covers: concepts of causation, measures of disease occurrence and effect, study designs, biases in epidemiologic research, and interaction. Critical assessment of the literature is emphasized.
Prerequisites: EPIB 601, EPIB 602 and EPIB 607.
Restricted to students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.
Academic Credits: 4
EPIB 604 Epidemiologic Analysis
jay [dot] kaufman [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J. Kaufman)
Estimation of epidemiologic effect measures and their confidence intervals in a variety of different study designs. Emphasis on analysis of sample data sets using regression models, graphical and tabular presentation of results, causal interpretation of effect estimates, writing reports for scientific publications, and sensitivity analyses for violated assumptions.
Prerequisites: EPIB 603 and EPIB 621 or equivalent
Restriction: Open to Ph.D. students in Epidemiology or Biostatistics programs only
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 605 Critical Appraisal in Epidemiology
maida [dot] sewitch [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. M. Sewitch)
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.
Prerequisites: EPIB 601 and EPIB 607.
Restricted to students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.
Academic Credit: 1
EPIB 607 Inferential Statistics
erica [dot] moodie [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. E. Moodie) / olli [dot] saarela [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. O. Saarela)
The aim of this course is to provide students with basic principles of statistical inference applicable to clinical and epidemiologic research so that they can: i) understand how statistical methods are used by others; (ii) apply statistical methods in their own research; (iii) use the methods learned in this course as a foundation for more advanced biostatistics courses. Topics include sampling, methods of describing data, introduction to probability, introduction to statistical inference, correlation and an introduction to regression.
Prerequisites: At least one course which includes differential and integral calculus.
Restricted to students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.
Academic Credits: 4
EPIB 608 Advanced Epidemiology
claire [dot] infante-rivard [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. C. Infante-Rivard) / samy [dot] suissa [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. S. Suissa)
The objective of this course is to reinforce what students already know about epidemiologic methods, and to broaden and deepen their understanding of issues related to "time" in epidemiology. The course will focus on the design and analysis of studies where time-varying patterns of occurrence of outcome events and exposure measures are of particular relevance. Classical and newer study designs and statistical analyses, as well as their associated biases are discussed. The course will involve both lectures and seminars. The seminar component will be based on student presentations of papers followed by general discussion.
Prerequisite: Students should have completed the introductory courses in epidemiology and biostatistics (EPIB 601, EPIB 602, EPIB 607 and EPIB 621 or the equivalent courses) or have permission from the instructors.
Restriction: Open to Ph.D. students in Epidemiology or Biostatistics programs only
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 609 Seminar on Advanced Methods in Epidemiology
james [dot] hanley [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J. Hanley)
The two primary learning objectives of this course are to contribute to the training of PhD students in their quest to become independent scientists and to provide opportunities for supervised classroom teaching of epidemiological and biostatistical methods. These objectives will be achieved through directed readings, presentations and discussions. Topics also include the development of epidemiological methods and selected current epidemiological controversies.
Prerequisite(s): successful completion of the PhD preparatory year curriculum (or equivalent courses taken elsewhere) or permission of instructor.
Restriction(s): Restricted to Ph.D. students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health
Academic Credit: 3
EPIB 610 Advanced Methods: Causal Inference
robert [dot] platt [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. R. Platt)
Conceptual and methodological issues in epidemiology and biostatistics related to causal inference.
Prerequisite(s): EPIB 608, or equivalent, or permission of instructor
Restriction(s): Restricted to Ph.D. students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health
Academic Credit: 3
EPIB 612 Principles of Public Health Practice
david [dot] buckeridge [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. D. Buckeridge)
Epidemiology & Biostatistics: 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.
Prequisites: EPIB 601, EPIB 602, and EPIB 607 or permission of instructor
Restriction: Open only to students in the MSc and PhD programs in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health. Open to students in other disciplines with permission of instructor.
Academic Credit: 3
EPIB 613 Introduction to Statistical Software
jay [dot] kaufman [at] mcgill [dot] ca [dot] ca (Dr. J. Kaufman) / lawrence [dot] joseph [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. L. Joseph)
Introduction to statistical software and fundamentals of data management – data entering, manipulating data and elementary statistical analysis in Epidemiology using software such as STATA and R.
Prerequisite: Enrolment in Epidemiology program.
Academic Credit: 1
EPIB 614 - Basics of Measurement in Epidemiology
jane [dot] mccusker [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J.McCusker)
The course will review principles that can be applied to measuring a wide range of exposures, as well as outcomes. Accurate measurement is essential to the validity of epidemiological research.Topics to be covered include measurement error, and the design, analysis, and interpretation of validity and reliability studies.
Prerequisites: EPIB 601, EPIB 602 and EPIB 607
Restriction: Open only to students in the M.Sc. and Ph.D. programs in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.
Academic Credits: 1
EPIB 615 - Introduction to Infectious Disease Epidemiology
caroline [dot] quach [at] mcgill [dot] ca
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, modeling, and infectious causes of cancer or chronic diseases.
Prerequisite: EPIB 601 or Permission of Instructor.
Note: An undergraduate level biology course is highly recommended.
Syllabus [PDF]
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 619: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses
*Offered in Summer Session*
Academic Credits: 2
Please see www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/summer/coursestimetables#EPIB-619.
EPIB 621 Data Analysis in Health Sciences
aurelie [dot] labbe [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. A. Labbe)
Univariate and multivariate statistical techniques for continuous categorical data. Topics include generalized linear models, multiple linear and logistic regression and model selection. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian approaches will be presented.
Prerequisites: EPIB 601, and EPIB 607 or permission of instructor.
Restricted to students in the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health.
Academic Credits: 4
EPIB 623 Research Design in Health Sciences
christina [dot] wolfson [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. C. Wolfson)
Lectures and discussions plus oral and written presentations by students, to provide guidance and experience in the development of objectives, for the formulation and constructive peer criticism of designs for research in the health sciences, including etiologic and evaluative, cross-sectional, case-reference and cohort studies.
Prerequisite: EPIB 601 and EPIB 602.
Restrictions: Registration restricted to students in the Ph.D. Epidemiology program.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 627 Analysis of Correlated Data
andrea [dot] benedetti [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. A. Benedetti) / aurelie [dot] labbe [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. A. Labbe)
The course will provide a basic introduction to methods for analysis of correlated, or dependent, data. These data arise when observations are not gathered independently; examples are longitudinal data, household data, cluster samples, etc. basic descriptive methods and introduce regression methods for both continuous and discrete outcomes will be examined
Prerequisites: EPIB 603, EPIB 621.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 628 Measurement in Epidemiology
norbert [dot] schmitz [at] douglas [dot] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. N. Schmitz)
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.
Prerequisites: EPIB 603 and EPIB 621 or permission of instructor.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 630 Public Health Project
rebecca [dot] fuhrer [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. R. Fuhrer)
Students will critically assess research and summarize the findings in a research paper on a health related topic from a public health perspective. Topic to be approved by faculty member who will direct student and evaluate the paper.
Restriction: Restricted to Master's of Public Health students who have completed requirements.
Academic Credits: 14
EPIB 631 Pharmacoepidemiology 2
*Offered in Summer Session*
Academic Credits: 2
Please see www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/summer/coursestimetables#EPIB-631.
EPIB 633 PE I: Pharmacoepidemiology
*Offered in Summer Session*
Academic Credits: 2
Please see www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/summer/coursestimetables#EPIB-633.
EPIB 647 Computational Analysis of Temporal & Spatial Health Data
david [dot] buckeridge [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. D. Buckeridge)
NOT OFFERED IN 2012-2013
This course focuses on the computational management and analysis of large data sets in epidemiology. We will consider data storage and retrieval, prospective temporal and spatial analysis, and the evaluation of pattern detection. The course will include a computer lab with exercises integrated tightly with the substantive areas.
Prerequisites: EPIB 603 and EPIB 621 or permission of instructor.
Please note this course has a minium requirement of 8 registrations. It will be cancelled if minimum is not met.
Academic Credit: 3
EPIB 648 Methods in Social Epidemiology
sam [dot] harper [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. S. Harper) / jay [dot] kaufman [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J. Kaufman)
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.
Prerequisites: EPIB 603 and EPIB 621, or permission of the instructors.
Academic Credit: 3
EPIB 654 PE IV: Pharmacoeconomics
*Offered in Summer Session*
Academic Credits: 2
Please see www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/summer/coursestimetables#EPIB-654.
EPIB 660 Practical Aspects of Protocol Development
*Offered in Summer Session*
Academic Credits: 3
Please see www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/summer/coursestimetables#EPIB-660
EPIB 661 PE III: Advanced Pharmacoepidemiology
*Offered in Summer Session*
Academic Credits: 2
Please see www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/summer/coursestimetables#EPIB-661
EPIB 668 Intro to Bayesian Analysis for Health Sciences
Special Topics in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
lawrence [dot] joseph [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. L. Joseph)
The goal of the course is to provide researchers with an introduction to practical Bayesian methods. Topics will include Bayesian philosophy, simple Bayesian models including linear and logistic regression, hierarchical models, and numerical techniques, including an introduction to the Gibbs sampler. Programming in R and WinBUGS.
Prerequisite: EPIB 607 and EPIB 621 or permission from the instructor.
Academic Credits: 2
EPIB 669 Intermediate Bayesian Analysis for Health Sciences
Special Topics in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
lawrence [dot] joseph [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. L. Joseph)
Bayesian design and analysis with applications specifically geared towards epidemiological research. Topics may include multi-leveled hierarchical models, diagnostic tests, Bayesian sample size methods, issues in clinical trials, measurement error and missing data problems. Programming in R and WinBUGS.
Prerequisite: EPIB 668 (Introduction to Bayesian Analysis for the Health Sciences) or permission from the instructor.
Academic Credits: 2
EPIB 671 Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention
Special Topics in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
*Offered in Summer Session*
Academic Credits: 2
Please see www.mcgill.ca/epi-biostat-occh/summer/coursestimetables#EPIB-671.
EPIB 672 Genetic Epidemiology
Special Topics in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
claire [dot] infante-rivard [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. C. Infante-Rivard)
Target audience:
Students with a strong interest to learn basic elements of genetic epidemiology but with no former training in the field. Prerequisites: 601, 603, 607 and 621 (or equivalent courses to be determined by instructor).
Objectives:
- To introduce some basic theoretical concepts on which current genetic association studies are based
- To present an overview of genetic association studies methods, focusing on case-control and family-based studies
The course should enable the students to:
- Have a basic understanding of the theoretical principles underlying the conduct of genetic association studies
- Have a basic level of understanding of the (methods and) results in published genetic epidemiology studies
Format: Lectures
Academic Credits: 2
EPIB 678 Public Health Ethics and Policy
Special Topics in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
nicholas [dot] king [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. N. King)
This graduate course addresses the ethical evaluation of population approaches to health and public health theory and practice. Students will discuss ethical dilemmas that arise in specific case studies in public health. Topics include (but will not be limited to): determinants of health, health inequalities, and social justice; genetics and racial categorization in public health; DALYs and the appropriate definition of health; biodefense and the 'militarization' of public health; surveillance and privacy; pandemic preparedness and distribution of scarce resources during an epidemic; environmental health and cost-benefit analysis; and isolation, quarantine and compliance. Students from any disciplinary background are welcome; there are no prerequisites. Coursework includes reading scholarly literature; formal presentation and debate; case analysis; and written work. Course materials draw on a wide range of disciplines, including epidemiology, medicine, history, sociology, and anthropology.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 679 Medical Ethics - Ethics of Human Research and Experimentation
Special Topics in Epidemiology and Biostatistics
jonathan [dot] kimmelman [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J. Kimmelman)
Some of the earliest and foundational debates in bioethics grew out of revelations about abuses in human experimentation. This class provides an introduction to the ethics of conducting research involving human beings. Though there is a particular focus on clinical trials, the course also surveys ethical issues in public health research, experimental psychology, and animal experimentation. Areas to be covered include the following: (1) scandals involving research with humans; (2) ethical and regulatory guidelines and structures; (3) ethical theory and principles of human research ethics; (4) empirical literature on ethical practice. The course is additionally intended to help students develop skills needed to perform academic research in biomedical ethics.
Academic Credit: 3
EPIB 681 Global Health: Epidemiological Research
theresa [dot] gyorkos [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. T. Gyorkos)
A review of selected epidemiological research focussing on global health and disease issues. Research will be mostly from developing countries and research methods will be highlighted.
Prerequisite: Permission of the instructor.
Please note this course has a minium requirement of 5 registrations. It will be cancelled if minimum is not met.
Academic Credits: 3
EPIB 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
claire [dot] infante-rivard [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. C. Infante-Rivard)
The comprehensive examination is a written examination. The objective is to assess the degree to which doctoral students have been able to assimilate and apply the principles of epidemiologic research. Examination held yearly.
Academic Credits: 0
EPIB 702 Ph.D. Proposal
james [dot] brophy [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. J. Brophy) / antonio [dot] ciampi [at] mcgill [dot] ca (Dr. A. Ciampi)
The course will prepare students for their research PhD proposal. Students will acquire essential skills for writing and defense, including essential elements of research protocols, including the formulation of research objectives, the design, and strategies. The elements will be adapted to the epidemiology or biostatistics context.
Students will normally take this course in the year following the completion of their PhD Comprehensive Examinations. Students are expected, under the active tutelage of their supervisors and thesis committee members, to have developed a scientifically appropriate research question that will be addressed by rigorous research methods of the highest quality. Students need to demonstrate essential grantmanship skills in both writing and defending their protocol, including essential elements of research protocols, such as the formulation of research objectives, the design, and epidemiological and biostatistical methods appropriate for the specific context of their research.
The course is run over the Fall and Winter terms. It will not be offered during the summer months. The course will meet every week that a presentation is scheduled. It is expected that all students enrolled in a given academic year will attend all presentations by their fellow students in both semesters, regardless of the timing of their own protocol defenses (unless their absence at a specific class is approved by the course instructors). In the first week of the Fall semester, the students will meet with the course instructors to discuss the goals, expectations, procedures and – as far as possible – to prevent future misunderstandings.
Course Outline [.pdf]