Note: This is the 2014–2015 edition of the eCalendar. Update the year in your browser's URL bar for the most recent version of this page, or click here to jump to the newest eCalendar.
Program Requirements
Students admitted to the Ph.D. in Epidemiology; Polulation Dynamics degree program with the equivalent of the M.Sc. in Epidemiology at McGill will be required to take a minimum of 33 credits of Ph.D. courses.
In addition to the Ph.D. requirements, students admitted to the Ph.D. in Epidemiology; Population Dynamics degree program without the equivalent of an M.Sc. in Epidemiology at McGill will, in their first year, have to complete required coursework equivalent to the Master's Epidemiology program, as determined by the Department.
Thesis
A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.
Required Courses (21 credits)
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EPIB 604 Epidemiologic Analysis (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : 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.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Kaufman, Jay (Fall)
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EPIB 608 Advanced Epidemiology (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Discussion of methodologic issues in the recent literature, including causal inference, measures of disease frequency, measures of effect, epidemiologic study designs, biases, statistics in epidemiology, and special topics. Discussion of day to day practice of epidemiology. Offered in alternate years or yearly depending on demand.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Infante-Rivard, Claire; Chevrier, Jonathan (Winter)
Prerequisite: EPIB 604
Restriction: Open to Ph.D. students in Epidemiology or Biostatistics programs only
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EPIB 609 Seminar on Advanced Methods in Epidemiology (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : A seminar course on selected topics in advanced epidemiological methods, such as concepts of causation, casual inference and residual confounding.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Chevrier, Jonathan (Fall)
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EPIB 610 Advanced Methods: Causal Inference (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Conceptual and methodological issues in epidemiology and biostatistics related to causal inference.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Platt, Robert William (Winter)
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
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EPIB 623 Research Design in Health Sciences (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : 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.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Wolfson, Christina (Fall)
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EPIB 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Examination
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : The comprehensive examination is a written examination. The objective is to assess the degree to which students have been able to assimilate and apply the principles of epidemiologic research. Examinations held twice yearly.
Terms: Summer 2015
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
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EPIB 702 Ph.D. Proposal
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Essential skills for thesis writing and defence, including essential elements of research protocols, formulation of research objectives, the design, and strategies.
Terms: Fall 2014, Winter 2015
Instructors: Kramer, Michael; Abrahamowicz, Michal (Fall) Kramer, Michael; Abrahamowicz, Michal (Winter)
Note: Required for Ph.D. students.
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SOCI 545 Sociology of Population (3 credits)
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 2014
Instructors: Clark, Shelley (Fall)
Prerequisite: SOCI 234 or equivalent
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SOCI 626 Demographic Methods (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Introduction to demographic measurement and modeling. Course covers direct and indirect estimation, standardization, life table construction, and population projections.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Brauner-Otto, Sarah (Winter)
Specific topics may vary from semester to semester.
Complementary Courses (12 credits)
12 credits of coursework, at the 500 level or higher, with a minimum of 3 credits in ethics (medical/public health/research), 3 credits in biostatistics, 3 credits in epidemiology, and 3 credits from courses approved for the Population Dynamics Option from the list below:
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ECON 622 Public Finance (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : A survey of the role of government in the economy (excluding the macroeconomic side - stabilization, etc.). Topics include markets and market failure; public goods; externalities; the theory of the second-best and the study of collective choice, including voting; and the collection of revenue to finance government activity, including optimal taxation of commodities and income.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
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ECON 634 Economic Development 3 (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : A systematic treatment of the characteristics and problems of economic development in underdeveloped countries.
Terms: Fall 2014
Instructors: Laszlo, Sonia (Fall)
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ECON 641 Labour Economics (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : A synthesis of theoretical developments in the area of labour economics with stress upon problems of empirical testing.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Lange, Fabian (Winter)
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ECON 734 Economic Development 4 (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : Problems of economic growth and planning in selected underdeveloped countries. Topics covered vary from year to year in response to student interests; growth, poverty and income distribution, LDC labour markets and institutions, trade and development, international debt problems, issues in trade policy.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Laszlo, Sonia (Winter)
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ECON 741 Advanced Labour Economics (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : Selected theoretical and policy issues in labour economics.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
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ECON 742 Empirical Microeconomics (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : Surveys the empirical techniques used in applied microeconomic fields, particularly development and labour economics. Focus is on the formulation of empirical models derived from economic theory, and on various estimation methodologies, including panel data econometrics, limited dependent variable models, and duration analysis. A "hands on" approach is emphasized.
Terms: Winter 2015
Instructors: Chaudhuri, Saraswata (Winter)
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ECON 744 Health Economics (3 credits)
Overview
Economics (Arts) : The emphasis will be on describing and analyzing the structure and performance of the Canadian health system, though some attention will be given to recent attempts by the federal and provincial governments to deal with current problems in this field. Readings will be selected from the economics and health literature.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
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EPIB 525 Health Care Systems in Comparative Perspective (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : 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: Fall 2014
Instructors: Quesnel Vallée, Amélie (Fall)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Restriction: 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
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EPIB 528 Economic Evaluation of Health Programs (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : 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 2014
Instructors: Latimer, Eric A (Fall)
No prior background in economics is required.
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor
Restriction: Open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.
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EPIB 529 Global Environmental Health and Burden of Disease (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : 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: Winter 2015
Instructors: Baumgartner, Jill (Winter)
Permission of instructor required for undergraduate students.
This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments.
Previous coursework in statistics and environmental science is useful, though not required.
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EPIB 615 Introduction to Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 credits)
Overview
Epidemiology & Biostatistics : 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: Winter 2015
Instructors: Quach-Thanh, Caroline (Winter)
Prerequisite: EPIB 601 or Permission of Instructor.
Note: An undergraduate level biology course is highly recommended.
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EPIB 648 Methods in Social Epidemiology (3 credits)
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 2014
Instructors: Harper, Samuel; Kaufman, Jay (Fall)
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EPIB 681 Global Health: Epidemiological Research (3 credits)
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: Winter 2015
Instructors: Joseph, Serene; Pai, Madhukar (Winter)
Prerequisite: With permission of instructor.
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SOCI 512 Ethnicity & Public Policy (3 credits)
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: Fall 2014
Instructors: Weinfeld, Morton (Fall)
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SOCI 513 Social Aspects HIV/AIDS in Africa (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : Examination of the social causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS in Africa. Gender inequality, sexual behaviours, marriage systems, migration, and poverty are shaping the pandemic as well as how the pandemic is altering social, demographic and economic conditions across Africa.
Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
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SOCI 520 Migration and Immigrant Groups (3 credits)
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 2015
Instructors: Soehl, Thomas (Winter)
Prerequisite: 15 credits in the Social Sciences
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SOCI 525 Health Care Systems in Comparative Perspective (3 credits)
Overview
Sociology (Arts) : 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: Fall 2014
Instructors: Quesnel Vallée, Amélie (Fall)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Restriction: Not open to students who are taking or have taken EPIB 525.
Note: This course is cross-listed in Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health and in Sociology.
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SOCI 535 Sociology of the Family (3 credits)
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 2014-2015 academic year.
Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2014-2015 academic year.
Undergraduate students require permission of instructor
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SOCI 588 Biosociology/Biodemography (3 credits)
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: Winter 2015
Instructors: Das, Aniruddha (Winter)
Courses must be chosen in consultation with the student's supervisor and/or the degree program's director or adviser.
Faculty of Medicine—2014-2015 (last updated Feb. 18, 2014) (disclaimer)
