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Social Epidemiology

Course Number
CHL5419H
Series
5400 (Epidemiology)
Course Instructor(s)
Arjumand Siddiqi

Course Description

This course introduces students to the primary conceptual and methodological issues and approaches in the field of social epidemiology. The main intention of the course is to provide students with: (a) an opportunity to explore the conceptual foundations for methodological and statistical decision-making in social epidemiological research and, (b) an opportunity to explore the methodological and statistical techniques commonly used to answer social epidemiological questions.

Course Objectives

Throughout the course, emphasis will be on:

  • Notions of causal inference
  • Philosophical and practical dilemmas in planning and conducting social epidemiological research
  • The study of individual-level versus population-level health outcomes
  • The study of individual-level versus ‘area-level’ exposures (e.g., neighborhoods, policies)
  • The relative strengths and disadvantages of various dominant and cutting-edge methods in the field.

Methods of Assessment

Lab Assignments 30%
Reflections 30%
Final Research Proposal 40%

General Requirements

Examples of acceptable prerequisites include: (a) A first-year master’s level epidemiology course and a first-year master’s level biostatistics course or, (b) an upper-level undergraduate or first-year master’s level econometrics course, and so on. Exceptions may be granted by permission of course instructor.