Our department is committed to creating learning environments that foster inclusiveness, diversity, equity and accessibility (IDEA) in our graduate programs, by ensuring everyone is equally supported, valued, and respected (Inclusion), recognizing the values of the uniqueness of every individual (Diversity), providing fair treatment and equal opportunity to everyone (Equity), and promoting the flexibility to accommodate needs for individuals who experience disabilities (Accessibility).
Epidemiology
Epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of health and disease. It is a basic science to clinical medicine, public health, and health services research. Our graduate programs have been offered since the 1960’s and are known for their strong quantitative and methodological content, as applied to a variety of health areas. We offer education and research training in the etiology, management and prevention of diseases, and the promotion of health. Areas of existing strength include clinical epidemiology, pharmacoepidemiology, cancer, cardiovascular, respiratory, perinatal, environmental, and occupational epidemiology; clinical trials, health services research. Newly emerging areas of expertise include social epidemiology, public and population health, infectious diseases, neuroepidemiology, psychiatric epidemiology, global health, clinical and health research informatics, genetic, and molecular epidemiology.
Graduates with a Master’s degree will be qualified for positions as research associates in industry, government and academic research institutes, and in other agencies and organizations where competencies in study design, research project management, data analysis, and knowledge translation are highly sought after.
The doctoral program is aimed at those who seek positions as independent epidemiological investigators and scientific collaborators in academia, in public and private agencies, as well as health care institutions. Additionally, a main part of the mandate is to train the next generation of epidemiologists.
Biostatistics
Biostatistics is the study of statistics and statistical methods with application to the biomedical environment. The department has one of the largest concentrations of PhD statisticians in any Canadian medical school. They receive funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, and from other federal and provincial agencies that fund research in the quantitative and health sciences. The research focus of faculty members is on the development of new statistical methods for the collection and analysis of clinical and epidemiologic research data.
In 1995, we launched a distinct biostatistics training program. In 2007 we undertook a major review and modification of the program. Students will benefit from a broader range of courses designed specifically for biostatisticians. There will also be an emphasis on communication and other skills essential for collaborative research. Our programs are aimed at students with strong theoretical training in mathematics and statistics at the undergraduate or Master’s level. Graduates with a Master’s degree will be qualified for positions as statisticians in industry, government and academic research institutes, and other agencies and organizations where skills in data analysis, applied statistics and statistical computing are in high demand. The doctoral program is aimed at those who seek positions as independent statistical researchers and scientific collaborators in academia and biomedicine, directors of statistics units in industry, as well as those who will train the next generation of biostatisticians.
Public Health
The mission of the Master's of Public Health is to train outstanding public and population health professionals and future leaders by offering a rigorous academic program in methods, research, and practice. Students will study the foundations and principles of epidemiology and biostatistics, as applied to public health research and practice, in order to design, conduct and analyze population-based, environmental, clinical, policy, and methodological public health-related research.
Graduates of the program will serve as public and population health practitioners, research professionals, and educators, and will possess the competencies and professionalism to carry out broad public health functions in local, provincial, national, and international settings. They will be recruited by regional, federal, and international health authorities, as well as in the education and private sectors, to meet the increasing demand for public health professionals.
Occupational Health
Â鶹Çø is known for its pioneering research in occupational hazards associated with agents such as respirable dust, chemical hazards and radiation. The MSc(Applied) and PhD programs in Occupational Health are multidisciplinary, and involve engineering, chemistry, ergonomics, epidemiology, and occupational health. The applied programs educate practitioners in occupational health and safety, and in industrial hygiene who will be capable of evaluating the work environment and its hazards, and of proposing appropriate methods of prevention and control. A part-time ‘distance education’ option is a particularly attractive feature of the Master’s Program, for practitioners already working in the field who wish to enhance their theoretical and practical knowledge base. The research programs train independent researchers in the field of occupational health and safety, and workplace environmental sciences.
Dual Degree Programs
We offer the opportunity to complete a dual degree with the University of Bordeaux in France. These programs in Population Health Methods and Data Sciences, offer degrees in Public Health Data Science (MSc), or Digital Public Health (PhD) jointly with Epidemiology (MSc and PhD), Biostatistics (MSc and PhD), or Public Health (MScPH), at Â鶹Çø.