Program Overview

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Program Overview

The Master of Public Health (MPH) in Epidemiology provides a solid base in epidemiological methods, an understanding of the breadth of public health, and opportunities for applied experiential learning in epidemiologic practice, research, and policy.

Program Description

Full-time students will complete the program over 4 to 5 consecutive terms of study (including summer). The program requires mandatory and elective courses, and a required practicum placement (completed after at least two terms of coursework). The curriculum emphasizes quantitative methods, critical appraisal of evidence, data analysis, and interpretation.

Program Goals

The objective of the program is to provide students with a base of knowledge and skills in epidemiological methods and public health. Graduates will:

• be able to work as part of a research group or in public health practice
• be able to describe trends and patterns of disease incidence and prevalence, disease burden, factors affecting health status, and major etiologic and prognostic factors
• understand the strengths and weaknesses of major methodological and analytical techniques
• exhibit practical skills, including the ability to develop an epidemiological question, refine the question in light of the literature and community situation, design an appropriate study to answer the question, collect relevant data, analyze these data using commonly available statistical software, and interpret the findings relative to the literature and the community/organizational context
• be able to prepare a paper for peer-reviewed publication and present epidemiological information
• have knowledge of public health principles to practice
• be able to read, critically appraise, and interpret the scientific literature, and discuss the effectiveness of core public health interventions

Career Opportunities

The program prepares all students to pursue their choice of career in research and/or in applied public health. Many of our graduates have been accepted into PhD programs in Epidemiology and related fields in Canada and internationally. Many of our alumni hold positions as epidemiologists, data analysts, and managers in public health units and government departments.

Admission Criteria

MPH students are admitted under the General Regulations of the School of Graduate Studies (SGS) and should hold an appropriate bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a recognized university with at least a mid-B average in the final year of the degree, or in the last 5.0 full-course equivalents completed at a senior level. Proof of English Language Proficiency is required.

Minimum Admission Requirements for MPH Epidemiology

• at least one undergraduate statistics course is required for Epidemiology
• there is a requirement for a minimum grade (B+ or higher) and content of the qualifying course(s)

Program Requirements

Full-time MPH Epidemiology students complete the program in 4 to 5 consecutive terms of study. The first two terms are dedicated to intensive, skills-based courses. Students will achieve broad knowledge about public health and all the core disciplines which contribute to it.

Course Requirements

The following courses are required:

• CHL5004H: Introduction to Public Health Sciences
• CHL5201H: Biostatistics I
• CHL5300H: Public Health Policy
• CHL5400H: MPH Professional Development Seminar Series
• CHL5401H: Epidemiologic Methods I
• CHL5426H: Population Perspectives for Epidemiology
• Elective
• CHL5202H: Biostatistics II
• CHL5402H: Epidemiologic Methods II
• CHL5405H: Health Trends and Surveillance
• CHL5418H: Scientific Overviews in Epidemiology
• 1 – 2 Electives
• CHL6010Y or CHL6012Y: Required MPH Practicum + Long Extension to Required Practicum

Emphasis in Infectious Disease Epidemiology

MPH students in the Epidemiology field of study have the option to complete an emphasis by completing appropriate coursework in a given area. The emphasis requirements will also count toward their 10.0 full-course equivalent (FCE) field requirement.

Program Competencies and Approach

Competencies are action-oriented statements that delineate the essential knowledge, skills, and abilities in the performance of work responsibilities. The Discipline-Specific Core Competencies for DLSPH MPH program in Epidemiology are presented below.

Discipline-Specific Core Competencies for DLSPH MPH Program Stream in Epidemiology

A. Understanding the System

• Describe public health and understand public health systems in relation to other health care systems (e.g., international)
• Describe legislation regarding public health privacy and personal health information
• Demonstrate a broad understanding of content areas such as the social determinants of health, occupational and environmental health, and healthy environments, in general

B. Understanding Data Sources; Critical Appraisal

• Identify existing data sources and gaps
• Demonstrate knowledge of available data sources and their applicability
• Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of available data
• Recognize sources of bias and validity when critically appraising research literature

C. Databases, Technology, Surveillance

• Explain the design and implementation of surveillance systems
• Develop and manage databases
• Recognize the uses of technological systems (e.g., GIS) and literature databases (e.g., Medline)
• Operate/employ basic commands within a statistical package (e.g., SAS, SPSS, R, etc.)
• Identify key findings from surveillance data, draw conclusions, identify health threats
• Recognize and utilize evidence-based guidelines for surveillance

D. Epidemiologic Methods

• Describe population health status, determinants, risk factors, health care utilization
• Evaluate health outcomes and understand implications for population health
• Write a draft proposal for a study (which includes a study protocol, data collection instruments, proposed analysis, etc.)
• Conduct risk assessment (with guidance)
• Design basic analysis plan, sampling design, sample size estimation
• Describe the design and implementation of qualitative and quantitative research
• Design and interpret outbreak investigations, including disease clusters
• Prepare reports/publications suitable for peer review
• Apply ethical principles to data collection, management, dissemination
• Differentiate between and evaluate applicability of various study designs

E. Biostatistics, Data Analysis

• Use statistical methods to estimate measures of disease occurrence, risk, trends, associations
• Use statistical methods to conduct multivariable hypothesis testing

F. Public Health Guidance

• Provide epidemiological input to develop measurable outcomes for public health programs

MPH Epidemiology at DLSPH, compared to other programs

We have compared our program to other MPH and MSc programs in epidemiology, in Canada and internationally, with respect to: stated competencies, the content of required courses, opportunity for hands-on research, and professional placement experiences.

What methods of student learning and evaluation can I expect?

Students will experience a mix of learning and assessment techniques, matched to the objectives of the course (e.g., knowledge, synthesis and critique of existing knowledge and evidence, application of skills, and generation of new scientific knowledge).

Overview of the MPH Epidemiology Practicum

The purpose of the practicum is to enable students to get “hands-on” experience and to apply the theory and analytic skills acquired in the academic portion of their degree program.

Practicum procedures and timeline

All MPH Epidemiology students must complete at least one practicum placement in an applied public health or research setting. The required placement must include an element of quantitative work and contributions to written reports or manuscripts.

Paid Practica and Financial Support

Not all practicum placements can pay students (because of their own resources or policies). Many unpaid placements offer invaluable professional experience. In recent years, most MPH Epidemiology practicum students have received some level of stipend or salary.

Advice to Applicants

Successful applicants to the MPH program in Epidemiology will have evidence of strength in all of the following areas:

• Maturity, and relevant professional experience as demonstrated by past training, volunteer, and paid work experiences
• Quantitative skills
• Writing and/or scholarly research experience
• Knowledge of human health and its physical, social, and environmental determinants
• Strong communications and interpersonal skills
• A genuine interest in graduate training in the discipline of epidemiology which is well-articulated in the letter of intent, and supported by past choices in training and experiences

Tips regarding the statistics requirement

It is very common for applicants to have questions about the statistics requirements. Here are tips:

• Students who have done poorly in statistics and math may not be competitive for Epidemiology
• If interested in epidemiology, take lots of statistics before the final year of undergraduate study
• Committees look at all evidence of numeracy in the application, including all grades in quantitative courses, in all years of study
• In practice, admissions committees expect to see an A- or better on attempts and most recent courses
• Applicants must create and upload a Statistics Attachment document (PDF) listing all relevant courses or modules which cover the required content plus grades

Grade Point Average

The MPH Epidemiology Admissions committee does not pre-calculate GPA and set a cut-off above which applicants are reviewed. Before an offer is made, GPA will be calculated using the method of the U of T School of Graduate Studies (SGS) which requires a mid-B the average in the final year of full-time study, or the most recent 5.0 senior-level full-course equivalents in a qualifying four-year undergraduate degree.