SPPH Featured Courses


SPPH 401: Basic Epidemiology for Infection Control

SPPH 401 is designed to explore fundamental concepts in epidemiology, biostatistics for epidemiology, study design and analysis, outbreak investigation and critical appraisal as it applies to infections in health care facilities and the continuum to the community. The course takes place online in a problem-based learning format.

 Registration in this course is restricted. Please contact the instructor, Dr. Monika Naus (monika.naus@bccdc.ca), to request permission and forward your permission to spph.graduate-programs@ubc.ca to be registered.

Winter term 1: online

For more information click here



SPPH 501: Analysis of Longitudinal Data from Epidemiological Studies

Unlock the world of advanced data analysis with SPPH 501! Dive into methods for analyzing longitudinal and correlated data, with a special focus on statistical modeling techniques like generalized linear mixed models, Bayesian hierarchical models, and more. This course combines conceptual learning with hands-on practice in statistical computing, using R and WinBUGs. Ideal for those interested in understanding how health outcomes relate to their determinants through sophisticated modeling approaches.

Winter term 2: Tuesdays, 2:00-5:00pm


SPPH 510: Survey Methods in Health Measurement


This course covers the concepts and techniques of measurement in epidemiological research. Topics covered include validity, reliability and misclassification, scale design and the construction of questionnaires and indices for both health outcomes and exposures.

Winter term 1: Tuesdays, 2:00-5:00pm


SPPH 515: Surveillance and Monitoring in Public Health

This course offers a dynamic introduction to the world of public health surveillance, blending core theory with real-world examples from British Columbia and other areas. Students will gain hands-on skills in analyzing and interpreting health data, designing surveillance systems, and communicating findings to inform policy and action. From infectious diseases to emerging health threats, the course explores how surveillance drives smarter, faster public health decisions—all while navigating the ethical and legal landscape.


Winter term 2: Wednesdays, 9:00am-12:00pm


SPPH 516: Methods for Systematic Reviews in Health research

This course focuses on systematic review methodology so that students will develop an understanding of the key components of a review and acquire the key skills needed to carry out their own reviews.


Winter term 1: Tuesdays, 9:00am-12:00pm

SPPH 541: Economic Evaluation


This course introduces the principles and methods of economic evaluation in health care, with a focus on assessing the value for money of health interventions. Students will learn how to apply cost-effectiveness analysis to real-world decisions involving treatments, diagnostic tests, and care strategies. The course is designed for current and future health professionals who must justify resource allocation in clinical, administrative, or policy settings. Emphasis is placed on maximizing health outcomes within limited budgets using evidence-based evaluation tools.

Winter term 2: Mondays, 1:00-4:00pm

SPPH 581B: Clinical Trials Methodology for Psychiatry


In this course, students will gain knowledge required to understand the design and conduct of clinical trials for psychiatric disorders. The course will focus on specific methodology issues of medication and psychotherapy trials pertaining to diagnosis, outcome assessment, risk management, and ethical issues. The main themes of the course are: Methodology issues in medication and psychotherapy trials; Diagnostic and outcome assessment; Ethical and risk-management issues; Clinical trial designs.

Winter term 2: Fridays, 9:00am-12:00pm

SPPH 581F: Global Health Ethics

This course exposes learners to pressing applied ethical issues in global health. Some areas of inquiry include investigating: discourses around health equity, how equity and intersectionality can be addressed in public policymaking, decolonizing global health, dynamics between policymakers and international organizations, regional health governance, and the principles for global health research. The course is for anyone interested in learning more about the above topics regardless of professional or academic background.

Winter term 1: Tuesdays, 2:00-5:00pm

SPPH 581J: Overview of Global Health

The overarching goal of this course is for students to gain a broad understanding of what global health means and what the field encompasses. This course aims to provide knowledge and stimulate critical discussion on the complexities of measuring the global burden of disease and understanding the current approaches and challenges of addressing current global health concerns.

Winter term 1: Tuesdays, 9:00am-12:00pm


SPPH 681A: Casual Inference in Public Health Sciences

Drawing causal conclusions from observational data is a common task in the public health sciences. The goal of this course is to develop knowledge, skills, and competency in causal inference methodology. The course offers in-depth coverage of methods developed over the past three decades. We will look at probabilistic causality, causal diagrams, counterfactuals, mediation analysis, and methods for evaluating treatment effects.

Winter term 1: Mondays, 2:00-5:00pm