Health Sciences (HLTH) Courses
Fundamentals of Research Methods
Experimental design, statistical analysis and interpretation of results in health science research, principles and methods of epidemiology, fundamentals of research ethics.
Prerequisite(s): university-level statistics.
Statistical Software and its Application to Health Sciences Primer
Introduction to statistical softwares used to analyze health research data. Data management topics include data entry, manipulation, and elementary statistical analyses using SAS, SPSS, Stata and R. Other topics include privacy/maintaining security of health datasets. For students without strong backgrounds in biostatistics/data handling.
Statistics for Health Sciences
Statistical methods commonly used in analyses of health data. This applied course covers topics related to descriptive and graphical methods, tests of hypotheses in both paired and independent samples, linear regression, survival analysis, and logistic regression.
Lecture three hours a week, lab/workshop three hours a week.
Principles of Epidemiology
Introduction to epidemiologic concepts and methods. Different types of epidemiological study designs. Fundamental concepts of: definitions and measures of disease frequency and effects, causality, bias, sample size, confounding and interaction.
Fundamentals of Policy I: Policy Analysis
Policy analysis and policy processes with an emphasis on the stages of the policy process, as well as the influences of institutions, ideas and interests.
Fundamentals of Policy II: The Health Sector
Canadian health policies and programs with emphasis on the economics, politics and public administration of the healthcare sector.
Knowledge Translation
The application of knowledge translation in the formulation of policy and the development of skills required to maximize the impact of scientific findings through real world programs and policies and communication skills for diverse audiences.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as HLTH 4701, for which additional credit is precluded.
New Health Technologies
Overview of new and emerging health technologies, including medical and assistive devices, diagnostics and screening, genetics, reproduction, tissue regeneration, imaging, and health informatics. Health technology assessment methods and issues. Regulatory, ethical and social implications; considerations in the developing world.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as HLTH 4102, for which additional credit is precluded.
Interdisciplinary Problems in Health
Development of an understanding of the scope and interdisciplinary nature of issues that impact the health of Canadians is the focus of this course.
Biological and Social Fundamentals of Health
What comprises a healthy body and mind? This course addresses the psycho-social and biological mechanisms that may interact to determine health outcomes. The course examines complex relationships between social, environmental, and biological factors underlying some of the most important and emerging health concerns today.
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Advanced cellular and molecular mechanisms governing host-pathogen interactions and their contribution to disease. Exploration of immune signaling and recognition, virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance and research techniques used in this field.
Also offered at the undergraduate level, with different requirements, as HLTH 4304, for which additional credit is precluded.
Interdisciplinary Health Research Project - Group
Student teams will collaborate on a research project that addresses a real-world health concern, supervised by a cross-disciplinary team of faculty. Students must be continually registered in this course throughout their degree program (five terms.).
Precludes additional credit for HLTH 5502 (no longer offered), HLTH 5503(no longer offered), HLTH 5505.
Interdisciplinary Health Research Project – Individual
An independent research project that addresses a real-world health concern, supervised by a faculty member and advised by a cross-disciplinary team of experts. Students must be continually registered in this course throughout their degree program (five terms).
Precludes additional credit for HLTH 5502(no longer offered), HLTH 5503(longer offered), HLTH 5504.
Prerequisite(s): permission of the Faculty supervisor and the Department of Health Sciences.
Field Research and Placement
This practicum supports students in gaining relevant and practical experience through applying course learning at approved organizations.
Precludes additional credit for HLTH 5801.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of two terms of the MSc HSTP program, permission of the department and at the discretion of the practicum supervisor.
Schedules may vary depending on the field placement site, but students are required to spend a minimum of 32 weeks over summer, fall and winter in the second year.
Interdisciplinary Health Research Project
Research project that addresses a real-world health concern, supervised by a faculty member and advised by a cross-disciplinary team of experts. Students must be continually registered in this course throughout their degree program (five terms).
Precludes additional credit for HLTH 5504, HLTH 5505.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the Faculty supervisor and the Department of Health Sciences.
Special Topics in Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Selected topics in biostatistics and epidemiology, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics in Health Policy and Administration
Selected topics in health policy and administration, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics: Social and Behavioural
Selected topics in the social and behavioural sciences, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics in Environmental Health
Selected topics in environmental health, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics in the Science of Disease
Selected topics in the science of disease, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics: Engineering, Design and Computer Science
Selected topics in applications of engineering, design or computer science in health, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics in Biostatistics and Epidemiology
Selected topics in biostatistics and epidemiology, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics in Health Policy and Administration
Selected topics in health policy and administration, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics: Social and Behavioural
Selected topics in the social and behavioural sciences, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics in Environmental Health
Selected topics in environmental health, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics in the Science of Disease
Selected topics in the science of disease, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Special Topics: Engineering, Design and Computer Science
Selected topics in applications of engineering, design or computer science in health, focusing on areas of specific relevance to the health sector, not available in regular program offerings. These courses are designed to provide depth of expertise and/or specific skills relevant to the workplace.
Directed Studies in Health: Science, Technology and Policy
One-to-one instruction in selected aspects of specialized Health: Science and Technology subjects not covered by other graduate courses. Students may not take this course from their project supervisor(s), and are limited to one directed studies course per program.
Health: Science, Technology and Policy Practicum
This practicum supports students in gaining relevant and practical experience through applying course learning at approved organizations. Students are responsible for arranging the placement with an external partner where the practicum will be held, preparing a learning contract, and completing a field-based project deliverable.
Precludes additional credit for HLTH 5506.
Prerequisite(s): Completion of two semesters of the MSc in HSTP program, permission of the department and at the discretion of the practicum supervisor. Students may not be supervised by their MSc research supervisor(s) and are limited to one practicum per program.
Clinical Trials Primer
Overview of the vast area of clinical trials of drugs and devices, and principles of informed consent, regulatory requirements, rigorous documentation, analysis, and reporting. Students will also work on certificates in biomedical ethics, good clinical practice, and others, for example from CITI Canada.
Clinical Trials 1: Introduction
Fundamentals of trials of health products and different phases and types of clinical trials. Investigator vs. sponsor-initiated trials, different regulatory agencies, the use of randomization, blinding, registration regulatory requirements, rigorous documentation, and common trials.
Clinical Trials 2
Other trial designs, recruitment of patients, data collection and quality control, interim monitoring, audits, inspections, timelines. Includes a four to six-week placement at a clinical or regulatory site, CRO, or similar institution involved in clinical trials.
Assessment and Patient Safety for Clinical Trials
The importance of efficacy and safety measurements, biosamples, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, drug mechanism of action, reporting of harm, Data and Safety Monitoring Board, pharmacovigilance, consideration of special populations. Good clinical practice, good medical practice, and good laboratory practice.
Principles of Data Management and Analysis in Clinical Trials
Randomization, biomarkers, endpoints, estimands, sample size requirements, random error and bias, multiple testing correction, intent-to-treat versus per-protocol, equipoise and stopping rules for trials, database development, validation and reporting/transferring, development of statistical analysis plans, considerations around missing data.
Government Regulatory Processes
Regulatory agencies (Health Canada, US Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency) will be compared. Harmonization efforts of national drug approval agencies, timelines for an investigational New Drug Application including labeling, accelerated approval, breakthrough designation, orphan drugs, and biologics licence application.
Government, Research Organizations, and Industry
Overview of regulatory requirements of pharmaceutical companies, contracting research organizations, and communication with regulatory agencies. Negotiation and collaboration between sectors, incentives such as FDA priority review vouchers, project management, manufacturing and distribution, phase IV post-marketing and continued monitoring, pharmacovigilance and post-marketing changes.
Ethics, Community and Patient Engagement
Patient engagement, equipoise, informed consent, ethics board, monitoring, reporting/release of data in the literature, compassionate/expanded access; patient foundations, liaisons and advocates. Engaging with Indigenous communities and special populations. Considerations around translational research, generics, biosimilars, and labeling.
Clinical Trials Protocols, Operations and Management
Clinical protocols, electronic case report forms and guidelines, data management plan, monitoring plan, pharmacy manual, standard operating procedures, manual of operating procedures, delegation of authority logs and training logs. Leadership, logistics, budgeting.
Clinical Trials Practicum
Capstone credit course required for students in the practicum pathway. Experiential learning at a clinical site, regulatory site, CRO, or similar institution involved in clinical trials. Students will demonstrate the knowledge and skills gained and will present on their experience, efforts and lessons learned.
Advanced Topics in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Discussion of current health problems and exploration of innovative interdisciplinary solutions. Development of skills required to perform critical analyses of health research to evaluate the quality, interpret the findings, and assess the impact of health sciences literature across disciplines.
Seminars in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences for MSc
Development of scientific communication skills through attendance at interdisciplinary seminars and by the student presenting a seminar on their own thesis research. Topics have specific or broad relevance to health sciences. Graded SAT/UNS.
Current Topics in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Exploration of current health challenges and opportunities, and the role of interdisciplinary approaches to understand health and disease. Development of skills required for communication, collaboration, literature appraisal. Includes student, faculty, and invited seminar speakers.
Prerequisite(s): Permission of the Department of Health Sciences.
Final Research Seminar Presentation for MSc
Final seminar of MSc thesis research. Seminar presentation should occur within one month of the final oral thesis defence.
MSc Thesis
Seminars in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences
Development of scientific communication skills through attendance at interdisciplinary seminars and by the student presenting a seminar on their own thesis research. Topics have specific or broad relevance to health sciences. Graded SAT/UNS.
Grant Proposals and Ethics
Advanced course in writing successful grant proposals in Tri-Council (CIHR, NSERC, SSHRC) formats. Ethics associated with conducting health sciences research, including the preparation of ethics proposals for human and animal studies in health sciences research.
Mid-Program Defence
Departmental seminar and Graduate Advisory Committee meeting on PhD research including results to date and future research aims and directions, and on field-specific knowledge.
Final Research Seminar Presentation
Final seminar of PhD thesis research. Seminar presentation should occur within one month of the final oral thesis defence.
PhD Thesis
Note: Not all courses listed are offered in a given year. For an up-to-date statement of course offerings for the current session and to determine the term of offering, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca.
Summer session: some of the courses listed in this Calendar are offered during the summer. Hours and scheduling for summer session courses will differ significantly from those reported in the fall/winter Calendar. To determine the scheduling and hours for summer session classes, consult the class schedule at central.carleton.ca