Program description
The goal of the Population Health Data Analysis (PHDA) program is to provide participants with strong foundational knowledge and data analysis skills that can support their work within the field of population health. Subject matter and related skill development covered in the PHDA courses support professional development in many key core competency domains as identified by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Core Competencies for Public Health in Canada.
The multidisciplinary focus of the program attracts a diverse cross-section of health and social science professionals seeking to update their skills and knowledge or learn new analytic techniques. Students bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to share with their online colleagues, supporting a rich, practice-based learning environment.
This non-credit professional specialization certificate program is offered in partnership with Population Data BC and the University of Victoria's Department of Geography.
Every piece of health data tells a story.
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Program features
- Graduate students enrolled in a related academic program can broaden their knowledge base by taking one of our specialized courses for potential elective credit.
- Masters graduates can gain new analytic skills to enhance or redirect the focus of their specialization or career path.
- Working health professionals can learn new software skills and upgrade applied techniques and knowledge for use with large datasets.
- Managers and policy makers can benefit from learning new analytic approaches and sharing knowledge with colleagues in their related disciplines.
- The program is exclusively online. This makes it possible to continue working while pursuing further education.
- Instructors are diverse and qualified industry professionals who bring a practical high-level of knowledge to the theoretical learning.
- The steering committee comprises academic professionals which ensures the curriculum meets theoretical and industry standards.
All courses include a balance of theory and practical work. In particular, the hands-on lab exercises and/or final project components address the practical analysis of administrative and survey data. They are key elements of student learning, comprehension and knowledge application.
Program outcomes
Upon completion of the PHDA program, graduates will develop and enhance the following knowledge and skills:
- Evaluate the benefits and limitations of specific kinds of population health related data
- Access administrative health data and knowing how to prepare it for data analysis
- Develop theoretical knowledge and understanding in advanced statistical analysis of administrative data
- Review and analyze case scenarios involving health data analysis and related health outcomes
- Advance health data analyses and evaluation skills through hands on exercises, labs and/or tutorials using training data sets
- Expand advanced health data analysis skills in topics specific to individual research or work environments including epidemiology, administration and geomatics