流行病學為公衛研究的基礎工具，流行病學知識也是制訂衛生政策最重要的依據。社會流行病旨在分析疾病問題的「社會致病成因」（social determinants of health），試圖結合實證研究，改善「健康不平等」(social inequalities in health)問題。此課程介紹社會流行病學的基礎原理，包括發展歷程、研究設計、測量、社會致病成因內容以及統計分析方法。本課程並希望提升學生閱讀與批判社會流行病學實證論文之能力。
Epidemiology is foundation for public health research. Evidence obtained from epidemiological research could inform health policies. The aim of social epidemiology is to investigate social determinants of health and to tackle social inequalities in health based on empirical evidence. This course will provide an introduction to the principles of social epidemiology, including historical background, study design, measurement, social causation models, and statistical tools. This course is aimed to enhance the students’ capacity to critically appraise social epidemiological research.