Find course schedules for the current year: WACH course codes and OBST course codes.
Required Courses
3 credits
Topics in biomedical, clinical, translational, and population research; research approaches and opportunities across the four health research pillars (biomedical, clinical, health services, population health).
3 credits
Biological and social determinants of health, health equity and inclusion.
All students in the first year of the WACH program (MSc or PhD) are required to enroll in WACH 502. In subsequent years, continuing WACH students participate in WACH 502 by presenting research and exit seminars, and during research day.
General Electives
3 credits
Indicators of maternal/newborn well-being across population subgroups, changing trends in obstetrical intervention, perinatal morbidity, and the analysis of perinatal data.
Equivalency: SPPH 537
3 credits
Principles of critical thinking and appraisal of medical literature with respect to study design and causal inference.
*OBST courses will be updated to WACH course codes for 2023-24.
3 credits
Investigation of strategies to promote the uptake of innovations and evidence in healthcare from bench to bedside to populations.
*OBST courses will be updated to WACH course codes for 2023-24.
1.5 - 6 credits
Student-directed literature-based or experimental investigation of a topic.
For more information on how to propose a Directed Studies course, please contact wach.program@ubc.ca.
Women+ Health
3 credits
Sexual development, transgender medicine, reproduction and pregnancy, chronic and acute diseases, and social determinants of health.
WACH 511 will not be offered in 2022-23.
3 credits
Focus on genomics and pathophysiology.
*OBST courses will be updated to WACH course codes for 2023-24.
3 credits
Multidisciplinary exploration of women’s mental health across the lifecycle. Focus on interactions with reproductive health, and concepts in women’s mental health research.
*OBST courses will be updated to WACH course codes for 2023-24.
3 credits
Molecular biology, epidemiology, prevention, and treatment of gynecologic cancers, including uterine cancer, vulvar/vaginal cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and how to incorporate the patient experience into research.
*OBST courses will be updated to WACH course codes for 2023-24.
Child Health
3 credits
Biology of human development, child growth and puberty, adolescent health, childhood chronic and acute diseases, gender diversity in pediatrics, social environment and child health, and pediatric research in partnership with Indigenous communities.
3 credits
Dietary assessment and nutrient requirements in children and youth, assessment of growth and adiposity, application of nutritional biochemistry and animal models, energy balance, macronutrient and micronutrient metabolism and research, restricted diets in children, nutritional interventions in children.
Reproductive and Developmental Sciences
3 credits
Neuroendocrine regulation of reproduction, regulation of the ovarian and testicular function.
3 credits
Functional development of the placenta and major organ systems in the fetal and newborn period in man and animals.
WACH 532 will not be offered in 2022-23.
3 credits
Nutrient metabolism and requirements during fetal and perinatal development and research methods used to assess requirements; developmental origins of health and disease; gestational obesity and diabetes; nutritional supplements during pregnancy.