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Only one application needs to be completed for all courses desired during the quarter.
Deadline:
09/01/2026
Format:
In-person
Term Offered:
Winter
Overview
Epidemiologists and clinical researchers are increasingly seeking to estimate the causal effects of health-related policies, programs, and interventions. Economists have long had similar interests and have developed and refined methods to estimate causal relationships. Examples include difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity. This course introduces a set of econometric tools and research designs in the context of health-related questions. The course topics are especially useful for evaluating natural experiments — situations in which comparable groups of people are exposed or not exposed to conditions determined by “nature” (not by a researcher), as occurs with a government policy or a disease outbreak.
Course Details
The objectives for this course are for participants to:
- Identify opportunities for rigorous evaluation of natural experiments;
- Enumerate the (oft unstated) assumptions involved in interpreting research that aims to draw causal inferences; and
- Implement the research techniques covered in class.
Biostatistical Methods of Clinical Research I (BIOSTAT 200), Biostatistical Methods of Clinical Research II (BIOSTAT 208), and Epidemiologic Methods (EPI 203), or equivalent experience, are recommended. It is also expected that students will be comfortable using Stata software, which will be used throughout the course.
Each week, new material is introduced via lecture and readings. Lectures will consist of discussions of course concepts, critiques of papers applying a research technique covered in class, and implementation of research techniques in Stata. Students’ knowledge is assessed outside of class through weekly quizzes or problem sets.
Mastering 'Metrics: The Path From Cause to Effect by J. Angrist and J Pische. Princeton University Press. 2015.
Stata Statistical Software (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX) will be used; version 13 or higher is acceptable. A six-month student license for Stata/IC is the least expensive option that will be suitable to complete all course assignments, but Stata/SE is recommended for robust future use. The TICR Program has arranged for a sizeable discount for UCSF-affiliated personnel.
Books may be purchased either through the publisher or a variety of commercial venues (e.g., Amazon.com).
Students may find other textbooks useful to enhance their learning. Textbooks which discuss the material at a slightly less advanced level than our course include:
Causal Inference for Statistics, Social, and Biomedical Sciences: An Introduction by G. W. Imbens and D. B. Rubin. Cambridge University Press. 2015. (The most thorough and current statement of potential outcomes models for causal inference.)
Mostly Harmless Econometrics by J. Angrist and J-S Pischke. Princeton University Press. 2009. (The more mathematically advanced companion to Mastering ‘Metrics.)
Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach by J. M. Wooldridge. Cengage Learning. 6th edition. 2016. (A thorough, introductory treatment of a broad range of econometric applications.)
A Guide to Econometrics by P. Kennedy. Wiley-Blackwell. 6th edition. 2008. (Intuitive feel for econometric concepts, alongside more technical discussion.)
Microeconometrics Using Stata by A. C. Cameron and P. Trivedi. Stata Press. 2009. (A useful, though aging, primer on using Stata for econometrics; the book also has parallel content to their econometrics textbook.)
Health Econometrics Using Stata Partha Deb, Edward C. Norton, Willard G. Manning. Stata Press. 2017. (Overview of a variety of econometric modeling approaches in Stata, including many not covered in this course, e.g., GLM, count models, and a mass at zero.)
Other than textbooks, all course materials and handouts will be posted on the course's online syllabus.
Grading will be based on quizzes and problem sets:
- Weekly Quizzes: 6 quizzes | 50% of grade
- Problem Sets: 2 problem sets | 50% of grade
Students not in full-year DEB Education Programs who satisfactorily pass all course requirements will receive, upon request, a Certificate of Course Completion.
Only UCSF students (defined as individuals enrolled in UCSF degree or certificate programs) will receive academic credit for courses. Official transcripts are available to UCSF students only. A Certificate of Course Completion will be available upon request to individuals who are not UCSF students and satisfactorily pass all course requirements.
Please check the Program and Course Fees page for up-to-date fee information.
UC-Affiliation: Concurrent enrollment in a University of California-sponsored residency or post-doctoral fellowship program that is recognized by the Office of Graduate Medical Education; or a registered student in one of the professional schools or graduate programs at the University of California (in a program other than the TICR program); or individuals who hold full-time salaried University of California faculty, academic or staff positions. Please note: Individuals will be asked to provide proof of UC status.
The objectives for this course are for participants to:
- Identify opportunities for rigorous evaluation of natural experiments;
- Enumerate the (oft unstated) assumptions involved in interpreting research that aims to draw causal inferences; and
- Implement the research techniques covered in class.
Biostatistical Methods of Clinical Research I (BIOSTAT 200), Biostatistical Methods of Clinical Research II (BIOSTAT 208), and Epidemiologic Methods (EPI 203), or equivalent experience, are recommended. It is also expected that students will be comfortable using Stata software, which will be used throughout the course.
Each week, new material is introduced via lecture and readings. Lectures will consist of discussions of course concepts, critiques of papers applying a research technique covered in class, and implementation of research techniques in Stata. Students’ knowledge is assessed outside of class through weekly quizzes or problem sets.
Mastering 'Metrics: The Path From Cause to Effect by J. Angrist and J Pische. Princeton University Press. 2015.
Stata Statistical Software (Stata Corporation, College Station, TX) will be used; version 13 or higher is acceptable. A six-month student license for Stata/IC is the least expensive option that will be suitable to complete all course assignments, but Stata/SE is recommended for robust future use. The TICR Program has arranged for a sizeable discount for UCSF-affiliated personnel.
Books may be purchased either through the publisher or a variety of commercial venues (e.g., Amazon.com).
Students may find other textbooks useful to enhance their learning. Textbooks which discuss the material at a slightly less advanced level than our course include:
Causal Inference for Statistics, Social, and Biomedical Sciences: An Introduction by G. W. Imbens and D. B. Rubin. Cambridge University Press. 2015. (The most thorough and current statement of potential outcomes models for causal inference.)
Mostly Harmless Econometrics by J. Angrist and J-S Pischke. Princeton University Press. 2009. (The more mathematically advanced companion to Mastering ‘Metrics.)
Introductory Econometrics: A Modern Approach by J. M. Wooldridge. Cengage Learning. 6th edition. 2016. (A thorough, introductory treatment of a broad range of econometric applications.)
A Guide to Econometrics by P. Kennedy. Wiley-Blackwell. 6th edition. 2008. (Intuitive feel for econometric concepts, alongside more technical discussion.)
Microeconometrics Using Stata by A. C. Cameron and P. Trivedi. Stata Press. 2009. (A useful, though aging, primer on using Stata for econometrics; the book also has parallel content to their econometrics textbook.)
Health Econometrics Using Stata Partha Deb, Edward C. Norton, Willard G. Manning. Stata Press. 2017. (Overview of a variety of econometric modeling approaches in Stata, including many not covered in this course, e.g., GLM, count models, and a mass at zero.)
Other than textbooks, all course materials and handouts will be posted on the course's online syllabus.
Grading will be based on quizzes and problem sets:
- Weekly Quizzes: 6 quizzes | 50% of grade
- Problem Sets: 2 problem sets | 50% of grade
Students not in full-year DEB Education Programs who satisfactorily pass all course requirements will receive, upon request, a Certificate of Course Completion.
Only UCSF students (defined as individuals enrolled in UCSF degree or certificate programs) will receive academic credit for courses. Official transcripts are available to UCSF students only. A Certificate of Course Completion will be available upon request to individuals who are not UCSF students and satisfactorily pass all course requirements.
Please check the Program and Course Fees page for up-to-date fee information.
UC-Affiliation: Concurrent enrollment in a University of California-sponsored residency or post-doctoral fellowship program that is recognized by the Office of Graduate Medical Education; or a registered student in one of the professional schools or graduate programs at the University of California (in a program other than the TICR program); or individuals who hold full-time salaried University of California faculty, academic or staff positions. Please note: Individuals will be asked to provide proof of UC status.
Meet the Faculty
How to Enroll
Whether you're exploring the field, enhancing your skills, or working toward a larger academic goal, most individual courses are open to everyone. Current learners enrolled in DEB Education programs have priority in enrollment for this course. Any extra spaces are available to non-DEB Education learners (i.e., those from the Institute for Global Health Sciences, School of Nursing, external groups, etc).
You’ll find details on course fees, how to apply and pay, and the full course schedule on the Course Enrollment & Payment page. Be sure you understand the enrollment policies and payment process before completing the enrollment form.
And remember: you only need to submit one form for all the new courses you want to take.