Modern Foundations of Causal Inference in Epidemiologic Research

Catalog description

This course explores the development of causal inference in epidemiology through a close reading of influential methodological papers published between 1976 and 2010. Picking up where Sander Greenland’s 1987 anthology of key epidemiologic methods left off, we trace major innovations that have shaped modern thinking about causality. Our focus is not only on understanding the methods themselves, but also on cultivating the skills needed to engage with complex ideas: reading deeply, presenting clearly, and leading thoughtful discussion. Students will practice distilling challenging material, contextualizing each paper historically and conceptually, and communicating technical content with clarity. Although grounded in epidemiology, the course reflects the interdisciplinary nature of causal inference today, incorporating contributions from biostatistics, econometrics, computer science, and related fields. This is a reading- and discussion-intensive course designed to develop both conceptual fluency and professional communication skills in causal inference.