Sessional Lecturer: CHL5203H Survey Design and Social Research Methods in Public Health

Date Posted: 08/10/2026
Req ID: 49781
Faculty/Division: Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Department: Dalla Lana School of Public Health
Campus: St. George (Downtown Toronto)

Course # & Title: CHL5203H Survey Design and Social Research Methods in Public Health (.5 FCE)

Course Description:

The course provides fundamental public health research skills for both quantitative and qualitative researchers including health professionals to work in both research and applied settings. It focuses on practical issues involved in the design and conduct of surveys in health and social science research.

The course format includes lectures delivered by the course instructor and guest lecturers as well as group work and student presentations. Sessions will focus on acquiring the skills and knowledges to build a survey, including articulating objective(s) and research question(s) as well as writing a research protocol to investigate the topic of interest on which the survey is based.

*This course will not provide students with basic statistical analysis skills. It is highly recommended that students have completed undergraduate statistics courses.

Course Learning Objectives:

• Describe and apply the process required to design a survey.
• Write a protocol for survey research including social research methods used to develop the survey.
• Critically discuss methods or analytical papers focused on survey design.

Estimated course enrolment: 30

Estimated TA support: none

Class Schedule: Fall 2026

Sessional dates: September to December 2026

Salary: $9,997.47 (Sessional Lecturer I)

$10,699.21 (Sessional Lecturer I Long Term)

$10,699.21 (Sessional Lecturer II)

$10,953.96 (Sessional Lecturer II Long Term)

$10,953.96 (Sessional Lecturer III)

$11,228.90 (Sessional Lecturer III Long Term)

(Salary inclusive of 4% or 6% vacation pay, where applicable)

Please note that should rates stipulated in the Collective Agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Minimum Qualifications:

PhD in relevant area of study, detailed knowledge of and field experience in survey designs, conducting surveys in health and/or social settings, face to face/telephone/online surveys, and the process of designing and use of surveys in health focused research. For each of the data collection/generation methods, detailed knowledge of participant recruitment methods, sampling principles and methods; community-based research and social justice principles; rigour/credibility; research ethics issues and challenges; data management methods; and project management principles.

Preferred Qualifications (If any): none

Description of duties: As well as normal in person teaching duties, the instructor will review and revise the course syllabus, plan lectures, guest lectures, and other learning activities; plan and evaluate student assignments; mentor students and support learning, and communicate with the MPH Program Director as necessary.

Closing date: August 13, 2026

Application Process:

All individuals interested in this position must submit, via email, a Cover Letter, Curriculum Vitae and the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 application form, which is available for download here, to:

c/o Christine Lowe

Dalla Lana School of Public Health

University of Toronto

Email: christine.lowe@utoronto.ca

Closing Date: 08/13/2026, 11:59PM EDT
**

This job is posted in accordance with the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 Collective Agreement.

It is understood that some announcements of vacancies are tentative, pending final course determinations and enrolment. Should rates stipulated in the collective agreement vary from rates stated in this posting, the rates stated in the collective agreement shall prevail.

Preference in hiring is given to qualified individuals advanced to the rank of Sessional Lecturer II or Sessional Lecturer III in accordance with Article 14:12 of the CUPE 3902 Unit 3 collective agreement.

Please note: Undergraduate or graduate students and postdoctoral fellows of the University of Toronto are covered by the CUPE 3902 Unit 1 collective agreement rather than the Unit 3 collective agreement, and should not apply for positions posted under the Unit 3 collective agreement.