Below is the academic and application information on the Ph.D. in Biostatistics program. If you are considering a career in Biostatistics or in applying to the program, please visit Why Study Biostatistics and Student and Alumni Spotlights for more information.
The Ph.D. in Biostatistics, offered through the Division of Biostatistics in the Department of Public Health Sciences at the Miller School of Medicine, provides a flexible curriculum to cover the basics.
Depending on their background, a student will follow either a Track A and Track B stream to completion of the Ph.D. All students will be required to take elective courses referred to as cognates which will be linked in a substantive way to the Ph.D. dissertation. See below for details.
The Doctoral degree in Biostatistics degree is accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Upon completion of the Doctoral degree in Biostatistics, all graduates will be able to:
Conduct original research on the theory and/or methodology of biostatistics |
Apply innovative theory and/or methods to scientific problems |
Apply epidemiologic methods to the measurement and study of population health and the prevention of infectious and chronic disease |
Communicate findings (written and oral) effectively to diverse audiences |
Serve as an expert biostatistician on collaborative scientific teams |
All students are required to take a minimum of four 3-credit graduate courses in specific topics referred to as cognates which will be related in a substantive way to the Ph.D. dissertation. Extra criteria requiring courses closely related to the student’s thesis work, or that a member in a subject matter discipline be on the student’s advisory committee, may apply in some cases. The cognate requirement will enable students to produce a biostatistically-sophisticated Ph.D. thesis and provide outstanding opportunities for graduates.
(1) A minimum of three semesters of calculus, including partial derivatives and techniques for solving multiple integrals, (2) One semester of linear algebra, (3) One semester of probability theory, (4) Four additional courses in statistics or biostatistics. The four courses are to include a general introduction, linear regression, introductory mathematical statistics and at least one more course (commonly drawn from survey sampling, multivariate, time series, nonparametric, etc.), and (5) At least two additional courses in statistics, biostatistics or related fields.
During the first year, students are expected to make up any deficiencies. This will be decided on a case-by-case basis by the graduate program director.
The total requirements for the Ph.D. in Biostatistics are 67 credits. The credits must be completed as core, dissertation, and elective courses to meet the requirements.
The following are examples of electives(some of which students have taken in the past). This is not meant to be an exhaustive list, but rather illustrates the scope of available electives. |
CSC 548 BioInformatics Algorithms (3 credits) |
ECO 630 Advanced Econometrics (3 credits) |
EPH 711 Cancer Epidemiology (3 credits) |
EPH 740 Basic Pathology (3 credits) |
HGG 630 Variation and Disease (2 credits) |
HGG 640 Family Studies and Genetic Analysis (2 credits) |
BST 649 Advanced Independent Study (1-3 credits) |
BST 670 Bayesian Analysis: Concepts, Theory, and Computing (3 credits) |
A written diagnostic exam will be given at the end of the first year to ensure the student has made up deficiencies and is making adequate progress. The examination covers basic foundational material every graduate should have thoroughly assimilated. Students who perform poorly on the exam are required to demonstrate their mastery of the material in some other way, which is handled on a case-by-case basis.
A second oral and written exam will be administered at the end of the third year. Once a student passes the second exam, they will formally become a Ph.D. candidate.