Program Overview
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 comprehensive curriculum that covers both theoretical and computational aspects of Biostatistics.
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Competencies
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:
- Competencies:
- Conduct original research on the theory and/or methodology of biostatistics
- Apply innovative theory and/or methods to scientific problems
- Apply appropriate advanced data analysis and management techniques to analyze epidemiologic data
- Communicate research findings and conclusions (written and oral) in a clear and concise manner
- Serve as an expert biostatistician on collaborative scientific teams
- Total required credits: 67 credits
Cognates
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.
Prerequisite Requirements
(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, and (4) previous course work in statistics or biostatistics, such as linear regression, introductory mathematical statistics, or courses from survey sampling, multivariate analysis, or other advanced topics. We do enter students who do not meet all these requirements, but these students are expected to make up any deficiencies during their studies and should demonstrate exceptional potential in their application.
Ph.D. in Biostatistics Curriculum
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.
- Electives (12 credits)
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.
Curriculum information, Ph.D. handbook and course descriptions can be found here.
For the program application, click below.
