Biostatistics

Whether developing new methodologies for the conduct of clinical trials or the analysis of brain imaging data, discovering genes involved in a common form of epilepsy or determining which of several standard treatments for stroke prevention is more effective, biostatisticians are in demand and provide essential expertise to the design, conduct, and analysis of virtually all biomedical and public health research.

Under the new leadership of Professor Roger Vaughan, director of academic programs, the Department is committed to the ongoing evaluation and development of relevant curriculum that meets the public health needs of the 21st Century. Students receive a rigorous grounding in:

• developing and applying statistical theory and methods
• designing, conducting, and evaluating public health research and programs
• developing and applying data management and statistical computing skills and systems
• analyzing data and interpreting and communicating findings
• and consulting and collaborating in biomedical and public health.

Biostatistics graduates are able to critically evaluate the roles of chance, variability, and uncertainty in their own and others’ research.

Courses of Study

The Department of Biostatistics offers courses of study and research leading to four graduate degrees for individuals interested in specializing in the biostatistics arena:

• The Master of Public Health (MPH) with a concentration in biostatistics
• The Master of Science (MS) in biostatistics
• The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) with a concentration in biostatistics
• The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in biostatistics

All of the degree programs, with the exception of the PhD, are open to both full- and part-time students. The MPH, MS, and DrPH degrees are administered by the Mailman School of Public Health, while the PhD is administered through the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.