Biostatistics

The Department of Biostatistics offers two doctoral degree programs: the Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) and the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). The DrPH and PhD programs both train candidates to apply state-of-the art statistical methods to the analysis of important public health issues and potential solutions, but differ in their relative emphasis on application versus statistical theory.

• DrPH training places greater emphasis on the application of statistical methods to public health problems, although many DrPH students propose new methods and contribute to the advancement of statistical theory as part of their dissertation research.
• PhD training places relatively greater emphasis on the development of statistical theory and methods (or “theorem proving”). A PhD dissertation must represent an original contribution to statistical theory or methods that also has relevance to a real biomedical or public health application.

Admissions Information

The DrPH program is designed for public health professionals who already have an MPH degree or its equivalent, with substantial course work in biostatistics. DrPH applications are submitted online to the Mailman School of Public Health which also confers the DrPH degree. See DrPH Program Overview for additional admissions criteria.

The PhD program in Biostatistics admits only those applicants who already have a Master’s degree in biostatistics or statistics. Applications for the PhD program are submitted online to the Mailman School of Public Health - although the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (GSAS) confers the PhD degree at Columbia. See PhD Program Overview for additional admissions criteria.

Highly qualified students without a master’s degree are encouraged to apply to the Accelerated Predoctoral Training (MS/APT) Track, a one-year Master of Science program for PhD preparatory work, or to the Theory and Methods (MS/TM) Track, both offered by the Biostatistics Department at the Mailman School of Public Health.

The Department of Biostatistics offers a limited number of fellowships for students in its DrPH and PhD programs and admission to both programs is highly competitive. Full fellowship support consists of tuition and a stipend. To ensure full consideration for admission and funding, submit your completed online application by December 1st.