Biostatistics

The Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in Biostatistics prepares candidates to apply state-of-the-art statistical methods to the solution of significant public health problems. It is distinguished from the PhD degree at Columbia in its relatively greater emphasis on applications over the development of new statistical theory and methods.

The DrPH program is administered by the Standing Doctoral Committee of the Mailman School of Public Health, which oversees the processes for admitting students and awarding degrees.

Building on the foundation of the Master of Public Health (MPH), the DrPH program includes a minimum of 30 credit hours of additional course work, written qualifying and oral comprehensive examinations, and the completion and oral defense of an independent, original dissertation on an important issue in public health. The typical time for completion of the DrPH degree is four to five years - two years for course work and written qualifiers and two to three years for the dissertation. All students are expected to complete the program within seven years.

Admission

Well-qualified students are admitted to the program if they already possess an MPH degree, or its equivalent, with substantial course work in biostatistics. All MPH core curriculum course requirements are DrPH prerequisites and must be satisfied before any further course work is undertaken. Students with a master’s degree in biostatistics or a related field may be admitted with the understanding that they must take all core curriculum courses in MPH program not already taken and without credit towards the doctoral degree, or pass a waiver exam.

In addition to having fulfilled the MPH requirement, DrPH applicants should have completed at least three semesters of calculus and a course in linear/matrix algebra prior to starting the program.

Applicants to the DrPH degree program should submit their completed online applications to the Mailman School of Public Health by December 1st to ensure full consideration for admission and funding.