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Proposal:
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The School of Public Health’s Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics proposes to establish a Master of Science (M.S.) in Biostatistics. Biostatistics is one of the core disciplines in public health that teaches students analytical methods for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting scientific data collected in public health and medical research. This program addresses the growing demand for biostatisticians due to the explosion of health data and the need for experts who can analyze this data to inform public health decisions. Although the department already offers a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Biostatistics, the proposed M.S. in Biostatistics focuses on advanced biostatistical methodologies and public health data science for specialized careers and Ph.D. preparation, while the existing MPH in Biostatistics emphasizes broader public health applications with foundational biostatistical training.
The M.S. program is targeted toward students with strong backgrounds in mathematics and public health who are interested in advancing their careers in public health data science. The program's learning outcomes focus on mastering advanced biostatistical methods, public health data science, conducting and evaluating research, using statistical software for data management, and effectively communicating and reporting statistical results for academic and professional audiences. The program also provides students who are not able to finish the proposed Biostatistics Ph.D. program with an opportunity to earn a graduate degree in biostatistics.
The program requires a total of 43 credits, including 25 credits of core courses covering theoretical concepts in biostatistics, regression analysis, categorical data analysis, survival analysis, machine learning, data management, and epidemiology. Additionally, students complete 12 credits of electives in advanced topics like Bayesian data analysis and clinical trials. Students also complete 6 credits for the master’s thesis.
No additional resources are requested as part of this proposal. The existing administrative and faculty resources that exist in the department are sufficient to offer this program. |
