Biostatistics, Ph.D.
Admissions
Applicants for a graduate degree in Biostatistics must have a degree from an approved college or university. Applicants must meet all requirements of The Graduate School for admission and be recommended to the Graduate School for acceptance by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
When we make our admissions decisions, we evaluate the applicant’s entire file in relation to the pool of applicants that year. We also evaluate whether the applicant’s needs and goals fit well with our department’s strengths and resources.
The admission criteria for all degree programs follow those of The Graduate School and the Arnold School of Public Health. Before you can be considered for admission, you must submit an Online Application via http://www.sophas.org. Your application must include:
- Completed Application submitted through SOPHAS — http://www.sophas.org
- At least two letters of recommendation for the M.S. program and at least three letters of recommendation for the Ph.D. program
- An updated Résumé or CV
- Official transcripts for all undergraduate and graduate work previously undertaken
- A personal statement that addresses research or practice interests and long-term objectives
Candidates for all graduate programs in Biostatistics must demonstrate proficiency in communicating in English, working with mathematical concepts, and thinking analytically. While we do not set absolute cut points for grade point average, we value their ability to provide us with global comparative criteria. Therefore, we provide the following as a general guideline for all our programs:
- Grade point average of 3.0
Committee members review the entire files carefully.
An electronic application packet should be submitted to SOPHAS as early as possible, and will not be processed until all the required credentials have been received and verified. Electronic applications can be submitted online. For information on how to apply electronically see the Arnold School of Public Health’s admissions website.
International applicants whose native language is not English and who have not earned a degree in an English-speaking country are also required to submit a satisfactory score on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the University of Cambridge’s International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Course Type 2 exam. The minimum acceptable score on the TOEFL is 230 (computer-based) or 570 (paper-based) or 75 (Internet-based). The minimum acceptable overall band score on the IELTS Academic Course Type 2 exam is 6.5. Proficiency in English sufficient to undertake graduate study is expected upon entry. Students who do not meet proficiency levels established by The Graduate School and the department will be expected to take additional work to raise their level of performance. Also, any transcript from a non-US institution will need to be verified by World Education Services (WES). WES is an organization that provides international credential evaluation and checks documents for validity and accuracy. WES also offers an analysis of an individual’s degrees and transcripts and will provide equivalents for each credential. For more information contact WES or 212-219-7330.
Doctoral Admission Requirements
Departmental courses are sequenced so that students may begin their program of study in the fall or spring semester. Applications for summer admission will also be accepted.
For the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program, preference for admission is given to applicants with breadth and depth of academic preparation in Biostatistics, Statistics, or a closely related field. Applicants must have a master’s degree in Biostatistics, Statistics, or a closely related field or a master’s degree in some other field and experience in these areas. Applicants should also have completed with a B or greater Vector Calculus and Matrix or Linear Algebra.
Degree Requirements (53 credit hours or 44 credit hours for advanced standing)
Coursework (53 credit hours)
The following courses or their equivalent must be completed prior to matriculation of their Ph.D.: BIOS 701 & BIOS 757.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health Core | ||
| PUBH 700 | Perspectives in Public Health | 3 |
| Statistics Core | ||
| STAT 712 | Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| STAT 713 | Mathematical Statistics II | 3 |
| STAT 714 | Linear Statistical Models | 3 |
| Department Core | ||
| BIOS 825 | Multivariate Biostatistics | 3 |
| or BIOS 820 | Bayesian Biostatistics and Computation | |
| Select three 800 level 3 credit hour statistics courses | 9 | |
| Seminar and Practica | ||
| BIOS 845 | Doctoral Seminar | 2 |
| BIOS 890 | Independent Study | 3 |
| Cognate | 3 | |
| Electives - Select from the following: | 9 | |
| Advanced Linear Models in Biostatistics | ||
| Theory and Methods of Discrete Data Analysis | ||
| Biostatistical Methods in Clinical Trials | ||
| Survival Analysis | ||
| Research Design in the Biomedical Sciences | ||
| Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis | ||
| Biostatistical Aspects of Bioinformatics | ||
| Introduction to Quantile Regression | ||
| Selected Topics in Biostatistics | ||
| Survival Analysis II | ||
| Generalized Linear Models | ||
| Bayesian Biostatistics and Computation | ||
| Statistical Methods in Spatial Epidemiology | ||
| Multivariate Biostatistics | ||
| Biostatistical Machine Learning for Public Health | ||
| Independent Study | ||
| Selected Topics in Biostatistics | ||
| Nonlinear Statistical Models | ||
| Time Series Analysis | ||
| Stochastic Processes | ||
| Response Surface Methodology | ||
| Reliability and Life Testing | ||
| Item Response Theory | ||
or any other advisor approved BIOS or STAT course | ||
| Dissertation | ||
| BIOS 899 | Dissertation Preparation | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours | 53 | |
Advanced Standing Coursework (44 credit hours)
Students who have completed a master's degree prior to matriculation into the Biostatistics Ph.D. and have completed at least 15 hours at the B level or higher of biostatistics at the master's level may be admitted as advanced standing students. The following courses or their equivalent must be completed prior to matriculation of their Ph.D.: BIOS 701 & BIOS 757. Additionally, the student should show 9 or more other hours of completed Biostatistics Graduate work at the B level or higher prior to matriculation to enroll as advanced standing.
| Course | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Public Health Core | ||
| PUBH 700 | Perspectives in Public Health | 3 |
| Statistics Core | ||
| STAT 712 | Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| STAT 713 | Mathematical Statistics II | 3 |
| STAT 714 | Linear Statistical Models | 3 |
| Department Core | ||
| BIOS 825 | Multivariate Biostatistics | 3 |
| or BIOS 820 | Bayesian Biostatistics and Computation | |
| Select three 800 level 3 credit hour statistics courses | 9 | |
| Seminar and Practica | ||
| BIOS 845 | Doctoral Seminar | 2 |
| BIOS 890 | Independent Study | 3 |
| Cognate | 3 | |
| Dissertation | ||
| BIOS 899 | Dissertation Preparation | 12 |
| Total Credit Hours | 44 | |
Note: The requirement to take PUBH 700 may be waived with Graduate Director approval if a student has taken a similar course during his/her master’s degree program. If this requirement is waived, the student will be required to take 3 additional Biostatistics/Statistics credit hours to replace this course.