MSPH in Biostatistics at the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics - ASPH

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	Arnold School of Public Health

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MSPH IN BIOSTATISTICS

Program of Study
Learning Objectives
Degree Requirements
Examinations
Thesis Requirements

Advisement and Program of Study

After admission to the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, each student will be assigned an academic advisor from the faculty of the department. Generally, this advisor will work with the student throughout the course of the program. Students are advised as to appropriate courses, sequencing of courses, independent study topics, thesis topic, public health practice, and any additional work appropriate to preparing the student to meet career objectives. The student may request the Graduate Director for a change of advisor. The student and advisor will develop a program of study during the student's first semester in school. All course work taken by the student must be approved by the academic advisor and Graduate Director. A student’s Program of Study must be filed with The Graduate School no later than one (1) year after being fully admitted. Further registration will be blocked if the Program of Study is not on file by that time. There is no foreign language requirement.

BIOS 701, EPID 701, BIOS 757, and STAT 512 are considered departmental core courses for all students in the Masters programs.

In addition to the course work, each student must pass two examinations, the Progression Examination and the Comprehensive Examination. At the end of the Spring semester during which the departmental core courses are completed, each student must take the Progression Examination. This exam must be passed before continuation in the program and before registering for Practicum or Thesis. At or near completion of required departmental course work (i.e., on program of study), each student must satisfactorily complete a Comprehensive Exam.

Every student must complete a thesis. The academic advisor does not automatically serve as the thesis director. The student may select this person from among the faculty in the department.

Learning Objectives

The Master of Science in Public Health program in Biostatistics will prepare students, through quality lecture and practical experiences and other research opportunities, for involvement in biostatistical research, including application of existing statistical theory to health problems, formulation of designed experiments, and adaptation of existing statistical theory for emerging health related problems. Specifically the student will:

1.	Display mastery of a variety of traditional and newly developed statistical techniques, including multivariable methods for continuous and categorical data analysis.
2.	Demonstrate the ability to evaluate a given health related problem, and to identify the most appropriate statistical technique for analysis.
3.	Demonstrate the ability to structure available data in an easily useable form, using a variety of data management software tools.
4.	Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of statistical software packages, to create and maintain databases, and to analyze data.
5.	Demonstrate the ability to interpret the results of a statistical analysis, and to communicate such interpretations in an easily comprehendible manner.
6.	Demonstrate the expertise and the ability to apply analytic epidemiologic methods used to investigate health conditions.
7.	Understand and evaluate current issues and problems in epidemiology and biostatistics.
8.	Demonstrate the ability to work independently on a research problem, outside of the classroom setting.
9.	Demonstrate the ability to modify and extend existing statistical techniques to answer questions posed by health related situations, and to synthesize such research results into acceptable research papers.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 44 credit hours is required for the Master of Science in Public Health with a major in Biostatistics. All department core courses must be passed with a grade of “B” or better. Failure to do so will necessitate repeating the course; these courses can only be repeated once. Complete course descriptions and prerequisites can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

Summary of Degree Requirements for M.S.P.H. in Biostatistics
ASPH Core	3 hours
Department Core	17 hours
Major Courses	15 hours
Electives	3 hours
Thesis	6 hours
Total	44 hours
School of Public Health Core (3 hours)
One of the following:
ENHS 660 (3)	Concepts of Environmental Health Sciences
HADM 700 (3)	Approaches and Concepts of Health Administration
HPEB 700 (3)	Public Health Education Concepts
Department Core (17 or 18 hours)
BIOS 701 (3)	Concepts and Methods of Biostatistics
EPID 701 (3)	Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology
BIOS 753 (3)	Community and Health Studies or EPID 741 (4) Epidemiologic Methods I
BIOS 757 (3)	Intermediate Biometrics
EPID 745 (1)	Seminar in Epidemiology
BIOS 745 (1)	Seminar in Biostatistics
BIOS 710 (3)	Effective Data Management in Public Health
Major Courses (15 hours)
BIOS 758 (3)	Advance Biometrics
BIOS 759 (3)	Biostatistical Methods for Rates and Proportions
STAT 512 (3)	Mathematical Statistics
STAT 513 (3)	Theory of Statistical Inference
Plus one of the following:
BIOS 751(3)	Health Data Systems
BIOS 752 (3)	Vital and Health Statistics
BIOS 760 (3)	Biostatistical Methods in Clinical Trials
BIOS 810 (3)	Survival Analysis
BIOS 840 (3)	Research Design in the Biomedical Sciences
STAT 518 (3)	Nonparametric Statistical Methods
STAT 519 (3)	Sampling
Electives (3 hours)
Electives are chosen from courses in the University which support the overall educational goals of the student. The faculty advisor must approve all elective courses.
Thesis (6 hours)
BIOS 799(6)	Thesis Preparation

Examinations

Progression Exam

The Progression Examination will be taken at the time of completion of the department core courses (BIOS 701, EPID 701, BIOS 757, and EPID 741 or BIOS 753). Material from STAT 512 may also be included for Biostatistics students. The Progression Examination will be offered at the end of each spring semester. If a student completing the department core courses in the spring semester does not take the exam, it will count as a failed first attempt unless she/he has made prior arrangements with the Graduate Director due to emergency circumstances. (Note: Students must earn at least a “B” in BIOS 701 and EPID 701 to progress to BIOS 757 and EPID 741 or BIOS 753, respectively. The grade of “B” or better in EPID 741 or BIOS 753 and BIOS 757 is not required to take the progression exam. However, a student with a lower grade is expected to retake the class prior to graduation.)

The Progression Examination is prepared by a committee of at least four members of the Department faculty (at least two (2) Epidemiology and two (2) Biostatistics). At least two faculty members will grade each question independently. The Progression Examination will be evaluated as a whole; the student will either pass or not pass the entire examination.

The Progression Examination will be given in a classroom setting. The exam will be closed book, but students will be provided with a formula sheet of the relevant formulas needed for the exam content. Students may use a calculator but are not allowed to use any software beyond output provided with the examination.

Students taking the Examination will be notified in writing of the results as soon as possible after faculty evaluation of the Examination. Faculty members are not to discuss exam results with any individual student until all students have received official notification. A debriefing session will be held after examination results are released to students. At this session, students are allowed to see their exams while faculty members review appropriate responses, but they will not be given their individual scores. A student also may meet with his/her advisor to discuss performance on the exam.

If a student does not pass the Progression Examination during the spring administration, he/she will be allowed to take a second exam in August prior to the beginning of fall semester classes. A student who must repeat the Progression Examination may take one or more courses (with the exception of Practicum or Thesis) during the Summer sessions but will not be allowed to register for classes in a major semester (fall or spring) until a satisfactory performance on the exam is recorded. If a student does not pass the Progression Examination on the second attempt he/she will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Comprehensive Examination

A written Comprehensive Examination is required for all master’s students. The purpose of the exam is to evaluate the knowledge acquired by the student in the core and major courses, and to evaluate mastery of the major concepts and methodologies in the discipline. The examination must be completed at least three months after passing the progression exam, at least 15 days before the end of the semester but not more than two calendar years prior to the date at which all degree requirements are met. This exam will be offered early in the spring semester and in August prior to the beginning of fall semester classes.

The Comprehensive Examination will be taken upon completion of the majority of major course work, defined as satisfactory completion or current enrollment in all departmental courses listed on the student’s program of study within 3 credit hours (excluding thesis preparation or public health practice). The student therefore must have an approved program of study indicating what departmental courses are required. For Biostatistics students, the relevant courses include every Statistics course on the program of study. The student should be ready to begin a thesis or practicum when taking the Comprehensive Examination.

student must register with his/her advisor’s approval to take the Comprehensive Examination; the deadline for this registration is posted as soon as the examination date is set and is at least three weeks prior to the examination date. If a student registers to take the Comprehensive Examination and does not take it, this will count as one attempt unless the registration is canceled at least one week prior to the examination date.

For Epidemiology students, the examination will focus on design and methodology issues and content areas. Advanced material from EPID 701 and EPID 741 can be reflected on the examination. The exam may include reading a published manuscript (distributed prior to the exam) and responding to conceptual, design and methodological questions related to this publication or its subject matter. The examination can be written at a computer to allow use of a word processor; however, no other software can be used and no further research can be done (e.g., via e-mail or the Internet).

For Biostatistics students, the examination will focus on the theory and methodologies presented in the various Biostatistics and Statistics courses, possibly including more advanced concepts from BIOS 701, BIOS 753, and BIOS 757. Students will be given a set of questions based on all the courses completed; each individual will be allowed to choose a subset of these questions to answer, based on courses he/she completed. Because of calculations and formulas, writing the examination at a computer is not efficient; therefore Biostatistics students will complete the examination using pen/pencil and paper. Students will be allowed to use a calculator but not any statistical software. They will be given a sheet of relevant formulas developed for the Progression Exam.

The Comprehensive Examination, actually one exam for epidemiology and one exam for biostatistics, is prepared by a committee of at least three members of the Department faculty in that discipline. The committee evaluates the results and determines the outcome. The Comprehensive Examination will be evaluated as a whole; the student will either pass or not pass the entire Examination.

Students taking the Examination will be notified in writing of the results as soon as possible after faculty evaluation of the Examination. Faculty members are not to discuss exam results with any individual student until all students have received official notification. A debriefing session will be held after examination results are released to students. At this session, students are allowed to see their exams while faculty members review appropriate responses, but they will not be given their individual scores. The student also may meet with his/her advisor to discuss performance on the exam.

Each student is allowed two attempts at the Comprehensive Examination. The second attempt should occur within one year of the first attempt, preferably the next semester. Because the student has essentially completed his/her program of study, he/she may take additional elective courses during this time. If a student does not pass the examination on the second attempt he/she is not allowed to continue in the program.

A student who passes the comprehensive examination and is accepted into a doctoral program in this department in the same discipline within three years may request waiver of at least part of the doctoral qualifying exam. This request will be evaluated on an individual basis.

Thesis Requirements

1.	THESIS COMMITTEE. All M.S.P.H. students must complete a research project culminating in a thesis. Students must pass the progression examination before beginning thesis work. The student, in consultation with the academic advisor, will select a thesis director from the faculty of the department. The thesis director has primary responsibility for advising the student regarding technical work on the thesis. The department chair, after consultation with the thesis director and student, will appoint a thesis advisory committee for the student. The committee will consist of a minimum of three members, including the thesis director and at least one other faculty member of the department whose interests are related to the student's research goals. It may include one member from any other academic department who has an interest in the research area of the student. The student is expected to be actively involved in assembling the committee, asking each prospective faculty member if he or she would be willing to serve on the thesis committee.
2.	ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. Thesis research is to be geared toward contributing to the knowledge or management of a public health issue. Thesis research must adhere to prevailing ethical principles regarding all research involving humans as subjects. The School of Public Research Ethics Committee reviews and monitors all non-federally funded research and all student research in the School of Public Health. All thesis research must have approval by the institutional review board at the performance site of the research and by the appropriate ethics review committee, usually at the school level, prior to beginning the work for those studies that are not funded by an external sponsor. Some projects may also require review by the University Institutional Review Board. In addition, if the student is working with data provided by a faculty member or an agency, he/she must follow all specified agreements regarding confidentiality and patients’ rights.
3.	DEADLINES. The complete thesis must be read, critically evaluated, and approved by all members of the thesis committee. In accordance with Graduate School guidelines, the following deadlines must be met.
	a.	Initially, the student must prepare a thesis proposal and defend it for the thesis committee.
	b.	The first complete draft of the thesis must be in the hands of the thesis committee at least 60 days before the end of the semester (Graduate Studies Bulletin); the approximate dates are October 15, March 15, and June 15 for fall, spring and summer sessions, respectively. This date is approximately six weeks before the filing date for the thesis and should be at least one month before the scheduled defense. The thesis defense should be scheduled at this time; the Graduate Director must approve the scheduled time (see guidelines for scheduling in section 4a below).
	c.	The final copy is to be submitted to each committee member at least 30 days prior to the end of the semester (Graduate Studies Bulletin) or at least one week prior to the thesis defense, whichever is earlier.
	d.	The thesis defense must be held at least one week before the Graduate School filing date which is 20 days before the end of the semester.
	e.	The student must file the final thesis with the designated number of copies by the filing date. The Graduate Director of the student’s program or the administrative assistant for education will give preliminary approval to title page and general format. Final approval is given by the Graduate School when the thesis is filed at a scheduled appointment.
4.		THESIS DEFENSE AND FINAL VERSION.
	a.	The candidate must publicly present the thesis in a 30-45 minute presentation. Announcements of this presentation should be posted at least one week before the defense; at least one announcement must be posted on the seminar bulletin board between the student mailboxes. The thesis defense should be scheduled in an available classroom and not during the scheduled class time of any department core course (EPID 701, 741, 745, BIOS 701, 710, 745, 753, or 757).
	b.	The candidate must pass an oral comprehensive examination which shall be administered immediately following the presentation and evaluated by his or her thesis advisory committee. This examination will focus on the technical and scientific aspects and the scholarly delineation of the thesis topic and may cover any other subject matter relevant to the student’s field of study .
	c.	All thesis committee members must approve the final version of the thesis and sign the title page before the student submits it to the Graduate School. The student should provide each thesis committee member a copy of the thesis as submitted to the Graduate School, bound in a manner acceptable to the committee. These copies are in addition to the minimum number required by the Graduate School and any personal copies.

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