part time phd biostatistics

Still accepting applications for online and hybrid programs!

• Skip to content
• Skip to search
• Accessibility Policy
• Report an Accessibility Issue

Biostatistics Ph.D. Program

Requirements of the ph.d. program.

The Ph.D. degree requires successful completion of:

• Core courses
• Electives in Biostatistics and Statistics
• Epidemiology requirement
• Public health requirement (Foundations of Public Health Practice, online non-credit course). Students with an MPH from a CEPH-accredited institution are exempt.
• Electives in a cognate area
• Approaches to the Responsible Practice of Biostatistics (BIOS 810)
• Qualifying Examinations in Theory and Applications

Dissertation

• Presentation of proposal for research including an extensive literature review
• Writing of the dissertation
• Oral defense of the dissertation
• Mandatory Form for Scheduling a Proposal or Defense

After successful completion of coursework and the Qualifying Examinations, the student is advanced to candidacy and begins work on his/her dissertation.

Financial Support

All students admitted to one of our residential programs are considered for financial support. There are four types of financial support that we offer our students: Graduate Student Instructor (GSI), Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA), Training Grants and Fellowships.

Graduate Student Instructor (GSI)

Graduate Student Instructors are appointed at 50% effort, which involves working approximately twenty hours per week. This appointment includes full payment of tuition, health insurance coverage, registration fees and a monthly stipend. GSI’s are appointed to help with the instruction of Biostatistics courses offered to students from other Public Health Departments. The duties of a GSI can include preparing materials for and teaching labs, holding office hours, grading homework and exams, and tutoring.

Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA)

GSRA’s are appointed at 50% effort, which involves working approximately twenty hours per week on a research project. This appointment includes full payment of tuition, health insurance coverage, registration fees and a monthly stipend. GSRA’s generally work closely with a faculty member who is a principal or co-investigator on the research project. The duties of the GSRA can involve analysis of biomedical research data or statistical research. Currently, GSRAs are working on projects involving statistical methods development and application to bioinformatics, cancer, clinical trials, dentistry, diabetes, environmental health, epidemiology, genetics, health education, kidney disease, and survival analysis.

Training Grants

Students are also supported through involvement in training grants which provide support similar to the GSRA or GSI appointments. Currently, the Department has three training grants. Information can be obtained by clicking on the links below.

• Genomic Science Training Program
• Training Program in Cancer Research (PDF)

Scholarships, Fellowships and Awards

Awards for tuition assistance are available and are granted without a work obligation. These awards are generally made on the basis of academic merit, expected contribution to the field, and underrepresented backgrounds. Some examples of awards our students have received include:

• the Shapiro Award
• the Rackham Merit Fellowship for Historically Underrepresented Groups
• the Rackham Non-Traditional Fellowship
• the Rackham Regents Fellowship
• the School of Public Health Tuition Assistance Award.

Other award/scholarship opportunities exist for continuing students. They include:

• the Rackham One-Term Dissertation Grant
• the Barbour Scholarship
• the Pre-doctoral Fellowship
• the Susan Lipshutz Award
• the Rackham Travel Award .

The Rackham Sources of Aid page lists various sources of information on financial assistance available to students on campus.

Prospective students interested in applying for specific awards should contact Student Services at 734-615-9817 or [email protected].

Financial Aid

Many of our students are offered funding as GSIs, GSRAs or fellows. If a student does not receive such an offer, he or she may apply for financial aid through the University of Michigan’s Office of Financial Aid . This office requires applicants for any and all types of financial aid to complete the Free Application for Federal Student AID (FAFSA) provided by the American College Testing Center (ACTC) . A FAFSA will be sent to you directly if you indicate your interest in financial assistance on the admission application form. FAFSAs are available from most high school or college libraries and financial aid officers, as well as from the School of Public Health Office for Student Engagement and Practice. FAFSA is also available at www.fafsa.ed.gov .

Prerequisites

Minimum requirements.

• three semesters of calculus
• a course in matrix or linear algebra
• an introductory course in statistics or biostatistics

Students entering with a relevant master's degree in biostatistics or statistics are likely to have completed several of the courses required for the Ph.D. program. For this reason, we outline two programs of study: one for students with a relevant master's degree and one for students without a relevant master's degree. Each student should determine the details of the program of study after consultation with his/her faculty advisor.

Courses for a PhD Student with a Relevant Master's Degree

Typically, a student entering with a relevant master's degree will have had the following courses or their equivalents:

• BIOS 601 Probability and Distribution Theory
• BIOS 602 Biostatistical Inference
• BIOS 650 Applied Statistics I: Linear Regression
• BIOS 810 Approaches to the Responsible Practice of Biostatistics
• MATH 451 Advanced Calculus I
• Foundations of Public Health TBA, starting Fall 2018
• One or two electives in Biostatistics or Statistics

This accelerated program is not possible unless the student has already completed the first three courses listed above. MATH 451 can be taken in the first term of year 1, if necessary.

* Or another advanced probability course.

It is assumed that students entering with a relevant Master's degree will have taken equivalent courses that will enable them to be exempted from 3-6 hours of this requirement.

B. Electives (15 credit hours)

Electives may be selected from Biostatistics at the 600/800 level, from Statistics at the 500/600 level, or with approval of the Candidacy Committee, from courses taught in other departments. At least 12 of these hours should be in formal courses and 9 of the 12 hours should be at the 800 level in Biostatistics or 600 level in Statistics. A formal course is defined to be a graded course that is taught in a lecture format.

C. Epidemiology Requirement

All students in the School of Public Health are required to demonstrate competency in biostatistics and epidemiology. The epidemiology requirement may be satisfied in any one of the following ways:

• Completing Epidemiology 601 (Fall) or PH 512 (Fall & Winter).
• Taking and passing the Epidemiology exemption examination.
• Completing Epidemiology 516 and any necessary prerequisites to that course. (Option available to MS student but not to MPH students)
• Epidemiology 621 as an option for students funded by the Training Program in Cancer Research.

D1. Open Elective Requirement

Depending on the number of credit hours used to complete their epidemiology cognate, Ph.D. students will take 7-10 credit hours of "open elective" courses to be selected from an approved list. If the Epidemiology course taken is 515/516, the student needs 7 credits. If the Epidemiology course is 601, then 9 credits. If the Epidemiology course is 503, then 10 credits. All current Biostatistics students are granted access to the approved list, which is maintained on a Google Drive document. The approved list includes additional electives in biostatistics (600+ level) and statistics (500+ level), applied courses in public health or related topics, and courses in computational methods. Students who want to take University of Michigan courses that are not currently on the approved list are encouraged to request approval from the Curriculum Committee; please contact Nicole Fenech ([email protected]) and provide the name, number of the course and description.  (Courses far afield from biostatistics and public health will not be approved).

In Table 3, we present a possible sequence of courses and examinations for a student entering with a relevant Master's degree. Prior to registering for this sequence, the student should confirm with his/her faculty advisor that he/she has adequate prior course work. Also, the student should discuss with his/her faculty advisor the possibility of receiving exemptions from the Core courses listed above. BIOS 820 or 990 taken in the last term are individually-tailored reading courses in the area of biostatistics in which the student would like to do his or her literature review.

May Year 2:Qualifying Examinations

*Students who have taken BIOS 651 or equivalent prior to entry in the PhD program could finish Core courses (BIOS 801, 802, 653, 699) the first year and write the Qualifying Examinations May Year 1.

*This represents a minimal program of study for the PhD degree. The timing of electives and of cognates/open electives may be freely interchanged.

D2. Public Health Requirement 

All MS and Ph.D students (who do not have MPH degree) are required to take a 1-credit course on "Introduction to Public Health" (PUBHLTH 610) during the first semester of the program. This course is offered in the Fall of every year.

Courses for a PhD Student without a Relevant Master's Degree

This program does not assume any relevant course work for a student entering the PhD program. In practice, students with a relevant Master's are likely to have had some courses that are equivalent to requirements in this program. Therefore, prior to registering for courses the student should discuss with his/her advisor the specific courses that should be taken.

At least 15 credit hours of electives are required. They may be selected from Biostatistics at the 600/800 level, from Statistics at the 500/600 level, or with approval of the Candidacy Committee, from courses taught in other Departments. At least 12 of these hours should be in formal courses, 9 of the 12 hours should be at the 800 level in Biostatistics or 600 level in Statistics. A formal course is defined to be a graded course that is taught in a lecture format.

• Completing Epidemiology 601 (Fall) or PH 512  (Fall & Winter).
• Completing Epidemiology 516 and any necessary prerequisites to that course. (Option available to MS students, but not to MPH students)
• Epidemiology 621 as an option for students funded by the Training Program in Cancer Research 

D1a. Cognate Requirement (for entering class prior to Fall 2015)

PhD students must complete at least 9 hours of course work in a cognate area. This should consist of a coherent set of courses in an area (or in related areas) of application of biostatistics; the courses should be approved for graduate credit and may be from more than one department. Cognate courses should be primarily applied as opposed to mathematics/statistical in nature. For example, courses in areas such as mathematics, statistics, operational research, computer science, econometrics and psychometrics would most likely not qualify as cognate courses. Courses from other departments in Public Health or in areas such as genetics, biology, psychology, economics and many other similar areas will likely qualify as cognate courses. Courses in Bioinformatics that are biological or experimental in nature would typically count toward the cognate, whereas those that are more quantitative or technical would not. Courses taken to satisfy the epidemiology requirement count toward the cognate requirement. Faculty advisors can provide guidance and recommend approval of cognate courses. If questions arise on review by Student Services, the Curriculum Committee will make the final decision.

Waivers of cognate requirements .   It is possible to have cognate courses taken in a graduate program elsewhere recognized and to receive a partial or complete waiver. It should be noted, however, that if the previously taken courses were applied toward a degree, the required credit hours for the UM degree will not be reduced. A waiver of cognate requirements should be discussed with your advisor and must be approved by the Curriculum Committee and all requests must go through the Department's Student Services office.

D1b. Open Elective Requirement (for entering class Fall 2015 or later)

Depending on the number of credit hours used to complete their epidemiology cognate, Ph.D. students will take 7-10 credit hours of "open elective" courses to be selected from an approved list. If the Epidemiology course taken is 515/516, the student needs 7 credits. If the Epidemiology course is 601, then 9 credits. If the Epidemiology course is 503, then 10 credits. All current Biostatistics students are granted access to the approved list, which is maintained on a Google Drive document. The approved list includes additional electives in biostatistics (600+ level) and statistics (500+ level), Math 451, applied courses in public health or related topics, and courses in computational methods. Students who want to take University of Michigan courses that are not currently on the approved list are encouraged to request approval from the Curriculum Committee; please contact Nicole Fenech ([email protected]) and provide the name, number of the course and description.  (Courses far afield from biostatistics and public health will not be approved).

D2. Public Health Requirement (new requirement for MS and Ph.D students beginning Fall 2013 cohort)

In Table 4 we present a possible sequence of courses and examinations for students entering without a relevant Master's degree.

Spring/Summer Year 2: Qualifying Examinations

* This represents a minimal program of study for the PhD degree. The timing of electives and of cognates may be freely interchanged. These courses also allow a student to receive a Master's degree at the end of the second year. Three additional electives would be taken in year 3 for a total of 15 credit hours of electives. BIOS 820 or 990, which are individually-tailored reading courses in the area of biostatistics in which the student would like to do his or her literature review, are particularly recommended.

Qualifying Examinations and Advancement to Candidacy

Qualifying examinations.

As a rule, students must be admitted to the Biostatistics Ph.D. program before taking the Qualifying Examination. This rule may be waived in exceptional circumstances, subject to written consent of the Admission and Candidacy Committees. The Qualifying Examination is not individualized to the student. They are prepared and graded by the members of the Candidacy Committee.

The Qualifying Examination is offered once each year, in late May. Questions will be at the level of the final exams used in our required Biostatistics core courses (601, 602, 650, and 651). In addition, students are required to take and pass 699 before taking the Qualifying Examination.

Full-time Ph.D. students entering without a relevant master's degree are expected to take the Qualifying Exam within two years of entering the program, while students entering with a relevant master's degree are expected to take it within one year of entering the program. 

The requirements for part-time students are prorated, so that, for example, a half-time student entering with a relevant master's degree will be required to take the Qualifying Examinations within two years. A student retaking a Qualifying Examination must retake it the next time it is offered. If a student wishes to delay the examinations, he/she must submit a written request to the Candidacy Committee, justifying the delay.

A student who has failed the Qualifying Examination and wishes to continue in the Ph.D. program, may retake the examination. If a student fails the examination twice, then he/she will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Advancement to Candidacy

Advancing to candidacy requires passing the Qualifying Examinations and completing the required coursework. Once these requirements are met, the student should apply for candidacy by submitting the Candidacy Requirements form to the chair of the Candidacy Committee. The Candidacy Committee then makes the final decision regarding advancement.

Departmental Guidelines for Ph.D. Dissertation

Dissertation committee.

In accordance with Rackham Graduate School regulations, the dissertation committee must have at least four members, with at least two from within and at least one from outside the Department of Biostatistics. A member whose research interests are closely aligned with those of the student is the committee chair, unless this member is from outside the Department, in which case this member and a member from within the department are designated as co-chairs. The dissertation committee is selected by mutual agreement between the student and committee members and is nominated to the dean of the Graduate School by the chair of the department. The committee directs and reviews the student's doctoral research, conducts the oral defense of the dissertation, and decides whether or not the dissertation is approved.

• Ph.D. candidates should form their dissertation committee within 12 months of reaching candidacy; it is recommended that meetings with the committee members take place every six to 12 months.
• Candidates are expected to present their thesis proposal within 24 months of achieving candidacy. The proposal presents an opportunity to practice writing skills for the thesis and to present the materials to the members of the dissertation committee. The dissertation proposal does not require a complete outline of the dissertation or the very near completion of the work. Rather, the proposal should be presented along the lines of an NIH grant proposal and generally address questions of overall aims, carry out a comprehensive literature review in the research area, present a section on preliminary results, and provide a detailed plan for additional research. Presentation of the proposal offers a very useful milestone for the student to give a more formal summary of work and to get feedback and comments from the dissertation committee. The additional purpose of the thesis proposal is for the whole committee to review and approve the proposed direction and content of the proposed research.

Dissertation Content

The dissertation research must be a creative and significant original contribution to the field of biostatistics, involving the development and evaluation of biostatistical methodology that has application to important biomedical problems. The development of software and computational techniques for novel statistical methods is an important aspect of scholarly work. Various models for the structure of a dissertation have been used and are acceptable. In some cases, the thesis consists of three separate, often fairly loosely related, papers that are judged to be of publishable quality. A more traditional form of thesis would be one that provides an in-depth treatise on a topic, that may look at various facets of a problem and may not easily subdivide into a set number of separate publishable papers. For guidance, students may wish to review the collection of Ph.D. dissertations that have been written in the department and that are on display in the departmental library.

Dissertation Submission

• It is the responsibility of the student to see that the dissertation defense is advertised within the department at least three weeks in advance of the scheduled defense time. In addition, the student is responsible for providing a copy of the submitted dissertation to each member of the dissertation committee at least two weeks in advance of the date of the defense.
• The dissertation should be submitted by the student to the graduate office in the department at least two weeks prior to the defense. The thesis would then be available for review to any faculty member or student in the department prior to the defense. The Front Office will send a note to all faculty and students regarding the availability of the thesis and lend it out to anyone interested.

Conduct of Defense (Examination)

• The chair will call on the candidate for presentation of the dissertation, typically for a 50-minute presentation and will then call on committee members for questions. It is typical to call on the external member(s) of the committee first and then on others on the committee. Once the committee has completed a first round of questions, the chair will solicit any questions from the audience. Further questions from the committee will also be invited.
• The defense is to be public; therefore, examination of the candidate by committee members and others should take place with all who are interested present. There would still be time for an ‘in camera’ deliberation of the dissertation committee, and in exceptional circumstances where more information is needed, the committee may decide to meet again with the candidate after the public meeting is complete.

Rackham Procedures

Please make sure to read important Rackham guidelines and procedures .

Ph.D. Student Directory

Frequently asked questions

For more information about the admissions process, contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Nicole Fenech.

E-mail : [email protected] Telephone : 734-615-9817

Mail Department of Biostatistics School of Public Health University of Michigan 1415 Washington Heights Ann Arbor, MI 48109-2029 Fax : 734-763-2215

Ready to Apply?

GET STARTED

Information For

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Alumni and Donors
• Community Partners and Employers
• About Public Health
• How Do I Apply?
• Departments
• Findings magazine

Student Resources

• Career Development
• Certificates
• Internships
• The Heights Intranet
• Update Contact Info
• Report Website Feedback

• Departments
• Program Finder
• Admissions Services
• Course Directory
• Academic Calendar
• Hybrid Campus
• Lecture Series
• Convocation
• Strategy and Development
• Implementation and Impact
• Integrity and Oversight
• In the School
• In the Field
• In Baltimore
• Resources for Practitioners
• Articles & News Releases
• In The News
• Statements & Announcements
• At a Glance
• Student Life
• Strategic Priorities
• Inclusion, Diversity, Anti-Racism, and Equity (IDARE)
• What is Public Health?

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Offered By: Department of Biostatistics

Onsite | Full-Time | 5 years

• MAS Application Fee Waiver Requirements
• Master of Arts (MA) in Geography and Environmental Engineering
• Master of Arts and Master of Science in Public Health (MA/MSPH)
• Master of Arts in Public Health Biology (MAPHB)
• Master of Bioethics (MBE)
• Mission, Vision, and Values
• Student Experience
• Program Outcomes
• For Hopkins Undergraduate Students
• Master of Health Science (MHS) - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Master of Health Science (MHS) - Department of Epidemiology
• Alumni Update
• MHS Combined with a Certificate Program
• Master of Health Science (MHS) - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Alumni Highlights
• Post-Baccalaureate Program in Environmental Health for Pre-Medicine Students
• Bachelor's/MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research
• MHS HEOR Careers
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Master of Health Science (MHS)
• Concurrent School-Wide Master of Health Science Program in Biostatistics
• Master of Health Science - Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Master of Health Science Online (MHS) - Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Careers in Health Economics
• Core Competencies
• Meet the Director
• What is Health Economics
• MPH Capstone Schedule
• Concentrations
• Online/Part-Time Format
• Requirements

Tuition and Funding

• Executive Board Faculty
• Master of Science (MS) in Geography and Environmental Engineering
• Independent Professional Project and Final Essay 
• Program Objectives and Outcomes
• Internships
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Biostatistics
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Epidemiology
• Master of Science (ScM) - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• ScM Faculty Advisers
• Master of Science in Engineering (MSE) in Geography and Environmental Engineering
• Bachelor's/MSPH in Health Policy
• FAQ for MSPH in Health Policy
• Field Placement Experience
• MSPH Capstone
• MSPH Practicum
• Required and Elective Courses
• Student Timeline
• Career Opportunities
• 38-Week Dietetics Practicum
• Completion Requirements
• MSPH/RD Program FAQ
• Program Goals
• Master's Essay Titles
• Application Fee Waiver Requirements
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Biostatistics
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Epidemiology
• Program Goals and Expectations
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Department of Population, Family and Reproductive Health
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Clinical Investigation
• Track in Environmental Sustainability, Resilience, and Health
• Track in Exposure Sciences and Environmental Epidemiology
• Track in Health Security
• Track in Toxicology, Physiology and Molecular Mechanisms
• PhD in Geography and Environmental Engineering Faculty Advisers
• Recent Graduates and Dissertation Titles
• PhD Funding
• PhD TA Requirement
• Recent Dissertation Titles
• JHU-Tsinghua Doctor of Public Health
• Core Course Requirements
• Concentration in Women’s and Reproductive Health
• Custom Track
• Concentration in Environmental Health
• Concentration in Global Health: Policy and Evaluation
• Concentration in Health Equity and Social Justice
• Concentration in Health Policy and Management
• Concentration in Implementation Science
• Meet Current Students
• Combined Bachelor's / Master's Programs
• Concurrent MHS Option for BSPH Doctoral Students
• Concurrent MSPH Option for JHSPH Doctoral students
• Doctor of Medicine and Doctor of Philosophy (MD/PhD)
• Adolescent Health Certificate Program
• Bioethics Certificate Program
• Climate and Health Certificate Program
• Clinical Trials Certificate Program
• Community- Based Public Health Certificate Program
• Demographic Methods Certificate Program
• Environmental and Occupational Health Certificate Program
• Epidemiology for Public Health Professionals Certificate Program
• Evaluation: International Health Programs Certificate Program
• Food Systems, the Environment and Public Health Certificate Program
• Frequently Asked Questions for Certificate Programs
• Gender and Health Certificate Program
• Gerontology Certificate Program
• Global Digital Health Certificate Program
• Global Health Certificate Program
• Global Health Practice Certificate Program
• Health Communication Certificate Program
• Health Disparities and Health Inequality Certificate Program
• Health Education Certificate Program
• Health Finance and Management Certificate Program
• Health and Human Rights Certificate Program
• Healthcare Epidemiology and Infection Prevention and Control Certificate Program
• Humane Sciences and Toxicology Policy Certificate Program
• Humanitarian Health Certificate Program
• Implementation Science and Research Practice Certificate Program
• Injury and Violence Prevention Certificate Program
• International Healthcare Management and Leadership Certificate Program
• Leadership for Public Health and Healthcare Certificate Program
• Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ) Public Health Certificate Program
• Maternal and Child Health Certificate Program
• Mental Health Policy, Economics and Services Certificate Program
• Non-Degree Students General Admissions Info
• Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Certificate Program
• Population Health Management Certificate Program
• Population and Health Certificate Program
• Product Stewardship for Sustainability Certificate Program
• Public Health Advocacy Certificate Program
• Public Health Economics Certificate Program
• Public Health Informatics Certificate Program
• Public Health Practice Certificate Program
• Declaration of Intent - Public Health Preparedness
• Public Health Training Certificate for American Indian Health Professionals
• Public Mental Health Research Certificate Program
• Quality, Patient Safety and Outcomes Research Certificate Program
• Quantitative Methods in Public Health Certificate Program
• Requirements for Successful Completion of a Certificate Program
• Rigor, Reproducibility, and Responsibility in Scientific Practice Certificate Program
• Risk Sciences and Public Policy Certificate Program
• Spatial Analysis for Public Health Certificate Program
• Training Certificate in Public Health
• Tropical Medicine Certificate Program
• Tuition for Certificate Programs
• Vaccine Science and Policy Certificate Program
• Online Student Experience
• Online Programs for Applied Learning
• Barcelona Information
• Registration, Tuition, and Fees
• Agency Scholarship Application
• General Scholarship Application
• UPF Scholarship Application
• Course Evaluations
• Online Courses
• Registration
• General Institute Tuition Information
• International Students
• Directions to the Bloomberg School
• All Courses
• Important Guidance for ONSITE Students
• D.C. Courses
• Registration and Fees
• Cancellation and Closure Policies
• Application Procedures
• Career Search
• Current Activities
• Current Trainees
• Related Links
• Process for Appointing Postdoctoral Fellows
• Message from the Director
• Program Details
• Admissions FAQ
• Current Residents
• Elective Opportunities for Visiting Trainees
• What is Occupational and Environmental Medicine?
• Admissions Info
• Graduates by Year
• Compensation and Benefits
• How to Apply
• Academic Committee
• Course Details and Registration
• Tuition and Fees
• ONLINE SOCI PROGRAM
• Principal Faculty
• Johns Hopkins RAPID Psychological First Aid
• General Application
• JHHS Application
• Areas of Study
• Important Dates
• Our Faculty
• Welcome Letter
• Descripción los Cursos
• Programa en Epidemiología para Gestores de Salud, Basado en Internet
• Consultants
• Britt Dahlberg, PhD
• Joke Bradt, PhD, MT-BC
• Mark R. Luborsky, PhD
• Marsha Wittink, PhD
• Rebekka Lee, ScD
• Su Yeon Lee-Tauler, PhD
• Theresa Hoeft, PhD
• Vicki L. Plano Clark, PhD
• Program Retreat
• Mixed Methods Applications: Illustrations
• Announcements
• 2023 Call for Applications
• Jennifer I Manuel, PhD, MSW
• Joke Bradt, PhD
• Josiemer Mattei, PhD, MPH
• Justin Sanders, MD, MSc
• Linda Charmaran, PhD
• Nao Hagiwara, PhD
• Nynikka R. A. Palmer, DrPH, MPH
• Olayinka O. Shiyanbola, BPharm, PhD
• Sarah Ronis, MD, MPH
• Susan D. Brown, PhD
• Tara Lagu, MD, MPH
• Theresa Hoft, PhD
• Wynne E. Norton, PhD
• Yvonne Mensa-Wilmot, PhD, MPH
• A. Susana Ramírez, PhD, MPH
• Animesh Sabnis, MD, MSHS
• Autumn Kieber-Emmons, MD, MPH
• Benjamin Han, MD, MPH
• Brooke A. Levandowski, PhD, MPA
• Camille R. Quinn, PhD, AM, LCSW
• Justine Wu, MD, MPH
• Kelly Aschbrenner, PhD
• Kim N. Danforth, ScD, MPH
• Loreto Leiva, PhD
• Marie Brault, PhD
• Mary E. Cooley, PhD, RN, FAAN
• Meganne K. Masko, PhD, MT-BC/L
• PhuongThao D. Le, PhD, MPH
• Rebecca Lobb, ScD, MPH
• Allegra R. Gordon, ScD MPH
• Anita Misra-Hebert, MD MPH FACP
• Arden M. Morris, MD, MPH
• Caroline Silva, PhD
• Danielle Davidov, PhD
• Hans Oh, PhD
• J. Nicholas Dionne-Odom, PhD RN ACHPN
• Jacqueline Mogle, PhD
• Jammie Hopkins, DrPH, MS
• Joe Glass, PhD MSW
• Karen Whiteman, PhD MSW
• Katie Schultz, PhD MSW
• Rose Molina, MD
• Uriyoán Colón-Ramos, ScD MPA
• Andrew Riley, PhD
• Byron J. Powell, PhD, LCSW
• Carrie Nieman MD, MPH
• Charles R. Rogers, PhD, MPH, MS, CHES®
• Emily E. Haroz, PhD
• Jennifer Tsui, Ph.D., M.P.H.
• Jessica Magidson, PhD
• Katherine Sanchez, PhD, LCSW
• Kelly Doran, MD, MHS
• Kiara Alvarez, PhD
• LaPrincess C. Brewer, MD, MPH
• Melissa Radey, PhD, MA, MSSW
• Sophia L. Johnson, PharmD, MPH, PhD
• Supriya Gupta Mohile, MD, MS
• Virginia McKay, PhD
• Andrew Cohen, MD, PhD
• Angela Chen, PhD, PMHNP-BC, RN
• Christopher Salas-Wright, PhD, MSW
• Eliza Park MD, MS
• Jaime M. Hughes, PhD, MPH, MSW
• Johanne Eliacin, PhD, HSPP
• Lingrui Liu ScD MS
• Meaghan Kennedy, MD
• Nicole Stadnick, PhD, MPH
• Paula Aristizabal, MD
• Radhika Sundararajan, MD
• Sara Mamo, AuD, PhD
• Tullika Garg, MD MPH FACS
• Allison Magnuson, DO
• Ariel Williamson PhD, DBSM
• Benita Bamgbade, PharmD, PhD
• Christopher Woodrell MD
• Hung-Jui (Ray) Tan, MD, MSHPM
• Jasmine Abrams, PhD
• Jose Alejandro Rauh-Hain, MD
• Karen Flórez, DrPH, MPH
• Lavanya Vasudevan, PhD, MPH, CPH
• Maria Garcia, MD, MPH
• Robert Brady, PhD
• Saria Hassan, MD
• Scherezade Mama, DrPH
• Yuan Lu, ScD
• 2021 Scholars
• Sign Up for Our Email List
• Workforce Training
• Cells-to-Society Courses
• Course/Section Numbers Explained
• Pathway Program with Goucher College
• The George G. Graham Lecture

About the PhD in Biostatistics Program

The PhD in Biostatistics provides training in the theory of probability and statistics in biostatistical methodology. The program is unique in its emphasis on the foundations of statistical reasoning and data science. Students complete rigorous training in real analysis-based probability and statistics, equivalent to what is provided in most departments of mathematical statistics and in advanced data science.

PhD candidates are required to pass a comprehensive written examination covering coursework completed at the end of their first year. Research leading to a thesis may involve development of new theory and methodology, or it may be concerned with applications of statistics and probability to problems in public health, medicine or biology.

Application Fee Waivers: We are able to offer a limited number of application fee waivers. Learn about the eligibility criteria and how to apply for a waiver .

PhD in Biostatistics Program Highlights

Conduct and publish original research.

on the theory and methodology of biostatistics

Apply innovative theory and methods

to the solution of public health problems

Serve as an expert biostatistician

on collaborative teams of investigators addressing key public health questions

Teach biostatistics effectively

to health professionals and scientists as well as to graduate students in biostatistics

What Can You Do With a PhD In Biostatistics?

Visit the Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries. We have over 750 global alumni working in academia, government, and industry.

Sample Careers and Next Steps

• Tenure Track Faculty (e.g. Assistant Professor)
• Postdoctoral Fellow
• Data Scientist
• Statistician
• Biostatistician
• Machine Learning Engineer
• Mathematical Statistician
• Principal Investigator

Curriculum for the PhD in Biostatistics

Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page. This specific program also requires:

Prior Coursework

Calculus and linear algebra; accepted applicants are also strongly encouraged to take real analysis before matriculating

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores are  not required and not reviewed  for this program. If you have taken a standardized test such as the GRE, GMAT, or MCAT and want to submit your scores, please note that they will not be used as a metric during the application review.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all required application components.

Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative

The  Vivien Thomas Scholars Initiative (VTSI)  is an endowed fellowship program at Johns Hopkins for PhD students in STEM fields. It provides full tuition, stipend, and benefits while also providing targeted mentoring, networking, community, and professional development opportunities. Students who have attended a historically Black college and university (HBCU) or other minority serving institution (MSI) for undergraduate study are eligible to apply. To be considered for the VTSI, you will need to submit a SOPHAS application ,VTSI supplementary materials, and all supporting documents (letters, transcripts, and test scores) by December 1, 2023. VTSI applicants are eligible for an  application fee waiver , but the fee waiver must be requested by November 15, 2023 and prior to submission of the SOPHAS application.

Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the CBA to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.

Need-Based Relocation Grants

Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU.   These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.  View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students .

Questions about the program? We're happy to help. 

Academic Administrator Mary Joy Argo 410-614-4454 [email protected]

Majority of Youth Are Willing to Answer Questions About Their Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity

Dean’s note: this pride month, reaffirming the dignity of lgbtqia+ populations.

Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics .

The PhD in Biostatistics is jointly administered by the Department of Biostatistics at the School of Public Health and the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. The program is geared toward the graduate student who seeks a career as a professional, academic, or industrial biostatistician in biomedical or epidemiologic sciences. The program meets the needs of the health professional who wishes to continue with public health training and achieve a higher and more specialized degree and the statistician who wishes to specialize in statistical methods for biomedical or epidemiologic applications.

Students who complete the PhD program will gain knowledge in probability, statistical inference and hypothesis testing, the design and conduct of experimental and epidemiological studies, statistical computation, and data analysis. Research interests of the faculty include multivariate analysis, survival analysis, medical statistics, clinical trials methodology, statistical genetics, surveillance, robust statistics, longitudinal data analysis, time series, regression, estimation theory, and the design of experiments.

Program Directors:

• Kathryn Lunetta
• Laura White

Program of Study

Students entering with a bachelor's degree must complete a total of 64 credits. Students entering with a master's degree must complete at least 32 credits.

It is expected that students take courses from both the Biostatistics Department in the School of Public Health and the Mathematics & Statistics Department in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Upon completion of coursework, each student must pass Qualifying Examinations .

The dissertation work must address a relevant question in statistical methodology and pose a new approach, extend an existing approach, or provide novel application of an existing method. When the dissertation is completed, the candidate defends his or her work before the dissertation committee. More information about the dissertation requirements is available in the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Bulletin .

Program Requirements

Required Core Courses:

• CAS MA 575 Linear Models
• CAS/MET MA 581 Probability
• CAS/MET MA 582 Mathematical Statistics
• GRS MA 781 Estimation Theory
• GRS MA 782 Hypothesis Testing
• SPH BS 805 Intermediate Statistical Computing and Applied Regression Analysis or SPH BS 806 Multivariate Analysis for Biostatisticians
• SPH BS 857 Analysis of Correlated Data
• SPH BS 853 Generalized Linear Models with Applications
• SPH EP 770 Concepts and Methods in Epidemiology

For complete information on the PhD in Biostatistics program of study, please review the PhD Handbook 2023-2024 and the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences Bulletin .

Students admitted to the PhD program (post-master or post-bachelor) in Biostatistics at Boston University as a full-time student will receive  five years of financial-aid in the form of fellowship or assistantship support. The financial-aid package will consist of a stipend as well as a scholarship to cover tuition, mandatory fees, and individual basic health insurance. A student will typically be appointed as a Doctoral Research Assistant (RA).

Doctoral Research Assistantship

Eligibility (RA): All eligibility requirements for admission must be met. All qualified PhD applicants (international as well as domestic students) who intend to pursue their education as a full-time student are eligible to receive financial aid through Doctoral Research Assistantship .

How to apply (RA): Eligible individuals who are interested in being considered for Doctoral Research Assistantship must complete the standard online application for the PhD program in Biostatistics by December 1. No separate application for financial aid is required.

Click here to view the Research Assistantship Handbook.

Interdisciplinary Training Program for Biostatisticians

For more information on eligibility and requirement for the Training Grant program, click here .

Financial Aid Opportunities

For more information, please visit GRS’s financial aid page for fellowships and scholarships and BUSPH’s financing your education page for additional internal and external funding opportunities.

All requests or questions related to admissions and financial aid should be sent to [email protected] . Applicants should not directly contact faculty members regarding admissions or funding opportunities .

Alumni Careers

Our graduates are highly sought after and work in a wide variety of careers upon graduating. Below is information on our graduates' first jobs after graduation.

PhD in Biostatistics Admissions Requirements

Applications for the PhD in Biostatistics program must be completed on the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences website. The deadline for fall admission is December 1. We do not have spring admission.

Requirements for Admissions

• At least the equivalent of bachelor of arts degree; no specific undergraduate major is required
• One year of calculus, including multivariate calculus*
• One full semester of linear algebra*
• Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended
• 1-2 pages personal statement
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official report of TOEFL scores for applicants whose native language is not English

Note: GRE is not required for admission.

*Online courses can be used to fulfill prerequisite courses if they: 1) are taken from an accredited university or college, 2) are letter-graded, and 3) carry the same credits as in-person courses at the institution.

Graduate programs are jointly administered by the SPH Department of Biostatistics and the Department of Mathematics & Statistics at the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences. Program degrees are the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences.

Students can visit the fee waiver application to find out more information about their eligibility.

Attend a Webinar: Sept 14, Oct 18, Nov 8, Jan 17, & Feb 15

Webinar Information

Attend a live webinar via Zoom to speak with the Program Directors and learn more about the program. Fill out the  Biostatistics Virtual Session Form to RSVP. The 2023 - 2024 webinar dates are as follows:

• Thursday, September 14, 2023 @ 9am EDT
• Thursday, October 18, 2023 @ 12pm EDT
• Thursday, November 8, 2023 @ 9am EST
• Thursday, January 17, 2024 @ 12pm EST
• Wednesday, February 15, 2024 @ 9am EST

For more information about the program, please email [email protected] .

PhD, Mathematical Statistics With a Concentration in Biostatistics and Bioinformatics

Explore statistical techniques for public health, medical and biological research

Biostatistics/Bioinformatics is an important and emerging research field in statistics with immensely broad applications in public health, medical and biological research. The Bioinformatics/Biostatistics (STAT-BB) concentration addresses the increasing research opportunities and the educational needs of this burgeoning field.

• Request Info

Perfect for...

Students who plan to learn:

• Theories, techniques, methods in epidemiology
• Design, analysis and evaluation of epidemiologic studies
• Causal analysis and control of biases
• Development intervention and prevention strategies
• Presentations of findings in academic journals and conferences

Career Paths

• Private sector

Program Overview

The STAT-BB concentration is administered by the Statistics (STAT) Program within the Mathematics Department. Its faculty includes professors in the STAT Program, in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics (EPIB) and in the Center for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology (CBCB) at UMCP. The program also includes the participation of the Division of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics (DBB) faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (SOM). STAT faculty and EPIB faculty collaborate on program admissions decisions, academic policies and creating qualifying exams.

A Master’s degree is not required for admission to the Ph.D. program. A doctoral student must complete a minimum of 36 hours of formal courses (at least 27 at the 600/700 level) with at least a B average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale); at least 18 of the graduate credits must be taken in Statistics. In addition, the University requires at least 12 hours of STAT 899 or EPIB 899 (Doctoral research) given by any participating faculty member as the major advisor.

Ph.D. students must satisfy the Ph.D. qualifying requirements (see below). Full-time students must satisfy all qualifying requirements by the middle of the third year. Part-time students must satisfy all qualifying requirements by the end of the fourth year. If successful in the written examinations, the student must pass an oral exam. Administered by the faculty under this proposed joint program, the oral exam usually takes place a year after the student passes the written examination. This exam serves as a test of the student's in-depth preparation in the area of specialization and research potential. Successful completion of the oral exam indicates that the student is ready to begin writing the doctoral dissertation. In addition, the Department requires a reading competence in one foreign language for the Ph.D. To be admitted to candidacy, the Ph.D. student must pass the written examinations and the oral examination. The final step in completion of the doctoral study for a student is to pass the final oral exam on the dissertation.

The following courses are required:

• STAT 410 Introduction to Probability Theory
• STAT 650 Applied Stochastic Processes
• STAT 700 Mathematical Statistics I
• STAT 701 Mathematical Statistics II
• STAT 705 Computational Statistics
• STAT 740 Linear Statistical Models I
• STAT 741 Linear Statistical Models II (STAT 740 is the prerequisite)
• STAT 770 Analysis of Categorical Data
• STAT 702 Survival Analysis
• STAT 899 or EPIB 899 Doctoral Research (12 credits)

Each student is required to take at least three additional courses  in STAT, EPIB  or CMSC )with the approval of the Advisory Committee). For students who focus their studies on Biostatistics, it is required to take at least two of the following three courses:

• EPIB 652 Categorical Data Analysis
• EPIB 653 Applied Survival Data Analysis
• EPIB 655 Longitudinal Data Analysis

Students interested in bioinformatics will complete the required coursework and can select specialized courses such as CMSC 423 Bioinformatic Algorithms, Databases and Tools; CMSC 701 Computational Genomics or CMSC 702 Computational Systems Biology. Interested students can then select a faculty advisor with expertise in computational biology. Interested students will be expected to have a solid background in computer science for this option.

Dr. Jamie Trevitt Assistant Clinical Professor & Director of Graduate Studies [email protected]

PhD in Biostatistics

The PhD program in biostatistics (BIOS) is offered through Emory’s  Laney Graduate School . The program is designed for people with strong quantitative skills and a background or interest in the biological, medical, or health sciences. The program is ideal for students seeking to deepen their knowledge of biostatistics through advanced course work, research, analysis, and collaboration. To the extent possible, the curriculum can be tailored to each student’s individual background and interests.

View a list of BIOS graduate faculty and their research interests.

View a list of current  BIOS PhD students .

For data and demographics of the Biostatistics PhD program, please click here . 

Emory Biostatistics PhD Interest Session

The department will host an interest session on October 20 at 9:00 a.m. EST. Join us to learn about the program from current students faculty and staff.  Register in advance  to receive the Zoom link.

Application Deadline

Apply early through laney graduate school.

Applications are accepted each fall  starting  in September with a December 1 deadline. Admissions are offered for the following fall only.

BIOS PhD Admission Requirements

How to Apply  

The following items are required for a successful and complete application submission:

• Degree: A minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university. 
• Multivariate calculus (typically Calculus III) 
• Linear algebra
• GRE scores taken within the last five years.
• Scores in the 50 th  percentile or higher are recommended
• Official TOEFL Scores for international students. Select the Emory Laney Graduate School code 5187. More information below.
• Application  + $75 application fee
• Letters of Recommendation: 3 are required. 
• Statement of Purpose: in 500 to 1500 words, tell us about your research or professional experience leading you to apply to this program. You are encouraged to share your research interest and how obtaining this degree will assist with your long-term goals.
• For applicants with a post-secondary degree from a non-US institution, a course by course educational credential evaluation is highly recommended. This will assist faculty with comparing the education of an international institution to a similar education at a U.S. institution.
• Acceptable credential evaluations from any evaluator affiliated with NACES, the National Association of Credential Evaluation Services .  The most common ones are  World Education Services , Educational Credential Evaluators , and  Educational Perspectives .
• Optional diversity statement

View the full list of the Laney Graduate School admission requirements here . You can also review Biostatistics admissions data on the school’s website.

*GRE scores can be waived if the applicant has a doctoral degree from a U.S. institution in a relevant field

International Applicants

If you are an international applicant , please review additional requirements to support the application through the Laney Graduate School. Biostatistics requires international applicants to submit the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores.

TOEFL scores should be at least 96 on the Internet-based test, 243 on the computer-based test, and 590 on the paper-based test. Students who earned a degree from an institution within the United States may be eligible to waive the TOEFL requirement.

GRE and TOEFL Scores

The Graduate School code for both test is 5187. Please note: do not use the code for the Rollins School of Public Health. Visit the  Educational Testing Service  site for additional information.

Finalist Interviews

A small number of finalist are required to interview with faculty. We anticipate notifying finalist mid- January for interviews via Zoom beginning late January and early February.

Admissions Applications Guidance

You are encouraged to begin your application process early especially if you’re submitting credential evaluations. The Biostatics Doctoral program receives more than 200 applicants for an incoming class of eight. To ensure your application advances for review, you must apply in a timely manner that ensures a complete application is received by December 1.

A complete application is defined as all required documents including required test scores and letters of recommendation. Follow up with your recommenders well in advance of December 1 to ensure they have the opportunity to provide information prior to the deadline.

  If your application is incomplete as of December 1, your application will not advance for review.

The program will host an information session annually in October. Please join us on October 20, 2023, at 9:00 am. Registration is required Please click here for the QR code. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Could you provide more information regarding the applicant pool and admitted students?

The Laney Graduate School maintains data for the program.   Biostatistics admissions data   can be found by clicking on the hyperlink.

Question: Is the GRE required?

The Biostatistics doctoral program requires GRE scores. Scores valid from the previous 5 years through December 1 are acceptable.

Question: What is your policy regarding transcripts?

You may upload a copy of your transcript(s) issued by a registrar’s office. Ensure we are able to open the document without a password. Printed information from an institution's student information system, including advisement reports are not acceptable.

Applicants with transcripts in a language other than English: Transcripts must be in English or accompanied by an official notarized translated document. You must upload the original and translated document as one file.

If you decide to submit a credential evaluation, ensure the evaluation service provides a copy of the transcript that was evaluated.

Official transcripts are required if offered admissions and at a designated time specified by the Laney Graduate Schools.

Question: I am an international student; do I need to submit TOEFL scores? Do you accept IELTS?

Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take the TOEFL, scores for which are valid two years from the date of the exam. We must receive an official score from ETS by the application deadline.

TOEFL is waiver for applicants whose native language is not English but who have or will obtain a degree from a U.S. institution prior to beginning the program. In addition, students from countries where English is the official language (except Quebec, Canada) and language of instruction.

We only accept TOEFL.

Question : I am currently taking linear algebra or multivariant calculus. Will my application be considered?

If you are currently enrolled in either or both of the prerequisite courses, provide documentation verifying enrollment. You may be contacted to provide an unofficial transcript.

Question: Does Biostatistics accept transfer students?

Students who are currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program at another institution may apply following the normal application process. Students enrolled in a Ph.D. program are required to follow the process as stated by the Laney Graduate School.

Question: Do you accept courses from Coursera to fulfill prerequisites?

No, not at this time.

Question: Can I receive an extension to the application deadline?

The application deadline of December 1st is firm.  The Admissions Committee begins reviewing applications immediately. As mentioned previously, you are encouraged to begin the application early to ensure all required aspects of the application are met prior to December 1. The application remains open for five days after the December 1st deadline. 

Paying for your PhD

All full-time Emory PhD students receive a generous financial support package from the Laney Graduate School consisting of a tuition scholarship and stipend. Additionally, a 100% student health insurance subsidy is provided.

This support is for the first five years of the program, conditional upon being in good academic standing. Exceptionally qualified applicants will be considered for special admissions fellowships, which offers additional financial support up to five years contingent upon satisfactory academic performance.

Special Admissions Fellowships

In addition to the tuition scholarship, stipend and health insurance subsidy, Laney Graduate School offers special fellowships designed to address specific admission priorities. Please review these opportunities in the LGS Admissions financial support overview .

Degree Requirements

The appropriate class schedule is determined on a case-by-case basis through a review and a discussion of the student's academic record, academic interests, and previous experience in the biological and health sciences.

Students are required to enroll for a minimum of 9 credit hours each semester and term. It typically takes students two-to-three years to complete PhD coursework, depending on the number of 500-level courses needed, and two years to complete their dissertation. Students who have a master's degree in biostatistics or statistics are exempt from 500-level courses.

BIOS PhD Competencies

BIOS PhD Curriculum

BIOS Courses

RSPH Course Schedules

Please review the Biostatistics PhD and the Laney Graduate School Handbooks for additional information regarding degree requirements.

PhD Curriculum

The curriculum for each student is personalized according to a student’s educational background and research interest.

All PhD students must participate in the Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunities (TATTO) program. This includes a three-day summer teacher training workshop (normally taken in the summer before the second year in the PhD program), serving as a teaching assistant during the second and third years in the program and practical experience in statistical consulting. Click here for more information.

All students are required to complete 12 credits of elective courses in biostatistics; at least 6 of these credits must be in 700-level courses.  Enrollment in the invited speakers seminar series (BIOS 790R) is required for the first two years of coursework in which only 2 credit hours will count toward elective hours. In addition, students are required to complete 6 credits of elective courses (at the 300-level or above) outside of biostatistics; at least 2 of these credit hours must be in epidemiology for students who lack prior training in epidemiology. Students must maintain an average GPA of at least B- and a minimum of 51 credits must be taken as graded.

PUBH 701 and PUBH 700

All students are required to have training in public health. The primary means of obtaining this knowledge is through BIOS 701: Translational Public Health Research (1 credit hour) which is taken the fall semester of your second year.

Dissertation

All PhD students are required to complete and defend a dissertation. Students are encouraged to begin exploring potential research topics as soon as they enter the program by meeting with faculty advisors. 

The doctoral dissertation must meet the requirements of both the department and Laney Graduate School. In particular, the dissertation must make a new contribution to the student’s field of study, or present a unique new interpretation on existing knowledge. Students are required to pass an oral defense of the dissertation proposal. 

Past Dissertations

Bayesian Analysis for Repeated Compositional Data and Approaches for Correcting Measurement Errors in General Multivariate Linear Model

New Statistical Techniques for High-dimensional Neuroimaging Data

Likelihood Methods for Logistic Regression with Missing Data

View more>>

The Bioinformatics Interest Group (BIG) is open to PhD students across Emory University. The main purpose of the group is to promote collaboration, share research ideas, and invoke interest from students within the Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, as well as across Emory University. Learn more >>

You are using an outdated browser! Upgrade your browser today or install Google Chrome Frame to better experience this site.

Search form

Click "Menu" to toggle open, click "Menu" again to close

• What Is Public Health?
• Why Accreditation Matters
• Academic Departments
• Administrative Units
• Office of Information Technology
• Financial Affairs and Physical Resources
• Community, Environment & Policy
• Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• Health Promotion Sciences
• Primary Faculty
• Adjunct Faculty
• Strategic Initiatives
• Centers and Institutes
• Diversity and Inclusion
• Dean's Message
• Dean's Strategic Initiatives Fund
• Dean's Students Research Funds
• Standing Committees
• Need a Public Health Intern?
• Declaring the Public Health Major
• How to Apply for Advanced Standing
• Wellness and Health Promotion Practice (BA)
• Public Health Major (BS)
• Online Bachelors (BS)
• Addiction and Substance Use
• Aging and Population Health Minor
• Climate Change and Public Health
• Environmental and Occupational Health Minor
• Global Health Minor
• One Health Minor
• Population Health Data Science Minor
• Public Health Minor
• Wellness and Health Promotion Practice Minor
• Transfer Students
• Global Health
• Public Health Emergency and Epidemic Preparedness
• Safety Certificate
• Online Degree Curriculum
• Curriculum Information for Public Health Coursework
• Registration Tips for Undergraduates
• Internships
• Study Abroad
• Course Schedule
• BS & MPH Environmental & Occupational Health Program
• BS & MPH in Global Health Program
• Academic Policies and Forms
• Student Services Staff
• Student Clubs and Organizations
• Public Health Ambassadors

Meet Our Students

• Scholarships and Aid
• Academic Achievement
• Dual Degrees
• MS & PhD Programs
• Certificate Programs
• Non-Degree Seeking
• Distance Learning
• Ajman UAE Micro-Campus
• Study Abroad Programs
• Biostatistics
• Environmental Health Sciences
• Epidemiology
• Family and Child Health
• Health Behavior Health Promotion
• Health Services Administration (Phoenix & Tucson)
• Public Health Policy and Management
• Public Health Practice (Phoenix)
• Prospective Students
• Admissions Criteria & Deadlines
• How to Apply
• Admissions Information Events
• Visiting Campus

International Students

• Tuition & Financial Assistance
• Certificate Program Admissions Criteria
• Online Team Staff
• Admitted Students
• Research Areas
• Research Projects
• Research Resources
• Research Policies
• Deans Annual Fund Application
• Student Research
• Health Services Administration
• Phoenix Campus
• Public Health Policy & Management
• Public Health Practice
• Center for Firefighter Health Collaborative Research
• Center for Health Disparities Research
• Nosotros Program
• One Health Initiative
• Tucson and Pima County
• Arizona and Regional
• National and Multi-State
• International
• Community Engagement and Outreach
• IndigiWellbeing Program
• Phoenix Mobile Health Unit
• Tucson Mobile Health Unit
• Mobile Outreach Vaccination & Education (MOVE-UP)
• Ventanillas de Salud (Windows to Health)
• Rural Health Professions Program
• Street Medicine Phoenix
• Students Reach Out
• Workforce Development
• 20th Anniversary Stories
• Remembering Mel Zuckerman
• Mental Health
• Climate Change and Health
• Indigenous Health
• Digital Epidemiology
• Additional Giving Opportunities
• Ways to Give
• Scholarships
• Community Advisory Board
• Alumni Giving Circle
• Dean's Circle of Excellence
• Dalen Lecture Series
• Mel & Enid Zuckerman
• James & Priscilla Dalen
• Frank Marcus
• Barry & Janet Lang
• Kent & Liz Campbell
• Meet the Giving Team
• Dean's Annual Fund Application
• Alumni Council
• Host an Event
• Alumni Network
• Alumni Events
• Our Alumni Change the World
• Delta Omega
• PhD Biostatistics

Offered On Campus in Tucson

The UA Zuckerman College of Public Health offers the following doctoral degrees with a focus in Biostatistics: Doctorate (PhD) in Biostatistics, and a PhD Minor in Biostatistics.

The PhD in Biostatistics is offered by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics . The doctoral degree program in Biostatistics will have an emphasis on the foundations of statistical reasoning and will require its graduates to complete rigorous training in applied probability and statistical analyses. This program prepares students who have demonstrated excellence in mathematics and the sciences to become research biostatisticians in academia, industry, or government.

To the extent possible, the curriculum of each student will be tailored to his or her background and interests. 

The doctoral program requires approximately four to five years for completion. The first two years of this time are usually devoted to coursework, the comprehensive doctoral examinations, and development of doctoral research. The program is research oriented and centers on a major research project. The overall course of study is developed by the student and the Faculty Advisor, and is approved by the student's Graduate committee and the Biostatistics Program Director. Students will be required to defend their dissertation through a public presentation and oral examination with their committee.

Admission Criteria Biostatistics PhD Program:  Students with a prior MS degree in Biostatistics or Statistics are eligible for admission into the Biostatistics PhD program.  Students who enter the Biostatistics PhD program after completion of an MS/MPH degree from MEZCOPH, may use 23 units towards the Doctorate in Biostatistics (PhD). They will be allowed to substitute more advanced courses for any required courses already completed.

Admission Criteria Application Deadlines How to Apply

PhD in Biostatistics Competencies

Required PhD Courses (35 units)

• MATH 564 Theory of Probability (3)
• MATH 566 Theory of Statistics (3)
• EPID 573A Basic Principles of Epidemiology (3)
• BIOS 576B Biostatistics for Research (3)
• BIOS 585 Public Health Fundamentals for Researchers (3)
• BIOS 685 Special Topics in Biostatistics (3)
• BIOS 687 Theory of Linear Models (3)
• BIOS 688 Statistical Consulting (3)
• STAT 571B Design of Experiments (3)
• STAT 675 Statistical Computing (3)
• PHCL 595B Scientific Writing, Presentation and Bioethics (2)
• BIOS 696S Biostatistics Seminar (1 unit; 2  times )
• HPS 609 Evaluating Public Health Literature (1)

Elective Courses* (minimum 12 units)

• BIOS 576C Applied Biostatistics Analysis (3)
• BIOS 576D Data Management and the SAS Programming Language (3)
• BIOS 647 Analysis of Categorical Data (3)
• BIOS 648 Analysis of High Dimensional Data (3)
• BIOS 675 Clinical Trials and Intervention Studies (3)
• EPID 677 Genetic Association Studies (3)
• BIOS 686 Survival Analysis (3)

*Electives may also be chosen from other Statistics or Mathematics courses with approval of the Biostatistics Faculty.

Note: BIOS 576A , Biostatistics in Public Health (3 units), is considered a prerequisite, which will have been met by most entering students.

Minor Courses (minimum 9 units)

Each PhD student must complete a minimum of 9 credit hours of course work in a minor area. The minor area of study specifies the number of required minor units. This should consist of a coherent set of courses in an area (or in related areas) of application of biostatistics; the courses may be from more than one program. Minor courses should be primarily applied as opposed to mathematics/statistical in nature.

Dissertation (minimum 18 units)

Total minimum credit requirements = 74 units, phd minor in biostatistics.

The PhD Minor in Biostatistics is designed for individuals from other University of Arizona doctoral degree programs who wish to obtain graduate training in Biostatistics.

Typical time to completion: 3-5 years (2-3 years for coursework, 1-2 years for dissertation work) for full-time students. 5-8 years for part-time students.

Average time to completion: 7.33

Program Steps to Completion (Full-time student timeline):

• Attend mandatory new student orientation
• Students are expected to serve as a Teaching Assistant at least once during their time in the program
• First year is devoted to course work
• Work with Faculty Advisor to develop a tentative Plan of Study
• Each Spring, complete an Annual Progress Report with Faculty Advisor
• End of first Spring, take and pass the Qualifying Exam
• Second year is devoted to course work and forming Comprehensive Exam Committee
• Formalize Plan of Study by end of second year
• Second/third year formalize Committee Chair and Comprehensive Exam Committee
• Develop a Dissertation Research Proposal and gain Committee approval
• If necessary, begin process for human subjects approval for dissertation
• Take and pass Comprehensive Exams within one year of completing course work (written and oral)
• Form and formalize Dissertation Committee
• Third/fourth year, research, develop and write dissertation
• Fourth/fifth year, successfully defend dissertation and finalize revisions

Additional Information

Admissions Events

Join us for an upcoming admissions event.

Get to know our Public Health students.

Find admissions information specific to international students.

Meet Our Faculty

Get to know our Public Health experts.

Paul Hsu, PhD Program Director

Academic Programs

• MS Biostatistics
• MS Environmental Health Sciences
• PhD Environmental Health Sciences
• MS Epidemiology
• PhD Epidemiology
• PhD Health Behavior Health Promotion

Academic Curriculum Guide

• Nebraska Medicine
• Current Faculty & Staff
• Current Students

PhD in Biostatistics

The PhD in Biostatistics develops biomedical informaticians who will advance research and practice in contemporary information and knowledge management.

Why Study Biostatistics?

Biostatistics is a special branch of applied statistics that focuses on statistical application in life sciences. Students trained in biostatistics at the PhD level are in high demand at all levels of government; industry (pharma, business, biotechnology, and IT); academia; research institutes; and healthcare (academic, public, and private).

On average, there are 5,200 job openings for PhD biostatisticians per year; median income across all experience levels is $142,465 for PhD holders. The US Department of Labor projects a 33% increase data science positions between 2020 and 2030. Data Science ranked as the #2 out of 50 Best Jobs by Forbes Magazine in 2021 and Biostatistics ranked as the #3 Best Business Job, #7 Best STEM Job, and #8 Best Job according to US News and World Reports.

Why Study Biostatistics at UNMC?

The UNMC Biostatistics curriculum provides quality training for PhD biostatisticians in fundamental theory, computing, data analysis, clinical trial/study design, and health data sciences that makes them attractive to potential employers. The faculty in the Department of Biostatistics engage and support graduate students in funded scientific research projects. In addition, students will gain real world work experience by collaborating with researchers through the Department of Biostatistics Center for Collaboration on Research Design and Analysis (CCORDA); assignment as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA); and through the Biostatistics Consulting Course.

Program Snapshot

Program highlights.

• All PhD students will work with a faculty mentor to gain real-world collaborative experience through the Biostatistical Consulting Course and Graduate Research Assistantship or CCORDA.
• Travel funds are available to PhD students to present their research work at national conference (e.g., JSM or ENAR).
• The PhD is an in-residence only program and all full-time PhD students are supported either through GTA or GRA.

Careers & Outcomes

PhD graduates typically start as senior biostatistician or senior analyst in industry and as Assistant Professors in academia. To date, all our PhD graduates have received job offers prior to graduating. Recent positions include:

• Senior Biostatistician & Team Lead at Johnson & Johnson
• Senior Biostatistician at Eli Lilly
• Senior Data Scientist at First National Bank
• Biostatistician at Streck, Inc
• Analytical Team Lead at the Cure Huntington’s Disease Initiative (CHDI) Foundation

Facilities / Centers

Holland Center High-Capacity Computing boasts the fastest resources in the state of Nebraska at two locations: the Peter Kiewit Institute (PKI) at Omaha and the Schorr Center at UNL. Personnel based in each location assist users, engage students and researchers, and maintain systems. Crane checks in at 121 TeraFLOPS and is a Top500 Supercomputer. Red , serving the CMS project, stores over seven petabytes of data. Rhino provides 256 GB of RAM per node for shared memory computing. The Center for Collaboration on Research Design and Analysis (CCORDA) seeks to advance clinical, basic, and translational research and public health research at UNMC and in the community and region.

Biostatistics, Epidemiology Research Design Core provides critical research design, epidemiological, and biostatistical expertise for collaborative research, education, and training in the advancement of clinical and translational research within the Great Plains IDeA-CTR network.

Related Programs

Students interested in this program may wish to explore:

Biostatistics, PhD

Bloomberg school of public health, program overview.

The PhD program of the Johns Hopkins Department of Biostatistics provides training in biostatistical methodology and practice, grounded both in the theory of probability and statistics and in advanced data science. The program is unique in its broad emphasis spanning the foundations of statistical reasoning through data science and in providing rigorous training in both real analysis-based probability and statistics, equivalent to what is provided in most departments of mathematical statistics and in data science principles and practice.

The Department of Biostatistics PhD program prepares persons who have demonstrated excellence in mathematics, engineering, and the natural or social sciences to become research biostatisticians in academia, industry, or government. PhD graduates:

• Conduct and publish original research on the theory, methodology and practice of biostatistics and data science;
• Translate methodological advances into software and other tools by which to disseminate these into practice;
• Apply innovative theory and methods to the solution of public health problems;
• Serve as expert biostatisticians and data scientists on collaborative teams of investigators addressing key public health questions;
• Teach biostatistics and data science effectively to health professionals and scientists as well as to graduate students in biostatistics.

Program Requirements

Course location and modality is found on the BSPH website .

The core curriculum consists of the following components:

All PhD students are required to:

• Take at least 14 courses from the core course list above. The 14 courses should contain at least a one-year sequence of Methods (140.751-754), a one-year sequence of Theory (140.646-649 or 140.721-724 or 140.731-734), and a one-year sequence of Data Science (140.776/777/628/629 or 140.644/777/778/779). The 14 courses should contain no more than 4 introductory-level courses (140.646-649, 140.776/628/629).
• In addition to the 14 core courses, take 16 credits of advanced PhD elective courses.
• Take at least 18 credit units of formal coursework in courses outside the Department of Biostatistics. At least nine of these credits must be taken in the School of Public Health.
• Take Current Topics in Biostatistics Research (140.860), Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH (550.860), Responsible Conduct of Research (550.600), and Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I (340.721).

Students who use the one-year sequence of introductory-level probability and statistical theory (140.646-649) to fulfill requirement (1) must also take the half-year sequence of advanced data science (140.711-712).

Students who use the one-year sequence of introductory-level data science (140.776/777/628/629) courses to fulfill requirement (1) must take at least two advanced-level probability (140.721-724) and two advanced-level statistical theory (140.731-734) courses.

Student Evaluations

The Department is committed to providing every opportunity for its students to successfully complete the academic program of their choice. To support students in progressing toward the degree and to further their educational experience, the Department offers a comprehensive written examination at the end of the first year and a practice oral exam, usually taken no later than six months after the end of the fourth term of the second year. See the Department of Biostatistics Student Handbook for more details about the first-year PhD comprehensive exam.

The main purpose of the practice examination is to evaluate students' ability to communicate statistical ideas and concepts. Students should prepare a paper/proposal related to their potential thesis topic. In addition, the University requires students to successfully complete a preliminary oral examination, typically taken at the beginning of the third year where a thesis proposal is presented and discussed, and an oral thesis defense, where the completed thesis is defended in a public forum.

Research and Teaching Assistantships

The Department of Biostatistics offers teaching and research assistantships to its PhD students on a competitive basis. All PhD applicants (US and international) are ranked based on their merits; top candidates are offered admission. All students who matriculate are provided with assistantships that last five years and include full tuition, health insurance, and a living stipend. Students in their second year and following are required to apprentice with faculty as research assistants for up to 19 hours per week and as teaching assistants for 5 hours per week during academic terms. Students find the teaching and research assistantships to be the most valuable part of their PhD experience. At AY22-23 rates, students who apprentice as described above and engage in 40 hour per week research assistantships during non-academic periods, allowing for one month of vacation, earn a stipend of $37,500 to $42,000, graduated by seniority, per year.  

The Department offers a weekly seminar program featuring recent work by outstanding statistical scientists from around the world. Attendance is required for all graduate students. One seminar per month may be designated to be part of the Biostatistics "Grand Rounds" series, which features statistical analyses addressing important public health questions.

In addition, first-year graduate students are required to complete the Current Topics in Biostatistics Research course ( 140.860 ), where faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and senior students from the Department present their research, with a focus on the public health and scientific questions driving the work, why the research makes a difference for the subject area and how to translate the research into practice. 

Recommended Curriculum

First-year phd students.

In addition to the core courses described in the program requirements, the following curriculum is recommended:

PH.260.600 Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences

"Cells to Society" modules, if applicable*

PH.550.860 Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH

PH.140.840 Special Studies and Research Biostatistics (credits as needed in order to get to at least 16 credits total)

PH.140.860 Current Topics in Biostatistics Research

Second Term

Fourth term, second-year phd students.

PH.340.721 Epidemiologic Inference in Public Health I (if not taken the first year)

PH.550.600 Living Science Ethics - Responsible Conduct of Research

PH.550.860 Academic & Research Ethics at BSPH (if not taken in a previous term)

PH.140.840 Special Studies and Research Biostatistics (Credits as needed in order to get to at least 16 credits total)

"Cell to Society" modules, if applicable*

Select one or both of the following:

PH.140.820 Thesis Research Biostatistics (credits as needed in order to get to at least 16 credits total)

Third-Year PhD Students

Coursework in scientific/statistical electives/special studies for a minimum of 16 credits per term

Fourth-Year PhD Students

* Students are required to take eight 552.xxx “Cells to Society” courses (552.601.81, 552.603.81, 552.607.81, 552.608.81, 552.609.81, 552.610.81, 552.611.81, 552.612.81) by the end of Year Two.

Doctoral Student Policies

Below covers policies regarding academic performance of doctoral students that are specific to the Department of Biostatistics. Students also must satisfy the academic standing requirements of the Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg School of Public Health. 

For a full list of program policies, please visit the PhD in Biostatistics page where students can find a link to our PhD handbook.

Academic Standing and Exams

Doctoral students are expected to stay in good academic standing throughout their PhD studies.

Students are expected to maintain grades of B or higher in core classes. Any core class with a grade lower than a B will need to be retaken.

First year students maintaining B grades in core classes can sit for the first year Departmental exam. Students with any grades lower than a B in core classes must receive approval from the graduate committee to sit for the exams. In the event that students are denied, possible resolutions include postponing the exam for one year, switching to a master’s program or being required to leave the doctoral program based on a consideration by the faculty of overall academic performance.

In the event of a failure of the exam, students are allowed one retake. Student retakes typically occur in the following year, with exceptions occurring when mitigating circumstances are present, such as a leave of absence. In the event of a failure in the retake, the student will be asked to leave the doctoral program, typically with the option to join the master’s program. The exams, either a first take or retake, are only given once per year at the start of the summer break (typically in early June).

The grading of the Departmental exam is as follows. Passing scores are determined by exam writers after grading with examiners blinded from student names. Students who pass all sections of the exam pass the exam. Students failing one or more sections will be discussed by the faculty as a whole. This discussion will include exam and course performance. Possible resolutions include: declaring the student as passing the exam, declaring the student as having failed the exam, take-home remediation of sections of the exam or a full retake (only available if it is the student’s first attempt at the exam).

To maintain good academic standing, students must complete their school-wide preliminary oral exam by the end of their third academic year before the start of the first term of their fourth year (typically late August or early September depending on that year’s academic calendar).

Full funding for tuition and stipend is provided to PhD students for five years. Students are expected to finish their doctoral programs within this time. Students who do not finish within five years may continue in the program for up to two additional years. In these cases, a 75% departmental tuition scholarship is provided, but students are responsible for the remaining tuition, their own health insurance, and living expenses. Personal office space cannot be guaranteed for students beyond the five-year point. Common areas (Biostatistics Library, Genome Cafe) remain available for use by these students.

Program Changes from PhD to ScM or MHS

In the event that a doctoral student switches to the ScM or MHS programs, the following should be noted.

Funded doctoral students forfeit their funding in the event of a program switch.

Students have the option of switching to part-time status after switching programs. However, visa residency requirements for maintaining full-time student status typically prevent foreign students from being able to switch to part-time.

MHS and ScM students receive a 75% tuition reduction in their second year provided that they have taken 12 credits of courses outside of the Department (of which at least 6 credit hours must come from the School of Public Health courses) and have passed their Departmental exams. Doctoral students considering a program switch should appropriately plan their first year coursework to ensure eligibility for the tuition reduction in their second year. The 75% tuition remission is contingent on passing the first year exams at the master’s level. PhD students who take the doctoral exam and then elect or are asked to switch to a master’s program will be informed whether their performance on the doctoral exam constitutes a pass at the master’s level. Students who are deemed to have not passed at the master’s level will be asked to take the master’s Departmental exam in the subsequent year to fulfill the requirements of the master’s program and will not be eligible for the tuition reduction until the exam requirements have been met. Students will be allowed this one administration of the master’s exam in these circumstances.

Upon successful completion of the Doctor of Philosophy in Biostatistics, students will have mastered the following competencies:

• Apply quantitative methods to public health and scientific problems;
• Examine and apply foundational concepts of probability theory and statistical inference;
• Construct, fit and interpret different types of linear model (LM), generalized linear model (GLM), linear mixed model (LMM) and generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) in the context of scientific and public health applications, and conduct statistical inference in these models;
• Develop foundational insights for applying biostatistical theory and methodology to solve public health and scientific problems;
• Produce a complete data analysis to answer a targeted scientific or public health question.

According to the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), all BSPH degree students must be grounded in foundational public health knowledge. Please view the list of specific CEPH requirements by degree type .

View the latest COVID-19 operational updates | Learn more

School of Public Health

A nationally top-ranked institution that offers a superior array of advanced degrees and is home to world-renowned research and training centers.

• Degrees & Programs
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Biostatistics PhD

General Information

Who should apply?

We’re pretty open-minded about where talented students can come from and have admitted students from a number of non-stat or math undergraduate majors (biology, psychology, journalism, etc.). What matters is that they have the appropriate mathematical and statistical preparation from taking the prerequisites.

How many applications are received and how many are accepted?

In a typical year, the Division admits 25 to 30 students (20 percent of the total PhD applications received) to achieve an incoming PhD class of 8 to12 students.

The admissions committee reviews applicants according to their record of academic achievement, demonstrated academic potential, letters of recommendation, background and experience, and other factors. GPAs provide competitive points of reference for admission but are not alone decisive in the admissions review.

Should I apply for the PhD or MS program?

If your goal is to obtain a PhD in Biostatistics, we encourage you to apply directly to the PhD program, even if you don’t already hold a master’s degree. If you are not admitted to the PhD program and do not hold a previous master’s degree in statistics or biostatistics, you will be considered for admission to the master’s program if you indicate your interest in your SOPHAS application.

Would someone be able to review my application to determine if I am qualified for an admissions offer?

We are unable to pre-review applications for admission. All applications reviewed must be received from the centralized application company SOPHAS .

View more Information about the Biostatistics programs .

Do I need to submit international transcripts or WES?

If you are only applying to the PhD program in Biostatistics at the University of Minnesota, you can send copies of your international transcript(s) and degree conferral directly to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health via e-mail to [email protected].  Students who are admitted to the Biostatistics PhD program will, upon matriculation, be required to provide a WES ICAP document-by-document evaluation of academic credentials directly to the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.

If you wish to be considered for the MS in Biostatistics (or if your application is not accepted into the PhD program and you wish to be considered for MS admission), a WES evaluation is required at the time you submit your application to SOPHAS to consider your application complete.

Should I identify a research advisor before applying for the PhD program?

Applicants are not required to secure an advisor before they are admitted to the PhD program. In terms of admission, admission for our PhD program is handled centrally, rather than by individual faculty. Thus all PhD applications are reviewed by a single admissions committee and admission is offered to the PhD program overall, rather than to individual faculty’s research groups. Typically, once enrolled in the PhD program, our students will identify dissertation research advisors beginning in the summer after their first year and over the course of their second year in the program.

Is there a part-time PhD program?

Currently, our PhD program is a full-time program. All of our PhD students do receive full funding (in the form of an RA or TA position). Funding includes a stipend, full tuition coverage, and a portion of health insurance premiums. It is difficult to work part-time and complete all degree requirements within the required 8 years of completion.

What research areas are available for graduate students to pursue?

Our faculty are involved in many areas of methodological and collaborative research in areas including, but not limited to, clinical trials, statistical genetics, machine learning, and biomedical imaging. PhD student research is in close collaboration with our faculty and potentially other collaborators, and thus the potential research areas are very broad.

What core math concepts or programming languages should I review or learn before starting the program?

Get comfortable with taking derivatives and evaluating integrals, especially if you took calculus a long time ago. Same for linear/matrix algebra, which will be important for the second-semester and second-year PhD coursework.

Most PhD students use R, so you could prepare by learning the basics of R and Rmarkdown (Datacamp has a free Intro to R class ), but this is not necessary. Many PhD students take an introductory R class their first semester.

If you have no exposure to LaTeX, you can save yourself some time by learning the basic mechanics before classes start, for example through tutorials from Overleaf.

Prerequisites

What should I write in my application if I have not completed the prerequisites yet?

If you have not completed the prerequisites at the time you are applying, tell us your plan for completing the prerequisites in your Statement of Purpose and Objectives. This can be a sentence describing where you’ve enrolled (e.g. university, community college, Coursera) and when they will be complete.

Admission into the Biostatistics program is competitive.  Depending on the applicant pool, it is in an applicant’s best interest to have completed (or be in the process of completing) prerequisites at the time they submit their application for review to the committee. If an applicant has completed all of the other course prerequisites and only has one course in progress remaining, the committee usually will have an idea how the student will do based on their previous coursework.

Would you consider my application if the official transcript or standardized test scores do not arrive before the application deadline?

The Division of Biostatistics & Health Data Science is unable to review applications for admission until we have received the complete application (including all required transcripts, letters of recommendation, statement of purpose, etc.).

The prerequisites for prospective applicants includes “three semesters” of multivariable calculus. What should I do if my institution doesn’t offer the calculus sequence in three semesters, but rather two semesters?

The admissions committee is familiar with the calculus curriculum at various institutions and is aware that it may not always be a 3-semester sequence.

In terms of prerequisite coursework knowledge, the admissions committee wants to ensure an applicant has a working knowledge of single-variable and partial differentiation/integration, and matrix/vector algebra.

Real analysis is suggested. When should I take real analysis?

Several of the required courses for the PhD program require writing mathematical proofs. So, we strongly recommend that students complete a course in real analysis. PhD students who have not previously taken real analysis generally take real analysis their first semester in the program, and the cost is covered by their tuition benefit.

What kind of assistantships are available for PhD students?

All PhD students are offered full funding, which includes a stipend (based on 20 hours of work per week), tuition, and health benefits. Funding comes as part of graduate research and teaching assistantships, and fellowships. Section 7.8 of our Biostatistics Student Guidebook explains the benefits and costs of Graduate Assistantships in the Division of Biostatistics & Health Data Science at the University of Minnesota.

What types of jobs are available for biostatisticians

A degree in biostatistics provides broad technical training that is marketable to a broad range of employers, leading to a wide range of potential jobs. Of our PhD students who graduated between 2018 and 2020, for those who were employed in the private sector or are in a government setting, job titles include Principal Biostatistician, Principal Data Scientist, Associate Scientist, and Mathematical Statistician ; the academic positions our recent PhD students have moved to include postdoctoral scholar positions and tenure-track positions at major universities.

Where are your alumni employed?

Careers are available in academic, governmental, non-governmental, and private industry settings. Recent graduates have been hired at publicly funded research institutions including: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, University of Texas, Stanford University, the Food and Drug Administration, and also at private companies including St. Jude Medical, Eli Lilly, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, Merck, 3M, and Affymetrix. Of our PhD students who graduated between 2018 and 2020, 40% were employed in the private sector, 55% moved to an academic position, and 5% moved to a government setting.

• Prospective Students
• Current Students

Contact 420 Delaware St. S.E. Minneapolis, MN 55455

612-626-3500 [email protected]

Frequently Asked Questions

Application questions.

• How can I be a competitive applicant? What are my chances of being admitted?
• What is your applicant acceptance rate?
• Can I apply to more than one program? Are PhD applicants considered for the MS?

Prerequisites

• I'm not sure if I have enough credits or courses to meet the prerequisites.
• Where can I take courses to fulfill the prerequisites? When should I take them?

GRE and TOEFL Test Scores, Recommendation Letters, and GPA

• Can the GRE or TOEFL be waived due to prior degrees or work experience? If I will be graduating with a U.S. degree, do I need to take the TOEFL?
• Can my official test scores or recommendation letters arrive after the application deadline?
• Can I update my test scores after the deadline?
• Can my recommender send his/her letter using Interfolio or other recommendation letter service?
• Is my application complete? What should I do if my application status page indicates that my test scores aren't received?
• I'm an international student and my GPA is not on a 4.0 scale - what should I enter for the GPA?

Other Materials

• Can I update my statement of purpose, personal statement, or CV after I submit them?
• Can I send you an updated transcript once I receive my Autumn grades?

Contacting the Department

• May I visit the department and meet with an adviser or faculty member? May I speak with current students?
• Should I select a supervisor before applying? Should I contact faculty about this?
• How may I contact you with questions?

General Program Questions

• Do you accept graduate-level transfer credits from other U.S. institutions?
• May I enroll part time?
• Can any portion of the program be completed online?
• Is there a fast-track from the MS to PhD if a student shows promise?
• Can students tailor their program to their needs or take additional courses beyond the requirements?
• What do students do in the summer?
• What is the employment rate? Where do alumni go after graduation?

How Can I be a Competitive Applicant? What are my Chances of Being Admitted?

Please see our minimum requirements and criteria to be considered a competitive applicant . Generally, our competitive applicants are very strong in all components of their application, including grades, test scores, statement of purpose, and recommendation letters. Most competitive applicants have additional advanced math courses beyond the listed prerequisites. Note, however, every year we decline admission to many highly qualified applicants due to the competitiveness of the applicant pool and number of available spots. As such, we are unable to respond to requests to estimate an applicant's chance of being admitted to our program. 

What is Your Applicant Acceptance Rate?

We receive approximately 350 applications each year; about 60% for the PhD program and the remainder for the masters programs. Acceptance numbers for each degree program vary each year depending on the applicant pool and availability of space and resources, but has been about 25% of all applications. 

Can I Apply to More than One Program? Are PhD Applicants Considered for the MS?

Please see the General Requirements section of our Application Instructions page.

I'm not Sure if I Have Enough Courses or Credits to Meet the Prerequisites.

See our section on multivariate calculus/accelerated/AP courses and missing prerequisites  on our Admissions Requirements page.

Where can I Take Courses to Fulfill the Prerequisites? When Should I Take Them?

See our missing prerequisites section  on our Admissions Requirements page. Due to the large number of local and online institutions that offer math courses, we do not maintain a list of recommended institutions or courses besides the mentioned probability course. To be a competitive applicant, the majority should be completed prior to applying, and any missing prerequisite should be in the process of being completed while you are applying. These cannot be completed after starting the program.

Can the GRE or TOEFL be Waived due to Prior Degrees or Work Experience? If I will be Graduating with a U.S. Degree, do I Need to Take the TOEFL?

GRE scores are strictly optional but can be included if applicants feel it will help us understand their application.  If GRE scores are included, applicants should include a short explanation of why they have been included.

We also require TOEFL scores for all international applicants, including those with doctorates, except for international applicants with U.S./English-based degrees or those who will graduate with such a degree prior to entering the program - see the Admissions Requirements page for details. Applicants who do not need to submit TOEFL scores should leave the "Report English Proficiency Scores" section of the application blank and disregard any "incomplete" status messages for this section.

Can my Official Test Scores or Recommendation Letters Arrive after the Deadline?

No. These must be received by the deadline in order for the application to be considered. We begin our review immediately after the deadline. Be sure to review our application instructions  and required steps to follow after you apply .

Can I Update my Test Scores After the Deadline?

We begin our review immediately after the deadline. You are welcome to have ETS send your official test scores to UW, but you cannot update your self-report scores, and there is no guarantee that the new scores will be reviewed.

Can my Recommendation Letter be sent Using Interfolio or Other Recommendation Letter Service?

No, they must complete an evaluation and submit their letter through our online application system. Please review our application instructions  and required steps to follow after you apply .

Is my Application Complete? What Should I do if my Application Status Page Indicates that my Test Scores Aren't Received?

Please review our application instructions  and required steps to follow after you apply .

International applicants who are exempt from submitting TOEFL scores should leave the "Report English Proficiency Scores" section of the application blank and disregard any "incomplete" status messages for this section.

I'm an International Student and my GPA is not on a 4.0 Scale. What Should I Enter for the GPA?

Please see our application instructions . 

Can I Update my Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, or CV after I Submit Them?

No, these submitted materials cannot be updated. Please be sure to review our application instructions .

Can I Send you an Updated Transcript Once I Receive my Autumn Grades?

No, we do not accept updated transcripts after the application deadline. If we need to see grades for any courses you are taking in the autumn, we will follow up with you. If you are in the process of completing a prerequisite, make sure that the transcript you upload indicates this (or mention it in your statement of purpose). Please be sure to review our application instructions .

Go to top

May I Visit the Department and Meet with an Advisor or Faculty Member? May I Speak With Current Students?

Due to our small staff and time constraints, we regret that we are unable to accommodate individual visits to provide general advising or tours for prospective applicants prior to admission. Select PhD candidates will be invited to participate in a two-day visit in late February or early March, and admitted MS applicants may also arrange an independent visit in the spring. To learn more about our program, faculty, and students in the meantime, see explore our website: Faculty Interests , Profiles , and Student Experience are pages that provide helpful insight into the program overall.

Should I Select a Supervisor Before Applying? Should I Contact Faculty About This?

No. Applicants are not expected to have a supervisor selected before applying. All students are assigned academic advisors when they start the program, and PhD students with research assistantships will be assigned an RA supervisor. MS Thesis and PhD students will have the opportunity to work with various faculty through independent studies and select their thesis or dissertation advisor. Applicants should not contact faculty to inquire whether they can be accepted as their mentee. Applicants are selected for admission by our admissions committee only.

How May I Contact you With Questions?

If you have general questions about the graduate program or the admissions process that are not answered on our website, the best method to contact us is by email . If you have program-specific questions regarding our master's programs, please indicate which program you are interested in (MS Thesis, MS Capstone).

Do you Accept Graduate-Level Transfer Credits from Other U.S. Institutions?

No. However, we do offer a placement exam for newly-admitted students who believe they can pass the first-year theory coursework (Statistical Inference, taught at the UW as STAT 512 and 513), and a few other required courses may be waived at the discretion of the Graduate Program.

May I Enroll Part Time?

Due to the rigor of our program, part-time study is discouraged. The PhD program requires full-time enrollment. For master’s programs, some exceptions have been made for students involved in other complementary training. If admitted, plans must be discussed with the Graduate Program Director for approval. Part-time study may extend the program completion time by two to three times due to the timing of our courses which are only offered once a year. UW employees interested in utilizing tuition exemption should note that the exemption does not cover thesis or other independent study credits for the MS Thesis program, nor any part of the MS Capstone program.

Can any Portion of the Program be Completed Online?

Our degree programs are fully residential. Individuals interested in distance learning may consider the Certificate in Applied Biostatistics offered by UW Professional and Continuing Education (PCE). Please contact PCE for questions regarding this certificate.

Is There a Fast-Track From the MS to PhD if a Student Shows Promise?

MS students may have the opportunity to transfer to the PhD program. Additional information is available at MS Thesis to PhD Admissions | Biostatistics (washington.edu)  for transfer applications from the MS Thesis program and at  MS Capstone to PhD Admissions | Biostatistics (washington.edu) for transfer applications from the MS Capstone program.

Can Students Tailor their Program to Their Needs or Take Additional Courses Beyond the Requirements?

MS Thesis and PhD students will have the opportunity to take electives to support their specific research interests. MS Capstone students will take courses based on their selected pathway. Although it is generally not recommended, MS Capstone students may enroll in additional courses if their schedule allows, but there will be additional expenses associated with taking more than the required 10 credits per quarter.

What do Students do in the Summer?

PhD students typically work on research through a research assistantship and/or independent study. MS Thesis and Capstone students may also pursue an independent study. (An independent study is arranged by the student with the agreement of an available faculty member.) A number of PhD and MS students find paid internships, seeking help from the UW Career & Internship Center .

What is the Employment Rate? Where do Alumni go After Graduation?

The MS Capstone program is a new program that begins in Autumn 2019. Graduates from our department with MS and PhD degrees generally find themselves in demand and are very successful at securing full-time employment. The UW Career & Internship Center  holds multiple careers fairs for graduate students and provide a range of job search services. Our more than 500 alumni have gone on to become leaders in academia, private industry, research, non-profit, and government. They are a dynamic and active community that stays closely connected to the department. For more information, see our Student Experience page .

• Skip to Content
• Skip to Main Navigation
• Skip to Search

Indiana University Indianapolis Indiana University Indianapolis IU Indianapolis

• Interim Dean's Welcome
• Discover Public Health
• Ambassadors
• Biostatistics & Health Data Science
• Community and Global Health
• Epidemiology
• Citation Statistics of Researchers
• Health Administration Newsletters
• Organizational Chart
• Bachelor's Degrees
• Master's Degrees
• Accelerated Degrees
• Certificate Programs
• Doctoral Degrees
• Cost & Finances
• General Education Courses
• BS in Health Data Science
• Internship Interview Day - Students
• Internship Interview Day - Internship Sites
• BS in Public Health
• Undergraduate Minors and Tracks
• Honors Application
• Public Health Nursing Pathways
• Master of Health Administration
• Master of Public Health
• Master of Science in Biostatistics
• Master of Science in Global Health and Sustainable Development
• Dual & Joint Degrees
• Eskenazi Health Scholars
• Health Law Scholars Program
• PhD in Biostatistics
• PhD in Epidemiology
• PhD in Health Policy Management
• DrPH in Global Health Leadership
• Doctoral Minors
• Certificates
• Schedule a Career Appointment
• Request a Career Presentation
• Search for Jobs & Internships
• For Employers
• Study Abroad
• Undergraduate Student Association
• MHA Student Government
• MPH Student Government
• The Public Health Corps
• Delta Omega
• Eta Sigma Gamma
• Upsilon Phi Delta
• AcademyHealth Student Chapter
• Indianapolis Advantage
• Fort Wayne Advantage
• Commencement
• Dean's List
• Global Academic Programs
• Global Internships
• Global Affiliations & Partnerships
• Study Abroad Programs
• Diabetes Impact Project
• Center for Health Policy
• Public Health Short Courses
• Research and Evaluation
• Drug Take Back Days
• LHD Accreditation
• About Project ECHO
• Student Centered ECHO
• Kenya Public Health ECHO
• Meet the ECHO Team
• ECHO Participant Resources
• ECHO Frequently Asked Questions
• List of Services
• FSPH Experts in the News
• Contact Tracing
• Random Sample Testing
• Grants & Awards
• Get Involved
• Alumni Board
• Alumni Awards Program
• Donor Impact
• Giving Opportunities
• Give a Gift
• Student Program Policies
• Job Search Guides
• Campus Links

Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health

• Student Portal
• Doctoral Degrees & Minors

PhD in Biostatistics FAQs

Let us answer your questions.

Our frequently asked questions (FAQ) makes it easy for you to find answers to your most pressing inquiries into the PhD in Biostatistics program. If you can't find your answer here, please feel free to contact associate director of graduate affairs, Shawne Mathis , or use the site search to find the information you need.

Cost and financial support

How much will i pay for tuition and fees for the biostatistics phd program.

See the tuition rates and estimate your total costs using the tuition calculator on our Cost & Finances page .

Is financial support available for students in Biostatistics FAQ program?

Financial support is available to qualified students in the form of teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), or university fellowships. In addition, supported students receive a fee scholarship, which remits most of the cost of tuition and payment of the mandatory student health insurance premium.

Financial support may be renewed for up to 10 semesters provided the recipient is making satisfactory progress toward the degree and is discharging the teaching or research assignment in an approved and professional manner. As the objective of financial support is to allow the student to devote their full effort to their studies and research responsibilities, it is expected that recipients will not hold any outside employment.

About teaching assistantships To qualify for a teaching assistantship, foreign students must take the SPEAK exam (oral English proficiency) administered by the IU Indianapolis ESL program. Students who do not pass the exam must enroll in G020 Communication Skills for TAs before retaking the exam.

Teaching assistants will be responsible for teaching (instruction, recitation, tutoring, and/or grading) up to 20 hours per week during the fall and spring semesters, plus one of the six-week summer sessions. Vacation time is dictated by the academic calendar and is not to exceed four weeks per academic year.

Students whose performance as a TA is deemed unsatisfactory will be notified so they can improve their performance. If sufficient improvement has not been made by the end of the following semester, support will be terminated.

About research assistantships Some program faculty may have research grants that include a 12-month stipend, tuition remission, and fees for graduate students assigned to work on the funded research project. The availability of research assistantships varies each year.

Awards are usually not made by the department, but rather are arranged with the professor serving as PI or the leading investigator of the funded research project.

Research assistants are expected to devote up to 20 hours per week to their assigned research responsibilities during the year. Vacation time must be pre-arranged with the RA supervisor, and is not to exceed four weeks per academic year.

Students whose performance as an RA is deemed insufficient will be notified and given one semester to correct the deficiency. If sufficient improvement is not made, support will be terminated.

About university fellowships Doctoral students with outstanding credentials may receive competitive first-year IU Indianapolis fellowships. If university stipends are less than support levels offered by the program, students will be guaranteed support equal to minimum program levels after the first year, contingent on satisfactory performance. All first-year fellowships come with fee remission and graduate student health insurance.

Application

How do i apply for admission.

Applicants must apply online through SOPHAS . Be sure to designate the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health as your school choice, along with your desired program.

Can I submit a paper application?

No, only applications submitted online through IU Indianapolis will be accepted.

What is the application cost?

For the current application cost, visit the IU Indianapolis Bursar website .

How can I check on my application status?

You will be notified via email when we have received your application.

To where should my recommendation letters be sent?

You will be asked to submit email addresses for your recommenders as part of the SOPHAS online application. After your online application is submitted, recommendation forms and submission instructions will be sent electronically to your recommenders.

Will my application still be considered if it is submitted after the deadline?

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered after the January 15 deadline.

Admission requirements

What are the requirements for admission.

Any applicant who has a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited institution and shows promise for successfully completing all the degree requirements will be considered for admission to this program.

• Applicants must have at least a B (3.00 GPA on a 4.0 scale) average in courses taken during the last two years of their earlier degree studies, and a grade of B+ (3.50 GPA) in courses required as prerequisites for the program.
• Students entering this program should have a minimal mathematics background consisting of an undergraduate course sequence in univariate and multivariate calculus (equivalent to MATH 16500, 16600, and 26100 at IU Indianapolis) and a course in linear algebra (including matrix theory). In addition, applicants should have had a calculus-based undergraduate course in probability or statistics. Prospective applicants who do not have this background must acquire it prior to admission to the program.
• Applicants whose native language is not English must achieve the FSPH preferred minimum English language test scores for admission from the Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL): - Internet-based: minimum score of 85 or - Computer-based: minimum score of 263 or  - Paper-based: minimum score of 620 or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) : minimum score of 6.5 or Duolingo English Test (DET): minimum score of 110

Is the GRE subject test required?

No, the GRE subject test is not required.

I have a graduate degree, and I took the GRE before being admitted to that program. Do I have to take the GRE again?

GRE test scores are no longer required. If you submit a GRE test score, the test must have been taken within the last five years. The testing service (ETS) must send those scores to SOPHAS for your Biostatistics PhD application.

What supporting documents are required for admission to the Biostatistics PhD program?

In addition to completing the online application, you must submit the following documents through SOPHAS:

• Statement of Purpose
• Résumé or CV
• Official post-secondary transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• Proof of English Proficiency (International) 

I would like to know if my degree is the equivalent of an American university B.A. or B.S. degree. Can you tell me if I can be admitted with my current degree?

The admissions committee will use IU Indianapolis’s Foreign Credential Analysis (FCA) or World Education Services (WES) ICAP course-by-course evaluation for all post-secondary foreign institutions attended to guide them in their decisions for international students. When the committee recommends admission for an international applicant, IU Indianapolis’s office of international affairs will conduct their own evaluation to finalize the admission process.

If I have a master's degree from an American university, do I have to submit scores for the TOEFL exam?

A bachelor's or higher degree from a country designated by IU Indianapolis as predominantly native-English speaking is required to exempt you from taking the TOEFL exam or providing other acceptable proof of English proficiency.

Is it necessary for me to take the English placement test?

Students who are admitted with a TOEFL iBT of 79-99 or IELTS of 6.5-7.0 will be required to take the English for Academic Purposes (EAP) placement test.

Please note, students admitted with an online English Proficiency exam, Duolingo (DET), IELTS Indicator, TOEFL iBT Home Edition or TOEFL Essentials will also be required to take the EAP placement test in all cases. Depending on your EAP test results, you may need to take EAP courses at the same time as your academic major courses for one or two semesters. Your letter of admission will indicate if you are required to take this test.

Admission deadlines and decisions

What is the application deadline for biostatistics phd program.

Priority application deadline for the Biostatistics PhD program is December 15 to be considered for funding.

The application deadline for the Biostatistics PhD program is January 15 .

When are admissions decisions made?

Applications for the Biostatistics PhD program will be reviewed by the program's admissions committee after the December 15 application deadline. The committee may conduct face-to-face interviews with applicants. The committee typically begins making admission decisions and notifying applicants of their admission status in March.

How are the admissions decisions made?

The admissions committee uses the submitted application material to assess an applicant’s scientific leadership potential and ability to engage in advanced graduate work. In addition, the admissions committee will compare the applicant’s career goals and objectives with the mission of the Biostatistics PhD program.

I would like to know if my degree is the equivalent of an American university BA or BS degree. Can you tell me if I can be admitted with my current degree?

Enrollment and matriculation, i received notification that i have been accepted to the biostatistics phd program. do i have to return the enclosed 'intent to accept/decline' form.

Yes, you are required to complete and return the "Intent to Accept/Decline" by the deadline indicated on the form.

I was accepted to the Biostatistics PhD program. Do I need to meet with my graduate advisor prior to enrolling in courses?

Yes. A faculty advisor will be assigned to you upon acceptance into the program. You will need to talk with your advisor before registering for classes in the fall. If you are unable to meet in person, you can make an appointment for a telephone conversation.

How do I register for classes?

Students register for classes online through a program called One.iu.edu. Registration details will be sent to all admitted students over the summer.

Can I begin a PhD program in the spring semester?

Applications for PhD programs are reviewed only once per year. Students are expected to begin the program the following fall. In special circumstances, other arrangements may be possible.

Do Biostatistics PhD students have the option of enrolling either full-time or part-time?

Yes, the program can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.

Is the Biostatistics PhD program offered online?

No, the Biostatistics PhD program is not currently offered online. However, some courses in PhD minor areas are offered online.

How many students do you admit each year?

Cohorts of approximately four to six students are admitted to the Biostatistics PhD program for matriculation in the fall semester.

Program details

I would like to meet with the biostatistics phd program director. is that possible.

Yes, contact Shawne Mathis to schedule an appointment.

Is housing provided by the university?

The on-campus housing options include campus apartments, residence halls, and townhomes. Learn more about on-campus housing options .

How long do I have to complete the PhD program?

Admission to the program is valid for 10 years. Coursework must be completed in seven years or less, and the dissertation must be completed within the 10-year limit.

Is there a time limit for courses that may be applied toward a Biostatistics PhD program?

Biostatistics PhD courses must be completed within seven years of the student taking the oral qualifying exam. Courses taken more than seven years prior to taking the qualifying exam must be revalidated before they can be applied to the PhD program.

Available professional associations

What professional associations are available for me to join.

Professional Associations are a great source of information about internships, career pathways, conferences, scholarships, opportunities to meet people in your field, and a whole host of career-related topics.

• AMS/MAA/SIAM Career Site
• American Mathematical Society (AMS)
• Mathematical Association of American (MAA)
• Association of Women in Mathematics (AWM)
• Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM)
• National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM)
• Society of Actuaries (SOA)
• Casualty Actuarial Society (CAS)
• American Statistical Association (ASA)

Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health social media channels

• Policies, Procedures & Forms

• Education /
• Graduate School /
• Biostatistics (PhD)

Biostatistics PhD Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin

Why Join the Biostatistics PhD Program at MCW?

About the program, important dates, biostatistics phd program, admissions requirements, tuition and fees.

Applicants to the Biostatistics PhD program will have ideally have…

• Completed an undergraduate degree in mathematics or closely related field
• Completed courses in advanced calculus, matrix/linear algebra and scientific programming with a minimum grade of B in each. Those who have not done so may be considered for admission and, if admitted, must complete these requirements during the first year of study.
• A strong interest in Biostatistics and biomedical applications
• An overall grade point average of 3.0 or better
• A 3.0 grade point average or better in mathematics and science
• Scores in the 80th percentile or higher on the Quantitative component of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is preferred. Our Institution Code is 1519.
• Applicants who studied overseas or via an online U.S.-based institution are required to take a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)  or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and make arrangement for an official score report to be sent directly from ETS to the MCW School of Graduate Studies. A TOEFL score is 100 or higher or a band score of 6.0 or higher on the IELTS is ideal. Our Institution Code is 1519.

Each year we will select 2-3 highly qualified students interested in furthering knowledge and research skills in Biostatistics.

How To Apply The MCW Graduate School operates on a rolling admissions basis. However, applications accepted by the priority application deadline of January 15 th will receive first priority for admission the following Fall. Students are admitted once per year. Part time students may be admitted in any semester. However, financial support from the Medical College of Wisconsin is not available for part time students.

Biostatistics PhD Program Sample Plan (PDF)

Graduate Programs in Biostatistics Student Handbook (PDF)

Preliminary Examination Upon completion of the first year of the study, the student will be given a written preliminary examination in August of the first academic year. This examination will be organized and administered by the graduate studies committee. The exam will consist of two parts - Applied Statistics and Theory of Statistics. The applied part will cover Statistical Models and Methods I, II and III, Clinical Trials, and Biostatistical Computing and Data Management and possibly Applied Survival Analysis or Applied Bayesian Analysis. The theory part will cover the materials from Statistical Inference I & II. This will be a standard divisional exam, and evaluation will be done by the whole faculty. The criteria for evaluation will be based on student's understanding and competency in basic principles and foundations of biostatistics, and his/her potential for conducting independent research in statistical methods and applications. If a student does not pass this exam, he/she will have a second opportunity to take it in January of the second academic year. The preliminary examination will be offered every January and August by the Division. The student must pass this examination to continue in the PhD program.

Readings & Research The student is required to take BIOST 295 Readings & Research for 3 credit hours each with two different members of the faculty. Typically, this is done in the first two summers and in the process of selecting a dissertation topic and advisor.

Qualifying Examination Upon successful completion of the preliminary exam and the required biostatistics courses (usually at the end of the third year), the student will be given a qualifying examination. This examination is tailor-made for each student, and it is organized, administered and evaluated by his/her advisory committee. The evaluations will be based on student's in-depth understanding and competency in advanced topics in biostatistics, and his/her ability and maturity to apply the knowledge earned from the course-work in doing meaningful research. The exam consists of two parts. The first part will be an oral examination testing the student's general statistical knowledge at the advanced level. The second part consists of writing a dissertation proposal and presenting it to the division. This proposal must be approved by his/her advisory committee. A student not passing either part of the exam may be given another chance to retake that part within three months of the first attempt. Students passing this exam will be admitted to PhD candidacy.

Paper Submission

The student is required to submit at least one methodology paper to peer reviewed journals. The paper must address statistical methodology and be from the thesis. The student mist provide a proof of paper submission for the thesis committee before the final examination.

Final Examination The PhD candidate must submit a dissertation representing an original research contribution. It must show high attainment and clear ability to carry out independent biostatistics research of publishable quality. The final oral examination will be administered by his/her advisory committee after the student has completed all other formal requirements for the PhD degree. It will be a public defense of the dissertation. The student also will be expected to demonstrate a good understanding of materials relevant to the general field in which the dissertation is written. The student's advisory committee will evaluate the performance of the student in the dissertation defense.

Dissertation Research Requirements The student begins his/her dissertation research during the third year. The initial step consists of identifying a topic that is of mutual interest to the student and a member of the faculty who serves as the dissertation advisor. Courses, talks and presentations by the faculty assist the student in this process. After a literature survey and a clearer definition of the scope of the research under the direction of the advisor, the student submits a written proposal and presents it orally to the advisory committee. During the conduct of the dissertation research the advisory committee meets periodically to monitor the student's progress. Upon completion of the proposed research the student submits the dissertation and defends it in a public presentation.

The dissertation must be an original contribution to scientific knowledge. It can involve development of new statistical methodologies, evaluation of existing methodologies and study of their properties, innovative application of existing methodologies, or any combination of the above. The dissertation should be of publishable quality in peer reviewed journals in biostatistics or statistics.

Required Courses

• BIOE 10222 Ethics and Integrity in Science (1 credit)
• BIOE 10444 Research Ethics Discussion Series (1 credit)
• BIOS 04214 Design and Analysis of Clinical Trials (3 credits)
• BIOS 04220 Research Seminar (1 credit)
• BIOS 04221 Biomedical Applications and Consulting (3 credits)
• BIOS 04222 Statistical Consulting (3 credits)
• BIOS 04224 Biostatistical Computing (3 credits)
• BIOS 04231 Statistical Models and Methods I (3 credits)
• BIOS 04232 Statistical Models and Methods II (3 credits)
• BIOS 04233 Introduction to Statistical and Machine Learning (3 credits)
• BIOS 04275 Applied Survival Analysis (3 credits)
• BIOS 04285 Introduction to Bayesian Analysis (3 credits)
• BIOS 04295 Reading and Research (1-9 credits)
• BIOS 04313 Advanced Statistical Computing (3 credits)
• BIOS 04363 Advanced Statistics I  (3 credits)
• BIOS 04365 Linear Models I  (3 credits)
• BIOS 04384 Statistical Genetics (3 credits)
• BIOS 04385 Advanced Bayesian Analysis (3 credits)
• BIOS 04386 Theory of Survival Analysis (3 credits)
• BIOS 04399 Doctoral Dissertation (1-9 credits)
• BIOS 04231/MTHSTAT 761* Mathematical Statistics I (3 credits)
• BIOS 04232/MTHSTAT 762* Mathematical Statistics II (3 credits)
• BIOS 24150 Bioinformatics in Omics Analysis (3 credits)

                                 *Courses taken at UW-Milwaukee

Elective Courses (graduate-level non-biostatistical courses)

• BIOETH 201 – Medical Ethics (2 credits)
• BIOETH 222 – Ethics and Integrity in Science (2 credits)
• BIOETH 232 – Ethics, Policy and Genetic Technology (2 credits)
• BIOPHYSICS 215 – Medical Physics (1 credit)
• CELLBIO 150 – Introduction to Cell Biology (1 credit)
• CELLBIO 152 – Human Development (1 credit)
• CELLBIO 207 – Introduction to Neuroscience (2 credits)
• EPI 201 – Clinical Epidemiology (3 credits)
• EPI 256 – Research Methods in Epidemiology (3 credits)
• EPI 272 – Epidemiology of Cardiovascular Disease (1 credit)
• EPI 274 – Cancer Epidemiology
• PHARM 202 – Survey of Pharmacology (3 credits)
• PHY 202 – General Human Physiology (6 credits)
• PHY 285 – Mathematical Biology (3 credits)

Additional elective courses from MCW, Marquette University, and UW-Milwaukee are available for students

If you have questions regarding tuition or your account, please contact the Office of Student Accounts, at (414) 955-8172 or  [email protected] . Please refer to the All Student Handbook  (PDF) for tuition payment policies and information.

• Tuition and Fees Schedule
• View your Tuition Statement  (login required)

PhD Students All full-time PhD degree-seeking students in good academic and professional standing receive the following financial support package:

• Full tuition coverage
• Yearly stipend $32,633/year (2022-2023 academic year)
• Complimentary health insurance

There is no additional process to secure this package aside from accepting an offer of admission. Further, this package is guaranteed from the time of enrollment through completion of degree requirements.

Current MCW Employees Tuition Course Approval Form - Human Resources (PDF)

Late Fees There is a $250 late payment fee for tuition not paid on time according to the Tuition Payments policy in the All Student Handbook (PDF).

Visit the Biostatistics PhD Program Faculty page to learn more about our faculty members

Frequently Asked Questions for the Biostatistics PhD Program

• Pharmaceutical & Consultant Industries
• Government & Non-Profit Agencies
• Academic Institutions

Meet our current class of Biostatistics students

View class list

Alumni Information

• Replacement Diploma  (PDF)
• Become a Member of the Alumni Association
• Requesting Transcripts

PhD Alumni:

Xi Fang , PhD 2023 Advisors: Soyoung Kim, PhD and Kwang Woo Ahn, PhD Thesis: Statistical Methods to improve estimation efficiency for right-censored data under observational studies and clinical trials Employment: Postdoctoral Researcher in the Department of Biostatistics, Yale University

Manoj Khanal, PhD 2022 Advisor: Kwang Woo Ahn, PhD Thesis: Semiparametric regression models for clustered right-censored data under clinical trials and observational studies Employment: Eli Lilly

Xinran Qi ,  PhD 2021 Advisors: Prakash Laud, PhD  and  Aniko Szabo, PhD Thesis: Inference with complex-structured data: controlled group-wise variable selection using a Generative Adversarial Network knockoff filter, unconditional reproducibility probability filter, and semi-parametric inference Employment: Post-doc at Stanford, Neurology and Neurological Sciences

Yizeng (Molly) He, PhD 2021 Advisor: Kwang Woo Ahn, PhD Thesis: Robust estimation for competing risks data analysis Employment: Abbvie

Tucker Keuter , PhD 2020 Advisor: Anjishnu Banerjee, PhD Thesis: Bayesian Learning In a Nearest-neighbor Gaussian process (BLING): a model for high-dimensional, spatially correlated, categorical outcomes in prostate cancer imaging Employment: Charter Steel

Charley Spanbauer, PhD 2020 Advisors: Purushottam Laud, PhD  and Rodney Sparapani, PhD Thesis: Machine-Learning Extensions to Bayesian Additive Regression Tress for Precision Medicine in Clinical Trials Employment: University of Minnesota Division of Biostatistics Yayun (Alice) Xu , PhD 2020 Advisors: Soyoung Kim, PhD and Mei-Jie Zhang, PhD Thesis: Statistical Methods for Competing Risks Data under the Case-cohort Study Design Employment: Merck

Bonifride (Frida) Tuyishimire , PhD 2019 Advisor: Brent Logan, PhD  and Purushottam Laud, PhD Thesis: Additivity Assessment in Nonparametric Regression Models Employment: EMMES Corporation Nicolas DeVogel , PhD 201 Advisor Tao Wang, PhD Thesis: Adjustment of familial relatedness and population structure in linear mixed models Employment: EMMES Corporation

Natasha Sahr , PhD 2018 Advisor: Kwang Woo Ahn, PhD Thesis: Variable Screening and Selection for Survival and Competing Risks Data with Grouped Covariates Employment: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Yushu Shi , PhD 2017 Advisor: Prakash Laud, PhD Thesis: Weibull Mixture Models for Regression in the Context of Time-to-Event Data Employment: MD Anderson Cancer Center

Michael Martens , PhD 2017 Advisor: Brent Logan, PhD Thesis: Group Sequential Design and Sample Size Calculations for Covariate Adjusted Competing Risks and Survival Analysis Employment: EMMES Corporation

Ying Zhang,  PhD 2016 Advisor: Mei-Jie Zhang, PhD Thesis: Inference of Transition Probabilities in Multi-state Models Adaptive Inverse Probability Censoring Weighting Technique Employment after graduation: Merck

Jianing Li,  PhD 2015 Advisor: Mei-Jie Zhang, PhD Thesis: Treatment Effect Adjustment and Model Diagnosis for Competing Risks Data Employment after graduation: Merck

Yanzhi Wang,  PhD 2014 Advisor: Brent Logan, PhD Thesis: Generalized Linear Mixed Models for Correlated Time to Event Data Using Pseudo-Values

Peng He , PhD, 2014 Advisor: Mei-Jie Zhang, PhD Thesis: Bias reduction by using covariate-adjusted censoring weights for survival and competing risks data Employment after graduation: Amgen (Thousand Oaks, CA)

Kristin Ellis , PhD, 2013 Advisor: Aniko Szabo, PhD Thesis: Developing Methods to Categorize Survival Data Employment after graduation: Procter & Gamble

Franco Mendolia , PhD, 2013 Advisor: Tao Wang, PhD Thesis: Pseudo-Observation Regression in the Presence of Left Truncation Employment after graduation: German Aerospace Center (DLR)

Shuyuan Mo , PhD 2011 Advisor: Brent Logan, PhD Thesis: Inference in the Presence of Crossing Survival Curves Employment after graduation: Novartis

Changbin Guo , PhD 2011 Advisor: John Klein, PhD Thesis: Regression Models for Association in Clustered Survival Data Based on Pseudo-Observations Employment after graduation: SAS

Rodney Sparapani , PhD 2011 Advisor: Prakash Laud, PhD Thesis: Generalized Linear Mixed Models in health Services Research with Large Data Banks: A Bayesian Implementation Employment after graduation: The Medical College of Wisconsin

Xiaolin Fan , PhD 2008 Advisor: Prakash Laud, PhD Thesis: Bayesian Nonparametric Inference for Competing Risks Data Employment after graduation: Novartis

Nicholas Pajewski , PhD 2008 Advisor: Prakash Laud, PhD Thesis: Bayesian Semiparametric Hierarchical Models for Genetic Association Studies in the Presence of Population Structure and Multiplicity

Yinghua Zhang , PhD 2007 Advisor: John P. Klein, PhD Thesis: Selecting Between the Cox and Aalen Model for Censored Survival Data

Jingxia Liu , PhD 2007 Advisor: Mei-Jie Zhang, PhD Thesis: Utilizing Propensity Scores to Test Treatment Effects in Survival Data

Xu Zhang , PhD 2005 Advisor: Mei-Jie Zhang, PhD Thesis: Inference for Cumulative Incidence Function with Right Censored and/or Left Truncated Competing Risks Data

Leiyan Lu , PhD 2005 Advisor: John P. Klein, PhD Thesis: Explained Variation in Survival Analysis and Hypothesis Testing for Current Leukemia Free Survival

Hong Wang , PhD 2004 Advisor: John P. Klein, PhD Thesis: Inference for the Shared Power Variance Function Frailty Model and the Correlated Inverse Gaussion Frailty Model

Ruta Bajorunaite , PhD 2003 Advisor: John P. Klein, PhD Thesis: Comparison of Failure Probabilities in the Presence of Competing Risks

Matthew Hayat , PhD 2002 Advisor: Prakash Laud, PhD Thesis: Bayesian Methods for Longitudinal Data

Youyi Shu , PhD 2001 Advisor: John P. Klein, PhD Thesis: Multistate Survival Models Theory And Applications

Jingtao Wu , PhD 2001, Advisor: John P. Klein, PhD Thesis: Statistical Methods For Discretizing A Continuous Covariate In A Censored Data Regression Model

Jong Won Lee, MS 2022 Advisor: Sergey Tarima, PhD

Dexuan Zhang, MS 2023 Advisor: Sergey Tarima, PhD

Maggie Westerland , MA 2023 Employment: Boston University School of Medicine Ryan Gallagher , MA 2023 Employment: Medical College of Wisconsin

Donggwan Lee, MS 2022

Junmin Shi , MS 2012

Aaron Katch , MS 2012

Mikesh Shivakoti , MS 2012

Leann Watts , MS 2011

Victoria Rajamanickam , MS 2007

Manoj Thakur , MS 2006

Alain DeClaux Tallasouop , MS 2006

Lauren Cerull , MS 2005 Thesis: Assessing Discharge Location for Geriatric Fall Patients Christopher Meller , MS 2004 Thesis: Modeling fMRI Series Using a Nonlinear Method

Youyi Shu , MS 2001 Thesis: A SAS Macro for the Positive Frailty Model

Huajian Tang , MS 2000 Thesis: A Regression-Based Transmission / Disequilibrium Test For Binary Traits Using A Logit Link Function Zhiyuan Xu , MS 1998 Thesis: A SAS Macro for the Score Test of Homogeneity for Survival Data Philip Rowlings , MS 1997 Thesis: A Revised Severity Index For Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following HLA-Identical Sibling Bone Marrow Transplants For Leukemia Thomas Chelius , MS 1997 Thesis: Analysis Of Variance With Structural Zeroes Jian Chen , MS 1997 Thesis: A SAS Module For The Inverse Gaussian Frailty Model Jeff Gudmonson , MS 1997 Thesis: A SAS Macro For The GAMMA Frailty Model James Gapinski , MS 1996 Thesis: The Evaluation And Application Of Methods For Detecting Unnecessary Hospital Stay In Patients With Congestive Heart Failure Alicia Howell , MS 1996 Thesis: A SAS Macro For The Additive Hazards Regression Model

Geraldine Brown , MS, 1996 Thesis: Effects of Prognostic Factors on Cataract in Family Data From The Beaver Dam Eye Study

Astrid Müller , MS 1995 Thesis: Evaluation Of Efficacy Of Endoscopy In Reducing Mortality And Morbidity Of Colorectal Cancer Using Corey Pelz , MS 1995 Thesis: Analysis Of Survival Data: A Comparison Of Three Major Statistical Packages (SAS, SPSS, BMDP)

Academic and Student Services

The office of student inclusion and diversity (osid).

OSID is committed to supporting diversity as well as recruiting students who are Under-Represented in Medicine.

Student Services

Review information regarding financial aid, health and wellness, student inclusion, MCW libraries, and more. 

Review financial aid and tuition information by school and program.

Academic Consultation

We support student success by assisting with a broad array of student needs and concerns. These include the acclimation to increased academic demand and navigation of institutional policies and requirements.

If you have any questions or would like to know if the Biostatistics program is the right fit for you, please feel free to contact us to learn more about what it is like being a student in our program.

Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (online and on-campus)

The Master of Public Health in Epidemiology (MPH-EPI) degree program is designed to prepare you for new levels of leadership in your career while fitting around your busy schedule. Individuals in the MPH-EPI program specialize in advanced quantitative methods and applications for clinical and population health research, policy, and programs.  

The MPH-EPI program is a part-time, two-year, hybrid degree combining rigorous online, in-person, and in-the-field training. The MPH-EPI degree is ideal for global professionals interested in focusing heavily on data and population-based research.  

• Abbreviation : MPH-EPI  
• Degree format : A combination of online and on campus  
• Time commitment : Part-time   
• Average program length : 2 years part-time
• Timeline : Students complete 3 mandatory weeks on campus each June, followed by online asynchronous classes July through May  
• Weekly expectations : An average of 10–12 hours of coursework per week for online courses  
• Estimated cohort size : 40–60 students  
• Start term : Summer  
• Epidemiology
• The MPH degree is the most widely recognized professional credential for leadership in public health.  
• During the intensive, on-campus June sessions, the cohort model establishes a tight-knit community and builds the foundation for collaborative learning throughout the rest of the program.  
• From July through May, asynchronous virtual courses and weekly assignments allow international and domestic students to learn at their own pace in a variety of time zones all over the world. Complemented with optional synchronous sessions, students are encouraged to learn from each other’s real-time work experiences and apply concepts throughout their courses.  
• Under a combination of group and individualized mentorship by Harvard faculty members, each student designs and implements a research-based practicum proposal to gain field-based learning. The practicum provides students with the opportunity to apply their skills, address a health-related issue of interest, and showcase what they learned to the Harvard community at the on-campus symposium.  

Graduates of the MPH-EPI program will receive the advanced research and epidemiological skills needed to pursue senior positions in the following industries:  

• Academic medicine  
• Biotech/pharma  
• Consulting  
• Government  
• Health care management  
• Hospital/health care delivery  
• Non-profit/Non-government organizations  
• Other/for-profit  
• Public health agencies  
• Private practice  
• Private sector institutions  
• University/research  

Many MPH-EPI graduates return to their roles as physicians with newly acquired knowledge in conducting research. Others use their MPH-EPI degree to pivot toward leadership roles in health organizations. Those interested in research occasionally move toward Principal Investigator (PI) positions in the public or private sectors.  

• MPH-CLE summer-focused  
• SM-42.5 EPI summer-only  

Admission information

Eligibility requirements.

Eligible applicants for the MPH-EPI must meet one of the following criteria:  

• Hold a bachelor’s degree plus five or more years of relevant health experience.
• Hold a master’s degree in a health-related field—for example, MSN, MSW, MBA (the strongest applicants will have at least two years of relevant work experience following completion of the degree).  
• A prior doctoral degree—for example, MD, DO, DMD, DDS, PhD, SD, JD—or equivalent.  

Current medical and dental students are not eligible for the MPH-EPI program.  

Application requirements

All applications must be submitted through SOPHAS – the centralized application for schools and programs of public health . In addition to the application, applicants must submit:

• Statement of purpose and objectives
• Official test scores ( not required/not reviewed )
• Three letters of reference
• Resumé/curriculum vitae
• Post-secondary transcripts or mark sheets (World Education Services credential evaluation for applicants with degrees from outside of the United States.)
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS), if applicable

Learn more about the application process .

Application deadline

Applicants may apply to only one degree program for either full- or part-time status. Applications are reviewed in their entirety and decisions are released via email in late February/early March. Decisions are not released until all application components are received.

For more information

Skip to content

Our Faculty

Educational programs, news and events, biostatistics, part-time faculty, srikesh arunajadai, phd, departments/divisions, research interests, academic appointments.

• Adjunct Assistant Professor of Biostatistics

Patrick H Hilden

• Associate in Biostatistics

Dan Liao, PhD

• Lecturer in Biostatistics

Naitee Ting

• Adjunct Professor of Biostatistics

PhD Studies

PhD studies at Aalborg University

Aalborg University (AAU) has five Doctoral Schools which are specialised within the disciplines offered by the faculties. The Doctoral Schools educate PhD fellows of a high international standard.

Benefits of doing a PhD at AAU

PhD fellow Maria Maigaard Paulsen from AAU Energy

You must accept the following cookie categories in order to view the content: Marketing

Admission to a PhD program

All PhD positions at Aalborg University require that candidates have acquired a Danish five-year Master’s degree or have completed another similar programme.

Apply for a PhD position at AAU

All PhD positions at Aalborg University are advertised on AAU's website for vacant positions, under PhD vacancies. You will find all current scholarships for all Doctoral Schools here. Each job advertisement will contain all relevant information about the position, including information on salary, period of employment etc.

In order to apply for a PhD position at Aalborg University, you must fill in the online form on AAU’s website for vacant positions. Only online applications sent through this portal will be accepted.

See vacant PhD positions at AAU

Other PhD opportunities at AAU

At Aalborg University (AAU), you can apply to become a PhD student without being employed at the University. Before applying, you must make sure that your application meets the requirements specified on the websites of the AAU Doctoral Schools.

The following other opportunities for PhD studies are available at AAU:

Self-financed PhD studies

You can apply for enrolment as a self-financed PhD student, which means that you will pay all costs connected to your studies. These costs will depend on the individual Doctoral School and PhD programme.

Industrial PhD studies

You can apply for enrolment as an industrial PhD student in cooperation with the company where you are employed and the relevant doctoral school. Your company will be responsible for applying to the Ministry of Higher Education and Science for financial support for the project. It is a requirement that you are employed in a Danish company or a Danish department of an international company.

Co-financed PhD studies

If your employer or another party is willing to finance all or part of your PhD studies, it is possible to collaborate with AAU on a PhD project, provided that the project is strategically and academically relevant for the doctoral school.

PhD assessment without programme enrolment

You can also submit material for assessment in order to obtain a PhD degree without having been enrolled in a PhD programme. This particular approach requires that your material was prepared under supervision of a qualified supervisor, and that you meet the current requirements for PhD students and additional requirements. Further information on this particular option can be required by contacting AAU PhD

Further information about PhD studies at AAU

For further information on PhD studies at AAU, please contact AAU PhD .

Career developement for PhD Students

All PhD students at AAU have access to a variety of services that can develope themselves and their future career

Area manager

Specialists, phd administration.

AAU PhD handles the PhD administration at Aalborg University for the 4 PhD schools.

This includes the following tasks:

• Daily operations related to PhD students
• Advertising scholarships and processing applications
• Enrollment of PhD students
• Administration of course activities
• Awarding PhD degrees
• Managing doctoral dissertations
• Statistical reports to Statistics Denmark
• Resource management
• Secretariat for the PhD committees at the 5 PhD schools

E-mail: [email protected]    Tel.: (+45) 9940 9638 Kroghstræde 1 9220 Aalborg East

News and Events AAU PhD

2024-2025 Catalog

Doctoral degrees.

The University of Idaho awards the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in recognition of high achievement in scholarly and research activity. The degree of Doctor of Education is granted for high scholarly attainment and in recognition of the completion of academic preparation for professional practice. See the "Ph.D. and Ed.D. Procedures" tab for more details. The Doctor of Athletic Training is offered through the College of Education and the Department of Movement Sciences (see the "DAT Procedures" tab for more details).

The major professor and program offering a particular doctoral program indicate the general philosophy of the degree program, the objectives of courses and seminars, the research specialties available, and requirements unique to the department. Admission to the doctoral program is granted only to those who have a recognized potential for completing the degree.

Requirements for Doctoral Degrees

Credit requirements.

For the Ph.D. and Ed.D., a minimum of 78 credits beyond the bachelor's degree is required.; At least 52 credits must be at the 500 level or above and at least 33 of the 78 credits must be in courses other than 600 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation). A maximum of 45 research credits in 600 (Doctoral Research and Dissertation) including 6 credits of 599 (Non-thesis Research) or 500 (Master's Research and Thesis) may be in the 45 research credits used toward the degree. For the D.A.T., a minimum of 66 credits is required and follows a prescribed set of courses set by the program.

Courses numbered below 300 may not be used to fulfill the requirements for a doctoral degree; courses numbered 300-399 may be used only in supporting areas and are not to be used to make up deficiencies. Individual programs may require additional course work. Applicants having a doctoral degree may obtain a second doctoral degree subject to the approval of the Graduate Council. The Graduate Council will establish the requirements for the second degree.

Credit Limitations for Transfer, Correspondence Study, and Non-degree

For the Ph.D. and Ed.D. degrees, a student must complete at least 39 of the 78 required credits at the University of Idaho (U of I) while matriculated in the College of Graduate Studies. Credits can be transferred to U of I with the consent of the student's major professor, the committee (if required by the program), the program's administrator, and the dean of the College of Graduate Studies. Credits can be transferred only if the institution from which the credits are being transferred has a graduate program in the course's discipline. All credits used toward graduate degrees must be from regionally accredited American institutions or from non-US institutions recognized by the appropriate authorities in their respective countries. Transfer credits are subject to all other College of Graduate Studies rules and regulations. Correspondence study courses may be applied to the degree only with the prior written approval of the College of Graduate Studies. Courses used toward an undergraduate degree, professional development courses, and courses on a professional development transcript are not available to be used toward a doctoral degree.

Time Limits

Of the credits submitted to satisfy the requirements for a Ph.D. or Ed.D. degree, a maximum of 30 may be more than eight years old when the degree is conferred, provided the student's committee and program administrator determine that the student has kept current in the subjects concerned. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their preliminary or general examination. These time limitations can be extended only on recommendation of the committee and approval by the Graduate Council.

Awarding Doctoral Degrees to Members of the Faculty

Regulations are outlined in Section 4920 of the Faculty-Staff Handbook.

Particular Requirements for the Ed.D. Degree

A period of professional practice is required for the Doctor of Education degree; the period involved is determined by the student's supervisory committee. While the Ed.D. is a College of Education degree, you should consult with the departments in the College of Education to learn of specific emphasis requirements.

Procedures for Doctor of Philosophy and Doctor of Education Degrees

Appointment of major professor and committee.

Refer to " Appointment of Major Professor and Committee for All Degree Seeking Graduate Students " in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section. In addition, a doctoral supervisory committee consists of at least four people: the major professor as chair and at least one additional UI faculty member from the program, the balance of the committee may be made up of faculty members from a minor or supporting area, and faculty members from a discipline outside the major. If the committee has a co-chair, the minimum number of committee members is five.

Qualifying Examination

The qualifying examination is a program option and serves to assess the background of the student in both the major and supporting fields and to provide partially the basis for preparation of the student's study program. A particular program may or may not require a master's degree as a prerequisite for the qualifying evaluation. As soon as the program's qualifications are met, a supervisory committee is appointed.

Preparation of Study Plan

Refer to " Preparation and Submission of Study Plan " in the preceding General Graduate Regulations section.

Preliminary Examination for Ph.D. Degree

The preliminary examination should be scheduled only after the student has completed the majority of the courses on their study plan. The student is required to be registered during the semester the preliminary examination is taken. The student's committee certifies to the College of Graduate Studies the results of the preliminary examination and if passed, the student is advanced to candidacy. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their examination. If the preliminary examination is failed, it may be repeated only once; the repeat examination must be taken within a period of not less than three months or more than one year following the first attempt. If a student fails the preliminary examination a second time, or the program does not allow the student to repeat the examination after the first failure or the student does not retake the examination within one year, the student is automatically moved to unclassified enrollment status and is no longer in the degree program.

General Examination for Ed.D . Degree

When the student approaches the end of their course work, has completed the professional experience requirement, and has outlined the dissertation subject in detail, the supervisory committee approves the holding of the general examination. The student is required to be registered during the semester the general examination is taken. The examination is both written and oral and is intended to assess progress toward degree objectives. The student's committee certifies to the College of Graduate Studies the results of the general examination and if passed, the student is advanced to candidacy. Graduation must occur no later than five years after the date on which the candidate passed their examination. If the general examination is failed, it may be repeated only once; the repeat examination must be taken within a period of not less than three months or more than one year following the first attempt. If a student fails the general examination a second time, or the program does not allow the student to repeat the examination after the first failure or the student does not retake the examination within one year, the student is automatically moved to unclassified status and is no longer in the degree program.

See the General Graduate Regulations section regarding application for advanced degree, registration requirements, final defense and dissertation requirements.

Procedures for Doctor of Athletic Training

The culminating clinical project.

Students enrolled in the Doctor of Athletic Training (D.A.T.) will engage in research projects during the curricular phase of the program. These project(s) will lead to at least two publication ready manuscripts, and all students must meet professional authorship requirements (regardless of order). See the  Department of Movement Sciences and Doctor of Athletic Training webpages for more information.

The Team (Committee)

All D.A.T. project team committees will have at least four committee members: two members of the athletic training faculty (all with graduate faculty status), the student's attending clinician (who is the student's on-site mentor during the student's residency), and an expert in the student's chosen area of clinical research. The athletic training faculty members will always chair the CCP, provide research guidance, and serve as the experts in the development of advanced practice in Athletic Training. A situation may arise in which one or both of the members of the committee that are outside of the AT program faculty may have a degree less than that of which the student is seeking; however, the intent of the third and fourth D.A.T. committee membership is to provide outside validation of the student's progress toward advanced practice and clinical utility of action research studies.

Culminating Clinical Project Hours

These dissertation hours may be used in instances when the CCP has not been successfully completed and the curricular phase of program has been completed.

Print Options

Send Page to Printer

Print this page.

Download Page (PDF)

The PDF will include all information unique to this page.

Your browser is unsupported

We recommend using the latest version of IE11, Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari.

School of Public Health

2024 dean’s scholar fellow | soumya sahu, phd candidate.

Congratulations to Soumya Sahu , PhD Candidate in Biostatistics in the Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics on being one of the recipients of the 2024 Dean’s Scholar Fellowship, a one-year, non-renewable award presented by the Dean of the Graduate College in recognition of a student’s scholarly achievement. The award is intended to provide the most distinguished, advanced-level graduate students with a period of time dedicated solely to the completion of their programs. The Dean’s Scholar competition is open to doctoral students who have passed the Graduate College-required Preliminary Examination and are well into their dissertation work, and also to MFA students who have passed second-semester review. ONE nomination per program and the nomination must be submitted by the program. Applications are reviewed by the Graduate College Awards Committee and the selection process is competitive.

Soumya's doctoral research centers on enhancing statistical approaches for health studies with limited sample sizes. This includes addressing challenges in agreement assessment between AI systems and trained healthcare experts, as well as pinpointing brain connectivities as mediators of treatment effects in mental health. This is achieved through the utilization of best subset selection methods and multiple testing techniques to control the false discovery rate (FDR).

Recipients of the Dean’s Scholar Fellowship will receive a fellowship stipend of $30,000 for a twelve-month academic year. (The appointment period will be August 16th-August 15th with monthly payments September 16th-August 16th.) The recipients also receive a tuition and partial fee waiver from the Graduate College. The waiver covers all tuition (including differential) service fee, health service fee, academic facilities maintenance fund assessment, library and information technology assessment, and part of the cost of coverage for fall and spring semester towards CampusCare, if applicable. All other fees are the responsibility of the student.

Best wishes to Soumya in his fellowship and continued doctoral studies. For more information on the Dean's Scholar Fellowship, please visit: https://grad.uic.edu/funding-awards/graduate-college-fellowships/ds/

Plant Science, Ph.D.

Harness the power of plants..

From crop-based biofuels to pest-resistant plants, discoveries of plant scientists make a profound impact on the world’s food production, natural resources and the environment.

This program prepares you to make your own contribution to this exciting field through the in-depth study of the production, protection, breeding and genetics of plants. Gain a sophisticated understanding of the interdisciplinary field, with specialized skills in areas like biotechnology, weed science, crop management, plant pathology and more.

Much of your experience will take place in the on-campus plant science farms, climate-controlled greenhouses and laboratories, where you will conduct independent research alongside leading faculty experts in the field.

This program could be a good fit if you:

• Hold an undergraduate degree in agriculture, biology, botany, horticulture, agriculture, environmental science, natural resources or other related field
• Have a strong interested in advancing the field of plant science
• Want to lead research in the lab and out in the field
• Can think critically and creatively about complex problems

Career Outcomes

With this degree, you could become a/an:

• Agricultural consultant (domestic or international)
• Agricultural chemical researcher or sales manager
• Commercial crop or greenhouse manager
• Food processing scientist
• Plant biotechnologist
• Plant breeder
• Plant industry or biofuels researcher
• Plant-pest protection specialist
• Senior scientist or program leader for a federal or state agriculture, environmental quality or land management agency
• University professor, research support scientist or extension educator
• Urban landscape consultant or manager

Available On-Campus

You may also be interested in:

Plant Pathology, M.S.

Explore interactions between plants and microbes. Learn to develop innovative solutions that keep plants safe from diseases.

Agricultural Education, M.S.

Master the skills and techniques of teaching youth and adults about agriculture, leadership and life.

More degrees below. Enjoy!

Plant pathology, family and consumer sciences.

Learn scientific research methods to understand and solve problems of human development, family relations, personal and family finance, nutrition and community.

Food Science

Learn to research and develop new food products, improve the safety and quality of food products, and design safer and more efficient food processes.

Nutritional Sciences

Explore cutting-edge nutrition research to help improve human health.

Agricultural Education

Animal physiology.

Lead original research in areas such as animal growth, nutrition or reproduction.

Turn your passion for health and wellness into a career as a registered dietitian nutritionist.

Develop the skills to solve complex pest-control problems, tackle pressing pollination issues, and battle insect-borne diseases.

Applied Economics

Apply advanced statistical and mathematical analysis to solve complex issues involving agriculture, communities, natural resources and other applied topics.

Soil & Land Resources

Develop valuable expertise in the sustainable use and management of soils.

Water Resources

Learn to work across disciplines to help communities solve today’s increasingly complex problems in water resources management.

Animal Science

Develop your expertise and research skills in animal growth, nutrition, reproduction and other areas in animal agriculture.