Biostatistics

MPH Concentration

The Master of Public Health program, with a concentration in Biostatistics, provides the skills to design, analyze, and interpret the results of public health studies.

The Master of Public Health degree program, with a concentration in Biostatistics, trains students in study design and provides quantitative skills to prepare them for collaboration in public health research and surveillance projects that will aid in prevention and treatment of diseases and development of public health policy. The program emphasizes the statistical aspects of research, including study design, data management, and statistical analysis. Through such courses as biostatistics, advanced regression analysis, and statistical computing, students learn the statistical applications important to research, including study design, data management, and statistical analysis. Graduates are prepared for further study or careers in research, project management, academia, or the private sector.

Core Courses

It is strongly recommended that Biostatistics concentrators take SPH BS 703 Biostatistics and SPH EP 712 Epidemiologic Methods to satisfy the core epidemiology and biostatistics MPH requirements.

Concentration Requirements

In addition to the recommended MPH core courses, all concentrators must take 16 credits in concentration courses and participate in the Biostatistics in Public Health Day, the culminating experience. Biostatistics concentrators must take all three of the following courses:

  • BS 723 Introduction to Statistical Computing, with a B or better
  • BS 805 Intermediate Statistical Computing and Applied Regression Analysis
  • BS 852 Statistical Methods for Epidemiology

And one course among the following five:

  • BS 722 Design and Conduct of Clinical  Trials
  • BS 820 Logistic Regression and Survival Analysis
  • BS 821 Categorical Data Analysis
  • BS 851 Applied Statistics in Clinical  Trials I
  • BS 858 Statistical Genetics I

Areas of Emphasis

In addition, MPH students may choose an optional emphasis area; see the concentration guide for more information. The emphasis areas are:

  • Clinical Trials
  • Observational Studies
  • Statistical Genetics
  • Statistical Computing

Additional courses offered in the Department of Biostatistics:

  • BS 401 Summer Institute in Biostatistics (undergraduates only)
  • BS 701 Elementary Biostatistics
  • BS 735 Quantitative Methods in Public Health Surveillance
  • BS 771 Topics in Biostatistics
  • BS 775 Applications of Advanced Statistical Methods in Clinical Research
  • BS 790 Data Management in Public Health Research
  • BS 810 Meta-Analysis for Public Health and Medical Research
  • BS 822 Advanced Statistical Computing
  • BS 830 Design and Analysis of Microarray Data
  • BS 845 Applied Statistical Modeling and Programming with R
  • BS 850 Advanced Statistical Methodology for the Computational Biosciences
  • BS 853 Generalized Linear Models with Applications
  • BS 855 Bayesian Modeling for Biomedical Research and Public Health
  • BS 857 Analysis of Correlated Data
  • BS 859 Applied Genetic Analysis
  • BS 860 Statistical Genetics II
  • BS 861 Applied Statistics in Clinical  Trials II
  • BS 865 Statistical Consulting
  • BS 871 Advanced Topics in Biostatistics
  • BS 901 Directed Studies in Biostatistics
  • BS 902 Directed Research in Biostatistics
  • BS 980 Continuing Study

Culminating Experience

Biostatistics in Public Health Day is held once a semester in order for concentrators to present analyses of public health data, prepared beyond required coursework. Concentrators will create and present a poster on their research question, methods, analysis, and results and will be called upon to explain their poster to the faculty and students. Study questions must address issues relating to other fields within public health that concentrators have studied during their MPH training.

The following are offered through Boston University’s Graduate School of Arts & Sciences:

See: /academics/archive/2010-2011/grs/programs/biostatistics/

The Master of Arts in Biostatistics program offers training for students interested in pursuing advanced study in the theory and methods of biostatistics. Students must pass two comprehensive examinations demonstrating proficiency in biostatistical theory and methods and then may select additional advanced courses in mathematics, biostatistics, and epidemiology.

The PhD in Biostatistics program offers advanced training for students pursuing careers as a professional, academic, or industrial biostatistician. Providing specialized training for health professionals seeking deeper expertise in statistics and analysis, the program is also suitable for experienced statisticians who wish to specialize in statistical methods for biomedical or epidemiologic applications.