PhD in Biostatistics

Prerequisites: Students applying to the PhD in Biostatistics must have completed a Master’s degree program (MPH or MS) in Biostatistics or a related field. Up to 40 credit hours from the Master’s program may be counted toward the PhD with approval. 

Depending on student’s background, the student may also be required to enroll in additional elective courses that cover topics students ordinarily complete in their MS or MPH curricula that are prerequisites for doctoral level courses. These may be completed after enrolling in the PhD program, and include the following courses: 

BSE Required Courses (19 credit hours)

• BSE 5001 Problems in Biostatistics and Epidemiology
• BSE 5013 Applications of Microcomputers to Data Analysis
• BSE 5113 Principles of Epidemiology
• BSE 5163 Biostatistics Methods I
• BSE 5173 Biostatistics Methods II
• BSE 5193 Intermediate Epidemiologic Methods
• BSE 5663 Analysis of Frequency Data 

Any MS or PhD student who has not previously completed the core MPH courses or earned an MPH degree will be required to complete an overview course in public health. At the first opportunity students should enroll in: 

• BSE 5033 Foundations and Overview of Public Health (3 credit hours)

NOTE: Further training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) is required after four years, so students in their 5th year are required to enroll in the Advanced RCR course: BMSC 6011 Integrity in Scientific Research II

• Students are required, prior to initiation of doctoral research, to complete training in Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) and Protection of Human Research Subjects. The training includes completion of the CITI course for Human Subjects Research (Social-Behavioral-Educational Basic module) and successful completion of a one credit course in RCR approved by the Department. 
• Students are required to attend all departmental and Hudson College of Public Health seminars during the spring and fall semesters.
• Students are required to enroll in a minimum of six credit hours during the spring and fall semesters.
• Students are required to achieve a working knowledge of methods, programming, and applications of computers as used in Biostatistics and Epidemiology. This knowledge may be acquired by formal class work or by experience acquired either before entering or during the course of the program. Completing BSE 5013 with a passing grade constitutes the minimum level of knowledge associated with this requirement.
• Students are required to achieve a basic knowledge of the biomedical sciences as they relate to human health and disease. This requirement may be satisfied in one or more areas. Any coursework needed to satisfy this requirement may be taken at this or another institution, either before or after entering the program. One example of an applicable course is Principles of Pathobiology (PATH 6024).
• Tools of research that increase research proficiency are required. Research tools include competence in the use of computerized databases, and in the oral and written presentation of research data. The faculty will validate students’ acquiring of tools of research as they assess students’ performance on (1) the written qualifying examination, (2) the general and oral examinations, and (3) the dissertation.
• Students must pass a written qualifying examination at the end of the first year of doctoral coursework, which must include BSE 5703 and BSE 5733. The qualifying examination will consist of two parts, each roughly four hours long. One part will focus on knowledge of statistical theory and mathematical statistics, and the other will assess ability to process, analyze, and interpret data collected to answer a research question.
• Students must pass a General Written and Oral Examination.
• Students must complete the defense of the dissertation within five years of the end of the semester within which the General Written and Oral Examination was successfully completed. If the time expires before the dissertation is completed, the coursework must be revalidated by retaking and passing the General Written and Oral Examination.

Students are required to participate in at least 40 hours of agreed teaching activities.

Teaching experiences must be obtained in teaching epidemiology or biostatistics. The exact experiences and potential opportunities for teaching experiences should be discussed by the student and their advisor and/or advisory committee. Under the guidance of the course instructor or the faculty mentor, teaching experiences may include:

• Teaching graduate level courses in epidemiology or biostatistics.
• Developing course material.
• Delivering lectures.
• Leading review and discussion sections.
• Writing and grading homework assignments.
• Writing and grading exams.

Participation in teaching activities will be documented on the Annual Graduate Student Progress Report. Students are required to identify available teaching opportunities and to contact the instructor of record to arrange for their participation in the teaching activity. The total 40 hours of teaching activities may include participation in the activities listed above as well as preparation for these activities.

The PhD in Biostatistics program is considered a STEM-designated degree program.

A STEM-designated program is an academic program that falls under at least one of the approved categories from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). These categories are recognized by the government for their focus on science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) topics. DHS's updated STEM-designated degree list can be found here: https://www.ice.gov/doclib/sevis/pdf/stemList2022.pdf.