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

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MPH IN BIOSTATISTICS

Program of Study
Learning Objectives
Degree Requirements
Examinations
Practicum Requirements

Advisement and Program of Study

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

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

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

Every student must complete a public health practicum (M.P.H. programs). The academic advisor does not automatically serve as the practice advisor. The student may select this person from among the faculty in the department.

Learning Objectives

The goal of the Master of Public Health degree in Biostatistics is to prepare students with prior public health experience, through quality lecture and field practice experiences and other research opportunities, to apply analytical and investigative biostatistical skills in a public health setting. Specifically, a student who successfully completes this degree will:

1.	Display a mastery of a variety of traditional and newly developed statistical techniques, including multivariable methods for continuous and categorical data analysis.
2.	Demonstrate the ability to evaluate a given health related problem, and to identify the most appropriate statistical technique for analysis.
3.	Demonstrate the ability to structure available data in an easily useable form, using a variety of data management software tools.
4.	Demonstrate the ability to use a variety of statistical software packages, to create and maintain databases, and to analyze data.
5.	Demonstrate the ability to interpret the results of a statistical analysis, and to communicate such interpretations in an easily comprehensible manner.
6.	Demonstrate the expertise and the ability to apply analytic epidemiologic methods used to investigate health conditions.
7.	Understand and evaluate current issues and methodological problems in epidemiology and biostatistics.
8.	Gain exposure to a wide variety of public health topics.
9.	Develop basic understanding of the philosophy of public health practice.
10.	Display the ability to apply an existing statistical technique to a current problem or question faced by a health agency.
11.	Demonstrate the ability to interpret the results of a statistical analysis, and to explain those results in understandable terms to public health practitioners.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 45 credit hours is required for the Master of Public Health with a major in Biostatistics. Students are required to have two semesters of calculus or will be expected to make up the deficit beyond the minimum program of study. Additional courses may be required to meet prerequisites or to accommodate electives. All department core courses must be passed with a grade of “B” or better. Failure to do so will necessitate repeating the course; these courses can only be repeated once. Complete course descriptions and prerequisites can be found in the Graduate Bulletin.

Summary of Degree Requirements for M.S.P.H. in Biostatistics
ASPH Core	9 hours
Department Core	18 hours
Major Courses	12 hours
Practice	6 hours
Total	45 hours
School of Public Health Core (9 hours)
ENHS 660 (3)	Concepts of Environmental Health Sciences
HSPM 700 (3)	Approaches and Concepts of Health Administration
HPEB 700 (3)	Public Health Education Concepts
Department Core (18 hours)
BIOS 701 (3)	Concepts and Methods of Biostatistics
EPID 701 (3)	Concepts and Methods of Epidemiology
BIOS 710 (3)	Effective Data Management in Public Health
EPID 741 (4)	Epidemiologic Methods I
EPID 745 (1)	Seminar in Epidemiology
BIOS 745 (1)	Seminar in Biostatistics
BIOS 757 (3)	Intermediate Biometrics
Major Courses (12 hours)
BIOS 758 (3)	Advanced Biometrics
BIOS 759 (3)	Biostatistical Methods for Rates and Proportions
STAT 512 (3)	Mathematical Statistics
Plus one of the following:
BIOS 751 (3)	Health Data Systems
BIOS 752 (3)	Vital and Health Statistics
BIOS 760 (3)	Biostatistical Methods in Clinical Trials
BIOS 805 (3)	Categorical Data Analysis
BIOS 808 (3)	Environmetrics I
BIOS 809 (3)	Environmetrics II
BIOS 810 (3)	Survival Analysis
BIOS 815 (3)	Generalized Linear Models
BIOS 820 (3)	Bayesian Biostatistics and Computation
BIOS 825 (3)	Public Health Applications of Multivariate Methods
BIOS 840 (3)	Research Design in the Biomedical Sciences
BIOS 850 (3)	Binary Dose Response Theory and Methods
STAT 513 (3)	Theory of Statistical Inference
STAT 518 (3)	Nonparametric Statistical Methods
STAT 519 (3)	Sampling
Practice (6 hours)
BIOS 798 (6)	Public Health Practice

Examinations

Progression Exam

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

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

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

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

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

Comprehensive Examination

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Practicum Requirements

Public Health in the United States is practiced in diverse settings that include both public and private agencies. Regardless of the type of agency in which it is practiced, public health includes a philosophy of social justice, concepts of community, and population perspectives. The range of public health activities in populations include preventing epidemics and the spread of disease, protecting against environmental hazards, preventing injuries, promoting and encouraging healthy behaviors, responding to disasters and assisting communities in recovery and assuring quality and accessibility of health services (Public Health in America, APHA, 1995). For epidemiologists and biostatisticians, one important aspect of public health practice is learning to bridge the gap between data collection/analysis and decision-making in addressing the goals of public health.

1.	PREREQUISITES. Minimum course prerequisites for the practice experience: completion of at least one of the School of Public Health core courses and department core (BIOS 701, BIOS 757, EPID 701, EPID 741 or BIOS 753). Students must pass the progression examination before beginning the practicum.
2.	SELECTION OF APPROPRIATE PRACTICE SETTING, MENTOR AND FACULTY ADVISOR. A variety of public agencies offer practice opportunities for students. A faculty member may NOT serve as mentor. Faculty research projects are not appropriate for the practice experience. See 7 below: Developing a Work Task. Assistantships and the associated special tuition will not be offered to satisfy any academic requirements, including practice requirements and thesis/dissertation research.
3.	ACADEMIC CREDIT. Students in the M.P.H. program must satisfactorily complete a total of six credit hours in Public Health Practice. Practice can be taken in more than one semester, and credit hours assigned are variable depending upon the nature and extent of the work tasks undertaken. Three hours of practice work in a regular semester (Fall or Spring terms) requires an average of 10 hours of actual work each week including writing the final report, or 20 hours per week for six credits. In a Summer term, three hours of credit would require 20 hours per week and six hours of credit would require 40 hours per week.
4.	ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS. Public Health Practice combines the accomplishment of a task with intentional learning on the part of a student. In Public Health Practice, students are responsible for initiating their work and establishing learning objectives. In Public Health Practice, the student's work is for the host organization's benefit, and must not be used outside its purview without specific permission, usually in writing. The results of this work are "controlled" by the host organization or its representative. Professional conditions of confidentiality are to be honored according to prevailing practice of the sponsoring organization. In general, information received from an individual or organization belongs to that individual or organization and recipients (i.e., students) are not free to pass along this information to other parties without the consent of the individual or organization. Students should adhere to ethical principles. All practicum projects must be reviewed and approved by the appropriate ethics review committee, usually at the school level prior to beginning work on the defined practicum tasks. Some projects may also require review by Agency Ethics Committees or the University Institutional Review Board.
5.	FINANCIAL SUPPORT. If financial resources are required for doing a Public Health Practice activity, the responsibility for negotiating these arrangements rests with the sponsoring agency and the student. These costs and responsibilities for coverage are included in the practice proposal. Responsibilities of a graduate assistantship cannot be used to satisfy practice requirements.
6.	PARTICIPANT ROLES IN EPID 798 OR BIOS 798 Students are expected to: -Take initiative and responsibility in defining competence to be developed, arranging or selecting an appropriate setting for practice activity, developing clear work and learning objectives and completing work and learning tasks by the dates agreed upon. -Arrange appropriate meetings with Faculty Advisor and Mentor, including the final oral presentation. Faculty Advisors are expected to: -Advise students in developing work and learning proposals. -Advise students regarding ethics review required of the practice project. -Participate in meetings with student and mentor at the location of student's practice. -Provide ongoing expert advice and guidance as needed or requested. -Assess learning outcomes and assign pass/fail grade at appropriate times. -Attend final oral presentation by student. Mentors are expected to: -Assist ASPH staff and students to define short term tasks of potential use to his or her organization. -Review student's "proposal" for usefulness to organization, determine limits of mentor's role with student, and provide on site direction to the work component of the practice. -Provide student logistical support (arranging space, equipment, use of phones, use of computer and/or computer software, secretarial help, making introductions, providing data or helping gain access to it, and general advice within the organization. -Attend the student's required final oral presentation. -Assist with assessment of student's work and growth in competence during the practice.
7.	DEVELOPING A WORK TASK. For some students, a work task may be defined and negotiated for a practice activity prior to establishing specific learning objectives. In this case, discovering the learning potential of a given work task is required. For others who have developed and articulated learning objectives, the requirement is to locate and determine experiences that will enable the student to develop the specified skills. There is no magic or proper way to find the "right" setting and task. The challenge is to locate something that needs to be done that some organization and persons within the organization care about, and then determine if that task can be done in the time you have available and if it allows you to pursue your learning objectives. Experience with organizations, which have sponsored ASPH students, suggests that if six major conditions are present, a sound practice activity can be developed. The conditions are: a. An organization wants or needs something done, and it "controls" or "owns" the work results. b. The student has some previously developed competence or experience that indicates the potential for contributions to the organization and citizenry. This includes knowledge gained in prerequisite courses. c. The student has well thought out and communicated learning objectives that can be pursued in the framework of doing the task. d. The student demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of what is to be done and is able to identify a supportive network of people. e. A mentor is identified who both wants the work done and wants to assist the student in pursuing the designated learning objectives. f. The student seeks advice and monitoring from his or her faculty advisor. The draft Work Task Proposal contains a minimal checklist of items that are considered important in preparing a work task proposal for Public Health Practice. Complete this draft first and discuss it with your Practice Faculty Advisor. The Public Health Practice Agreement form (see page 56) should be completed before the start of the practicum. Individual sessions should be arranged by the student as needed with the faculty advisor or mentor. It is recommended that the student schedule regular conferences with the faculty advisor.
8.	FINAL REPORT AND ORAL PRESENTATION. The student must write a final report on his/her practice experience and give an oral presentation based on this report. The report should address the objectives set down in the student's practice plan. The student is responsible for arranging the time and place of the oral presentation. The faculty advisor and mentor must be present at the presentation. The student should make a general announcement in the School of Public Health at least a week before the presentation so that anyone who wishes can attend the oral presentation. The faculty advisor and the mentor must approve the final version of the Practicum Report. The student should provide a bound copy of the report to the faculty advisor, mentor, and department.

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