Rutgers School of Public Health

Master of Public Health (MPH) in Biostatistics (45 credits)

Biostatistics is one of the fundamental skills for public health, clinical practice and research. The MPH degree in Biostatistics provides students with a clear understanding of the roles of the core disciplines in public health with sufficient knowledge of the theory and terminology used by these disciplines to allow effective participation in interdisciplinary public health efforts, and specialized skills in at least one public health discipline.

The department courses are intended to give students some basic and in-depth understanding of statistical methods applied to biomedical and public health areas. Underlying theory also will be covered in some courses in order for students to learn how statistical methods are developed and applied. MPH students with biostatistics as a concentration will have a broad view of the applied methods.

Students will master a common set of measurable quantitative and analytic skills, as well as be able to develop and apply statistical reasoning and methods in addressing, analyzing and solving problems in public health; health care; and biomedical, clinical and population-based research.

Dual Degrees

MD/MPH with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School or Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
DMD/MPH with Rutgers School of Dental Medicine
Master of Biomedical Sciences/MPH with Rutgers Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences (Rutgers Health Sciences at Newark Campus)

For more information contact:

Jason Roy, PHD
Chair, Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology
732-235-9168

Competencies

Competencies for the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Biostatistics (45 credits)

Each Concentration identifies competencies for each degree offered. These competencies reflect the full range of knowledge, skills, and other attributes that a student will acquire as a result of completing the requirements for a particular degree.

Upon graduation, a student completing the MPH curriculum in Biostatistics will be able to:

Apply basic probability theory and standard statistical methods to problems relevant to biomedical, clinical, and public health research
Use statistical computer packages to organize, analyze, and report collected data
Review and critique statistical methods and interpretations presented in published research studies, presentations, or reports
Integrate relevant scientific background to design experimental and observational studies in biomedical, clinical, and public health research
Communicate the results of statistical analyses both in writing and orally to investigators and lay community members

Curriculum

Curriculum for the Master of Public Health (MPH) in Biostatistics (45 credits)

Students seeking the MPH in Biostatistics degree must complete 45 credits of academic work with a minimum GPA of least 3.0; earn no more than nine (9) credits bearing grades less than “B,” and complete the degree requirements within six years. Courses are three credit hours unless otherwise noted and semester when each course is typically offered is noted parentheses. Students should review the Forward Schedule for long-term course planning and the Course Schedule for each semester to determine when, where, and how a course is offered.

PREREQUISITES
- 3 credits in college biology, human behavior, social or health science
- 3 credits in college calculus
- Demonstration of computer competence
CORE COURSES (18 credits)
- PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
- PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology
- PHCO 0503 - Introduction to Environmental Health
- PHCO 0504 - Introduction to Biostatistics (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
- PHCO 0505 - Social and Behavioral Health Sciences in Public Health
- PHCO 0513 - Leadership and Management Essentials for Public Health
PRACTICUM (3 credits)
Note: Students should review the Practice Experience webpage for information about Practicum.
- PRAC 0715 - Applied Practice Experience (0 credits) [Prerequisite: APE Learning Agreement and select PHCO and concentration courses]
- PRAC 0716 - Practicum Capstone (3 credits) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
  Current students (enrolled prior to Summer 2022) who have not yet completed PRAC 0716 should complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718; if these students complete PRAC 0716 with special permission, they are still expected to complete their Practicum Capstone over two semesters, unless they have special permission.
- PRAC 0717 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in first semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Completion of the APE and Practicum Capstone Learning Agreement]
- PRAC 0718 - Practicum Capstone-Two Semester (1.5 credits; taken in second semester of two semester capstone) [Prerequisite: Passing (P) Grade in PRAC 0717]
  Students who enrolled prior to Summer 2022 are encouraged to complete PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718; PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718 are required for students who enroll Summer 2022 and after.
- Review the School’s Registration Calendar for important MPH Practice Experience Registration dates specific to PRAC 0715, PRAC 0716, PRAC 0717 and PRAC 0718.
REQUIRED COURSES (15 credits) Note: Students should review the Course Descriptions in the School Catalog for specific information about prerequisites required for required courses and recommended electives.
- BIST 0535 - Biostatistical Computing (Fall/Spring)
- BIST 0613 - Biostatistics Theory I (Fall) [or 16:960:592 within Department of Statistics, Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences]
- BIST 0615 - Categorical Data Analysis (Fall)

-also-

Choose one of the following two:
- BIST 0551 - Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies (Fall/Spring)
- BIST 0610 - Advanced Regression Methods for Public Health Studies (Spring)