Rutgers School of Public Health

Biostatistics & Epidemiology

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
jason.roy@rutgers.edu

Competencies

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

Each Department 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.

  • PREREQUISITES
    • 3 credits in college biology, human behavior, social or health science
    • 3 credits in college calculus
    • Demonstration of computer competence
  • CORE COURSES (15-18 credits)
    • PHCO 0501 - Health Systems and Policy
    • PHCO 0502 - Principles and Methods of Epidemiology (Prerequisite: Quantitative Skills Assessment)
    • 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 - Public Health Essentials (required for students enrolled Fall 2018 and after)
  • FIELDWORK (6 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Prior to Fall 2016
    • FDWC 0600 - Fieldwork I (1 credit)
    • FDWC 0601 - Fieldwork II (5 credits)
  • PRACTICUM (6 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Fall 2016 through Spring 2018
    • PRAC 0705 - Practicum I (1 credit)
    • PRAC 0707 - Practicum IIA (2 credits)
    • PRAC 0709 - Practicum IIB (3 credits)
  • PRACTICUM (3 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Fall 2018 and After
    • PRAC 0715 - Applied Practice Experience (0 credits)
    • PRAC 0716 - Practicum Capstone (3 credits)
  • 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 (formerly Biometrics Computing)
    • BIST 0613 - Biostatistics Theory I (or 16:960:592 within Department of Statistics, Rutgers School of Arts and Sciences)
    • BIST 0615 - Categorical Data Analysis
    • -also-
  • Choose one of the following two:
    • BIST 0551 - Applied Regression Analysis for Public Health Studies
    • BIST 0610 - Advanced Regression Methods for Public Health Studies
    • -also-
  • Choose one of the following two:
    • BIST 0627 – Applied Survival Data Analysis (formerly BIST 0616 - Lifetime Data Analysis)
    • BIST 0650 - Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis
  • OTHER REQUIREMENTS (0 credits) -- For Students Enrolled Fall 2018 and After
    • Students are required to complete an Interprofessional Education activity prior to graduation (0 credits)
  • RECOMMENDED ELECTIVE COURSES (9 credits)
    • BIST 0614 - Biostatistics Theory II
    • BIST 0630 - Sampling Methods
    • BIST 0660 - Clinical Trials: Design and Analysis of Medical Experiments
    • BIST 0688 - Statistical Methods in Genetics
    • BIST 9619 - Design of Experiments
    • BIST 9655 - Nonparametric Statistics
    • BIST 9686 - Interpretation of Data I
    • BIST 9687 - Interpretation of Data II
    • ENOH 9627 - Advanced Multivariate Methods for Environmental Health Issues
    • EPID 0656 - Intermediate Epidemiologic Research Methods
    • EPID 0657 - Applied Methods in Epidemiologic Research
    • SBHS 0600 - Applied Research Methods in Behavioral Science