University of Washington Biostatistics

The Biostatistics Master of Public Health (MPH) track combines broad training in public health with specific training in Biostatistics. The track includes core courses in biostatistics, environmental health, epidemiology, health services, and social and behavioral sciences. In addition, successful candidates are required to complete a public health practicum and write a research-based master's thesis. The degree is designed for individuals who anticipate careers as data analysts in public health research or practice and for individuals who plan doctoral work in public health or biomedical field, but who want more methodological training than those PhD programs offer.

The MPH track provides quantitative research training to individuals who hold a doctoral level degree in another field (e.g., MD, PhD) or are concurrently pursuing such a degree. The Biostatistics Pathway MPH will not be awarded until the doctoral degree is conferred.

Requirements

• BIOST 514: Biostatistics I
• BIOST 515: Biostatistics II
• EPI 512: Epidemiologic Methods I
• EPI 513: Epidemiologic Methods II
• BIOST 524: Design of Medical Studies
• GLOBAL HLTH 515: Global Health Challenges
• HSERV 510: Society and Health
• HSERV 511: Introduction to Health Services and Public Health
• BIOST 536: Categorical Data Analysis in Epidemiology
• BIOST 537: Survival Analysis in Epidemiology
• BIOST 580: Seminar (3 quarters)
• ENV H 511: Environmental and Occupational Health
• BIOST 590: Consulting
• Elective credits: six elective credits from either Elective List One or Two (MS track), OR STAT 512; 513: Statistical Inference

• BIOST 700: Master's Thesis (9 credits)
• BIOST 595: MPH Practicum (3 credits); see SPH Practicum Information The MPH practicum experience must be with an organization or agency that provides planning or services relevant to public health.

• 63 credits total required
• Minimum 3.0 grade in each of the required courses and 2.7 minimum in elective courses.

Department Policy on Waiving Course Requirements
In order to facilitate more rapid progress through the programs of study administered by the Department of Biostatistics, the departmental faculty will consider petitions for waiving required coursework as described by the policy guidelines given below.

The overarching principles of this policy are:

• That the students, through prior comparable coursework at other institutions, have acquired mastery of the overwhelming majority of material taught in the course to be waived,
• That the students will pursue more advanced coursework in the general area of the course being waived,
• That by waiving the coursework, the students will be able to make more rapid progress toward completion of the degree, and
• That any decision to grant the petition for a waiver will be formally documented by the students’ academic advisors, a committee administering a placement exam and/or the current instructors for the course, and the graduate program office for the department. Such documentation must be completed prior to the quarter that the student would normally take the waived course.

General Policy

• In general, no students will be allowed a waiver of the requirements for biostatistical consulting (BIOST 590).
• In general, no students will be allowed a waiver of the requirements for 9 credits in departmental seminars.
• In general, no students will be allowed a waiver of the requirement for electives with a methodologic emphasis (Elective List One).
• In general, no students will be allowed a waiver of the requirement for electives with a biology or public health emphasis (Elective List Two).

Only in the most extraordinary circumstances can the above general policy be waived for an individual student, and then only if agreed by the faculty as a whole.

Thu, 10/28/2010 - 9:48am — Visitor