PhD in Biostatistics Courses & Requirements
The objective of the PhD degree program is to provide students with the quantitative skills needed for the development, evaluation and application of novel methods for the analysis of modern biomedical data. 51 credits beyond the Master’s degree are required
- 22 credits core courses required
- 5 credits electives
- 24 dissertation credits
Course Options
The PhD program will offer an emphasis in three broad (Concentration) areas:
- Concentration/Emphasis 1: Design and Analysis of Medical Studies
- Concentration/Emphasis 2: Big Data and Statistical Genetics
- Concentration/Emphasis 3: Biometry
COURSE DIRECTORY
Courses
| 1. | Complete all of the required following courses (13 credits): | ||||||||
| EPI | 810 | Introductory Epidemiology | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 828 | Seminar in Responsible Conduct of Research | 1 | ||||||
| EPI | 860 | Advanced Inference for Biostatistics | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 867 | Linear Model Methodology | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 868 | Mixed Models: Theory, Methods and Applications | 3 | ||||||
| 2. | Complete one of the following required concentrations: | ||||||||
| Design and Analysis of Medical Studies | |||||||||
| 1. | One of the following courses (3 credits): | ||||||||
| EPI | 858 | Clinical Trial I | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 952 | Duration and Severity Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| Or | |||||||||
| STT | 847 | Analysis of Survival Data | 3 | ||||||
| 2. | Complete 11 credits of elective course work: | ||||||||
| ANS | 814 | Advanced Statistics for Biologists | 4 | ||||||
| CSE | 331 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 480 | Database Systems | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 482 | Big Data Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 847 | Machine Learning | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 881 | Data Mining | 3 | ||||||
| EC | 821A | Cross Section and Panel Data Econometrics I | 3 | ||||||
| EC | 821 | Cross Section and Panel Data Econometrics II | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 812 | Causal Inference in Epidemiology | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 855 | Biostatistical Modeling in Genomic Data Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 880 | Selected Topics in Biostatistics | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 920 | Advanced Methods in Epidemiology and Applied Statistics | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 950 | Advanced Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiology | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 952 | Duration and Severity Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 953 | Analytical Strategies for Observational Studies | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 990 | Independent Study | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 801 | Design of Experiments | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 825 | Sample Surveys | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 855 | Statistical Genetics | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 861 | Theory of Probability and Statistics I | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 862 | Theory of Probability and Statistics II | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 873 | Statistical Learning and Data Mining | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 874 | Introduction to Bayesian Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| Additional courses may be chosen with advisor approval. | |||||||||
| Big Data and Statistical Genetics | |||||||||
| 1. | One of the following courses: | ||||||||
| EPI | 855 | Biostatistical Modeling in Genomic Data Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| Or | |||||||||
| STT | 855 | Statistical Genetics | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 231 | Introduction to Programming I | 3 | ||||||
| Or | |||||||||
| CSE | 232 | Introduction to Programming II | 4 | ||||||
| STT | 456 | Actuarial Models II | 3 | ||||||
| 2. | Complete 11 credits of elective course work: | ||||||||
| ANS | 814 | Advanced Statistics for Biologists | 4 | ||||||
| CSE | 331 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 480 | Database Systems | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 482 | Big Data Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 847 | Machine Learning | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 881 | Data Mining | 3 | ||||||
| EC | 821A | Cross Section and Panel Data Econometrics I | 3 | ||||||
| EC | 821 | Cross Section and Panel Data Econometrics II | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 812 | Causal Inference in Epidemiology | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 858 | Clinical Trials | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 880 | Selected Topics in Biostatistics | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 920 | Advanced Methods in Epidemiology and Applied Statistics | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 950 | Advanced Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiology | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 952 | Duration and Severity Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 953 | Analytical Strategies for Observational Studies | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 990 | Independent Study | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 801 | Design of Experiments | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 825 | Sample Surveys | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 861 | Theory of Probability and Statistics I | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 862 | Theory of Probability and Statistics II | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 873 | Statistical Learning and Data Mining | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 874 | Introduction to Bayesian Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| Additional courses may be chosen with advisor approval. | |||||||||
| Biometry | |||||||||
| 1. | Complete 14 credits of elective course work: | ||||||||
| ANS | 814 | Advanced Statistics for Biologists | 4 | ||||||
| CSE | 331 | Algorithms and Data Structures | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 480 | Database Systems | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 482 | Big Data Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 847 | Machine Learning | 3 | ||||||
| CSE | 881 | Data Mining | 3 | ||||||
| EC | 821A | Cross Section and Panel Data Econometrics I | 3 | ||||||
| EC | 821 | Cross Section and Panel Data Econometrics II | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 812 | Causal Inference in Epidemiology | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 855 | Biostatistical Modeling in Genomic Data Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 858 | Clinical Trials | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 880 | Selected Topics in Biostatistics | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 920 | Advanced Methods in Epidemiology and Applied Statistics | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 950 | Advanced Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiology | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 952 | Duration and Severity Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 953 | Analytical Strategies for Observational Studies | 3 | ||||||
| EPI | 990 | Independent Study | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 801 | Design of Experiments | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 825 | Sample Surveys | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 847 | Survival Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 855 | Statistical Genetics | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 861 | Theory of Probability and Statistics I | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 862 | Theory of Probability and Statistics II | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 873 | Statistical Learning and Data Mining | 3 | ||||||
| STT | 874 | Introduction to Bayesian Analysis | 3 | ||||||
| Additional courses may be chosen with advisor approval. | |||||||||
| 2. | Attend all MSU Graduate School Responsible Conduct of Research (RCR) Workshops (human). | ||||||||
| 3. | Attend 80% of department-sponsored Seminars. | ||||||||
| 4. | Attend 80% of department Ph.D. Journal Club meetings. | ||||||||
| 5. | Present at one Ph.D. Journal Club meeting. | ||||||||
| 6. | Pass a comprehensive examination. | ||||||||
| 7. | Complete 24 credits of EPI 999 Doctoral Dissertation Research. | ||||||||
| 8. | Pass an oral defense of the doctoral dissertation. | ||||||||
- Doctoral students are required to participate in a monthly Ph.D. Journal Club over the course of four (4) semesters.
- Students are also expected to attend the department’s Epidemiology and Biostatistics Seminar Series each semester.
- After earning an MS or MPH in Epi, students have up to 8 years to complete all requirements and successfully defend their doctoral dissertation.
