Department Information and Typical Discipline-Specific Academic Degree & Qualifications1 of faculty within Biostatistics

Biostatistics as a discipline and Departments of Biostatistics have been central to Public Health in general and specifically to Schools of Public Health for over 50 years. During this time, biostatisticians have contributed clinically to the understanding of health and medical issues that impact on our populations. They have done this both through the development and implementation of new strategies for using public health and medical data and through the utilization of sound research methodologies that have helped develop improved approaches to health promotion, disease prevention and clinical care.

The Department of Biostatistics is new and is building its teaching and research programs. Our core faculty members, in addition to their teaching responsibilities, have active research programs for developing new and improved biostatistical methods. They also contribute to projects that focus on improved health promotion, disease prevention and approaches to clinical care. At this point we offer a MPH degree with a major in Biostatistics but also are working toward MS and PhD degrees.

Biostatistics provides a good career path, especially in the face of an international shortage of biostatisticians. A MPH with a major in Biostatistics can greatly facilitate entry into public health service and public health, medical and pharmaceutical research. It also can serve as a stepping stone toward a higher degree or can facilitate career advancement for those already employed in these fields. It is a much priced addition for those with MD degrees.

Degrees offered

The Biostatistics Department offers these programs:

  • MPH with a concentration in Biostatistics

Terminal Degree2 for each discipline taught in Biostatistics

  • Ph.D. in Public Health (51.2201)

Related Disciplines3

  • Biostatistics (26.1102) - all courses
  • Epidemiology (26.1309) - all courses
  • Medicine (51.1201) - all courses
  • Neurobiology and Anatomy (26.1503) - all courses

Related Disciplines3 for specific courses

  • Economics (45.0601) - PHC 6052, 6065
  • Genetics (26.0801) - PHC 6539
  • Mathematics (27.0101) - HSC 4751, PHC 6052, 6056, 6065, 6080, 6090, 6091, 6190, 6703, 6709, 6710, 6715, 7050, 7051, 7054
  • Medical Informatics (51.2706) - PHC 6052, 6064, 6065, 6090, 6091, 7050, 7051, 7054, HSC 4751
  • Statistics (27.0501) - HSC 4751, PHC 4360, 6052, 6056, 6065, 6080, 6090, 6091, 6190, 6703, 6709, 6710, 6715, 6718, 6719, 7050, 7051, 7054

Other Teaching Qualifications (Description of Required Academic Degree and Justifications4 for the programs in Biostatistics)

Consideration of other teaching qualifications in lieu of academic credentials is made on a case-by-case basis and accepted in special cases where evidence of exceptional experience, research or other qualifications can be documented and are directly applicable to the course being taught.

Notes

1Whenever instructors are not credentialed by their advanced degree or by an approved CIP relationship, they must be credentialed through a narrative justification of the instructor's qualifications to teach this/these course(s). Such credentialing is based on the proposed instructor's academic and professional preparation; diplomas, certificates, or relevant licensures; publications and presentations in the field; honors, awards, and professional recognitions; and other demonstrated competencies, skills, and experiences which the instructor brings to the University. These must be clearly tied to the specific courses to be taught and should establish beyond doubt that the instructor is qualified to teach the specific courses they are to be assigned.

The Office of the Provost reviews all such justifications and where the justifications warrant the instructor's teaching the courses proposed, it will either approve the justification for the appropriate period (seven years for full-time faculty members, or four years for part-time faculty members) or employ one of two additional clearance categories beyond the advanced degree and related-discipline categories which it may use to credential some instructors where their accomplishments warrant this:

Active Research Clearance in the Discipline or Active Artistic/Special Talent Clearance in the Discipline

2The level and discipline of the terminal degree (e.g., Ph.D., MS, MFA, doctorate) that is required to teach graduate courses in the discipline

3For each discipline, all strongly-related degree(s) and/or equivalent names for the discipline (include level) that would also be appropriate for teaching at the graduate level

4(1)The appropriate academic degrees and justifications for each related degree above if not obvious; (2) the justification for why the terminal degree is not a doctorate in a discipline, e.g., specific examples of best practice in the discipline and accrediting association language; and (3) any other criteria used to determine appropriate academic qualifications to teach specialty courses in the program.

Current/Effective Date 07/14/2016