5.3 - Biostatistics and Epidemiology

Biostatistics and Epidemiology

College of Public Health

801 NE 13th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73190
(405) 271- 2229

https://publichealth.ouhsc.edu/Departments-Centers/Biostatistics-Epidemiology 

Jennifer Peck, PhD, Program Director

FACULTY ROSTER
For a complete listing of the departmental graduate faculty visit this web site: https://apps.ouhsc.edu/newfacappt/

GRADUATE DEGREES OFFERED
Master of Science
Doctor of Philosophy

AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
Biostatistics and Epidemiology

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
The Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology has two main objectives:

1. Teach the concepts of biostatistics and epidemiology essential to all students in the health sciences.
2. Educate master's and doctoral students specializing in the fields of biostatistics or epidemiology leading to master and doctoral degrees in biostatistics or epidemiology.
3. Although the department functions as a single administrative unit, it includes two distinct disciplines: biostatistics and epidemiology. A student may work toward a master's or doctoral degree in either discipline, depending on his or her interests and background. Each discipline has a different set of required courses; however, there is some flexibility in the program to allow each student to develop his or her strengths and interests through elective courses.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
In addition to the general admission criteria outlined in the Graduate College and College of Public Health Bulletins, applicants to the Department must also meet the following criteria:

Master's Program Requirements

1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution (120 semester hours or equivalent, minimum).
2. A minimum 3.0 grade point average in the last 60 hours Admission with full standing to   Masters degree programs requires an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 in the last 60 semester hours of upper division (Junior and Senior level) coursework. If at least 12 semester hours of graduate work have been taken, then the minimum GPA will be based on the graduate work. Up to 12 semester hours of work completed as a Special Student may be applied to the degree program after admission.
3. Proof of language proficiency for international applicants; TOEFL score of 88 or above.
4. GRE test, taken within the last 5 years, is required for all degrees and programs.
5. Additional prerequisite requirements for the MS in Biostatistics include:
   1. Calculus and Analytic Geometry I.  Topics covered include equations of straight line; conic sections; functions, limits and continuity; differentiation; maximum-minimum theory and curve sketching. 
   2. Calculus and Analytic Geometry II. Integration and its applications; the calculus of transcendental functions; techniques of integration; and the introduction to differential equations. 
   3. Calculus and Analytic Geometry III. Polar coordinates, parametric equations, sequences, infinite series, vector analysis. 
   4. Calculus and Analytic Geometry IV. Vector calculus; functions of several variables; partial derivatives; gradients, extreme values and differentials of multivariate functions; multiple integrals; line and surface integrals.

Doctoral Program Requirements

1. A master’s degree in either biostatistics or epidemiology from an accredited institution,provided that the academic and experience requirements for such a degree are equivalent to those required for the Master's degree at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.
2. A graduate grade point average of at least 3.5.
3. Written evidence of research experience, if available. These materials will be evaluated for creativity and overall quality. Special preference will be given to applicants with research experience.
4. 4.  Proof of language proficiency for international applicants: TOEFL score of 88 or above.
5. GRE test, taken within the last 5 years, is required for all degrees and programs.
6. Additional prerequisite requirements for the Doctoral degree in Biostatistics include:
   1. Calculus and Analytic Geometry I.  Topics covered include equations of straight lines;   Conic sections; functions, limits and continuity; differentiation, maximum- minimumtheory and curve stretching. 
   2. Calculus and Analytic Geometry II. Integration and its applications; the calculus of transcendental functions; techniques of integration; and the introduction to differential equations. 
   3. Calculus and Analytic Geometry III. Polar coordinates, parametric equations, sequences, infinite series, vector analysis.  
   4. Calculus and Analytic Geometry IV. Vector calculus; functions of several variables; partial derivatives; gradients, extreme values and differentials of multivariate functions; multiple integrals; line and surface integrals. 
   5. A course in Linear Algebra

Application Process

All applicants who wish to apply for admission to the Master of Science or Doctoral degree programs in Biostatistics or Epidemiology must apply, submit, and pay the fees for two electronic applications:

            1.  Schools of Public Health Application Service (SOPHAS)
            2.  College of Public Health Supplemental Application.

A complete application to the OU College of Public Health will include:

1.  Completed SOPHAS application (www.sophas.org) and payment of required fee. The following materials must be loaded into or received by SOPHAS: 

• Transcripts

U.S. applicants
SOPHAS requires a separate official transcript from every U.S. and Canadian institution attended.

International applicants:  
International applicants are required to submit transcripts/mark sheets to the World Education Services (www.wes.org) for a course-by-course evaluation. Applicants should designate SOPHAS to receive the evaluation.

SOPHAS mailing address:
SOPHAS
P.O. Box 9111
Watertown, MA 02471

• GRE test scores

Applicants are required to submit an official GRE score, taken within the last 5 years. SOPHAS should be designated to receive the scores by using the designation code #4244.

• Career goal statement

This personal essay should be created in a word processing program and pasted into the online SOPHAS application. Complete instructions are within the SOPHAS application.

• Current CV/ Résumé:

The SOPHAS application allows applicants to upload the CV or résumé before electronically submitting the application. It is not possible to upload the resume to the SOPHAS application after e-submission of the application.

• Recommendations

Three letters of academic or professional recommendation are preferable (personal references are not encouraged). Applicants will list recommenders’ contact information and SOPHAS will send the recommenders instructions concerning how to submit their recommendations electronically through an online SOPHAS recommenders’ portal. Recommendations must be submitted electronically.

• International applicants’ English language proficiency

International applicants are required to submit TOEFL scores to SOPHAS using the designation code #5688. Minimum acceptable TOEFL score for most programs is 88 IBT. IELTS or other language proficiency tests will not be accepted. Additional information about the TOEFL requirement is available at https://admissions.ouhsc.edu/Prospective-Students/International-Applicants/English-Proficiency-Requirement-TOEFL 

2.   The University of Oklahoma College of Public Health supplemental application and fee

All applicants to the OU College of Public Health are required to submit a supplemental application and fee. The supplemental application is available at: https://admissions.ouhsc.edu/.

Applicants must select the same program/s in the supplemental application as in the SOPHAS application. The fee for the supplemental application is $100 if the applicant selects two professional programs (MPH, MHA, DrPH, Certificate of Public Health). If the applicant selects one professional program and one graduate program (MS or PhD), the fee for the supplemental application is $175. If the applicant selects only graduate programs, the fee is $75.

MASTER OF SCIENCE DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Master of Science (MS) degree is a research oriented degree offered in the area of biostatistics or epidemiology. Requirements for admission are the same as for all MS degree programs in the Graduate College and are described elsewhere in this bulletin. Additionally, the department requires three letters of reference and a statement of career goals.

Graduation requirements include a minimum of 39 semester hours (for the MS in Biostatistics) or 40 semester hours (for the MS in Epidemiology), including no more than 4 semester hours credit for BSE 5980 (Research for Master's Thesis).

The OUTLINE OF GRADUATE WORK for the MASTER OF SCIENCE in BIOSTATISTICS is as follows:

I. Preliminary work necessary to meet departmental requirements.

II. MAJOR DEPARTMENT COURSES.

Department

Course No.

Course Title

Credit Hours

BSE

BSE

BSE

BSE

BSE

BSE

BSE

BSE

BSE

5001

5013

5111

5113

5163

5173

5703

5733

5980

Problems in Biostatistics & Epidemiology

Applications of Microcomputers to Data Analysis

Scientific Integrity in Research

Principles of Epidemiology

Biostatistics Methods I

Biostatistical Methods II

Principles of the Theory of Probability

Principles of Mathematical Statistics I

Research for Master's Thesis

1

3

1

3

3

3

3

3

4

Plus at least six additional hours in applied biostatistics courses numbered above 5163

Plus at least six additional hours in epidemiology 6

III. Only ONE of the following courses to be taken outside the major department:

Department

Course No.

Course Title

Credit Hours

HAP
OEH
HPS

5453
5013
5213

U.S. Health Care Systems
Environmental Health
Social & Behavioral Sciences in
Public Health

3
3
3

Total hours 39

 

The OUTLINE OF GRADUATE WORK for the MASTER OF SCIENCE in EPIDEMIOLOGY is as follows:

 

2. Computer Proficiency

Students are required to achieve a working knowledge of methods, programming and applications of computers as used in biostatistics. This knowledge may be acquired by formal class work or by experience acquired either before entering or during the course of the program. Completion of BSE 5013 with a passing grade will satisfy this requirement. Students who wish to have more information on the use of computers are encouraged to elect the following course:

 

BSE 5023 Computer Applications in Public Health                                                3 hours

 

3. Elective Courses

Only courses in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology or on the published list of approved elective courses may be used to fulfill the remaining credit hours for graduation. The program of study should be formalized with the guidance of the faculty advisor and will be subject to approval by the Student's Advisory Committee and Chair of the Department.

Credit for BSE 5103 may not be used to satisfy the minimum hour requirements on this degree.

 

4. Examination

Students must pass a written and/or oral examination covering both the academic program of study and the thesis.

 

Notes: Usually this program requires at least two years to complete. The Faculty expects students to participate in the intellectual activities of the Department (e.g., seminars, special presentations).

 

DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE REQUIREMENTS
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is an advanced, research-oriented degree program requiring in-depth study and research in a particular area in biostatistics or epidemiology. General requirements for admission and completion of the degree are consistent with those applicable to all PhD programs as described elsewhere in this bulletin. An applicant must present a master's degree in biostatistics or epidemiology. In addition, three of the five M.P.H. core courses are required. A minimum of 90 semester hours, excluding credit for research tools and including a maximum of 40 hours of transfer credit, must be presented for the degree. No more than 25 hours will be allowed for work related to the dissertation (6980).

All courses, including those related to research tools, must be approved by the student's advisory committee. An advisory committee appointed by the Graduate College upon recommendation of the department will supervise each student's program of study and monitor all coursework. Composed of at least five members, the committee must include at least one representative of a department other than the major one. Defense of the dissertation must be completed within five years of the end of the semester in which the general examination was successfully completed; otherwise, coursework must be revalidated.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
The programs are designed to prepare students for careers in health agencies and health-related institutions; for consultation, especially in biomedical fields; for independent biostatistical and epidemiological research; and for academic careers in schools of medicine or public health.

Current Courses:  Search BSE prefix courses found online at

http://apps.ouhsc.edu/StudentInfo/Courses.aspx?College=PH