Doctor of Philosophy in the Field of Health Data Science, Biostatistics Concentration

Program Co-Directors: G. Diao, and T. Hamasaki 

The doctor of philosophy in health data science develops data science leaders for applications in public health and medicine. The program advances the field by:

• Providing rigorous training in the fundamentals of health and biomedical data science.
• Fostering innovative thinking for the design, conduct, analysis, and reporting of public health research studies.
• Providing practical training through real-world research opportunities at research centers and institutes directed by departmental faculty.

Students choose one of two concentrations: biostatistics or bioinformatics.

The program offers a unique blend of the two disciplines, which helps practitioners become successful collaborators in interdisciplinary research. Each concentration focuses on the foundations of the respective discipline to acquire fundamental knowledge and experience in the subject area while gaining core knowledge in the foundations of the other concentration. 

Visit the program website for additional information.

Visit the Milken Institute School of Public Health website for additional information about academic programs and information about GWSPH. Graduate admissions information, including application requirements and deadlines, can be found on the GWSPH Graduate Admissions website.

The following requirements must be fulfilled: a minimum of 72 credits, including 11 credits in core courses, 1 credit in research leadership, 27 credits in concentration-specific courses, at least 12 credits in elective courses, and at least 12 but no more than 24 credits in dissertation research. In addition, students must complete 1 credit in UNIV 0250 Foundational Pedagogy for Graduate Assistants

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Required
Core courses
PUBH 6080	Pathways to Public Health
PUBH 6850	Introduction to SAS for Public Health Research
PUBH 6851	Introduction to R for Public Health Research
PUBH 6852	Introduction to Python for Public Health Research
PUBH 6860	Principles of Bioinformatics
PUBH 6886	Statistical and Machine Learning for Public Health Research
PUBH 8001	Doctor of Philosophy Seminar on Cross-Cutting Concepts in Public Health
PUBH 8475	Research Ethics and Integrity in Domestic and International Research *
or PUBH 8099	Doctoral Topics

Course List

Code	Title	Credits
Research leadership
PUBH 8413	Research Leadership
Biostatistics concentration-specific courses
PUBH 6864	Applied Survival Analysis for Public Health Research
PUBH 6866	Principles of Clinical Trials
PUBH 6887	Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis for Public Health Research
PUBH 8870	Statistical Inference for Public Health Research I
PUBH 8871	Statistical Inference for Public Health Research II
PUBH 8875	Linear Models in Biostatistics
PUBH 8877	Generalized Linear Models in Biostatistics
PUBH 8879	An Introduction to Causal Inference for Public Health Research
PUBH 8880	Statistical Computing for Public Health Research
Electives
At least 12 credits in elective courses, which must include at least 3 credits in bioinformatics courses, at least 3 credits in biostatistics courses, and at least 3 credits in cognate area courses.
Dissertation research
PUBH 8999	Dissertation Research (taken for at least 12 but no more than 24 credits)
Additional requirements
Additional program requirements include, but are not limited to, completion of the University's Graduate Teaching Assistant Certification, which includes enrollment in UNIV 0250. The 1 credit earned in UNIV 2050 does not count toward the total number of credits required for the degree.

*PUBH 8099 on topic Research Ethics and Integrity in Domestic and International Research.

Comprehensive examination

After completion of the course requirements, students take a comprehensive examination based on core courses. Upon successful completion of the examination, students officially enter the doctoral candidacy phase of the program.

Dissertation

Doctoral candidates prepare a written dissertation research proposal with guidance from their dissertation advisor and committee. Each doctoral candidate gives an oral presentation and defense to the committee who determines the student's readiness to commence the dissertation.

Doctoral candidates are required to conduct original research on a contemporary problem or issue. The dissertation includes at least one written manuscript and an oral presentation and defense. 

Additional requirements for degree completion:

• Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI) training requirement: All students must complete training regarding human subject protection regulation and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). To fulfill this requirement, students must complete the CITI course in The Protection of Human Research Subjects.
• Integrity quiz and plagiarism requirement: Students must review the George Washington University Code of Academic Integrity, take the quiz within their first semester of study, and ensure documentation is submitted to the SPH Office of Student Records.
• Professional enhancement requirement: Students must attend/participate in eight hours of epidemiology conferences. To be cleared for graduation, students must submit required documentation of applicable professional enhancement activities to the SPH Office of Student Records.
• Completion of a graduate teaching assistantship program certificate. See the GTAP website for additional information.
• Grade-point average: A minimum program grade-point average of 3.0.
• Time limit: The degree must be completed within seven years of matriculation.

Additional information regarding School of Public Health doctoral programs is available on the SPH website.