Master of Public Health in the Field of Biostatistics
Program Director H. Hoffman
Mission
The mission of the master of public health in the field of biostatistics degree program is to educate students in the methodological and quantitative skills needed to apply statistical methods to the biological, biomedical, and health services sciences. In addition to enhancing students' capacity to think critically and creatively, the program deepens their commitment to improving the public's health and to engaging in and promoting public service—qualities essential to biostatisticians and public health practitioners.
Goals
The goals of the biostatistics program are to ensure that graduates:
- Understand and adhere to high scientific standards for research.
- Understand how to apply statistical methods to biological/biomedical sciences and health services.
- Understand and follow guidelines for ethical treatment of research participants.
- Communicate research findings to a lay audience.
- Respect cultural diversity throughout all of the above.
Visit the program website for additional program information.
To be considered for admission, students must have completed two semesters of college-level calculus through calculus II with a grade of B or above.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 45 credits, including 17 credits in core courses, 19 credits in program-specific courses, 7 credits in elective courses, and a 2-credit culminating experience.
MPH program requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| Core courses | ||
| PUBH 6002 | Biostatistical Applications for Public Health | |
| PUBH 6003 | Principles and Practices of Epidemiology | |
| PUBH 6007 | Social and Behavioral Approaches to Public Health | |
| PUBH 6009 | Fundamentals of Public Health Program Evaluation | |
| PUBH 6011 | Environmental and Biological Foundations of Public Health | |
| PUBH 6012 | Fundamentals of Health Policy | |
| PUBH 6021 | Essentials of Public Health Practice and Leadership I | |
| PUBH 6022 | Essentials of Public Health Practice and Leadership II (Includes Practicum) | |
| PUBH 6023 | Interprofessional Education Experience | |
| Departmental/program-specific courses | ||
| PUBH 6247 | Design of Health Studies | |
| PUBH 6249 | Use of Statistical Packages: Data Management and Data Analysis | |
| PUBH 6252 | Advanced Epidemiology Methods | |
| PUBH 6258 | Advanced Topics in Biostatistical Consulting | |
| PUBH 6260 | Advanced Data Analysis for Public Health | |
| PUBH 6264 | Quantitative Methods | |
| PUBH 6266 | Biostatistical Methods | |
| Culminating experience | ||
| PUBH 6015 | Culminating Experience | |
| Electives | ||
| 7 credits in any graduate-level SPH courses. | ||
Graduation Requirements
- Graduate credit requirement: 45 graduate credits.
- Course requirements: Successful completion of core and program-specific courses.
- Practicum Requirement: Students are required to fulfill all requirements of the Applied Practice Experience (Practicum) to receive credit for PUBH 6022.
- Interprofessional Education Experience (IPE): Students are required to enroll and participate in an authorized IPE activity (PUBH 6023).
- Minimum grade-point requirement: minimum 3.0 (B average) cumulative grade-point average.
- Time limit requirement: The degree must be completed within five years.
- Transfer credit policy: With approval, up to 12 graduate credits that have not been applied to any previous graduate degree may be transferred to the master of public health program. External credits must have been earned from an accredited institution in the last three years with a minimum grade of 3.0 (B) in each course. Students in SPH graduate certificate programs can transfer as many credits earned toward the certificate to the MPH degree as meet MPH degree requirements, to a maximum of 18 credits.
- Graduate certificate students wishing to transfer to a degree program may apply to do so after completion of three or more courses with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 via the online change of concentration petition. A grade of B or above is required for a specific course to be eligible for transfer.
- CITI Training requirement: All students are required to complete training regarding human subject protection regulation and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).
- Integrity Quiz and Plagiarism requirement: All students are required to review the George Washington University Code of Academic Integrity and take the SPH Academic Integrity Quiz at GWSPH Source. within their first semester of study.
- Professional Enhancement requirement: Students must participate in eight hours of public health-related lectures, seminars, and symposia, related to their field of study.