Biostatistics (PhD)

Application Requirements

The PhD program is available to students who are entering from the MS program or to students entering with a master’s degree in biostatistics, statistics, decision science, or a related discipline.

The following are additionally required for admission:

  • Graduate application
  • Non-refundable application fee
  • At least two letters of recommendation written within past twelve months, which may be submitted with the Graduate application
  • GRE Scores are required and are considered in the context of other required components of the application. Students who have been successful in our programs in the past typically have a median [Q1, Q3] GRE Quantitative score at the 87th percentile.
  • All postsecondary transcripts (may require foreign credential evaluation if not from an accredited U.S. institution)
  • Statement of goals, including the desired emphasis, if any.
  • International students for whom English is not their primary language must show English language proficiency by one of the following:
    • TOEFL examination score at or above 550 (paper based test and a 5.0 on the TWE test), 213 (computer based test), 79 (internet based test)
    • IELTS test score of 6.5 or higher
    • Duolingo test score of 105 or higher
    • ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certification
    • Successfully passing the exit examination for the advanced level of an Intensive English as a Second Language Program
    • Demonstration of a degree awarded from an institution with instruction primarily in English, as formally documented by an appropriate institutional official

Application Deadline

Fall semester – Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Domestic student are encouraged to apply no later than 30 days prior to the start of the fall semester.

International students encouraged to apply no later than 120 days prior to the start of the fall semester. 

Spring semester – Applications are not accepted.

Summer semester – Applications are not accepted.

Program Requirements

Completion of the required coursework is the prelude to sitting for the comprehensive examination. Successful completion of the comprehensive examination allows the student to enter doctoral candidacy. A doctoral candidate must then develop and successfully defend a dissertation proposal that describes an original and independent research project. Upon successful defense of the proposal, a student may then proceed to continue dissertation research. Upon successful completion of the research, defense of the dissertation, and demonstration of the required competencies, a student is awarded the PhD degree.

Coursework

34 total credit hours
     12 credit hours of required core coursework
     22 credit hours of elective courses (vary based on area of emphasis)

Required Coursework (12 credit hours)
PHST 691Bayesian Inference and Decision3
PHST 710Advanced Statistical Computing I3
PHST 762Advanced Statistical Inference3
PHST 781Advanced Linear Models3
Recommended Elective Coursework (22 credit hours)
No Emphasis
PHST 703Biostatistical Consulting Practicum1
PHST 724Advanced Clinical Trials3
PHST 780Advanced Nonparametrics3
PHST 782Generalized Linear Models3
PHST 783Advanced Survival Analysis3
Additional Electives (see list below)9
Bioinformatics specialization
PHST 703Biostatistical Consulting Practicum1
PHST 750Statistics for Bioinformatics3
PHST 751High-throughout Data Analysis3
PHST 752Statistical Genetics3
CSE 660Introduction to Bioinformatics3
BIOC 545Biochemistry I3
Additional Electives (see list below)6

The student may be required to take one or more prerequisite courses for a required course if the student does not meet the prerequisites. These prerequisite courses become part of the program of study but are in addition to the number of coursework credit hours presented above.

Electives

The six to nine (6-9) credit hours of Additional Electives listed in the table on the previous page must be taken from the following lists. The student's program of study specifies the particular courses permitted to be taken.

No Emphasis

PHST 675Independent Study in Biostatistics1-3
PHST 682Multivariate Statistical Analysis3
PHST 704Mixed Effect Models and Longitudinal Data Analysis3
PHST 711Advanced Statistical Computing II3
PHST 750Statistics for Bioinformatics3
PHST 751High-throughout Data Analysis3
PHST 752Statistical Genetics3

Bioinformatics specialization

PHST 675Independent Study in Biostatistics1-3
PHST 682Multivariate Statistical Analysis3
PHST 704Mixed Effect Models and Longitudinal Data Analysis3
PHST 711Advanced Statistical Computing II3
PHST 780Advanced Nonparametrics3
PHST 782Generalized Linear Models3
CSE 632Data Mining3

The student may be required to take one or more prerequisite courses for an elective course if the student does not meet the prerequisites. These prerequisite courses become part of the program of study but are in addition to the number of coursework credit hours presented above. Enrollment in other courses such as PHPH 701 may be required to maintain academic status for funding purposes.


Sample Program of Study Year 1 No Emphasis

Plan of Study Grid
FallHours
PHST 710 Advanced Statistical Computing I 3
PHST 762 Advanced Statistical Inference 3
PHST 781 Advanced Linear Models 3
 Hours9
Spring
PHST 691 Bayesian Inference and Decision 3
Select two of the following: 6
Advanced Clinical Trials
Advanced Nonparametrics
Generalized Linear Models
Advanced Survival Analysis
 Hours9
Summer
PHST 703 Biostatistical Consulting Practicum 1
 Hours1
 Minimum Total Hours19

Sample Program of Study Year 1, Bioinformatics specialization

Plan of Study Grid
FallHours
PHST 710 Advanced Statistical Computing I 3
PHST 762 Advanced Statistical Inference 3
PHST 781 Advanced Linear Models 3
 Hours9
Spring
PHST 691 Bayesian Inference and Decision 3
Select two of the following: 6
Statistics for Bioinformatics
Statistical Genetics
Introduction to Bioinformatics
Biochemistry I
 Hours9
Summer
PHST 703 Biostatistical Consulting Practicum 1
 Hours1
 Minimum Total Hours19

All pre-candidacy PhD students on support of any kind (Fellowship, GRA, TA, Hourly) must be enrolled in the Department's seminar course (PHST 602) for one (1) credit hour during semesters they are supported.


Comprehensive Examination

Prior to the beginning of the student's second year in the PhD program, he/she will take a written Comprehensive Examination. The objective of this examination is for the student to demonstrate a comprehensive knowledge of statistical theory and methods as learned in the courses taken during the first year in the program. This examination is given over two consecutive days shortly before the start of the fall semester. Students will be notified of the dates and location at least one month in advance. Students must have passed PHST 691, PHST 710, PHST 762, and PHST 781 before they may take the comprehensive examination.

The examination will consist of four sections, each corresponding to one of the required courses (PHST 710, PHST 762, PHST 781, PHST 691) and each given individually. Each section is designed to test the student's competency in a core area of the discipline and to assess his/her ability to apply this knowledge to solve new and/or complex problems.

  • The Statistical Inference (PHST 762) section will be a two-hour written examination given in the morning of the first day.
  • The Computing section (PHST 710) will be a three-hour computing examination given in the afternoon of the first day.
  • The Linear Models (PHST 781) section will be a two-hour written examination given in the morning of the second day.
  • The Bayesian Inference section (PHST 691) will be a 90-minute written examination and a two-hour computing exam, both given in the afternoon of the second day.

Material from courses corresponding to each section of the comprehensive exam will help students prepare for those sections. However, questions from any sources may appear that cover the same topics as listed in the syllabi of PHST 691, PHST 710, PHST 762, and PHST 781. Further, problems on the Computing section of the exam may draw on topics covered in PHST 691, PHST 762, and PHST 781.

Each student receives a grade of either "pass" or "fail" for the entire comprehensive examination and each student must pass all four sections of the comprehensive examination to receive a "pass". Students that pass the exam will be eligible to enter doctoral candidacy upon completion of the remaining, second-year coursework. A failing grade indicates a deficiency in one or more areas, and a student with a grade of "fail" will have one opportunity to retake the full Comprehensive Examination (all four sections), typically in the following January. The results from a student's first attempt at the comprehensive exam will not be considered in the grading of the second attempt and will not factor into the determination of a pass or fail score for the second attempt at the exam. Students that fail to pass the examination on their second attempt will be dismissed from the program without any further consideration.

Neither scores nor graded copies of completed examinations will be shared with students. Students may review ungraded copies of their own completed comprehensive exams with the exam graders. The ungraded, completed copies will be held in the department office. Students will not be permitted to keep ungraded copies of the completed comprehensive exams.

Special Notes on the Comprehensive Exam

  • For all the exams, the students will not have access to any course books, notes or any other materials (paper or electronic copies)
  • Students will write programs and run code in the Bayesian and non-Bayesian computing examinations. These examinations will be given either in a computer lab in the SPHIS building or the students will be required to bring their own laptop to run the programs.
  • The only materials which can be consulted for the computing portions of the examinations are R help menus locally available on the specific computer. Students will be asked ahead of time to upload all R packages needed to appear for the exam. Students will not be allowed to avail the internet by any means.
  • Any suspected cheating on the Comprehensive Examination will be addressed according to university policies provided in Section 5 of Dean of Students document, Students Rights and Responsibilities. Additionally, students found guilty of academic dishonesty on the Comprehensive Examination will be expelled from the PhD program immediately.
  • More than one faculty members will grade all the examinations.

Dissertation

In order to complete the degree, a candidate must submit and successfully defend a dissertation on a topic approved by his or her major professor and the dissertation committee. Dissertation work may be started following successful completion of doctoral comprehensive examinations.

Dissertation Committee

The dissertation committee is formed by the candidate's proposing a major professor (or principal advisor) and at least four other committee members. The major professor (or at least one when there are co-major professors) must be from the Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics. One member of the dissertation committee must be external to the Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics. The committee is appointed by the dean of the school upon the recommendation of the program director and chair of the department.

Dissertation Proposal (Pre-Dissertation Essay)

A dissertation proposal or pre-dissertation essay is submitted to the major professor and the dissertation committee. Students must make an oral presentation of the proposal to the dissertation committee, after which the members of the committee vote upon approval of the proposal. The proposal must be approved by a majority vote of the dissertation committee before the candidate undertakes further work on the dissertation.

The dissertation proposal document will include a general overview of the selected research project/projects, and discuss the relevant literature.  It will also contain a detailed description of the project(s), describing both the research that the students have already accomplished and that which remains. In most cases, this will take the form of one or more chapters corresponding to preliminary or submitted academic manuscripts. There are no formal formatting requirements for the dissertation proposal, although students are encouraged to use the formatting specifications required of the dissertation.

Data Application

All dissertations must include analysis of at least one real data set. This may be in the context of demonstrating new statistical methodology in a real application.  Students are expected to explore the relevant scientific literature to provide the appropriate context for the results of the data analysis.

Dissertation Preparation

The dissertation is to be prepared in format according to the guidelines established by the Graduate School. It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that the readability and quality of writing in his/her thesis meets professional standards.  Students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the services offered by the University Writing Center when writing their dissertation. The services offered by the Writing Center are free to the student.

Dissertation Approval

Final approval of the dissertation is voted upon by the dissertation committee after an oral defense of the dissertation by the student. Students submit their dissertations to members of their committee two or more weeks prior to the date of the oral defense. Approval of the dissertation is by a majority vote of the committee after the oral defense.

Students are required by the Graduate School to provide two weeks’ notice when scheduling oral defenses. This requirement permits those wanting to attend the oral defense adequate time to make arrangements for attending. Students must follow the below procedure for scheduling oral defenses:

  1. Identify a date and time for the oral defense in consultation with the dissertation advisor and members of the committee.
  2. Request a room reservation for the oral defense through the Department’s Administrative Assistant.
  3. Notify the Department’s Administrative Assistant of the date, time, and location of the oral defense as well as the title of the dissertation. The Department’s Administrative Assistant will circulate an announcement of the defense as well as notify the SPHIS Office of Student Services of the defense, who in turn will notify the Graduate School.
  4. Distribute technically and grammatically error-free copies of the dissertation to all committee members at least two weeks prior to the defense date.

There are no exceptions to these requirements and students will not be permitted by the Department to schedule defenses with less than 2 weeks’ notice. Students are expected to be aware of university deadlines for dissertations and to ensure that the two weeks’ notice requirement is fulfilled within these university deadlines. Students are strongly encouraged to allow for even greater than two weeks’ notice to ensure that all deadlines and requirements are fulfilled.

Dissertation Submission

The following steps must be taken to submit the final copy of the dissertation electronically after oral defense and approval of the committee:

  1. Final document must be converted to a PDF (following the guidelines as noted above) and sent to the Graduate School and the department’s administrative assistant.
  2. Submit as advised by the Graduate School through the ThinkIR repository. The directions on submission will be provided upon review of the dissertation by the Graduate School.
  3. The signature page within the electronic version must have the names of your committee members typed under the signature line; the signatures cannot be scanned into the document.
  4. Submit a signed signature page (digital/electronic signature page or a hard copy on white paper, with original signatures) to the Graduate School.

An electronic copy of the dissertation must be provided to the Department’s Administrative Assistant.

Applying for a Degree

Students are responsible for completing an “Application for Degree” form at the beginning of the semester in which they will defend their thesis or dissertation.  Students may apply for their degree via ULink. The steps are as follows:

  1. Log on to your ULink account.
  2. Go to Student Services Page.
  3. Scroll down and on the right of the screen you will find a column labeled "Registration".
  4. Under Registration click on the Degree Application link.
  5. Follow the Prompts to complete your application for degree. Once completed, you will receive an e-mail confirmation of submission in your University e-mail.

Future deadline dates can be found on the Graduate Academic calendar.

For any questions or concerns students might have during the semester in which they plan to graduate, students' best resource is the Graduate School. The Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics faculty and staff are also here to advise and assist you with any questions you might have.