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  • PhD in Biostatistics
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PhD in Biostatistics

This program will prepare you for advanced study and research in biostatistics. It's a great fit for students with a strong background in mathematics and statistics who are interested in working in health care and biological settings. As a student in this program, you'll function as an independent investigator or co-investigator with researchers in other areas, taking the lead in designing studies and analyses. Our faculty are studying the analysis of longitudinal data, clinical trials, statistical methods in genetics and genomics, causal modeling, treatment of missing data and imputation, image analysis, functional data analysis, and data visualization, which means you can find the mentor who's right for you. 

Application and deadline

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Tuition and aid

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Quick facts, careers, and skills

When you leave this program, you'll be prepared to teach and carry out research developing new statistical methods.

Quick facts

Program location: CU Anschutz
Credit hours: 79
Est. time to complete: 5-6 years (with MS)

Sample careers

Independent research investigator
Lead or co-investigator
Faculty
& more

Skills you'll gain

Applied and theoretical statistics
Computational statistics
Study design and analysis
& more

Curriculum


If you have an MS in Biostatistics or a related field, this program can be completed in three to four years. Typically, you'll spend the first one to two years devoted to coursework and the later years on research and your dissertation. Research and dissertation work involves developing, comparing, and evaluating statistical methods (e.g. methods for analyzing data), typically motivated by an application in healthcare or biology.​ Check out the Department of Biostatistics & Informatics FAQ page for more information about this program.

Course requirementCourse #Credits
Biostatistical Methods IBIOS 66113
Biostatistical Methods IIBIOS 66123
Statistical Consulting IBIOS 66211
​Statistical Consulting IIBIOS 6622​1
​Advanced Statistical Methods & AnalysisBIOS 66243
Statistical Theory IBIOS 6631​3
​Statistical Theory IIBIOS 6632​3
​Longitudinal Data AnalysisBIOS ​66433
  20

Course requirement  Course #
 Credits
​Foundations in Public Health PUBH 6600​2
Public Health ConceptsEHOH 66011
​EpidemiologyEPID 6630​3
  6

 

Students are required to take 6 credits from this list below. Courses not listed require director approval

Course Requirement

Course #

Credits

​R for Data Science

BIOS ​6640

2

Causal InferenceBIOS ​66413
​Introduction to Python ProgrammingBIOS ​66422
​Predictive AnalyticsBIOS ​66453
​Survival AnalysisBIOS 6646​3
Design of Studies in Health SciencesBIOS 6649​3
​Analysis of High-throughput DataBIOS 6660​3

Course requirement

Course #

Credits

Advanced Mathematical Statistics I

BIOS 7731

3

Advanced Mathematical Statistics IIBIOS 77323
  6

 

Students are required to enroll in 9 credits of Elective PhD Biostatistics Courses. (Courses not listed require director approval)

Course requirement Course #
 Credits
Statistical Methods in Genomics BIOS 76593
Analysis of Correlated Data BIOS 77121
Statistical Methods for Missing DataBIOS 77132
Advanced Statistical Computing​BIOS 77143
​Stochastic Modeling​BIOS 77152
​Bayesian Biostatistical Methods​BIOS 77173
Introduction to Biomedical Image Analysis​BIOS 77183
Information VisualizationBIOS 77193
  9

 

Course requirementCourse IDCredits
Elective Health Sciences Courses 3

 

DissertationBIOS 899030

 

Total credits: 79

Competencies

 CompetenciesRequired courseDescription of assessment
PHD-BIOS 1Carry out and explain calculations, derivations and proofs central to basic statistical theory, and explain their use and implications in applied statistical work.BIOS 6631 Statistical theory I, and BIOS 6632 Statistical theory IIMultiple written homework assignments and written exams each semester
PHD-BIOS 2Apply statistical concepts of basic study designs including bias, confounding and efficiency, and identify strengths and weaknesses of experimental and observational designs.BIOS 6611 Biostatistical methods I, and EPID 6630 EpidemiologyMultiple written homework assignments and written exams (6611), Final exam (6630)
PHD-BIOS 3Carry out exploratory and descriptive analyses of complex data using standard statistical software and methods of data summary and visualization.BIOS 6611 Biostatistical methods I Multiple written homework assignments 
PHD-BIOS 4Carry out valid and efficient modeling, estimation, model checking and inference using standard statistical methods and software.BIOS 6611 Biostatistical methods I, BIOS 6612 Biostatistical methods II, BIOS 6643 Analysis of longitudinal data, Two required Biostatistics electivesMultiple written homework assignments and exams each semester (6611, 6612, 6643), Written homework assignments, exams and projects in electives

 

 CompetenciesRequired courseDescription of assessment
PHD-BIOS 5Demonstrate statistical programming proficiency, good coding style and use of reproducible research principles using leading statistical software.

BIOS 6611 Biostatistical methods I, BIOS 6612 Biostatistical methods II, and BIOS 6624 Advanced statistical methods and analysis

Multiple programming assignments each semester, and written projects (6624)
PHD-BIOS 6Demonstrate basic skills necessary for collaborating with non-biostatistical scientists, including mapping study aims to testable hypotheses, carrying out basic power and sample size estimation and evaluation, and identifying appropriate design, modeling and analysis methods to address study hypotheses.BIOS 6621 Statistical consulting I, and BIOS 6624 Advanced statistical methods and analysisMultiple homework assignments (6621) and written projects (6624)
PHD-BIOS 7Communicate, orally and in writing, simple and complex statistical ideas, methods and results in non-technical terms appropriate for collaborator needs (e.g. preparation of analysis section of grant proposals and methods and results sections of manuscripts)BIOS 6622 Statistical consulting II, and BIOS 6624 Advanced statistical methods and analysisMultiple homework assignments (6622) and written projects (6624)
PHD-BIOS 8Carry out and explain calculations, derivations and proofs central to advanced statistical theory, and explain their use and implications in applied statistical work.BIOS 7731 Advanced mathematical statistics I, and BIOS 7732 Advanced mathematical statistics IIMultiple written homework assignments and written exams each semester

 


CompetenciesRequired courseDescription of assessment
PHD-BIOS 9Carry out advanced statistical modeling using a range of statistical theory, methods and computation.

Biostatistics PhD electives (9 credits required beyond MS)

Multiple written homework assignments, projects, and presentations.
PHD-BIOS 10Demonstrate advanced collaborative biostatistical skills, including formulating testable study aims, identifying, designing and evaluating statistical analyses appropriate for study aims, reading and synthesizing biostatistical literature relevant to study analyses, and suggesting new methods when existing approaches are inadequate.Biostatistics PhD electives (9 credits required beyond MS)Multiple written homework assignments, projects, and presentations.
PHD-BIOS 11Carry out independent biostatistical research involving development and evaluation of novel statistical methods and their application to problems of importance in health science research, and report the methods and findings orally and in writing (e.g. a dissertation and publishable papers).BIOS 8990 Doctoral thesisWritten dissertation and oral defense and exam

 


Support from the department


The past several years, all PhD students desiring funding have been supported on Research or Teaching Assistantships (RA/TA) that pay a stipend, tuition, and health insurance. Through these positions students conduct independent research as well as receiving real-world research and collaborative experience on a very large and active health sciences campus. PhD students are also required to serve at least one semester as a TA.

Colorado School of Public Health

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

3rd Floor

Mail Stop B119

Aurora, CO 80045


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