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MPH Concentration in Epidemiological & Biostatistical Methods for Public Health & Clinical Research
The MPH concentration in Epidemiologic and Biostatistical Methods for Public Health and Clinical Research is designed for students with quantitative backgrounds who wish to pursue a rigorous curriculum in epidemiologic study design and statistical data analysis. The goal of this concentration is to help students to participate in the design, conduct and analysis of research studies in public health and put concepts into practice. This concentration is best suited for students who have already worked in a particular substantive area and have identified specific research questions.
The objectives of this concentration are to ouline the necessary didactic course work, group meetings and seminars, and opportunities to present the specification of a hypothesis of interest, statistical analysis of an appropriate data set and a written manuscript that might be suitable for publication. There are two tracks within this concentration: the Epidemiology track and the Biostatistics track, which are distinguished by the specific coursework required (see below).
The competencies gained from this concentration include:
- Articulating an appropriate question/hypothesis
- Identifying an appropriate study design and data set for answering the question
- Obtaining IRB approval
- Gaining familiarity with aspects of data management
- Identifying and applying appropriate statistical methods and correctly interpreting results
- Gaining familiarity with tracking and recording steps in the analysis of a data set
- Writing up the results of a data analysis for a professional publication
- Oral presentation of the results
Course of Study:
Students are required to complete and obtain a passing grade (minimum of C) in a four-term sequence in both epidemiology and biostatistics.
140.621 Statistical Methods in Public Health I* 4 units 1st term 140.622 Statistical Methods in Public Health II* 4 units 2nd term 140.623 Statistical Methods in Public Health III* 4 units 3rd term 140.624 Statistical Methods in Public Health IV 4 units 4th term 140.651 Methods in Biostatistics I* 4 units 1st term 140.652 Methods in Biostatistics II* 4 units 2nd term 140.653 Methods in Biostatistics III* 4 units 3rd term 140.654 Methods in Biostatistics IV* 4 units 4th term 340.601 Principles of Epidemiology* 5 units Summer term 340.751 Epidemiologic Methods I 5 units 1st term 340.752 Epidemiologic Methods II 5 units 2nd term 340.753 Epidemiologic Methods III 5 units 3rd term *Also fulfills MPH core requirement.
Several other courses are recommended depending upon the students' interests and research needs in specific areas such as meta-analysis, health survey methods, clinical trials, study design and grant proposal development, survival analysis, data management, and other special topics.330.603 Psychiatric Epidemiology 3 units 2nd term
[Internet - 3rd term]340.620 Principles of Clinical Epidemiology 2 units 2nd term 340.645 Introduction to Clinical Trials 3 units 2nd term
[Internet - 1st & 3rd terms]340.717 Health Survey Research Methods 4 units 2nd term 380.603 Demographic Methods for Public Health 4 units 2nd term [Internet - 3rd term] 340.606 Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis 5 units 3rd term 140.641 Survival Analysis I 3 units 1st term 340.607 Introduction to Cardiovascular Disease Epidemiology 4 units 3rd term 680.650 Fundamentals of Life Tables 4 units 3rd term 340.616 Epidemiology of Aging 3 units 4th term 340.715 Problems in the Design of Epidemiologic Studies 4 units 4th term 223.672 Data Management Methods in Health Research Studies 5 units [Internet – 1st and 4th terms] 340.680 Environmental & Occupational Epidemiology 4 units 4th term 340.754 Methodologic Challenges in Epidemiologic Research 5 units 4th term 380.651 Methods and Measures in Population Studies 4 units 4th term Capstone Experience
The MPH capstone experience in Epidemiologic and Biostatistical Methods involves the application of skills and competencies acquired to problems in epidemiology and data analysis. Preparation for the capstone experience will start during the 1st term and be integrated throughout the year. A total of 3 units of research special studies (XXX.840 - one each in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd terms) will be allotted to this activity under the direction of the student’s advisor or other concentration-affiliated faculty. There will be required small group seminars or sessions for informal discussion of issues relevant to public health research. The final product will be a written paper that might be suitable for publication based on a student's research question of interest and corresponding data analysis. The student’s advisor will approve the written paper. In addition, each student will register for the required two unit MPH Capstone Course (XXX.800) in the 4th term and prepare and present the work in a short oral presentation in a special MPH symposium in May.
Concentration Seminar
The 3 units of research special studies are for attending the required small group seminars. These seminars will meet weekly or every other week during the academic year. Topics will include: getting started on a research project, how to identify data sets, managing data, writing a scientific paper and oral presentation skills. Most of these seminars will also be used as research in progress meetings where students are expected to formally report on the progress to date of their capstone projects. These seminars typically begin in August; no more than two excused absences are allowed.
Expectations
Students are expected:
1. During the first term, to identify a research question, hypotheses and data set to be used (November 1).
2. During the second term, to submit and obtain IRB approval (December 1).
3. To attend and participate in small group seminars (no more than 2 excused absences).
4. To complete at least two research in progress presentation.
5. To complete a formal presentation of the final report of their project using a format typical of a scientific meeting presentation.
6. To write a formal paper of publishable quality summarizing the data analyses and findings from their capstone project.Faculty Concentration Directors
Rosa Crum, MD, Professor, Epidemiology, 410-614-2411
Marie Diener-West, PhD, Professor, Biostatistics, 410-502-6894