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Biostatistics Head: Kathryn Chaloner
Deputy head: William R. Clarke
Professors: Stephan Arndt (Psychiatry), Leon Burmeister, Kathryn Chaloner (Statistics and Actuarial Science), William Clarke, Deborah Dawson (Preventive and Community Dentistry), Jian Huang (Statistics and Actuarial Science), Michael Jones (Statistics and Actuarial Science/Public Health Genetics), Joseph B. Lang (Statistics and Actuarial Science), Jane Pendergast, Bruce Pfohl (Psychiatry), George Woodworth (Statistics and Actuarial Science), Dale Zimmerman (Statistics and Actuarial Science)
Professor emeritus: Robert Woolson (Statistics and Actuarial Science)
Associate professors: Joseph Cavanaugh (Statistics and Actuarial Science), M. Kathryn Cowles (Statistics and Actuarial Science), Jeffrey Dawson, Douglas Langbehn (Psychiatry), Kai Wang, Ying Zhang
Adjunct associate professor: Daniel Sargent
Clinical associate professor: M. Bridget Zimmerman
Assistant professors: Hyonggin An, Jacob Oleson, Brian Smith, Gideon Zamba
Graduate degrees: M.S., Ph.D. in Biostatistics
Web site: http://www.public-health.uiowa.edu/biostat The Department of Biostatistics prepares students for professional and academic careers in biostatistics. Graduates find positions in pharmaceutical, health care, and research companies and institutions; in universities and government agencies; and as consultants. The department also provides training for non-biostatistics students. Current research interests in the Department of Biostatistics include computer intensive statistics, Bayesian methods, design and analysis of clinical trials, longitudinal data analysis, survival analysis, spatial modeling, analysis of data subject to missingness, time series, model selection, quality control, survey sampling, and public health statistics. Biostatistics faculty members work closely with both clinical and basic science investigators on the University of Iowa health sciences campus in the design and analysis of research projects. Graduate Programs The department offers two graduate degrees: Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy. In addition, a biostatistics subtrack is available in the M.P.H.; see Master of Public Health Program in the Catalog. Master of Science The M.S. program provides training in the design of experiments and in analysis of data related to biomedical or public health problems. It emphasizes mathematical, statistical, and computer methods for dealing with quantitative information, and provides opportunities for students to gain statistical consulting experience with a variety of problems. Graduates find career opportunities in many areas, including pharmaceutics, health care, research companies and institutions, consulting firms, universities, and government agencies. The M.S. requires a minimum of 38 s.h. of graduate credit. Students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Those who receive a grade of C on 7 s.h. or more of course work may be dismissed from the program. All M.S. students are required to complete an in-depth preceptorship under the direction of a departmental faculty member and a final comprehensive-style examination. REQUIRED COURSES All of these:
| 171:173 Intermediate Design of Sample Surveys |
3 s.h. |
| 171:178 Biostatistical Computing |
3 s.h. |
| 171:203 Biostatistical Methods in Categorical Data |
3 s.h. |
| 171:266 Statistical Methods in Clinical Trials |
3 s.h. |
| 171:280 Preceptorship in Biostatistics |
3 s.h. |
| 173:140 Epidemiology I: Principles |
3 s.h. |
One of these sequences:
| 22S:193-22S:194 Statistical Inference I-II (preferred for Ph.D. students) |
6 s.h. |
One of these:
| 002:169 Introduction to Bioinformatics |
4 s.h. |
| 055:122 Computational Genomics |
3 s.h. |
| 061:157 General Microbiology |
5 s.h. |
| 069:133 Introduction to Human Pathology |
4 s.h. |
| 096:114 Human Pathophysiology: Organ Systems |
3 s.h. |
| 096:115 Human Pathophysiology: Cellular/Neurology/Immunology |
3 s.h. |
| 127:191 Human Molecular Genetics |
3 s.h. |
| 170:101 Introduction to Public Health |
3 s.h. |
| 172:101 Introduction to Health Promotion and Disease Prevention |
3 s.h. |
| 174:102 Introduction to the U.S. Health Care System |
3 s.h. |
| 175:197 Environmental Health |
3 s.h. |
ELECTIVES At least 3 s.h. from these:
| 22S:161 Applied Multivariate Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 22S:248 Computer Intensive Statistics |
3 s.h. |
| 171:230 Statistical Data Mining in Public Health |
3 s.h. |
| 171:242 Applied Survival and Cohort Data Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 171:251 Theory of Biostatistics I |
4 s.h. |
| 171:252 Theory of Biostatistics II |
4 s.h. |
| 171:261 Survival Data Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 171:262 Analysis of Categorical Data |
3 s.h. |
| 171:264 Longitudinal Data Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 171:282 Problems/Special Topics in Biostatistics |
1 s.h. |
| 185:103 Microarray Analysis and Statistics in Bioinformatics |
3 s.h. |
| 185:272 Population and Quantitative Genetics |
3 s.h. |
| 185:274 Theory of Statistical Genetics |
3 s.h. |
Doctor of Philosophy The Ph.D. program prepares students for professional and academic careers in biostatistics, especially for positions that emphasize developing and applying statistical methodology to solve important biological and public health problems. The Ph.D. requires a minimum of 79 s.h. of graduate credit. Doctoral students must maintain a g.p.a. of at least 3.00. Those who receive a grade of C on 7 s.h. or more of course work may be dismissed from the program. All Ph.D. students must successfully complete a qualifying examination, a comprehensive examination, and a dissertation--a substantial scholarly treatise. The research topic and content, which vary depending on the program of study, must be approved by the student's dissertation committee. Other degree requirements include approved electives chosen from Department of Biostatistics and other University of Iowa courses. Requirements for the Ph.D. are as follows. MASTER OF SCIENCE BACKGROUND Ph.D. students must take the following courses (26 s.h.) required for the Master of Science in biostatistics. Students who have completed equivalent course work at other institutions may request waivers and/or transfers of credit. Students who earned a Master of Science in biostatistics at The University of Iowa automatically receive credit for these courses. One of these sequences:
All of these:
| *171:203 Biostatistical Methods in Categorical Data |
3 s.h. |
| 171:280 Preceptorship in Biostatistics |
3 s.h. |
| 173:140 Epidemiology I: Principles |
3 s.h. |
| One approved biology/public health course |
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*171:241 may be substituted for 171:203 if it was taken fall 2006 or earlier. CORE COURSES
| 171:251 Theory of Biostatistics I |
4 s.h. |
| 171:252 Theory of Biostatistics II |
4 s.h. |
| 171:261 Survival Data Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 171:262 Analysis of Categorical Data |
3 s.h. |
| 171:264 Longitudinal Data Analysis |
3 s.h. |
ELECTIVES With approval of their advisors, students choose 15-22 s.h. of graduate-level courses in biostatistics, statistics, genetics, microbiology, and so forth. They may count a maximum of 5 s.h. earned in nonquantitative courses (e.g., community and behavioral health, epidemiology, microbiology) toward the requirement. They also may count courses required for the Master of Science that are not listed under "Master of Science Background," above, toward the requirement. Ph.D. students may take the following courses.
| 22S:156 Applied Time Series Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 22S:161 Applied Multivariate Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 22S:195 Probability and Stochastic Processes I |
3 s.h. |
| 22S:248 Computer Intensive Statistics |
3 s.h. |
| 22S:256 Multivariate Analysis |
3 s.h. |
| 171:243 Cohort Data Analysis |
1 s.h. |
| 171:280 Preceptorship in Biostatistics (in addition to preceptorship required for M.S.) |
3 s.h. |
| 171:290 Advanced Biostatistics Seminar |
1-3 s.h. |
| 185:274 Theory of Statistical Genetics |
3 s.h. |
DISSERTATION
| 171:300 Thesis/Dissertation (at least two semesters in residence) |
10-17 s.h. |
Admission For detailed information about Graduate College policies, including application requirements and procedures, see the Manual of Rules and Regulations of the Graduate College or the Graduate College section of the Catalog. The biostatistics faculty considers several factors when evaluating applications for admission, including GRE scores, grade-point averages, letters of recommendation, intent and motivation for graduate study, and research interests. A student with deficiencies in one area may be admitted if all other components of his or her application are very strong. All M.S. and Ph.D. program applicants must hold a baccalaureate degree, have a cumulative g.p.a. of at least 3.00, and have taken the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) General Test. International applicants who do not hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand must score at least 600 (paper-based), 250 (computer-based), or 100 (Internet-based) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). International applicants who score 550-599 (paper-based), 213-249 (computer-based), or 81-99 (Internet-based) are required to take English fluency courses. Applicants who score below those ranges are not considered for admission. All biostatistics applicants and students are required to have strong written and oral communication skills. All M.S. applicants must be competent in at least one computer programming language, preferably Fortran, C, or C++. They also must have mathematical sciences training in methods and techniques of single variable and multivariable differential and integral calculus, and in linear algebra. Completion of an M.S. program in statistics or biostatistics generally is required for admission to the Ph.D. program. APPLICATION DEADLINES M.S. (fall entrance): January 15 (early), March 15 (late) Ph.D. (fall entrance): January 15 (early), March 15 (late) Financial Support A limited number of teaching and research assistantships are available. Assistantships offer financial support and resident tuition with a partial tuition scholarship, and provide valuable on-the-job training experiences. For information on financing education through jobs, grants, and loans, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid. Resources Department of Biostatistics resources and activities include the Biostatistical Consulting Center, the Clinical Trials Statistical and Data Management Center, and the Center for Public Health Statistics. The Biostatistics Consulting Center provides opportunities for students to gain valuable experience working with faculty and staff in the health sciences at The University of Iowa. The Clinical Trials Statistical and Data Management Center serves the statistical design, data management, and analysis needs of a variety of multicenter clinical trials, including studies of new treatments for acute ischemic stroke and studies of islet transportation. The Center for Public Health Statistics facilitates the collection, statistical analyses, and dissemination of health data in support of the University's research, teaching, and service missions and in partnership with the Iowa Department of Public Health.
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