Biostatistics Masters Programs
About the Master of Science vs. Master of Public Health
The biggest question often asked by prospective students is whether they should apply for an MPH or an MS. We offer both degrees, because both provide a unique entrance into the study of Biostatistics and can help students along different career paths.
For example:
- If you're interested in working as a public health practitioner, clinical trials, administration, or analyst, then the MPH is right for you.
- If you're interested in working as a data scientist, research analyst, biostatistical programmer, or research scientist, then the MS is right for you.
- However, Both degrees will prepare you for the career of being a biostatistician
Both degree types are equally important to us as a department, and there are a plethora of opportunities to be involved in research, internships, or department life regardless of the track.
On this page you'll find a summary of the differences in the MS vs. MPH degee program and an overview comparison of coursework so that you can best determine which path is best for you based on your interests and career goals.
Note that it is most often not possible to switch between the MPH and MS programs once accepted.
About the Master of Science (MS) Program
The primary focus of the MS curriculum is specialized knowledge geared towards research or quantitative work. This degree program gives students a rigorous statistical basis that goes beyond basic principles to include specific training in public health such as HIPPA compliance, regulatory trials, medical study design, and more.
Whether the focus of the degree is to prepare for doctoral research training, to advance the skills critical for clinical scientists, or as a biostatistician in public health or the pharmaceutical industry, our programs require a facility for quantitative reasoning and a true enjoyment of working with data.
For example:
- In the Pharmaceutical Statistics Track you might learn the specific pharma industry regulations used for drug research or how to deal with research challenges in Phase I or II drug trials.
- In the Public Health Data Science Track you might learn how to use AI for analysis of complex Electronic Health Records (EHR) in order to investigate the efficiency of a specific treatment plan
- In the Statistical Genetics Track you might learn how to....
Upon completion of the MS in Biostatistics or the MS in Patient Oriented Research, graduates will, in the following areas, be able to:
Core Competencies
Data Analysis and Computing
- Formulate and produce graphical displays of quantitative information that effectively communicate analytic findings
- Explain general principles of study design in attempting to identify risk factors for disease, isolate targets for prevention, and assess the effectiveness of one or more interventions
- Select and perform appropriate hypothesis tests for comparing two or more independent exposure groups, or two or more groups of matched/clustered subjects, with respect to a discrete or continuous response measurement of interest
- Interpret associations estimated via linear regression, logistic regression, and Cox models for survival data
- Apply the basic tenets of research design and analysis for the purpose of critically reviewing research and programs in disciplines outside of biostatistics
- Interpret quantitative findings in accurate, accessible language for colleagues outside of biostatistics, as well as for broader dissemination to the public and other public health professionals
Public Health and Collaborative Research
- Translate research objectives into testable hypotheses
- Compare and contrast different study designs and their implications for inference in medical/public health research
- Describe basic principles and the practical importance of key concepts from probability and inference to colleagues without extensive statistical training
- Develop and execute power and sample size calculations for research studies utilizing simple random sampling
- Evaluate research reports and proposals for research funding on the basis of their scientific integrity, validity, and the strength of the quantitative analysis
Tracks
The MS Program has a total of six tracks, two of which are for current clinicians:
- Clinical Research Methods (*For Clinicians)
- Pharmaceutical Statistics
- Statistical Genetics
- Theory and Methods
- Patient Oriented Research (*For Clinicians)
- Public Health Data Science
Each track is designed for a specific purpose. Some tracks such as Theory & Methods have more flexibility in electives for student directed study, while others curate courses to train students in the necessary skills for that area of public health, such as Pharmaceutical Statistics. Students may change their track up until the second semester of their first year. For more information on each track, click the link for each track to read more on a seperate page or see a summary of its coursework lower on this page.
About the Master of Public Health (MPH) Program
The primary focus of the Biostatistics MPH curriculum is to equip public health workers with the quantitative skills they need if they intend to often use data in their work.
For example:
- a Biostatistics MPH interested in pharmaceutical sciences might learn how to describe the quantitative findings of a Phase II drug trial for colleagues outside of biostatistics.
- a Biostatistics MPH interested in public health data science might learn to summarize and present the data on maternal mortality rates to present to hospital leaders
- a Biostatistics MPH interested in statistical genetics might interpret the results of statistical analyses of a new gene therapy treatment to determine its viability
The Biostatistics MPH gives students quantitative knowledge to apply in their public health work. It prepares students to become specialists in public health who use and adapt statistical procedures for health and medical care programs, or serve in a technical capacity as resource person and collaborators in field and programmatic studies.
Upon completion of the MPH in Biostatistics graduates will be able to:
Core Competencies
- Describe the roles biostatistics serves in the discipline of public health.
- Describe the basic concepts of probability, random variation and commonly used statistical probability distributions.
- Describe preferred methodological alternatives to commonly used statistical methods when assumptions are not met.
- Distinguish among the different measurement scales and the implications for selection of statistical methods to be used based on these distinctions.
- Apply descriptive techniques commonly used to summarize public health data.*
- Apply common statistical methods for inference.*
- Apply descriptive and inferential methodologies according to the type of study design for answering a particular research question.*
- Apply basic informatics techniques with vital statistics and public health records in the description of public health characteristics and in public health research and evaluation.
- Interpret results of statistical analyses found in public health studies.*
- Develop written and oral presentations based on statistical analyses for both public health professionals and educated lay audiences.*
* denotes departmental competencies to be fulfilled during APEx (see Columbia MPH description)
Certificates
Every student in the two-year MPH program enrolls in a certificate program which provides training in a focused area of expertise—in addition to the student’s departmental discipline—and leads to a Columbia University approved credential. The certificate programs have been developed in consultation with public health employers and other key stakeholders and reflect today’s most sought-after skills and knowledge.
You can also find requirements and sample coursework for each certificate using the Certificate Requirements Database
Potential Certificates
- Advanced Epidemiology
- Child Youth and Family Health
- Climate and Health
- CEOR
- Environmental Health Policy
- Epi of Chronic Disease
- Global Health (3 month)
- Health and Human Rights
- Health Communication
- Health of an Aging Society
- Health Policy and Practice
- Health Promotion Research and
- Practice
- History, Ethics, Law
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology
- Injury Prevention and Control
- Molecular Epi
- Public Health Research Methods
- Sexuality, Sexual, and Repro Health
- Social Determinants of Health
- Toxicology
More detailed information on the Biostatistics MPH is available here.
Coursework MPH vs. MS
The Coursework of the MPH and MS Degrees is similar in its broad strokes. Both degrees take two years, though the number of credits and classes varies. The detailed list of courses for each program is available in their respective detailed pages or you can see a broad strokes of their curriculum differences later on in the page. One thing to note is that while the details of each is different, both programs must complete a practicum as part of their degree requirements.
| Master of Science | Master of Public Health |
|---|---|
| One Epidemiology Course | Public Health Core |
| More general courses, covers theory and methods applicable in broad settings | Focuses on Biostatistical Application in public health settings |
| More Biostatistics courses | Certificate of Concentration in specialized field |
| Practicum Requirement | Applied Practice Experience (APEx) |
| 30-36 Credits | 52 Credits |
Practicum vs. APEX
The Practicum and Applie Practice Experience (APEx) both offer hands-on, real world learning that often result in industry relationships, practical work experience, and research projects that all can help students find a job post-graduation. For both projects, students may complete the experience in industry, non-profit, or academia as long as they meet certain criteria. Whether it’s a large healthcare company or the lab of a professor whose work you admire, there are many possible ways for how to complete the practical experience portion of your degree regardless of whether it is an MS or an MPH.
At the end of their second year, all students present at the Annual Biostatistics Practicum/APEx Symposium to their peers and professors. You can view past student presentations here.
All MPH students in every department are required to complete an Applied Practice Experience (APEx), of at least 280 hours.
For MS students, there is no set number of hours required, although around 280 hours is recommended.
Curriculum Timeline MS vs. MPH
MPH
| Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Fall 2 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| MPH Core | Integration of Science and Practice | Introduction to Mathematical Statistics | Applied Practicum Experience (APeX) |
| Leadership and Development | Applied Regression 2 | Certificate Requirements | |
| Statistical Computing using SAS | Certificate Requirements | Capstone Consulting Seminar | |
| Applied Regression 1 | Integrative Capstone Experience | ||
| Analysis of Categorical Data |
MS
Theory & Methods
| Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Fall 2 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probability | Statistical Inference | Selective/Elective | Capstone Consulting Seminar |
| Data Science 1 | Biostatistical Methods 2 | Selective/Elective | Complete Practicum Requirements |
| Biostatistical Methods 1 | Selective/Elective | Selective/Elective | |
| Principles of Epidemiology | Selective/Elective | Selective/Elective |
Pharmaceutical Statistics
| Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Fall 2 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probability | New Drug Development | Statistical Computing Using SAS | Pharmaceutical Statistics |
| Biostatistical Methods 1 | Analysis of Categorical Data | Clinical Trial Methodology | Capstone Consulting Seminar |
| Principles of Epidemiology | Introduction to RCTs | Research Data Coordination | Complete Practicum Requirements |
| Elective | Elective |
Public Health Data Science
| Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Fall 2 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probability | Statistical Inference | Relational Databases and SQL Programming for Research and Data Science | Capstone Consulting Seminar |
| Data Science 1 | Data Science 2 | Elective | Complete Practicum Requirements |
| Biostatistical Methods 1 | Biostatistical Methods 2 | Elective | |
| Principles of Epidemiology | Elective | Elective |
Statistical Genetics
| Fall 1 | Spring 1 | Fall 2 | Spring 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Probability | Statistical Inference | Principles of Epidemiology 1 | Capstone Consulting Seminar |
| Data Science 1 | Biostatistical Methods 2 | Advanced Statistical Computational Methods | Complete Practicum Requirements |
| Biostatistical Methods 1 | Statistical Genetics Modeling | Elective | |
| Human Population Genetics | Elective | Elective |