Related Certificate
The Biostatistics doctoral program is designed to train students in the development of techniques, methods and tools to conduct public health research using rigorous statistical, bioinformatics and general quantitative methods.
Admission Requirements
Application Deadlines
Application deadlines vary by program, please review the application deadline chart for specific programs. Other important dates and deadlines can be found by using the One Stop calendars.
Admission
Applicants to the PhD program in Public Health with a concentration in Biostatistics should have completed academic programs that facilitated development of solid analytical skills. Applicable baccalaureate programs include mathematics, statistics, computer science, and engineering. Baccalaureate degrees in related fields will be considered. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 (A=4.00) is required. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Each application will be evaluated individually primarily on the basis of academic achievement, although relevant work experience will also be considered.
Applicants to the PhD program in Public Health with a concentration in Community and Behavioral Health Promotion should have completed academic programs that facilitated development of solid analytical and communication skills. Applicable baccalaureate programs include those in the social and behavioral sciences, health and health-related sciences, and biological sciences. Baccalaureate degrees in related fields will be considered. At least one statistics course is preferred for admission. A minimum undergraduate grade point average of 3.00 (A=4.00) is preferred. While a completed master's degree in public health or the social and behavioral sciences is encouraged, a master's degree is not a prerequisite for admission. For those applicants without a master's degree in a relevant field, most successful candidates will have work, research and/or volunteer experiences that contribute to career development in community health and health promotion. Demonstrated communication and analytic skills are required. Applicants from diverse backgrounds with a strong interest in community health and health promotion are encouraged to apply. Each application will be evaluated individually on the basis of four key areas:
- Academic record/achievement.
- Work, research, and/or community experience.
- Commitment/interest/awareness of public health and community health promotion.
- Matching interest with current Community and Behavioral Promotion Health faculty.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores from the general test (verbal, quantitative, analytical writing) are required of all applicants. Submitted test scores must be from a test taken within 5 years of the date of application. While there is not a minimum GRE score requirement, strong quantitative, verbal and writing skills are critical to successfully completing the program.
Students must meet UWM Graduate School admission requirements. For international applicants whose native language is not English, the UW-Milwaukee Center for International Education Website provides English Language Proficiency Requirements including required TOEFL or IELTS scores. Students who attended an international university must also pay an additional fee for evaluation of international transcripts.
In addition, a personal statement, and at least three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with the applicant's scholarship, research achievements, and/or academic potential are required for the application. The letters of recommendation should address the candidate’s potential for achievement in a graduate program from an academic as well as personal (e.g., commitment, integrity, ethical) standpoint. At least one letter must be from a university faculty member.
A select group of the most qualified candidates will be invited to participate in an interview process. In-person or internet-facilitated interviews (Skype, etc.) will be required for finalist candidates prior to admission.
Applicants may be admitted with course deficiencies at the discretion of the Zilber College of Public Health Graduate Program Committee. The student is expected to rectify these course deficiencies with a grade of B or better within three enrolled semesters. The academic program unit will monitor deficiencies. No course credits earned in making up deficiencies may be counted as program credits required for the degree. For students entering with an advanced degree, the Admissions Committee can grant credit for relevant coursework at its discretion, but at least half of the graduate credits required for the PhD must be completed at UW-Milwaukee in doctoral status in accordance with Graduate School policy. Thesis, dissertation, and research credits must be completed at UW-Milwaukee.
Reapplication
A student who receives the Master of Public Heath degree must formally reapply to the Zilber College of Public Health to gain admission to the PhD program in Public Health before continuing studies toward the PhD.
Credits and Courses
Biostatistics Concentration
Minimum degree requirement is 60 graduate credits beyond the bachelor’s degree (plus an additional 9 credits dedicated to dissertation writing and research), at least 35 of which must be earned in residence at UWM. The student, in consultation with the major professor, must create a plan of study and submit to the Biostatistics Faculty by the end of the first year. Minimum course requirements for all work requires approximately two to three full years of study.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required Core PhD Courses | ||
| PH 704 | Principles and Methods of Epidemiology | 3 |
| PH 711 | Intermediate Biostatistics | 3 |
| PH 801 | Seminar in Public Health Research | 3 |
| PH 819 | Social and Environmental Justice in Public Health | 3 |
| Required Methods Courses | ||
| MATH 783 | Introduction to Probability Models (not both) | 3 |
| or MATH 883 | Theory of Probability | |
| MTHSTAT 871 | Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| MTHSTAT 872 | Mathematical Statistics II | 3 |
| PH 718 | Data Management and Visualization in R | 3 |
| PH 813 | Practice of Biostatistical Consulting | 3 |
| PH 818 | Statistical Computing | 3 |
| PH 911 | Generalized Linear Models (T) | 3 |
| Research | 9 | |
| Research and Dissertation | ||
| Electives (see table below) | 27 | |
| Total Credits | 69 | |
Electives
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| BIO SCI 490 | Molecular Genetics | 3 |
| COMPSCI 708 | Scientific Computing | 3 |
| COMPSCI 711 | Introduction to Machine Learning | 3 |
| MATH 884 | Stochastic Calculus and Applications | 3 |
| MTHSTAT 564 | Time Series Analysis | 3 |
| MTHSTAT 565 | Nonparametric Statistics | 3 |
| MTHSTAT 869 | Advanced Topics in Mathematical Statistics: | 3 |
| PH 714 | Statistical Genetics and Genetic Epidemiology | 3 |
| PH 715 | Applied Categorical Data | 3 |
| PH 716 | Applied Survival Analysis | 3 |
| PH 717 | Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis | 3 |
| PH 720 | Special Topics in Biostatistics: | 1-3 |
| PH 721 | Introduction to Translational Bioinformatics | 3 |
| PH 723 | Design, Conduct and Analysis of Clinical Trials | 3 |
| PH 758 | Social Epidemiology | 3 |
| PH 762 | Environmental Epidemiology | 3 |
| PH 768 | Cancer Epidemiology | 3 |
| PH 769 | Critical Perspectives on Nutritional Epidemiology and the Food System | 3 |
| PH 811 | Causal Inference | 3 |
| PH 812 | Statistical Learning & Data Mining | 3 |
| Other courses as approved by advisor. | ||
Additional Requirements
Major Professor as Advisor
The student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student's studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. The entering student is assigned an advisor/major professor at admission based on fit and focus. The major professor serves as the student's research mentor and will guide the student in course selection, program planning, and research design. Students may change their advisor/major professor if the fit and focus change over time. Such changes will need approval of the graduate program committee. The major professor must have graduate faculty status.
Residence
The student must meet minimum Graduate School residence requirements.
Preliminary Exam Process
The preliminary exams must be successfully completed within five years of initial enrollment in the Ph.D. program.
Students must successfully complete a preliminary examination process before formally achieving dissertator status. When the student is sufficiently prepared, a doctoral preliminary examination to determine the student’s knowledge and achievement is taken. The exam evaluates the student’s general knowledge of mathematical statistics, and general biostatistical and quantitative methods. Students must pass this examination to continue in the program. With permission of the examination committee, the student may repeat this examination once within one year. After successful completion of the qualifying process, the student will concentrate on the development of the dissertation.
Time Limit
All degree requirements must be completed within ten years from the date of initial enrollment in the doctoral program.