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PhD Program

The Johns Hopkins Department of Biostatistics PhD program prepares persons who have demonstrated excellence in mathematics and the natural or social sciences to become research biostatisticians in academia, industry, or government. PhD graduates:

Conduct and publish original research on the theory and methodology of biostatistics;
Apply innovative theory and methods to the solution of public health problems;
Serve as expert biostatisticians on collaborative teams of investigators addressing key public health questions;
Teach biostatistics effectively to health professionals and scientists as well as to graduate students in biostatistics.

More detailed information is available below and in the Department of Biostatistics Student Handbook.

Program Overview:

The PhD program of the Johns Hopkins Department of Biostatistics provides training in the theory of probability and statistics and in biostatistical methodology. The program is unique in its emphasis on the foundations of statistical reasoning and in requiring its graduates to complete rigorous training in real analysis-based probability and statistics, equivalent to what is provided in most departments of mathematical statistics. To view the PhD program learning competencies click here

The core curriculum consists of the following components:

A one-year sequence on biostatistical methodology (140.751-754)
A two-year sequence on probability and the foundations and theory of statistical science (140.671-674, 140.771-774);
Epidemiologic Methods I-III (340.751-753)

Entrance Requirements

Bachelor's degree
Completed School of Public Health application
GRE score results
TOEFL results (if your most recent academic degree is from a university where English is NOT the primary language of instruction)
Three letters of recommendation
Statement of purpose
Prior coursework in calculus and linear algebra

Incoming students without a strong background in basic biology are strongly encouraged to register for the course Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences (260.600), held in advance of the first term each year during the latter part of August.

For more information about admission requirements for the School of Public Health, please contact the School's Admissions Office.

Student Evaluations:

The Department is committed to providing every opportunity for its students to successfully complete the academic program of their choice. To support students in progressing toward the degree and to further their educational experience, the Department offers a comprehensive written examination at the end of the first year and a practice oral exam, usually taken no later than six months after the end of the fourth term of the second year. See the Department of Biostatistics Student Handbook for more details about the first-year PhD comprehensive exam.

The main purpose of the practice examination is to evaluate students' ability to communicate statistical ideas and concepts. Students should prepare a paper/proposal related to their potential thesis topic. In addition, the University requires students to successfully complete a preliminary oral examination, typically taken at the beginning of the third year where a thesis proposal is presented and discussed, and an oral thesis defense, where the completed thesis is defended in a public forum.

Research and Teaching Assistantships:

The Department of Biostatistics offers teaching and research assistantships to its PhD students on a competitive basis. All PhD applicants (US and international) are ranked based upon their merits; top candidates are offered assistantships which last five years and include full tuition, health insurance, and a living stipend starting from $20,000 per year over the five years of study. In exchange, students are required to apprentice with faculty as research and teaching assistants for up to 20 hours per week. Students find the teaching and research assistantships to be the most valuable part of their PhD experience.

Seminars:

The Department offers a weekly seminar program featuring recent work by outstanding statistical scientists from around the world. Attendance is required for all graduate students. The seminar on the first Wednesday of each month is the "Biostatistics Grand Rounds," which features statistical analyses addressing important public health questions.

Scientific Minor:

Biostatistics comprises the reasoning and methods for using data as evidence to address public health and biomedical questions. It is a methodology for empirical research. Successful research biostatisticians must work at the interface of mathematical statistics and science, translating and connecting ideas from each domain.

An essential learning objective of the Johns Hopkins PhD program in biostatistics is the ability to work at the statistics-science interface: formulating scientific questions in statistical terms; using mathematical and statistical models to quantify empirical evidence relevant to scientific questions; interpreting quantitative findings in scientific terms and communicating key statistical ideas for scientific audiences.

To achieve this objective, Hopkins PhD students are required to demonstrate their ability to work effectively at the statistics-science interface. Specifically, they must demonstrate their ability to:

1. master and communicate the scientific background, context, language and ideas relevant to a particular research question;

2. represent scientific questions in terms amenable to the design and analysis of empirical studies to address the question;

3. quantify study findings using appropriate statistical ideas and methods;

4. correctly interpret and communicate the statistical results in terms that are meaningful to their scientific colleagues.

Students are required to:

1. develop expertise in a scientific area outside biostatistics ("minor") through course work, self-study, directed reading or other means. The minor should be chosen in consultation with the advisor;

2. demonstrate in the practice, preliminary and final public oral exams the ability to communicate effectively with scientists from outside the department about the major ideas from the minor and about statistical concepts and methods in relevant, scientific terms.

Recommended Curriculum:

Year One

Term 1:
140.751 Advanced Methods in Biostatistics I (3 credits)
140.671 Introduction to Probability I (4 credits)
110.405 Analysis I (through the Department of Mathematics)* (3 credits)
550.865 Public Health Perspectives on Research (1 credit)***
340.601 Principles of Epidemiology (5 credits)**
140.840 Special Studies
All PhD students must enroll for a minimum of 16 credits per term, which can be achieved by registering for special studies as needed (140.840). These special studies must have a clearly-defined objective.

*Upon approval of the graduate program directors, students who have previously taken real analysis may be able to waive this requirement.
** Upon approval of the graduate program director, students may replace the epidemiology requirement through rigorous study in another scientific area (e.g., Introduction to Molecular Biology)
** Students who have earned an MPH from a domestic university within the last 10 years may waive the requirement to take the course Public Health Perspectives on Research.

Term 2:
140.752 Advanced Methods in Biostatistics II (3 credits)
140.672 Introduction to Probability I (4 credits)
110.405 Analysis I (through the Department of Mathematics)* (3 credits)
550.865 Public Health Perspectives on Research (1 credit)***
550.860 Research Ethics and Integrity (1 credit)
140.840 Special Studies
All PhD students must enroll for a minimum of 16 credits per term, which can be achieved by registering for special studies as needed (140.840). These special studies must have a clearly-defined objective.

*Upon approval of the graduate program directors, students who have previously taken real analysis may be able to waive this requirement.
** Upon approval of the graduate program director, students may replace the epidemiology requirement through rigorous study in another scientific area
*** Students who have earned an MPH from a domestic university within the last 10 years may waive the requirement to take the course Public Health Perspectives on Research.

Term 3:
140.753 Advanced Methods in Biostatistics III (3 credits)
140.673 Introduction to Statistical Theory I (4 credits)
140.776 Statistical Computing (3 credits)
Electives
140.840 Special Studies
All PhD students must enroll for a minimum of 16 credits per term, which can be achieved by registering for special studies as needed (140.840). These special studies must have a clearly-defined objective.

** Upon approval of the graduate program director, students may replace the epidemiology requirement through rigorous study in another scientific area

Term 4:
140.754 Advanced Methods in Biostatistics IV (3 credits)
140.674 Introduction to Statistical Theory II (4 credits)
Electives
140.840 Special Studies
All PhD students must enroll for a minimum of 16 credits per term, which can be achieved by registering for special studies as needed (140.840). These special studies must have a clearly-defined objective.

By the end of the first year, both PhD and full-time master's students MUST have earned 12 credits in non-Biostatistics courses; six of those credits must be from the School of Public Health. Principles of Epidemiology and Introduction to the Biomedical Sciences (if taken) count for 9 credits. Analysis I and special studies courses in another department do not count toward this requirement.

All PhD students are required to identify a minor in a substantive area.

Year Two

Term 1:
140.755 Advanced Methods in Biostatistics V (4 credits) (for 07-08 academic year, students register for this via 140.840 Special Studies)
140.771 Advanced Statistical Theory I (4 credits)
550.865 Public Health Perspectives on Research (1 credit) (if not taken in Year One)
Electives
Special Studies

Term 2:
140.756 Advanced Methods in Biostatistics VI (4 credits) (for 07-08 academic year, students register for this via 140.840 Special Studies)
140.772 Advanced Statistical Theory II (4 credits)
550.865 Public Health Perspectives on Research (1 credit) (if not taken in Year One)
550.860 Research Ethics and Integrity OR 306.665 Research Ethics and Integrity: US and International Issues (1 credit) (if not taken in Year One)
140.778 Advanced Statistical Computing (3 credits) (if not taken in Year One)
Electives
Special Studies

Term 3:
140.776 Statistical Computing (3 credits) (if not taken in Year One)
To Be Announced: New course(s)/special studies: Advanced Topics in Statistics (examples include decision theory, foundations of inference, statistical learning, semiparametrics and coarsened data, advanced survival analysis, small sample asymptotics)
Electives
140.820 Thesis Research

Term 4:
To Be Announced: New course(s)/special studies: Advanced Topics in Statistics (examples include decision theory, foundations of inference, statistical learning, semiparametrics and coarsened data, advanced survival analysis, small sample asymptotics)
Electives
140.820 Thesis Research

Year Three
550.865 Public Health Perspectives on Research (if not taken in Year One or Year Two)
Coursework in scientific/statistical electives/special studies for a minimum of 16 credits per term

Years Four-Five
Coursework in scientific/statistical electives/special studies for a minimum of 16 credits per term

In order for PhD students to graduate from the Bloomberg School of Public Health: At least 18 credit units of formal coursework are required in courses outside the student's primary department. At least nine of these credits must be taken in the School of Public Health. Students must also satisfactorily complete the courses 550.865 Public Health Perspectives on Research and either 550.860 Research Ethics and Integrity OR 306.665 Research Ethics and Integrity: US and International Issues.

Academic Ethics

Students in the Bloomberg School of Public Health are expected to abide by the highest levels of academic and research integrity. The Johns Hopkins Academic Ethics Code can be found at: http://www.jhsph.edu/schoolpolicies/policy_academic_ethics.html

All students must complete an online module to familiarize themselves with this code. (See http://apps1.jhsph.edu/academicethics/).

As stated in the Academic Ethics Code, "violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to: cheating; plagiarism; knowingly furnishing false information to any agent of the University for inclusion in the academic record; violation of the rights and welfare of animal or human subjects in research; and misconduct as a member of either School or University committees or recognized groups or organizations."

For a Biostatistics student, abiding by the Academic Ethics code includes:

Completing work on one's own when an individual assignment or examination is given in a course.
Providing proper attribution to others' work by providing citations with quotations and giving proper references for all data analysis projects, research proposals and dissertations and theses.

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