Doctor of Philosophy

The PhD program equips students with knowledge and skills to develop and apply statistical methodology to the fields of healthcare and life sciences. Our PhD program empowers students to become experts in developing and utilizing statistical methods for medical research and health sciences, through modern didactic coursework and real-world team science. Graduates of our PhD program obtain rewarding career opportunities in academia, pharmaceuticals, government agencies, and healthcare institutions. Graduates can also influence healthcare policy, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the understanding of complex biological processes, making a significant impact on public health.

Degree Requirements

• Earn 72 total credits
  • 10 core courses and associated labs, if any
  • 8 or more elective courses and associated labs, if any
  • BIOS 8999 (Non-candidate Research)
  • BIOS 9999 (PhD Dissertation Research)
• Fulfill the responsible conduct of research requirement
  • Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) training
  • BIOS 8004 (Ethical Principles and Practices for Biostatisticians) or IGP 8004 (Responsible Conduct in Research)
• Maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or better
• Attend 80% of department seminars
• Pass MS/PhD series 1 and PhD series 2 comprehensive examinations at the PhD level
• Complete oral qualifying examination and dissertation defense (seminar)
• Submit a dissertation within 4 years of completing the qualifying examination
• Submit publication plan
• Serve as a teaching assistant for at least 4 approved courses

See the program handbook for more information.

Typical Schedule

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

See the course descriptions page for more information.