Joint Degree Program in Mathematics and Biostatistics

Purpose

Joint degrees in Biostatistics and Mathematics are offered by the School of Arts and Sciences and the School of Public Health. Upon completion of the program, students will receive a Ph.D. in Mathematics and an M.S. in Biostatistics.

Application Procedure

To be admitted to the program, the student is required to apply to and be accepted by both the Department of Mathematics and the Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics.

A student seeking admission into this program must submit letters to both departments stating the intent to take advantage of the joint degree program. Applicants will receive written notification stating whether their admission request has been approved or disapproved.

Degree Requirements

1. Required Courses
   
   The required courses consist of the non-overlapping core courses for both the Ph.D. in Mathematics and the M.S.P.H. in Biostatistics-Decision Science.
   
   Course requirements derived from the Ph.D. in Mathematics (24 semester hours). These can be used to satisfy the 6 to 9 semester hours of electives required for the M.S.P.H. in Biostatistics-Decision Science.
   
   Two sequences, each of six (6) semester hours, chosen from
   
   
   1. Two sequences, each of six (6) semester hours, chosen from:
      
      Algebra MATH 621-622
      Combinatorics MATH 681-682
      Real Analysis MATH 601-602
      
      
   2. Two sequences, each of six (6) semester hours, chosen from:
      
      Applied Statistics MATH 665-667
      Mathematical Modeling MATH 635-636
      Probability & Mathematical Statistics MATH 660-662
   
   Course requirements derived from the M.S.P.H. in Biostatistics-Decision Science (17 to 23 semester hours). These courses can be applied to the 18 semester hours of electives, which are required for the Ph.D. in Mathematics.
   
   
   • Ethical Issues in Decision Making - Ph.D.A 605 (2 semester hours)
   • Introduction to Pubilc Health and Epidemiology - PHCI 611 (2 semester hours)
   • Social and Behavioral Sciences in Health Care - PHCI 631 (2 semester hours)
   • Introduction to Environmental Health - PHCI 651 (2 semester hours)
   • Health Economics - PHCI 662 (2 semester hours)
   • Biostatistics-Decision Science Seminar - Ph.D.A 602 (1 semester hour)
   • Biostatistical Methods I and II - Ph.D.A 680 and 681 (6 semester hours)
   • Probability and Mathematical Statistics - Ph.D.A 661 and 662 (6 semesters hours). This requirement is waived if the student instead takes the Mathematics 660, 662 sequence listed above.
     
     
2. Combined Internship, Practicum and Masters Thesis
   
   

   The industrial internship required by the Department of Mathematics, and the Public Health Practicum and Masters thesis required for the M.S.P.H. can be satisfied by a single internship and technical report which simultaneously satisfies the requirements for both degrees.

   The internship must focus on public health and contain advanced mathematical content.

   The technical report must meet two requirements:

   1. it must satisfy the requirements for a Master's thesis for the M.S.P.H. degree and it must be written at an advanced mathematical level.
   2. The six (6) semester hours of the internship will be divided as 3 hours for the Department of Mathematics and 3 hours for the Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics.
      
      
3. Dissertation and Qualifying Examinations
   
   

   In order for the student to fulfil the Ph.D. requirements, the student must satisfy both the qualifying examination and dissertation requirements for the Ph.D. in Mathematics. Failure to complete these requirements will not jeopardize the M.S.P.H. degree, if its requirements have all been satisfactorly completed.