Programs
Certificate in Biostatistics
Description of Certificate in Biostatistics
The purpose of this certificate is to provide all University of Iowa graduate students a mechanism to recognize a substantial biostatistics emphasis in their course work. A number of graduate students already incorporate substantial training in biostatistics into their MS or PhD programs, and this certificate will provide formal recognition.
In exceptional circumstances, an individual who is not currently in a University of Iowa graduate program, but who has completed a graduate degree in a scientific area or a health related professional degree such as an MD, PharmD or equivalent, and who is currently involved in biomedical research, may also apply for admission to the Certificate Program. For example, a postdoctoral scholar, or a fellow or resident with an MD degree, may want to enrich their postdoctoral training with additional courses in Biostatistics. Such applicants will need to apply to the Graduate College for admission as a “Graduate Non Degree Seeking Student” as well as to the Certificate Program. Such applicants will also be expected to have approval of their supervisor and are encouraged to contact biostatistics@uiowa.edu for information before completing an application. Credits earned as a "Graduate Non Degree Seeking Student" are transferable to a graduate program such as the Certificate with approval of the Department of Biostatistics.
Qualifications for Admission
Graduate students at The University of Iowa in degree programs outside of Biostatistics are eligible to apply. Applications for this Certificate Program will require the signature of the student’s academic adviser from his/her home department, as well as a proposed Plan of Study showing the course requirements to be fulfilled.
Enrollment in the Certificate Program is limited by capacity. Applicants who have already completed at least one of the required courses and whose research will be advanced by training in biostatistics will be given priority for admission.
Requirements for the Certificate
An approved Plan of Study including at least 15 s.h. credits in Biostatistics is very important for this Certificate, since some of the courses require special permission to enroll, have specific prerequisites, and/or are offered less than annually. The minimum acceptable grade for each course used to fulfill certificate requirements is a B-; the minimum cumulative GPA requirement for the 15 s.h. Certificate Program is 3.0. A minimum of 6 s.h. of certificate course work must be completed after formal acceptance into the program (certificates will not be awarded retrospectively for course work already completed).
In accordance with Graduate College rules, no more than 6 s.h. of the Certificate may be credited to any other university degree or credential; hence, at least 9 s.h. of the Plan of Study must be solely dedicated to the Certificate. If a waiver is granted on a required core course, then additional elective credits must be completed to replace the waived course, so that the total remains at 15 s.h. The Certificate will typically be awarded in the same semester as a student receives the graduate degree from his/her home department. It should be noted that the Certificate Program in Biostatistics is generally not a step towards receiving an MS or PhD in Biostatistics, but will enhance completion of the student’s primary graduate degree and independent research.
Certificate Course Requirements (15 s.h. total)
Required “Core” Courses (6 s.h.)
- 171:161 (BIOS:5110) Introduction to Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
Introduction to the application of statistical techniques to biological data. Topics include descriptive statistics, probability, binomial, Poisson, and normal distributions, sampling distributions; tests of significance, confidence intervals, analysis of frequency data, and simple linear regression. Prerequisite: college algebra. - 171:162 (BIOS:5120) Design and Analysis of Biomedical Studies (3 s.h.)
Simple and multiple linear regression and correlation; one- and two-way layout considerations in planning experiments; factorial experiments; multiple comparison techniques; orthogonal contrasts. Prerequisites: 171:161(BIOS:5110). Cross listed: 22S:140 (STAT:5610).
Elective Courses (9 s.h. chosen from the following):
- 171:164 (BIOS:5310) Research Data Management (3 s.h.)
Overview of problems encountered in gathering and processing data from biomedical investigations; introduction to various data management techniques useful in biomedical studies; introduction to Microsoft Access. Prerequisite: Fortran or C programming capability. - 171:174 (BIOS:6310) Introductory Longitudinal Data Analysis (3 s.h.)
Introduction to statistical models and estimation methods that can be used to analyze correlated data, such as when the same subject is measured repeatedly. Use of statistical software is emphasized. Prerequisite: 171:161 (BIOS:5110), 171:162 (BIOS:5120) or 22S:152 (STAT:3200), Same as 22S:160 (STAT:6550). - 171:185 (BIOS:6410) Microarray Data Analysis (3 s.h.)
Basic statistical principles and techniques used in bioinformatics, including analyzing microarray gene expression data. Prerequisite: 171:161 (BIOS:5110), 22S:030 (STAT:2010), 22S:101 (STAT:3510). Cross-listed: 002:176 (BIOL:4313) and 127:176 (GENE:6410). - 171:241 (BIOS:6110) Applied Categorical Data Analysis (3 s.h.)
Overview of the methods used to analyze categorical data from health science investigations, including estimation of rates and risks, measures of relative risk, stratified analysis, and logistic regression analysis. Prerequisites: 171:162 (BIOS:5120) and 173:140 (EPID:5400). - 171:242 (BIOS:6210) Applied Survival and Cohort Data Analysis (3 s.h.)
Nonparametric and semiparametric methods for survival data; methods of comparing directly standardized rates and standardized mortality ratios; Poisson regression for cohort data. Prerequisites: 171:203 (BIOS:5730) or 171:241 (BIOS:6110). - 171:266 (BIOS:6610) Statistical Methods in Clinical Trials (3 s.h.)
Surveys statistical methods commonly utilized in clinical trials. Also provides a methodologic perspective to the design, conduct and analysis of clinical trials. Phase III randomized controlled clinical trials are emphasized. Prerequisites: 171:202 (BIOS:5720), 22S:154 (STAT:4101) or 22S:194 (STAT:5101). - 171:290 (BIOS:7600) Advanced Biostatistics Seminar (1-3 s.h.)
Current topics: supervised experience in reading and interpreting biostatistics literature. - 171:295 (BIOS:7850) Research in Biostatistics: Biostatistics Rotation (1-3 s.h.)
Research that may lead to a dissertation.
Other courses in Biostatistics, as approved by the Director of Graduate Studies in Biostatistics
Sample Plans of Study
Plan A:
An example for graduate students in the College of Public Health, or other health-related fields.
Fall of Year 1:
171:161 (BIOS 5110) Introduction to Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
Spring of Year 1:
171:162 (BIOS 5120) Design and Analysis of Biomedical Studies (3 s.h.)
Fall of Year 2:
171:241 (BIOS 6110) Applied Categorical Data Analysis (3 s.h.)
Spring of Year 2:
171:242 (BIOS6210) Applied Survival and Cohort Data Analysis (3 s.h.)
Plan B:
An example for students in microbiology on T32 Training Grant, “Statistics in Microbiology, Infectious Diseases & Bioinformatics”
Fall of Year 1:
171:161 (BIOS 5110) Introduction to Biostatistics (3 s.h.)
171:290 (BIOS 7600) Advanced Biostatistics Seminar: Statistics in Microbiology (1 s.h.)
Spring of Year 1:
171:162 (BIOS 5120) Design and Analysis of Biomedical Studies (3 s.h.)
171:290 (BIOS 7600) Advanced Biostatistics Seminar: Statistics in Microbiology (1 s.h.)
Summer of Year 1:
171:295 (BIOS 7850) Research in Biostatistics: Biostatistics Rotation (3 s.h.)
Fall of Year 1:
171:290 (BIOS7600) Advanced Biostatistics Seminar: Statistics in Microbiology (1 s.h.)
Spring of Year 2:
171:185 (BIOS 6410) Microarray Data Analysis (3 s.h.)