Master of Science in Public Health (Biostat)

Biostatistics


Admission Requirements

Applicants for admission to the program, aside from fulfilling the general admission requirements of the graduate school, must have an adequate background in the biological and physical sciences and must have taken the following courses: differential and integral calculus (Math 54 or 102 or their equivalents) and elementary statistics (Biostatistics 201 and 202 or their equivalents). Students who have not taken the above courses may still be admitted to the program provided they pass Biostatistics 230 (Qualitative Methods in Biometry), Biostatistics 201 (Fundamentals of Biostatistics I) and Biostatistics 202 (Fundamentals of Biostatistics II). However, these three courses will not be credited to their program of study.

Rationale and Objectives

Over a decade or so, there has been an increasing demand for competent biostatisticians who have both the strong biological background as well as the statistical facility to appreciate, analyze and interpret biomedical and public health problems. It is important to note that there is at present no formal course of study in the country providing for the requisite collaborative blending of the two skills. Existing graduate and training programs on statistics are oriented towards economics, marketing and consumer research and agriculture, but none in the field of medical and life sciences. The MS Public Health (Biostatistics) program is a positive response of the College of Public Health to this exigency. Its curriculum was devised to ensure that after the students have gone through the program, they would be able to:
  • Demonstrate skills in the application of statistical technique to public health and medical data
  • Plan and undertake biomedical and public health-related research projects
  • Deliver statistical technical services to public health and medical practitioners and researchers

Opportunities for the Graduates of the Program

The opportunities awaiting the graduates of the program are numerous. They are needed practically by all institutions engaged in medical, biological and public health research as well as in teaching and statistical consultancy services. Specifically, biostatisticians are in demand in schools of medicine, public health, pharmacy, dentistry, nursing and the allied professions, medical research centers, pharmaceutical establishments and government and public agencies.

Graduation Requirements

  1. Residency of at least 1 full academic year immediately prior to the granting of the degree.
  2. Completion of a minimum of 42 units (Plan A or Plan B mode).
  3. Satisfactory completion of a master’s thesis for Plan A or passed the comprehensive examination for Plan B program of study.
  4. GWA of 2.00 or better in all courses taken and in major courses, provided there is no grade of 5.00 in any of the courses taken.

Curriculum

MSPH Curriculum
Core Course Units
Epi 201 Principles of Epidemiology 3
Required Courses
Biostat 206 Research Methods I 2
Biostat 206.1 Research Methods II 2
Biostat 209 Experimental Designs 2
Biostat 211 Computer Applications in Biostatistics 3
Biostat 212 Sample Survey 2
Biostat 213 Applied Regression Anaysis1 2
Biostat 214 Applied Multivariate Analysis1 2
Biostat 231 Introduction to Probability Theory 3
Biostat 232 Introduction to Probability Theory 3
Biostat 297 Seminars 1
Epi 202 Statistical Methods in Epidemiology 2
Biostat 300 Thesis2 6
Biostat 299 Special Studies and Research3 3
Practicum4
Biostat 292 Practicum in Ststistical Consulting 2
Biostat 293 Practicum in Teaching of Biostatistcs 2
Electives
Biostat 203 Demogrpahic and Vital Statistics 2
Biostat 205 Statistical Mehods in Bioassay 2
Biostat 207 Non-Parametric Procedures in Biometric Research 2
Biostat 210 Categorical Data Analysis 2
Biostat 215 Survival Analyis 2
Biostat 294 Specialized Methods in Biostatistics 2
Epi 203 Communicable Disease Control 2
Epi 204 Study designs in Epidemiology 2
Epi 205 Evaluation Research 2
Epi 206 Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases 2