Effective Autumn 2007
The Master of Science (MS) degree is intended for students whose interest is in the academic subject matter of the field rather than in professional practice. It is a natural entry point for many students who will eventually continue for the PhD. Because of this orientation, the emphasis in the MS program is on building a strong foundation in a particular specialty field, along with the research methods important in that field. To reflect this research and academic orientation, the MS in Biostatistics requires the preparation of a thesis, though it is available under a non-thesis option at the discretion of the division of specialization. The degree consists of a minimum of 60 credit hours, of which a maximum of 12 credit hours may be given for the preparation of the thesis. There is no practice placement requirement for the MS.
Students admitted to the MS program are assigned faculty advisers who will provide guidance throughout the program. This document serves as a resource to be used by the student and the adviser in developing the MS program with a specialization in Biostatistics. For additional information about requirements, students are directed to the College of Public Health (CPH) Student Handbook (available online at http://cph.osu.edu/studentaffairs/) and to the Graduate School Handbook (available online at http://www.gradsch.ohio-state.edu/ ).
PROGRAM OF STUDY
Even though the MS is not intended for professional practice, the faculty believe that it is important for students to gain an appreciation of the scope of the field of public health. Thus, students in the MS are required to show approved coverage in epidemiology and at least one of the other three areas basic to public health (“core courses”). The overall distribution of course work is as follows:
1. Approved courses in areas of knowledge basic to public health (8 credit hours)
2. Approved specialization and elective courses (41 credit hours)
3. Electives (7 credit hours)
4. Thesis (4 credit hours)
Public Health Core Courses (8 credit hrs)
Required:
PUBH-EPI 710 Principles of Epidemiology, 4 hrs
Choose one:
PUBH-EHS 731 Principles of Environmental Hlth, 4 hrs
PUBH-HBP 720 Preventing Disease and Promoting
Hlth through Behavioral Science, 4 hrs
HSMP 800 Health Care Organizations I, 4 hrs
Required Courses in the Specialization (41 credit hrs)
PUBH-BIO 701 Design and Analysis of Studies in Health Sciences I, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 702 Design and Analysis of Studies in Health Sciences II, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 703 Approach to Biostatistics, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 786 Biostatistics Consulting Lab, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 793 Statistics Programming, 2 hrs
STAT 610 Probability for Stat Inference, 5 hrs
STAT 623 Theory of Statistical Analysis, 5 hrs
STAT 645 Applied Regression Analysis, 5 hrs
Choose two of the following:
PUBH-BIO 605 Applied Survival Analysis, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 606 Applied Logistic Regression, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 651 Survey Sampling Methods, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 624 Applied Longitudinal Analysis, 4 hrs
PUBH-BIO 625 Multidimensional Data Analysis, 4 hrs
Electives (7 credit hrs)
Because of the research orientation of the degree, it is essential that students work closely with their advisers to plan their use of electives to build the expected skills and support their thesis or culminating project.
Thesis (4 credit hrs)
PUB-HLTH 999 Thesis, 4 hrs
THESIS
The thesis is an integral part of the MS degree, allowing the student the opportunity to investigate a topic of personal interest and importance to the field, and to integrate and synthesize from the knowledge and skills presented in the program. Details regarding Graduate School policies, including format, typing, deadlines, etc., are found in Part III of the Graduate School Handbook.
In general, a thesis requires:
• identification of a topic area and an adviser in the Biostatistics Division willing to guide the preparation of the thesis;
• formation of an examining committee, composed of at least two members of the CPH Graduate Faculty, including the adviser;
• where appropriate, selection of a third member of the examining committee, who may be from outside the CPH;
• written and oral presentation of the thesis prospectus to the examining committee for approval (see Appendix I);
• completion of the thesis described in the approved prospectus;
• satisfactory defense of the thesis before the examining committee, and
• deposit of an approved (adviser-signed) copy of the full thesis and abstract in the program office and electronic submission to the Graduate School.
The student has primary responsibility for topic selection and formation of the Master’s Examination Committee. The proposed topic must be approved by the faculty adviser and the committee is selected by consultation between the student and adviser. For additional information, see Section 7.3 of the CPH Student Handbook.
ACADEMIC STANDARDS
To remain in good academic standing, graduate students must maintain a minimum 3.0 overall GPA. In addition, a B- or higher must be earned in all required specialization courses and no course in which a grade of C- or below is earned may count towards the degree. For more details, see Section 11.2 of the CPH Student Handbook.
TIME LIMIT
The MS degree must be completed within 5 years from the date of matriculation. The responsibility for academic progress and fulfillment of the time limit rule rests with the student. Students who fail to complete the program in five years must re-apply to the program by written petition to the Graduate Studies Committee. Approval may be contingent upon completion of additional course work. No further registration will be permitted in the absence of an approved petition. For additional information, see Section 7.5 of the CPH Student Handbook.
GRADUATE NON-DEGREE & TRANSFER CREDIT
The transfer of credit depends on where it was earned. For OSU graduate non-degree credits, a maximum of 10 credit hours may be transferred into the degree-granting program with approval of the faculty adviser. For transfer credit from another institution, a maximum of 12 quarter hours (20% of the total credit hours required for the degree) may be transferred into the program with approval of the faculty adviser. In most circumstances, transfer credit must meet the five-year rule. For more information, see section 10.3 of the CPH Student Handbook.
GRADUATION
Students must be enrolled for a minimum of three credits during the quarter in which they wish to graduate. An "Application to Graduate" form (available on the Graduate School’s Web site) must be completed by the student, signed by the adviser, and returned to the Office of Academic Programs (OAP) for processing. The deadline for submitting the signed form to OAP each quarter is the first Friday of the quarter of graduation. Students also are asked to complete an Exit Questionnaire, as explained in Section 13.14 of the CPH Student Handbook.
OFFICE OF ACADEMIC PROGRAMS
Counselors are available in the Office of Academic Programs, M006 Starling-Loving Hall (614-293-3907) to provide assistance with College or University policies and procedures. Questions regarding the student’s program should be directed to the faculty adviser.
