Master of Public Health (MPH) with concentration in Biostatistics

 

About the Program

The MPH in Biostatistics provides students with the skills to apply biostatistical methods to analyze complex health and clinical data with precision, improving health and healthcare systems. Students develop advanced skills in study design, large datasets, statistical software and effective communication. The program may be completed full-time (in four semesters) or part-time (completion varies) either on-campus or online. Upon graduation, students are eligible to take the CPH exam.  

The program is ideal for students with a background in mathematics, statistics, or health-related fields who want to apply their skills in statistical methods and data analysis to uncover trends and patterns in public health; public health professionals looking to advance their careers, and healthcare professionals who want to understand the statistical aspects of health and disease.  

Program Flyer - PDFRequest InformationInformation Sessions

 

Academic and Career Advising

You will have a dedicated one-on-one academic advisor to guide you through your learning experience, and a faculty advisor to work with you to develop your career plan. The Office of Experiential Learning and Career Readiness will support you in identifying opportunities and professional and workplace skills. 

Briana McNeil, MEd
Coordinator, Recruitment and Admissions
sphadmissions@memphis.edu
(901) 678-3740

 

Career Outcomes

Graduates of the MHA program oversee healthcare operations in prominent medical, healthcare delivery and insurance organizations, in public health departments and healthcare consulting firms in Memphis and nationally. 

 

Pathway Opportunities

Students can enhance their skills through graduate certificates in one of the following areas, or create their own plan in consultation with the academic advisor: 

• Health analytics
• Population health informatics
• Health systems leadership
• Population health 

 

How to Apply

• Completed SOPHAS application
• An undergraduate degree from an accredited university with GPA of at least 3.0 preferred.
• Personal statement on career interests in healthcare administration. (< 500 words)  
• CV/Resume
• Two (2) letters of recommendation
• International applicants
  • The University of Memphis accepts evaluated coursework from agencies certified by National Association of Credential Evaluation Services) or Association of International Credential Evaluators. SpanTran and IEE are our recommended international transcript evaluation services. They have created a custom application for the University of Memphis that will help you select the right kind of evaluation at a discounted rate. You can access their application here: SpanTran Application – University of Memphis or IEE – University of Memphis Application 
  • Evidence of English language proficiency according to the University of Memphis Graduate School requirements

Deadlines 

International applicants should plan to have their applications by May 15 for Fall Semester and October 15 for Spring Semester to ensure sufficient time to receive your Form I-20 and visa. 

• Fall Semester – August 15(a)
• Spring Semester – January 15(a) 

 

Program Requirements

The program requires a total of forty-two (42) credit hours as follows:(a)  

• 18 credit hours of core courses
• 12 credit hours of concentration courses
• 6 credit hours of elective courses
• 3 credit hours of applied practical experiences
• 3 credit hours of culminating experience  

Core Courses (18 credit hours) 

• HADM 7105 Health Policy and Organization of Health Services
• PUBH 7120 Environmental Health I
• PUBH 7150 Biostatistical Methods I
• PUBH 7160 Social and Behavioral Sciences Principles
• PUBH 7170 Epidemiology in Public Health I
• PUBH 7180 Foundations of Public Health 

Biostatistics Courses (12 credit hours) 

• PUBH 7152 Biostatistical Methods II(b)
• PUBH 7309 Applied Survival Analysis in Public Health(c)
• PUBH 7310 Mixed Model Regression Analysis(c) 
• PUBH 7311 Applied Categorical Analysis(c) 

Electives (6 credit hours) 

• Two (2) 3 credit hours graduate level courses in consultation with faculty advisor 

Applied Practical Experience (3 credit hours) 

• PUBH 7985 Practicum/Field Experience 

Culminating Experience(d) (3 credit hours) 

• PUBH 7992 Master’s Project Seminar OR
• PUBH 7996 Master’s Thesis 
   
  (a) Graduate students must maintain a minimum of a 3.0 GPA ("B"). Grades of "D" and "F" will not apply toward any graduate degree but will be computed in the GPA. No more than 7 hours of "C-," "C" or "C+" will be applied towards meeting degree requirements.  
  (b) PUBH 7150 is the pre-requisite for PUBH 7152 
  (c) PUBH 7170 is the pre-requisite for PUBH 7172 
  (d) PUBH 7985 is the pre-requisite for PUBH 7992 or PUBH 7996 

 

Skills

The student should be able to: 

• Apply epidemiological methods to the breadth of settings and situations in public health practice.
• Select quantitative and qualitative data collection methods appropriate for a given public health context.
• Analyze quantitative and qualitative data using biostatistics, informatics, computer-based programming and software, as appropriate.
• Interpret results of data analysis for public health research, policy or practice.
• Compare the organization, structure and function of health care, public health and regulatory systems across national and international settings.
• Discuss means by which structural bias, social inequities and racism undermine health and create challenges to achieving health equity at organizational, community and societal levels.
• Assess population needs, assets and capacities that affect communities’ health.
• Apply awareness of cultural values and practices to the design or implementation of public health policies or programs.
• Design a population-based policy, program, project, or intervention.
• Explain basic principles and tools of budget and resource management.
• Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
• Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence.
• Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes.
• Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations.
• Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
• Apply principles of leadership, governance, and management, which include creating a vision, empowering others, fostering collaboration, and guiding decision making.
• Apply negotiation and mediation skills to address organizational or community challenges.
• Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors.
• Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation.
• Describe the importance of cultural competence in communicating public health content.
• Perform effectively on interprofessional teams.
• Apply systems thinking tools to a public health issue. 
   
  

Epidemiology 

• Analyze public health data using linear and logistic regression models 
• Develop multivariable models by statistically assessing confounding and effect modification 
• Evaluate preferred methodological alternatives to commonly used statistical methods when assumptions are not met
• Distinguish among the different measurement scales and select the appropriate statistical methods to be used based on these distinctions
• Analyze time-to-event data using univariate and multi-variable statistical modeling