3 THE DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY PROGRAM
3.1 Admissions Procedures and Requirements
3.1.1 Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Requirements
Applications for admission to the Ph.D. program can be obtained from Office of Admissions, The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, P.O. Box 9129, Cambridge, MA 02238-9129. Applications are available online at the Admissions Office website (https://apply.embark.com/grad/harvard/gsas/22/). For information on general requirements for admission, see the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences website (http://www.gsas.harvard.edu/prospective_students/admissions.php) or contact the Admissions Office by phone (617/496-6100).
3.1.2 Departmental Requirements
All candidates for admission to the Ph.D. program should have successfully completed calculus through multivariable integration and one semester of linear algebra. Knowledge of a programming language is also required. Evidence that these requirements have been fulfilled should form part of the application. In addition, applicants are strongly encouraged to have completed courses in probability, statistics, advanced calculus, and numerical analysis. Practical knowledge of a statistical computing package such as SAS, Splus, R, Stata, or SPSS is also desirable. From time to time the Department will admit students to the doctoral program without this level of preparation with the understanding that the student will promptly make up any deficiencies, usually by taking additional courses prior to entering the program. In addition, the Department Summer Program, to be held in August, is designed to review basic concepts of probability, statistics, and computing prior to the first semester in the program.
3.2 Advising and Degree Program Approval
3.2.1 Academic Advisor
The Department has a Student Advising Committee which provides guidance and assistance to students. In addition, all entering students are assigned an academic advisor to help plan course loads and explain Departmental requirements. At the earliest possible date, the student and the academic advisor will work out a program of study. Should a student wish to change his/her academic advisor, he or she is encouraged to discuss this with the Director of Graduate Studies. In addition, the Department and GSAS/HSPH provide services for all students with clinically documented learning and/or physical disabilities.
3.2.2 Dissertation Advisor
After the written qualifying examination has been successfully completed, and usually in the fourth semester of study, the doctoral candidate will identify an area of research and a prospective dissertation advisor from the Department. The dissertation advisor assumes the responsibilities of the academic advisor and directs the student's doctoral research.
3.2.3 Dissertation Committee
After a student has passed the oral qualifying examination, the student, in consultation with the dissertation advisor, nominates a Dissertation Committee to oversee the student's progress. The Dissertation Committee ordinarily consists of the dissertation advisor, who serves as the chairperson, and two other faculty members. At least two of the Dissertation Committee members must be members of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences. The chair should be a member of the Department of Biostatistics. The student is responsible for arranging periodic meetings with the Dissertation Committee, and for submitting Dissertation Progress Report forms as required.
3.2.4 Departmental Approval of Program
The final doctoral program plan must be submitted to the Department for approval, on the Doctoral Degree Program form provided by the Department. This program must be approved by the student's faculty advisor, the Director of Graduate Studies, and the Department Chair. This plan should be submitted at the end of the second semester of the second year.
3.3 Degree Requirements
The Ph.D. Program in Biostatistics trains students in the following areas: (l) statistical theory; (2) the use of statistical methods in formulating problems, planning studies, conducting analyses, and writing reports; (3) the interpretation of numeric data for scientific inference; and (4) the ability to collaborate and communicate effectively with scientists in related disciplines. The Ph.D. program has the additional objectives of training statisticians capable of conducting independent methodologic research and providing scientific leadership.
Ph.D. students are expected to take progressively more advanced courses, to prepare for the qualifying exams, and to choose a dissertation advisor and research topic. The student is also expected to participate in the Working Group seminars offered by the Department. These seminars provide background for choosing a dissertation topic, as well as general knowledge of contemporary biostatistical research.
A detailed presentation of the GSAS's regulations for doctoral students is found at http://www.gsas.harvard.edu. All doctoral students and their advisors should make sure that GSAS and Departmental requirements are met according to schedule.
Full-time students must register for the equivalent of at least 4 half-courses (20 credits), or the equivalent in TIME, each semester.
3.3.1 Residency
The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences requires that each student have a minimum of two years of full-time study in residence.
3.3.2 Course Requirements
The requirements listed below are minimal requirements
for the Ph.D. program in Biostatistics. Each student's program is reviewed individually,
and not all combinations of courses which meet the minimal requirements would
be appropriate (for example, programs with too much emphasis on elementary courses
might not meet with approval). Each student should, in consultation with his/her
advisor, develop a program of study to best meet his/her individual needs and
goals. The Ph.D. Program in Biostatistics builds on a ordinally graded core
curriculum consisting of:
|
BIST |
230 |
Probability Theory and Applications I |
|
BIST |
231 |
Statistical Inference I |
|
BIST |
232 |
Methods I |
|
BIST |
233 |
Methods II |
|
BIST |
251 |
Statistical Inference II |
|
|
In addition, 30 credits of ordinally graded Biostatistics courses (http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/biostats/courses/course.html) must be taken from the advanced doctoral core. The advanced doctoral core includes:
|
BIST |
235 |
Regression and Analysis of Variance |
|
BIO |
243 |
Nonparametric Methods |
|
BIST |
244 |
Analysis of Failure Time Data |
|
BIST |
245 |
Analysis of Multivariate and Longitudinal Data |
|
BIST |
247 |
Design of Scientific Investigations |
|
BIST |
248 |
Advanced Statistical Computing |
|
BIST |
249 |
Bayesian Methods in Biostatistics or
STAT 220 Bayesian Data Analysis |
|
BIST |
250 |
Probability Theory and Applications II |
|
BIST |
257 |
Advanced Statistical Genetics |
|
BIO |
263 |
Computational Methods for Categorical Data Analysis |
|
BIO |
276 |
Sequential Analysis |
|
BIST |
277 |
Computational Biology or
STAT 315 Computational Biology &
Bioinformatics |
|
BIO |
287 |
Public Health Surveillance |
|
BIO |
288 |
Semiparametric Methods for the Analysis of Missing and
Censored Data |
|
BIST |
291 |
Statistical Methods for Causality |
|
RDS |
280 |
Decision Analysis for Health and Medical Practices |
|
RDS |
282 |
Cost-Effectiveness and Cost-Benefit Analysis for Health Program Evaluation |
|
RDS |
284 |
Decision Theory |
|
RDS |
285 |
Decision Analysis Methods in Public Health and Medicine
|
|
RDS |
287 |
Research Seminar on Risk and Decision Analysis
|
Other advanced courses in Biostatistics, including many of the special topics courses, and courses at MIT and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) that are offered at an advanced level, may also be acceptable. Students are advised to consult with the Director of Graduate Studies to check prior to enrolling in the courses in question.
In addition, the Department requires that students take either EPI 200 or 201 (201 preferred).
3.3.3 Cognate Requirement
The Department requires students to explore in some depth a selected cognate field, a non-quantitative field outside of biostatistics or statistics. Examples of cognate fields include the biology of AIDS or cancer; environmental health; epidemiology (e.g., chronic disease epidemiology, environmental and occupational epidemiology, infectious disease epidemiology, psychiatric epidemiology, psychosocial epidemiology); psychiatric genetics; health policy and management; society and health; human development; molecular biology; genetics; or other non-quantitative fields.
Students must complete 10 credits of ordinally graded courses of study in the cognate field. Provided that inclusion of such courses contributes to the selection of a coherent cognate field, a maximum of 5.0 credits from one of the following categories: BIO 214; BIST 290; or quantitative epidemiology courses, such as EPI 202, EPI 203, or EPI 204 will be allowed to count towards the fulfillment of this requirement.
The selection of courses for the cognate field for students in the Ph.D. program must be approved by the Director of Graduate Studies and the Department Chair.
3.3.4 Consulting Requirement
Students must acquire experience in the planning of experiments and establishing a collaborative interaction with an investigator. To meet this requirement students must take the consulting seminar (BIO 312). A project outside the consulting seminar may be substituted only if approval is obtained from the Director of Graduate Studies.
3.3.5 Research Ethics Requirement
Students must satisfy a research ethics requirement by taking or attending (minimum of six lectures) RCR 2008 (Responsible Conduct of Research) during the first year in the program. Students who feel they have already completed an equivalent training program must submit adequate documentation to, and receive approval from, the Department during the first semester in residence.
3.3.6 TIME and Research Credits
In addition to regular coursework, Ph.D. students may register for TIME as a means of indicating that appropriate independent work is replacing numbered courses. TIME is undertaken with a faculty advisor who must sign the study card. One unit of TIME is the equivalent of one half-course (or 5 HSPH credits). Units of TIME are ungraded. TIME-C is used for course-related work; TIME-R for research-related work; and TIME-T, for teaching-related work. Students may register for TIME-C when independent work is being undertaken that is not specifically indicated in a numbered course. TIME-R may be used to indicate that research work is being undertaken that is not directly related to the student's dissertation work, or that a student has received a research assistant appointment. TIME-T may be used to indicate that a student has received a teaching assistant appointment.
BIST 350 should be used by Ph.D. candidates who have passed their written qualifying examination and who are working on their dissertation research. Students may register for a maximum of 4 units of BIST 350, as needed, to maintain full-time status.
3.3.7 Transfer of Coursework
The Department of Biostatistics does not allow courses taken elsewhere to count towards the residency requirement. However, students may occasionally be permitted to use graduate level courses in Biostatistics or related areas taken at other universities to satisfy some Departmental requirements for the Ph.D. degree (e.g., core courses, cognate requirement, consulting requirement). Generally, when core courses are waived, it is not necessary to make up the credit in other biostatistics courses.
To request a waiver of Departmental requirements on the basis of prior coursework, the student must petition the Director of Graduate Studies for approval. The petition should contain a course description and syllabus. An official transcript indicating the grade received must be on file, or submitted with the petition. Each request is considered on an individual basis. The Director of Graduate Studies will review the request and make a recommendation to the Department Chair.
3.3.8 Examination Requirements
Students must take and pass two qualifying examinations: a written examination and an oral examination.
The Written Examination The written examination is given annually following the fall semester. Students will take the exam for the first time during or before their second year in the doctoral program. Students may retake the examination at most once.
The exam consists of two parts which are administered in two sessions on different days. Material relevant to the exam is covered in the doctoral core courses of the Biostatistics program (see Section 3.3.2). The exam tests the student's understanding of probability, statistical inference, and statistical methods.
Copies of past examinations are available at the Departmental office.
The written qualifying examination is evaluated by the faculty, who establish the passing score. Students whose scores fall below the passing score are further evaluated based on their performance in coursework, summer projects, and performance as research/teaching assistants. On the basis of this further evaluation, a student whose qualifying exam score is below the passing score may nonetheless be determined to pass the qualifying exam.
The Oral Examination The oral examination assesses the student's potential to perform research in a chosen field, and examines the student's knowledge of biostatistics and his/her cognate field of study. Successful completion of the written examination is a prerequisite for taking the oral examination. The oral examination should be scheduled within three semesters of passing the written examination. In preparation for the oral examination, the student must decide on a specialized topic on which he/she wishes to be examined. In most cases, this specialized topic will be related to the student's chosen dissertation research area. The student will prepare a written report summarizing the topic and reviewing the relevant literature. This written report must be given to the Oral Examination Committee at least three weeks prior to the examination. The Oral Examination Committee consists of three faculty members, at least one from Biostatistics and one representing the cognate field. At the examination, students will be required to make a short presentation of the chosen topic, and will be examined on the topic by the Committee. The student will also be examined in his/her cognate field.
3.3.9 Doctoral Dissertation
The dissertation should be an original contribution to scientific knowledge. It can contribute to a subject matter field through innovative application of existing methodology, can make an original methodologic contribution, or be a combination of the two. Most dissertations consist of material sufficient for three publications.
Acceptance of the dissertation is the responsibility of the student's Dissertation Committee, the Department, and GSAS. When the dissertation is complete, the student defends it to the Dissertation Committee (Section 3.2.3) at a public presentation. The defense must be openly publicized and scheduled at least three weeks in advance. Copies of the dissertation should be given to the members of the Dissertation Committee and the Department Chair at least two weeks before the defense.
3.4 Satisfactory Progress Requirements
A doctoral student's academic standing will be assessed by the Department on a regular basis to ensure that he/she is progressing at an appropriate rate. The Department adheres to the general satisfactory progress requirements as established by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and described in Section VI of the GSAS Handbook. Our Department will use the following additional criteria in establishing satisfactory progress.
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Students in the first year of the Biostatistics doctoral program are expected to complete four core courses (BIST 230, BIST 231, BIST 232, and BIST 233) with a minimum average of B+ and no single grade below B. The remaining core course (BIST 251) must be completed with a grade of B or better.
- No more than one grade below B in any academic year; satisfactory performance on summer projects and as teaching assistants, research assistants, and/or computing assistants; maintain full time status of 4 half-courses (20 credits) minimum per semester.
- Students will complete their written qualifying examination by the beginning of the fourth semester. The written exam must be passed by the beginning of the sixth semester.
- Students will complete their oral qualifying examination within three semesters of passing the written qualifying examination.
- Ordinarily, students will complete all course, cognate, and consulting requirements by the end of the sixth semester.
- Appropriate progress on the dissertation as reported in the Dissertation Progress Report form.
Ordinarily, a student will complete their degree within 3 to 5 years after entering the program.
3.5 Master of Arts
No one is admitted as a candidate for the Master of Arts (AM), only for the Ph.D. Nevertheless, the requirements for the Master's degree must be satisfied by all students as they move toward the Ph.D. and are expected to be completed by the end of the fourth semester. The AM degree may be granted when these requirements are fulfilled. In addition, the Department may confer a terminal AM degree on students who will not be completing the requirements for the Ph.D. Effectively, a Ph.D. student must complete the specific requirements for the Master of Science degree (described in Section 4.3) in order to satisfy the AM requirements. The Department views one unit of TIME (TIME-C, TIME-R, or TIME-T) as the equivalent of one half-course (or 5 pass/fail HSPH credits). At least 60 ordinal credits are required for the AM degree, which ordinarily includes at least 50 credits of ordinally graded courses from the Master's core, the doctoral core, or the advanced doctoral core. Upon fulfilling these requirements, students should submit an application for the AM degree to GSAS.
3.6 Joint SD Program
In certain cases, the Department may entertain applications for a joint SD program in Biostatistics from students already enrolled in another HSPH SD program. The student would be required to fulfill the Ph.D. requirements described above, but would follow HSPH doctoral student guidelines. Further information is available from the Director of Graduate Studies.