The PHD Program in Biostatistics

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PhD Degree Application Deadline December 15.

The PhD program in biostatistics is designed for individuals with strong quantitative skills with background or interest in the biological, medical, or health sciences. To the extent possible, the curriculum of each student is tailored to his or her background and interests. Students can enter the PhD program with a bachelor's or a master's degree.  The PhD program is offered through the Laney Graduate School.

The Training Program, Biostatistics in Genetics, Immunology and Neuroimaging (BGIN), is available for biostatistics PhD students to apply. It is funded by a grant from the National Institute of General Medicine Science.

Baccalaureate degree from accredited college or university

• Course in multivariate calculus (typically calculus III)
• Course in linear algebra
• Official Transcripts should be uploaded in College Net Application System
• GRE Scores Graduate Record Examination   
  • Scores should be above the 50th percentile
  • GRE scores can be waived if applicant has a doctoral degree from a US institution in a relevant field. 
  • GRE must have been taken within the past 5 years
  • Codes to use for sending the GRE to Emory are:  Center R5187, Department 5199.

  TOEFL Scores Test of English as a Foreign Language

• Scores should be at least 96 on the Internet Based Test, 243 on the Computer Based Test, or 590 on the Paper Based Test
• Codes for sending the TOEFL:  Institution 5187, Department 99
• 3 letters of recommendation (should be uploaded in College Net Application System)

Deadline for applications:  December 15

Stipends and Fellowships
All full-time students admitted to the Biostatistics PhD program at Emory either are offered tuition and stipend awards by the university, or have individual fellowships from outside funding sources.  This support is renewable for up to two additional years, conditional upon satisfactory academic progress. Exceptionally qualified applicants will be considered for a George W. Woodruff Fellowship or, if eligible, an Emory Graduate Diversity Fellowship which offer financial support including tuition and an additional stipend for up to five years contingent upon satisfactory academic performance.

In order to be considered for merit-based support, the application must be complete by December 15.  Research assistantships and internships are available on a limited basis. 

Transfer of Credits
A student may transfer up to 12 semester hours of coursework completed at another graduate institution without approval from the Dean of the Graduate School.  In no case may a student transfer more than 24 hours of credit. None of the transferred credit hours may have applied toward another conferred degree. 

PhD Coursework
Students who have a Master's degree in biostatistics or statistics are exempt from 500-level courses. The appropriate class schedule is determined on a case-by-case basis through a review and a discussion of the student's academic record, academic interests, and previous experience in the biological and health sciences.

TATTO:  All PhD students must participate in the TATTO (Teaching Assistant Training and Teaching Opportunities) program. This includes a three-day summer teacher training workshop (normally taken in the summer before the second year in the PhD program), serving as a teaching assistant during the second and third years in the program and practical experience in statistical consulting.

Electives:  All students are required to complete 12 credits of elective courses in biostatistics; at least 6 of these credits must be in 700-level courses.  Enrollment in the invited speakers seminar series (BIOS 790R) is strongly encouraged but does not count toward satisfying the electives requirement.  In addition, students are required to complete 6 credits of elective courses (at the 300-level or above) outside of biostatistics; at least 2 of these credit hours must be in epidemiology for students who lack prior training in epidemiology.

BIOS 701: All students are required to have training in public health. The primary means to obtain this knowledge is through BIOS 701: Translational Public Health Research (1 credit hour) which is taken Fall semester of your second year. Course Description: The field of public health necessitates the translation of research into programs that promote population health. This course focuses on how research in each discipline of public health may be disseminated and put into practice, contributing to the improvement of population health. This course also lays the foundation for students to move beyond disciplinary silos common to doctoral work and enrich their studies through multiple perspectives. To both of these ends, this course prepares students to understand the language and approaches of several disciplines comprising the field of public health (in academia and practice), thereby fostering greater potential for collaboration and improvement in population health.

Exams:  Students who take BIOS 510 and 511 must take the MS Theory exam in the summer following enrollment in these courses.  All students must take the PhD Methods Qualifying exams in the summer following enrollment in BIOS 508, 522, and 709.  They must also take the PhD Theory Qualifying exam in the summer following enrollment in BIOS 707, 710 and 711. 

Dissertation:  Each student has to conduct an original research project which must be summarized in a written dissertation. The student will have to present his/her dissertation proposal orally in order to obtain the approval of the dissertation committee to conduct the research.  Students whose dissertation proposal is approved will be admitted to PhD candidacy.  When the dissertation is complete, the student must defend it at a public presentation. 

The PhD coursework can be completed in 2-3 years, depending on the number of 500-level courses the student has to take. The dissertation can be completed in two years.

For more information, contact Melissa Sherrer, Assistant Director of Academic Programs: msherre@emory.edu

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Page Updated 12/5/12