The Master of Public Health in Applied Biostatistics in Temple's College of Public Health prepares students for careers in public health research and practice, as well as biomedical or pharmaceutical research. The curriculum emphasizes commonly used and advanced statistical techniques to effectively address public health concerns and answer pressing research questions. The Applied Biostatistics MPH will prepare you as a public health professional with expertise in
- study design and appropriate data analyses to accurately quantify and assess population-based, health-related outcomes;
- the application of modern statistical computing software, such as SAS and R, and statistical methods for large and complex data sets in public health and medicine;
- data management of health-related cross-sectional, experimental, longitudinal and survey data; and
- the proficient interpretation and presentation of results to various audiences.
Applied biostatistics involves the thoughtful application of statistical reasoning and techniques to appropriately analyze data, which is ultimately used to advance scientific inquiry and answer practical questions in public health and other health-related fields. Students in the Applied Biostatistics MPH program learn to formulate testable hypotheses and analyze publicly available, nationally representative data. Students will become proficient in handling complex data to monitor public health trends and services, and informing policy decisions.
Our graduates are prepared to work in a wide range of settings, including academic institutions; health systems; local, state and federal health departments; and pharmaceutical companies. Graduates may pursue careers as applied biostatisticians, clinical/research data specialists, data analysts, data managers, drug safety specialists, quantitative healthcare research scientists or SAS/statistical programmers, among other positions.
What sets apart our Applied Biostatistics MPH?
- Collaborative, interdisciplinary education: This master's degree program has a 3-to-1 student-to-faculty ratio, providing students with opportunities to work with diverse faculty. Our location in the College of Public Health prepares students for interdisciplinary research and practice.
- Renowned professors: Our faculty includes experts who focus on causal inference; latent variable modeling; longitudinal analyses of experimental, observational and quasi-experimental studies; mediation; and psychometrics. In addition to their own research, they have practical experience providing statistical expertise to a wide range of interdisciplinary research teams.
- Real-world experience: You will gain hands-on experience working on large health-related data sets and training with local or state agencies, nonprofit organizations or private companies–making you competitive and prepared to launch your career after graduation.
Program Format
Students take core courses that explore the fundamentals of public health and courses that focus on specific topics in applied biostatistics, such as
- analyses of longitudinal and hierarchical (multilevel or clustered) data;
- analysis of probabilistically sampled populations;
- biostatistical consulting in real-world settings;
- causal inference and mediation;
- data management and coding of health-related data;
- latent variable and structural equation modeling; and
- multivariable regression of general linear and generalized linear models.
You will also complete two fieldwork courses and take electives in order to build topical expertise.
Students may complete the Applied Biostatistics MPH onsite. This program offers a flexible curriculum: Students can choose to study full time to complete this master's degree in two years or part time to finish it in four years.
See a full list of program courses.