The Biostatistics concentration teaches you to apply statistical reasoning and methods to the analysis of public health, health care, and biomedical, clinical and population-based data.
You’ll apply descriptive and inferential methodologies to answer research questions and harness the concepts of probability, random variation and commonly used statistical probability distributions. You’ll learn to implement and interpret the appropriate analytic methods or methodological alternatives to calculate key measures of association in public health research studies.
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Key Skills
Professional Development
Learn More about Biostatistics
Degree Requirements and Full-Time Sequence
Biostatistics Requirements Checklist (2022)
Biostatistics Requirements Checklist (2020-21)
Biostatistics Requirements Checklist (2019)
Biostatistics Course Substitution Form
Biostatistics Information Session
Key Skills
When you graduate with the Biostatistics concentration, you’ll be prepared to take on leadership roles in public health settings around the globe. You’ll stand out to employers with a skillset that has both breadth and depth, including the following competencies.
- Apply descriptive and inferential methodologies according to the type of study design for answering a particular research question.
- Harness basic concepts of probability, random variation and commonly used statistical probability distributions.
- Distinguish among the different measurement scales and the implications for selection of statistical methods to be used based on these distinctions.
- Implement the appropriate analytic methods for calculating key measures of association.
- Understand and apply ethical principles to data acquisition, management, storage, sharing, and analysis.
- Interpret results of statistical analyses found in public health research studies.
- Utilize relevant statistical software for data analysis.
Download the PDF Concentration Sheet
Professional Development
You will benefit from countless opportunities to build skills and experience to prepare you for successful careers in public health and biostatistics. There are many professional development opportunities available to you at NYU GPH, including internships, fellowships, employment, volunteer opportunities, professional association membership, and more.
Biostatistics Course Checklist
The Biostatistics checklist outlines the requirements for the concentration, as well as which core and concentration courses have pre-requisites. Use this tool as you move along in the program to help keep track of the courses you’ve taken, as well as what’s up next.
All students in the Biostatistics concentration take the following courses (18 credits).
Students who matriculated prior to 2018 can find their degree requirements here.
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2110 Health Care Policy (1.5)
GPH-GU 2112 Public Health Management and Leadership (1.5)
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social and Behavioral Health (3)
GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health (3)
GPH-GU 2190 Essentials of Public Health Biology (3)
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 5171 Global Health Informatics Workshop (0)
GPH-GU 5175 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health I (0)
GPH-GU 5180 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health II (0)
GPH-GU 5185 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health III (0)
All students in the Biostatistics concentration must take the following courses (6 credits):
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3)
Selective courses (9-10 credits) students choose from each of the following sets of courses below. Please note that you may take the other course as an elective.
Choose one of the following:
GPH-GU 2286 Introduction to Data Management and Statistical Computing (3)
GPH-GU 2183 Introduction to Statistical Programming in R (2) and GPH-GU 2184 Intermediate Statistical Programming in R (2) - please note that students who choose this option will take one less elective credit
Choose one of the following:
GPH-GU 2225 Psychometric Measurement & Analysis in Public Health Research & Practice (3)
GPH-GU 2387 Survey Design, Analysis, and Reporting (3)
Choose one of the following:
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data (3)
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis (3)
All students in the Biostatistics concentration must take 9 credits of electives as follows (additional electives may be taken pending approval by the Chair):
Group A Electives: Methods (choose 3 credits)
GPH-GU 3152/5152 Advanced Agent-Based Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2355 Analysis of Epidemiologic Data Using SAS (3)
CUSP-GX 6002 Big Data Management and Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2235 Biostatistical Consulting (3)
GPH-GU 2336 Critical Reading of the Biostatistical Literature (3)
CUSP-GX 6004 Data Driven Methods for Policy (3)
APSTA-GE 2331 Data Science for Social Impact (3)
ECE-GY 9343 Data Structure and Algorithm (3)
GPH-GU 2380/5380 Data-Driven Decision-Making in Global Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 3175 Design, Conduct, and Analysis of Cohort Studies (3)
GPH-GU 2930 Epidemiology Design and Methods (3)
GPH-GU 3220 Experimental Study Designs in Epidemiology (3)
URPL-GP 2618 Geographic Systems & Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2244 Health Care Management Science (3)
GPH-GU 2126 Healthcare Claims Data Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2324 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2450 Intermediate Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2184 Intermediate Statistical Programming in R (2)
GPH-GU 2152 Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2286 Introduction to Data Management & Statistical Computing (3)
GPH-GU 2183 Introduction to Statistical Programming in R (2)
APSTA-GE 2110 Large Databases in Applied Research (3)
GPH-GU 2274 Outbreak Epidemiology Re-Emerging and Emerging Infectious Disease (3)
DS-GA 1007 Programming for Data Science (3)
GPH-GU 2160 Qualitative and Field Methods (3)
GPH-GU 2361 Research Methods in Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 2022 SAS for Beginners: Data Management and Exploration (1)
BI-GY 7633 Transcriptomics (3)
* as of Fall 2022, this course replaces GPH-GU 2510 Special Topics: Healthcare Claims Data Analysis (3)
Group B Electives: Statistics (choose 6 credits)
GPH-GU 3152/5152 Advanced Agent-Based Modeling (3)
PHDSW-GS 3070 Advanced Structural Equation Modeling (3) (pre-req: PHDSW-GS 3069)
GPH-GU 2372 Applied Bayesian Analysis in Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2363 Causal Inference: Design and Analysis (3)
APSTA-GE 2012 Causal Inference (3) (pre-req or co-req: GPH-GU 2354 Regression II)
APSTA-GE 2094 Confirmatory Factor Analysis & Structural Equation Modeling (3)
ECE-GY 7123 Deep Learning (3)
GPH-GU 2126 Healthcare Claims Data Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data (3)
DS-GA 1003 Machine Learning (3) - (must take GPH-GU 2338 first)
GPH-GU 2338 Machine Learning in Public Health (3)
APSTA-GE 2013 Missing Data (2)
DS-GA 1011 Natural Language Processing with Representation Learning (3)
GPH-GU 2225 Psychometric Measurement & Analysis in Public Health Research & Practice (3)
DS-GA 1018 Probabilistic Time Series Analysis (3)
APSTA-GE 2015 Spatial Statistics (2)
GPH-GU 2512 Special Topics: Applied Spatial Statistics in Public Health (1)
APSTA-GE 2014 Stats Analysis of Networks (3)
GPH-GU 3225 Statistical Inference (3)
PHDSW-GS 3069 Structural Equation Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2387 Survey Design, Analysis, and Reporting (3)
DS-GA 1015 Text as Data (3)
BI-GY 7633 Transcriptomics (3)
The culminating experience for students in the Biostatistics concentration consists of:
1) a minimum of 180 hours of a practice experience, completed prior to Thesis I, and;
2) a two-semester MPH thesis.
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
Year 1:
Fall semester (12 credits)
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health (3)
GPH-GU 2286 Introduction to Data Management and Statistical Computing (3) - OR - GPH-GU 2183 Introduction to Statistical Programming in R (2)
GPH-GU 5171 Global Health Informatics Workshop (0)
GPH-GU 5175 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health I (0)
Spring semester (11-12 credits)
GPH-GU 2110 Health Care Policy (1.5)
GPH-GU 2112 Public Health Management & Leadership (1.5)
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3)
GPH-GU 2184 Intermediate Statistical Programming in R (2) - students who did not take GPH-GU 2183 do not need to take this course
GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health (3) - students who take GPH-GU 2184 may take this course next year
GPH-GU 2190 Essentials of Public Health Biology (3)
GPH-GU 5180 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health II (0)
GPH-GU 5185 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health III (0)
Year 2:
Fall semester (11 credits)
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2387 Survey Design, Analysis, and Reporting (3) - OR - GPH-GU 2225 Psychometric Measurement & Analysis in Public Health Research & Practice (3)
Group A Elective (3)*
Spring semester (11 credits)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU 2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health Data (3) - OR - GPH-GU 2368 Applied Survival Analysis (3)
Group B Elective (2-3)*
Group B Elective (2-3)*
Group B Elective (2-3)*
*NOTE: students may take a Group A or B elective in either semester; Group A does not need to be taken in the Fall.
Year 1:
Fall Semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2106 Epidemiology (3)
GPH-GU 2995 Biostatistics for Public Health (3)
GPH-GU 5171Global Health Informatics Workshop (0)
GPH-GU 5175 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health I (0)
Spring Semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2153 Global Environmental Health (3)
GPH-GU 5190 Essentials of Public Health Biology (3)
GPH-GU 5180 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health II (S) (0)
GPH-GU 5185 Readings in the History & Philosophy of Public Health III (S) (0)
Year 2:
Fall Semester (5-6 credits)
GPH-GU 2286 Introduction to Data Management and Statistical Computing (3) -OR- GPH-GU 2183 Introduction to Statistical Programming in R (plus GPH-GU 2184 which is offered in the Spring) (2)
GPH-GU 2140 Global Issues in Social & Behavioral Health (3)
Spring Semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2353 Regression I: Linear Regression and Modeling (3)
GPH-GU2480 Longitudinal Analysis of Public Health (3) -OR- GPH-GU 23568 Applied Survival Analysis (3)
Year 3:
Fall Semester (6 credits)
GPH-GU 2354 Regression II: Categorical Data Analysis (3)
GPH-GU 2387 Survey Design, Analysis, and Report (3) -OR- GPH-GU 2225 Psychometric Measurement & Analysis in Public Health Research & Practice (3)
Spring Semester (4-6 credits)
GPH-GU 2110 Health Care Policy (1.5)
GPH-GU 2112 Public Health Management & Leadership (1.5)
GPH-GU Group B elective (1-3)
Year 4:
Fall Semester (5 credits)
GPH-GU 2686 Thesis I: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU _____Group A elective (3)
Spring Semester (4-6 credits)
GPH-GU 2687 Thesis II: Practice and Integrative Learning Experiences (2)
GPH-GU _____ Group B elective (1-3)
GPH-GU _____ Group B elective (1-3)