Course Descriptions

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PM510L Principles of Biostatistics (4)

Nature, scope, and terminology of biostatistics; appropriate uses and common misuses of health statistics; practice in the application of selected statistical procedures; introduction to statistical software (EXCEL, SPSS, nQuery). Includes laboratory.

PM511abL Data Analysis (4-4)

aL: Major parametric and nonparametric statistical tools used in biomedical research, computer packages including SAS. Includes laboratory.
Prerequisite: PM510L or the equivalent.
bL: Exploratory data analysis, fitting data with generalized linear regression models, computer packages including STATA. Includes laboratory.
Prerequisite: PM510L, PM511a, familiarity with basic concepts of probability and statistics.

PM512 Principles of Epidemiology (4)

Terminology and uses of epidemiology and demography; sources and uses of population data, types of epidemiological studies, risk assessment; common sources of bias in population studies; principles of screening.

PM513 Experimental Designs (3) (alternate years)

Statistical methods for analysis of various experimental designs. Parametric analysis of variance (ANOVA), repeated measures methods, crossover designs, non-parametric ANOVA.
Prerequisites: PM510L; familiarity with basic concepts of mathematics of probability.

PM515 Behavioral Epidemiology (3)

Behavioral risk factors in chronic disease and premature mortality. Epidemiological research methods for studying behavioral risk factors.
Prerequisite: PM512 or equivalent.
PM516ab Statistical Problem Solving (1-1)
An overview of the tools used by statisticians for solving statistical problems. CR/NC.
Recommended preparation: PM510.

PM517ab Research Methods in Cancer Epi. (3-3)

a: Study design, ascertainment of study subjects, questionnaire development, various methodological issues in data analysis and interpretation including bias, measurement error, confounding and effect modification.
Prerequisite: PM510L; PM511aL; PM512; and PM518a.
b: Overview of epidemiologic research in cancer. Selected cancer sites will be covered to highlight study design and conduct, exposure assessment, data analysis and interpretation.
Prerequisite: PM517a.

PM518a Statistical Methods for Epidemiological Studies I (3)

Principles and methods used in epidemiology for comparing disease frequencies between groups. Restricted to the analysis of binary outcome variables.
Prerequisite: PM512.

PM518b Statistical Methods for Epidemiological Studies II (3)

Statistical methods for binary outcomes by introducing techniques for multiple cross classified risks and rates and regression models for individual data.
Prerequisite: PM518a and PM522ab.

PM520 Advanced Statistical Computing (3) (alternate years)

Techniques for the solution of statistical problems through intensive computing using iterative techniques, randomized tests, the bootstrap, Monte Carlo methods.

PM522ab Introduction to the Theory of Biostatistics (4-4)

a. Density distribution and hazard functions; normal, chi-square student's t and F distributions; and sampling procedures for single factor and multiple factor designs, distributions.
Prerequisite: Undergraduate differential and integral calculus.
b. Theory estimation and testing, determining structure in data, and sampling methods.
Prerequisite: PM 522a

PM523 Design of Clinical Studies (3)

Design, conduct, and interpretation of results of clinical trials. Emphasis on principles affecting structure, size, duration of a trial,and the impact of ethical and practical considerations.
Prerequisite: PM510L or equivalent.

PM527 The Epidemiology of Infectious Disease (3)

Survey of natural history of infectious disease,methods of disease control and outbreak investigation, and an overview of the epidemiology of injury.
Prerequisite: PM512 or consent of the instructor.

PM529 Environmental & Occupational Health: an epidemiological approach (3)

An overview of environmental health, identifying issues and assessing effects of exposure on health and potential interventions for reducing adverse health risk.
Prerequisite: PM510, PM512.

PM533 Genetic & Molecular Epidemiology (3)

Genetic principles; design and analysis of family studies; introduction to likelihood estimation; segregation and linkage analysis; biomarkers of exposure, susceptibility, and disease; laboratory methods; susceptibility genes; association and linkage disequilibrium.
Prerequisite: PM510, PM511a, PM512, PM518a.

PM534 Statistical Genetics (3)

Familial aggregation, segregation analysis, linkage analysis, association, regressive models, gene-environment interactions, genetic heterogeneity and linkage disequilibrium.
Recommended preparation: PM522a, PM518a

PM537 Chronic Disease Epidemiology (3)

Overview of causative factors and demographic distribution of major chronic diseases in the western world. Epidemiologic concepts, methods and research design as applied to chronic disease prevention will be emphasized.
Prerequisite: PM 512; recommended preparation: PM 527.

PM538 Introduction to Biomedical Informatics (3)

An overview of current topics, enabling technologies, research initiatives, and practical considerations in Biomedical Informatics.

PM543L Nonparametric Statistics (3)

Distribution-free methods for comparison of two or more samples, tests of randomness, independence and goodness of fit, classification and regression. Comparison with parametric techniques. Includes laboratory.
Prerequisite: MATH 226; 208x or equivalent. (Enroll in MATH 543L).

PM544L Multivariate Analysis (3) (alternate years)

Exploratory and inferential techniques for multivariate data, Hotelling's T2, multivariate analysis of variance, classification analysis, principal components, cluster analysis. Involves computer use. Includes laboratory
Prerequisite: PM510L, PM522a.

PM550 Sample Surveys (3)

Theory of sampling; design of sample surveys; bias and precision; finite populations; stratification; cluster sampling; multistage, systematic sampling; non-sampling errors. (Enroll in Math550)

PM552 Statistical Methods in Clinical Trials (3) (alternate years)

Life table estimates; survival curve comparisons; Cox proportional hazards model and diagnosticis; multiple failure mode analysis; sample size and power calculations; computer software for analysis.
Prerequisites: PM 518a; PM522a.

PM570 Statistical Methods in Human Genetics (4)

An introductory course in the statistical methods used in the analysis of human genetic data.
Prerequisite: PM533

PM571 Applied Logistic Regression (3)

An introduction to the logistic regression model emphasizing practical data analysis techniques.
Prerequisites: PM 510, PM512, PM511a or PM518a

PM590 Directed Research (1-12)

Research leading to the master's degree. Maximum units which may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

PM594abz Thesis (2-2-0)

Credit on acceptance of thesis.

PM603 Factor Analysis (4)

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analytic approaches to health behavior research-conceptual, practical, and mathematical.
Prerequisite: at least two graduate level statistics courses.

PM610 Seminar in Biostatistics & Epidemiology (1, 4 max)

Special topics of current interest to provide background for research in biostatistics/epidemiology. Based largely on student presentations of dissertation research. Graded CR/NC.
Prerequisite: Ph.D. level or consent ofinstructor.

PM611 Advanced Topics in Epidemiology (3)

Review of current epidemiologic research contained in recent medical literature; emphasis on critique of studies and interpretation of findings.
Prerequisite: Ph.D. level or consent of instructor.

PM790 Research (1-12)
Research applicable to the doctorate. Maximum units that may be applied to the degree to be determined by the department. Graded CR/NC.

PM794abcdz Doctoral Dissertation (2-2-2-2-0)

Credit on acceptance of dissertation.

Courses for Non-Majors PDF »

Biostatistics Courses Open to Medical Researchers

PM 510 Principles of Biostatistics:

Nature, scope, and terminology of biostatistics; appropriate uses and common misuses of health statistics; practice in the application of selected statistical procedures; introduction to statistical software(SPSS, nQuery, EXCEL).

PM511ab Data Analysis:

aL: Major parametric and nonparametric statistical tools used in biomedical research, computer packages including SAS. Includes laboratory.
bL: Exploratory data analysis, detection of outliers, fitting data with linear/nonlinear regression models, computer packages including S-PLUS and SPSS. Includes laboratory.

PM512 Principles of Epidemiology:

Terminology and uses of epidemiology and demography;sources and uses of population data; types of epidemiologic studies; risk assessment; common sources of bias in population studies; principles of screening.

PM523 Design of Clinical Studies:

Design, conduct and interpretation of results of clinical trials. Emphasis on principles affecting structure, size, duration of a trial, and the impact of ethical and practical considerations.

PM570 Statistical Methods in Human Genetics:

An introductory course in the statistical methods used in the analysis of human genetic data. Topics in basic molecular biology, population genetics, linkage analysis, and association analysis will be covered. Strong emphasis will be placed on methods used in the positional cloning of genes predisposing for complex diseases.