Elective Courses
In situations where a student’s research interests or needs indicate alternative statistics, data science or machine learning courses outside the department are more appropriate, it may be substituted with the permission of the student’s academic or dissertation advisor. Such courses should cover topics not already addressed by the electives listed below or may be considered if the listed courses are not offered during the desired term.
Other Requirements
Preliminary (Qualifying) Evaluation
Students are expected to take the preliminary examination at the end of the first year if they enter the program with a prior graduate degree in related fields, or at the end of the second year if they enter without a graduate
degree in related fields.
The PhD preliminary examination is a written exam consisting of two separate components: theory and application (including public health based on epidemiology). In order to pass the preliminary examination, students must receive passing scores for both components of the examination.
Required Coursework
Theory (Part 1 of 2)
Application (Part 2 of 2)
Comprehensive Examination
The comprehensive examination should be passed at least one academic term before scheduling the dissertation defense. The examination is oral and attended only by the student and the doctoral committee. The student takes the comprehensive examination after presenting a dissertation overview to members of the doctoral committee and all interested members of the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science.
Overview/Prospectus Meeting
The dissertation overview should be passed at least one academic term before scheduling the dissertation defense. Doctoral students must prepare and present a dissertation proposal to members of the doctoral committee and all interested members of the Department of Biostatistics and Health Data Science. The purpose of the overview is for a student to demonstrate that he/she is prepared to complete a dissertation by showing a general breadth of biostatistical knowledge and deep understanding of particular area(s) of biostatistics, demonstrating the ability to use biostatistical research methods and presenting a carefully formulated plan of novel dissertation research.
An announcement advertising the time and location of the dissertation overview should be disseminated to the Department at least one week prior to the presentation. The doctoral committee must unanimously approve the dissertation topic and research plan before the student is admitted to candidacy for the doctoral degree.
Admission to Candidacy
Admission to candidacy should occur at least one academic term before the defense of the dissertation in order to provide an opportunity for the dissertation committee members to review, criticize, and monitor the proposed research.
To qualify for admission to candidacy a student must:
- be in full graduate status
- have satisfied the requirement of preliminary examination
- have completed all required coursework with a minimum quality point average (QPA) of 3.00
- shown proficiency in a research or investigative tool
- have received approval of the proposed dissertation subject and plan following successful completion of the dissertation overview and comprehensive examination requirements
Students are informed of admission to candidacy by written notification from the Pitt Public Health Office of Student Affairs.
Final Oral Examination - Dissertation Defense
The final oral examination in defense of the doctoral dissertation is conducted by the student’s dissertation committee. One copy of the dissertation must be submitted to each member of the dissertation committee at least two weeks before the scheduled doctoral defense. The defense may not be scheduled earlier than two weeks following submission of the dissertation but must be held at least two weeks before the degree is conferred.
At least one month before the scheduled defense, the student must provide the department registrar with the defense time, date, place, dissertation title and abstract for school-wide advertisement. The final copy of the dissertation must be prepared and submitted according to University requirements.
Return to: