Welcome to the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
The Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, which was founded in 1968, was the first university department to combine these two disciplines into a single administrative unit. The objectives of the Department are to produce professional biostatisticians and epidemiologists and to give each specialist adequate preparation in the other discipline.
The Department’s programs are designed to prepare students for careers in health agencies and medical institutions; for consultation, especially in the biomedical fields; for independent biostatistical and epidemiological research; and for academic careers in schools of public health and medicine.
The Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology offers the following degree programs in each discipline: Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MS), and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).
Biostatistics
- applies new or existing statistical techniques to health-related questions
- develops new statistical techniques appropriate for analysis of health-related data
- assists health researchers in
- making appropriate inferences from their data relative to chance
- making valid estimates of population parameters
- designing studies in a valid and feasible manner to maximize information obtained
Epidemiology
- studies the distribution and dynamics of disease and health in populations
- investigates causative factors and determinants of disease in populations
- advances the body of knowledge that will make it possible to control and/or prevent disease and to optimize health
Areas of Specialization (Departmental Annual Report)
The Department has an active, wide-ranging program of on-going research studies. Current research in biostatistics includes clinical trials methodology, longitudinal data analysis, clinical and community health investigations in areas such as SLE, diabetes, oncology, hematology, and developmental disabilities in adults and children. Current epidemiologic research includes studies of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in American Indian populations, the association of exposures to environmental toxins and congenital hearing loss, and pesticide exposure and congenital urogenital malformations. Studies of the transmission dynamics of S. japonicum in the Philippines and T. solium neurocysticercosis in Africa are on-going. Several epidemiologic studies of interventions for smoking cessation, health disparities in minority populations and obesity prevention in school age children are also being conducted.
Contact Information:
For information regarding application to the program call the College of Public Health, Office of Student Services at http://www.coph.ouhsc.edu/coph/studentservices.asp or 405-271-2308, toll-free: (877) 805-6901.
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
College of Public Health
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology
P.O. Box 26901
Oklahoma City, OK 73190
Telephone: (405) 271-2229
