Curriculum
Courses
Faculty

• PBHL-B 552 Fundamentals of Data Management (using SAS) (3 cr.) This course teaches concepts related to research data planning, collection, storage, processing, and dissemination. The curriculum includes theoretical guidelines and practical tools for conducting public health research. Hands-on training with real-world examples and problem-solving exercises in SAS will be used to ensure that students are comfortable with all concepts.

• PBHL–B 571 Biostatistics Method I-Linear Regression Model (3 cr.) P: PBHL–B 561 or equivalent. It course covers fundamental methods in Experiment Design, ANOVA, Analysis of Covariance, Simple and Multiple Linear Regressions with applications in biomedical study and public health. The focus of this course is to prepare students with solid skill in data analysis and interpretation of analytic results for numerical outcomes.  Extensive use of Statistical software SAS is anticipated.

• PBHL–B 572: Biostatistics Method II-Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.) P: PBHL–B 571 or equivalent. This course covers applied statistical methods for the analysis of categorical data with special emphasis on data collected from epidemiologic studies and general biomedical studies in various designs such as prospective cohort and retrospective case-control designs. The focus of this course is to prepare students with solid skill in data analysis and interpretation of analytic results for binary, multilevel and count data. Extensive use of Statistical software SAS is anticipated.

• PBHL-B 573: Biostat Method III: Applied Survival Analysis (3 cr.) P: PBHL–B 571, 572 or equivalent This course covers basic components in modern survival data analysis with emphasis on its application in biomedical research and public health. It includes the topics of types of censoring and truncation, life tables and survival function estimation, nonparametric log-rank test, parametric accelerated failure time model, semiparametric Cox proportional hazards model and extended Cox regression for time-dependent variables, competing risks and correlated survival data. The focus of this course is to prepare students with solid skill in data analysis and interpretation of analytic results for time-to-event data. Extensive use of statistical software SAS is anticipated.

• PBHL-B 574: Biostat Method IV: Applied Longitudinal Data Analysis (3 cr.). P: STAT-I 512, 525 or PBHL–B 571, 572 or permission of instructor. Covers modern methods for the analysis of repeated measures, correlated outcomes and longitudinal data. Topics: repeated measures ANOVA, random effects and growth curve models, generalized estimating equations (GEE) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs). Extensive use of statistical software, e.g. SAS, R.

• PBHL-B 582 Introduction to Clinical Trials (3 cr.). P: STAT-I 512, exposure to survival analysis; or consent of instructor. Prepares biostatisticians for support of clinical trial projects. Topics: fundamental aspects of the appropriate design and conduct of medical experiments involving human subjects including ethics, design, sample size calculation, randomization, monitoring, data collection analysis and reporting of the results.

• PBHL-B 583: Applied Multivariate Analysis in Public Health (3 cr.). P: P 551 and B652. This applied course is designed specifically for graduate and professional studies with major in epidemiology. Course will focus on applications to real data which will be analyzed by the professor and the students using the SAS software. The course will cover the following classic multivariate techniques; canonical correlations, MANOVA, MANCOVA, discriminant analysis, principal components analysis, exploratory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling.

• PBHL-B 586 Technical Reporting and Scientific Writing (1 cr.) Biostatistics is an applied field that requires effective communication. This one credit hour course is designed to help students producing well-structured scientific reports. The course will focus on the basic principles of scientific composition. We will also discuss issues frequently encountered in the scientific publication and peer review process.

• PBHL-E 601 Advanced Epidemiology (3 cr.)P: P517 and P551 (or concurrent enrollment). This course provides students with an in-depth understanding of advanced epidemiologic concepts introduced in other courses as well as a fundamental understanding of epidemiologic techniques not covered in other classes.  Topics included will represent cutting edge techniques, philosophical issues and insights to appropriately conduct and interpret the findings of epidemiological studies.

• PBHL-E 606 Grant Writing for Public Health (3 cr.) This course is open to all graduate students. The course will introduce the grant writing format and teach some grantsmanship. Students will have an opportunity to practice the NIH grant writing process. Also, to assist the students in developing the grant proposals with the precise epidemiological terms and study designs, the course will introduce/reinforce basic principles and methods in epidemiologic studies. In addition, the course will introduce the details about programmatic grants (non-research grants) process

• PBHL-E 609 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.) P: P517. This course is designed to provide a basic overview of the infectious disease process, including disease agents, transmission routes, immunity and public health significance.  The course introduces principles of infectious disease epidemiology, including outbreak investigation and surveillance, using case studies as examples.  Concepts on globalization of disease, microbial ecology, and disease eradication also are discussed.

• PBHL-E 618 Global Cancer Epidemiology (3 cr.) P: P517. This course is designed to provide an overview of the epidemiology of common cancers, as well as methodological issues in etiologic research and cancer screening. Emphasis will be placed on risk factors that can be modified for cancer control and prevention.

• PBHL-E 635 Foundations of Public Health Informatics (3 cr.) This course will introduce the application of Informatics in the Public Health field. The course will include a brief review of core public health functions, describe the current policies defining the use of informatics in public health, and outline the history of the application of informatics principles in both public health and clinical health systems.

• PBHL-E 645 Information Exchange for Population Health (3 cr.) This course explores the electronic exchange of data, information and knowledge between clinical and public health organizations in support of population health. Students will examine the strategic, organizational, legal, technical, and socio-political aspects of clinical and public health information exchange in the United States and abroad.

• PBHL-E647 Introduction to Population Health Analytics (3 cr.) This course examines the use of analytics and big data in the context of population health within governmental public health agencies as well as health systems. Students will be introduced to a host of methods used to analyze population health data, and gain technical skills required to perform analytics in support of real-world use cases.

• PBHL-E 666 Overview of Precision Health (3 cr.) This course is designed to introduce the broad overview of current concept and perspective of Precision Health. This course will provide comprehensive topics related to Precision Health, including genome-wide association studies, gene-environment interaction of chronic diseases, risk stratification model, ethics in precision health, the role of epigenetics in precision medicine, somatic mutations in tissue specimens, informatics in precision health, precision oncology, precision metabolomics, precision nutrition for preventions of chronic diseases, precision prevention of skin cancer and cardiometabolic diseases. The graduate students are expected to learn not only the current concept of Precision Health, but also the detailed knowledge and strategy of precision prevention on chronic diseases, which will be discussed in the majority of lectures with appropriate research examples.

• PBHL-E 675 Fundamentals of Injury Epidemiology (3 cr.) P: P517 and P551. This course will introduce students to basic epidemiologic concepts of injury, both intentional and unintentional. We will discuss the burden of injury and its effect on public health, patterns of injury in populations, the use of descriptive techniques, and secondary data sources.  Students will gain an understanding of the role of injury epidemiology in developing prevention strategies and policy. Among the topics to be covered are measures of mortality and morbidity, design and analysis of observational studies, community health assessment and program evaluation.

• PBHL-E 715 Design and Implementation of Observational Studies (3 cr.) P: P517 This course examines fundamental aspects of designing and implementing observational epidemiology studies.  The focus is on developing strategies to increase the validity of the study results by using techniques to control for possible confounding factors and biases.  Topics include sampling methods, sensitivity, data weighting, standardization, selection of cases and controls, matching, data collection and project management.

• PBHL-E 750 Doctoral Topics in Public Health (1-3 cr.) Courses offered under this course number would include PhD courses on topics expected to be offered only once, such as those taught by visiting faculty, and those that are newly developed and have not yet been assigned a specific course number. The course will focus on a specific topic or technique related to the field of Public Health.  The material to be studied will be determined by the instructor with input from the PhD faculty. 

• PBHL-E 751 Doctoral Readings in Epidemiology (1-3 cr.) This course is designed to expose a PhD student to published material on a specific topic or technique related to their field of study in Epidemiology. The material to be studied will be determined primarily by the PhD student under the direction of a faculty member with input from the student's advisor. The PhD student is expected to work closely with the faculty member to develop a strategy to identify the material to study, plan a time frame for completion of the study and to determine the nature of the study product. Generally the product will be a summary and interpretation of the material studied in a literature review format. The PhD student and faculty member will complete and sign a written agreement, which outlines the scope of work for the semester and will also be signed by the student's academic advisor.

• PBHL-E 752 Doctoral Research in Epidemiology (1-3 cr.) This course is designed to allow PhD students the opportunity to explore research questions by collecting data or using existing data related to their field of study in Epidemiology.  The study topic will be determined primarily by the PhD student under the direction of a faculty member with input from the student’s concentration advisor.  The PhD student is expected to work closely with the faculty member to develop the study protocol, obtain IRB approval if necessary, obtain the data and collect the planned data analysis.  The time frame for completion and the nature of the study product will be determined by the PhD student, faculty member and advisor.  Generally the product will be a manuscript for submission to an appropriate journal. The PhD student and faculty member will complete a written agreement, which outlines the scope of work for the semester.  The concentration advisor will also sign this agreement.

• PBHL-E 765 Nutritional Epidemiology (3 cr.) P: P517, P551. This course provides students with an overview of fundamental concepts and methods of nutritional epidemiology and the current state of knowledge on well-studied associations between diet and chronic diseases. Emphasis will be placed on the design, implementation, analysis, and interpretation of nutritional epidemiologic studies.

• PBHL-E 775 Doctoral Research Seminar in Epidemiology (1 cr.) This course is designed to expose PhD students to a wide range of specific research topics and issues in Public Health.  The seminar topics will be chosen by the Director of the PhD program with input from other faculty members.  The PhD students are expected to attend each seminar session, read assigned material, and participate in the seminar discussions. The PhD students may be asked to present their research projects during the seminar to obtain feedback and recommendations from the faculty and other students.

• PBHL-E 799 Dissertation Proposal (4 cr.) This course will provide students with time to prepare for the qualifying examination and prepare their dissertation prospectus. The prospectus includes the information required by the IU Indianapolis Graduate Office.

• PBHL-E 800 Epidemiology Doctoral Dissertation Research (1-8 cr.) The dissertation will be written on an original topic of epidemiology research and presented as one of the final requirements for the Ph.D. degree.  The dissertation must be an original contribution to knowledge and of high scholarly merit.

• PBHL-P 517 Fundamentals of Epidemiology (3 cr.) This course will introduce students to basic epidemiologic concepts including determinants of health and patterns of disease in populations, population health descriptive techniques, use of health indicators and secondary data sources. Students will gain an understanding of the role of epidemiology in developing prevention strategies and policy. Among the topics to be covered are measures of mortality and morbidity, design and analysis of observational studies, community health assessment and program evaluation.