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Note: You may choose a program of study that corresponds to the academic year of your admission or any year thereafter. Please see the guidelines below.
Major Focus Areas of the PhD Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics Students can choose to focus their dissertation research in a specific focus area. Students identify and develop their focused research under the supervision of their major professor and the Doctoral Program Committee. Methodology focus areas include Bayesian statistics, environmental and spatial statistics, semi-parametric statistics, longitudinal and clustered data analysis, mixed effects and multilevel modeling, missing data analysis, survival data analysis, survey methodology, and causal inference. The methodology foci may transcend application focus areas such as modeling of HIV/AIDS clinical trials and management, HIV dynamic modeling, health risk assessment, quality of life and well-being, miss-classification in quality control charts and clinical diagnosis, social behaviors and mental health, clinical trials, evaluation of clinical and health outcomes, and modeling of biological systems. Examples of possible plans of study for each focus area are available on the Department website and the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. Overview of Requirements for Doctoral Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics The Doctoral Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics usually involves two years of course work or more depending upon student’s previous Biostatistical training, followed by a doctoral dissertation. Time required for completing a dissertation is commonly between two to four years. The following is an overview of the requirements for the Ph.D. PhD program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics:
Coursework The USF Graduate School requires a minimum of 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree for the doctoral degree. For students with a prior master’s degree, a total of 50-57 credit hours beyond the master’s degree are required, including 18 hours of required coursework in Biostatistics and a minimum of 18 credits of dissertation. The remaining credits are made up of course electives, which may or may not be within the department and shall be determined jointly by the student and the major professor/doctoral committee. Coursework in other departments or colleges may be required as determined by the Study Plan and approved by the student's doctoral committee. In addition, the overall coursework must include a minimum of 13 hours at the 7000 level and three Advanced Interdisciplinary Doctoral Seminars. For a listing of the courses offered by the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, see the COPH website. The Department Doctoral Student Handbook provides more information about doctoral program coursework. The following is a summary of program requirements for the Doctoral Program in Public Health with a Concentration in Biostatistics. Students are required to complete and submit the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form by the end of the second semester after enrollment into the program. The student should meet with their Major Professor and Doctoral Program Committee to select courses and complete the Plan of Study form. The Department Plan of Study outlines the Department and College requirements for successful completion of the doctoral program including required coursework and other requirements. A signed copy of the Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs and the Department Academic Coordinator by the last day of classes in the Spring semester. The student should retain a copy for his/her records. After initially completing the Department Doctoral Plan of Study Form, the student should meet with his/her Major Professor at least annually to review the Plan of Study and update it as needed. Each time the Plan of Study is revised, a copy of the revised Form should be submitted the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs as well as the Department. At the conclusion of the student’s doctoral program, a final version of the completed Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the COPH Office of Academic & Student Affairs and the Department. More information about doctoral program coursework is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminars in Public Health The College requires that each doctoral student successfully complete three Advanced Interdisciplinary Seminars during their plan of study. These seminars are offered at various times throughout the academic year. Students should consult the COPH Course Schedule and their Major Professor each semester to determine which seminars will fulfill this requirement.Teaching In addition to coursework, each doctoral student is required to demonstrate proficiency in teaching by serving as TAs for graduate and/or undergraduate level courses and/or other relevant teaching experiences and coursework. The purpose of the teaching requirement is to equip students with experience and proficiency in effective communication in a classroom setting as well opportunities to develop skills necessary for effective classroom management and student mentoring. TA’s should maintain responsible and professional conduct during all interactions with faculty and students. The TA should not meet with students in their homes, isolated locations, or late nights for their own personal safety. The TA should promptly report any suspicious or dangerous student behavior to the course instructor and campus police, if necessary. More information about the teaching requirement for the doctoral program is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. Other Departmental Requirements Public Health Seminars Departmental, College and USF Health seminars, guest lectures (e.g., Dean’s Lecture Series) are held throughout the academic year and these seminars are an important part of a student's academic training and professional development. Each doctoral student is expected to attend all seminars but is required to attend at least two seminars per semester. Students should include documentation of attendance at the seminars with the Department Annual Student Progress Report. Other Department Activities Doctoral students are also expected to attend Dissertation Concept Presentations, Proposal Defenses, and Dissertation Defenses of other doctoral students in the Department to provide encouragement and support. Students should also attend other Department and College events and activities as their work schedules permit. Annual Student Progress Report All doctoral students will submit an annual progress report to the Department Doctoral Program Director(s) that will be reviewed by the Department faculty. The report will be used to assess the student’s progress through the program. The report should be submitted to the Department by June 30th of each year. An overall assessment and recommendations for modifications to the student’s plan of study from the Department faculty may be given to the student’s Major Professor and the student. The Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics Annual Student Progress Report and more information about the Annual Student Progress Report can be obtained from the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the Department website. Time Limits for Completion of Doctoral Program On average, the doctoral program requires four to five years for completion following the Master’s or other advanced degree. The USF Graduate School requires completion of all requirements for the doctoral degree within a specified period of time from the date of enrollment into the program. Students should consult the USF Graduate School catalog for the specific time limits which apply to them. In addition, the Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics reserves the right to dismiss a student at any time because of failure to make satisfactory, continuous progress toward completion of the degree. |
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Advising and mentorship of doctoral students is a comprehensive process that evolves throughout the Doctoral Program. Upon admission, an initial advisor is appointed for each student. The student then selects a Major Professor and assembles a Doctoral Program Committee which will provide guidance and oversight for the coursework phase of the Doctoral Program. After successfully passing the Qualifying Examination, the student will have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee which will provide expertise and guidance for the dissertation. More information about each aspect of the advising process is provided in the sections below. The Advisor Upon admission an advisor of full-time Biostatistics faculty from the Department is appointed by the Department for each doctoral student. The Advisor will provide general orientation to the doctoral program and guidance in the initial selection of classes. Each Program Advisor will serve in this capacity for a maximum of two semesters from the time of entry into the doctoral program. By that time (i.e., by the end of the second semester in the program), doctoral students are expected to select a Major Professor and form a Doctoral Program Committee. The Major Professor As the student's research interest develops, usually by the end of the second academic semester, the student will select a Major Professor. If the Program Advisor is in agreement, she/he may become the Major Professor if appropriate, or the student may ask another full-time, departmental Biostatistics faculty member to serve as the Major Professor. Students must have a Major Professor in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program. If a student is unable to have a full-time Biostatistics faculty member from the Department to serve as his or her Major Professor by the end of one year from the date in which they entered the doctoral program or at any time point thereafter in the program, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program. The Major Professor must be fully credentialed by the College of Public Health. The Major Professor will assist in identifying any specific deficiencies and provide guidance for completing the Plan of Study. Students should consult the USF Graduate School Catalog for more information. In special circumstances a Co-Major Professor may be assigned upon approval by the Major Professor and Departmental Chair. The Doctoral Program Committee By the end of the second academic semester, in collaboration with the Program Advisor (or Major Professor if selected), the student will assemble a Doctoral Program Committee. Students should follow the steps for forming a committee as outlined in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and by the COPH. In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Program Committee are as follows:
The Doctoral Program Committee will approve the student's Plan of Study and provide guidance for the student regarding class selection and preparation for the qualifying examination. The signed Department Plan of Study Form should be submitted to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs. The Doctoral Program Committee may meet at any time, but should ideally meet once per semester but at least once per academic year to review the student's progress, or to suggest changes in the plan of study. The student also may request a committee meeting at any time. The Doctoral Committee Chair may be asked to provide the department as requested by the Department Chair or the PhD program Director, or the student with an evaluation of the student's progress toward the degree. More detailed information about the advising process for doctoral students is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. The Doctoral Dissertation Committee After the successful completion of the Doctoral Qualifying Examination but before the student reaches the dissertation stage, the membership of the student's Doctoral Program Committee should be assessed for suitability for the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The membership of the Dissertation Committee may be the same as that of the Doctoral Program Committee if the student and/or Major Professor so desires. Students must have a Doctoral Dissertation Committee in order to maintain satisfactory academic progress in the doctoral program. If a student is unable to assemble a Doctoral Dissertation Committee within one year of successfully passing the Qualifying Exam, the student may not be permitted to continue in the doctoral program. Requirements for Composition of Doctoral Dissertation Committee In addition to the requirements of the USF Graduate School, the specific Department requirements for the composition of the Doctoral Dissertation Committee are as follows:
Changes in Doctoral Committee Membership There may be a variety of reasons, including better suiting the needs of the student's dissertation research, to change the membership of the Doctoral Program or Dissertation Committees. Members of the Doctoral Program Committee may decide not to serve, or choose to remain on the Dissertation Committee. In the event a Major Professor is unable or unwilling to continue serving on the student's committee, the student is responsible for finding another Major Professor. Students who are unable to find a replacement of Major Professor who meets the Department requirements should confer with the Department Chairperson for available options. If no other options exist, the student may be requested to voluntarily withdraw from the program or may be honorably withdrawn in good academic standing. The Ph.D. PhD candidate or Major Professor can also recommend changes. However the Major Professor and the Department Chair must approve all changes in committee membership. In order to change the membership of a Doctoral Committee, students are required to submit the Ph.D. PhD Change of Committee Form which is available at http://www.publichealth.usf.edu/forms.html to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs. Students should consult the Department Doctoral Student Handbook, the College of Public Health Office of Academic and Student Affairs, and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website for specific information about the process to change Doctoral Committee membership. |
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The Dissertation The Doctoral Dissertation culminates the student's research and demonstrates that the candidate has acquired a command of biostatistical theory and methods, their application in a chosen substantive field in health, skills in computation, data analysis, and consultation. The Doctoral Dissertation also should be a presentation that demonstrates the student's ability to contribute fresh knowledge to or advance translation of knowledge in the chosen topic. Human Subjects Approval All proposed dissertation research which involves human subjects, even if it involves secondary data,must be approved by the USF Institution Review Board. Information can be obtained at http://health.usf.edu/publichealth/officeresearch/humansubjects.html. This applies to all proposals whether the research is funded or unfunded. All doctoral students at USF are responsible for following all guidelines of the USF Graduate School, Human Subjects Regulations, Data Use Agreements and HIPAA regulations, when applicable. Students who fail to comply with these requirements may be subject to disciplinary action or dismissed from the program. Students should consult the USF Office of Research, Division of Integrity and Compliance website to obtain guidance about research involving human subjects as defined in the USF Human Research Protection Program Investigator Guide, available online at http://www3.research.usf.edu/dric/hrpp/resources.asp. Aspects of the dissertation research that involve contact with study subjects or data containing personal identifiers cannot proceed until IRB approval has been obtained. More detailed information about is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. Data Use Agreements Doctoral students who plan to use existing data that is not a public use dataset should complete a Dissertation Data Use Agreement Form which outlines the terms of use, authorship, student rights, acknowledgements, etc. This form should be signed by the student, owner of the dataset and the Major Professor. A copy of the form is available on the Department website and should be maintained in the student's file. Students should consult the Department Doctoral Student Handbook for more information. Dissertation Requirements The research topic for a dissertation should have a demonstrable potential for advancing methods, tools (including computation), and applications in Biostatistics or public health. The requirements for dissertation are as follows. Dissertations should have a high level of achievement in: (1) originality - innovation in theory, methods, substantive content, or creative application of existing theory or knowledge to a new problem, (2) depth - technical competence and intellectual sophistication which is assessed by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee against the standard of work in peer-reviewed publications; (3) scholarship; and (4) scientific writing- demonstrated ability to communicate clearly and effectively in written form. Dissertation topics must be selected in subject areas in which there is sufficient faculty expertise within the full-time faculty of the department to provide appropriate guidance for the student's dissertation research. More detailed information about Department Dissertation requirements is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. • Dissertation Format The doctoral dissertation can be prepared in one of two formats. The first format is the traditional format. The second option is the manuscript format. See Departmental Hand Book for specific requirement of each format. Traditional Format: The Department expects that a minimum of two manuscripts intended for peer-reviewed publication must be proposed for all doctoral dissertations. The scope and content of each manuscript will be decided upon by the student in consultation with their Major Professor and approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. More detailed requirements about traditional format dissertation are provided in guideline of the USF Graduate School (http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.php) and the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. Manuscript Format: A minimum of two manuscripts, which are of closely-related research topics, intended for peer-reviewed publication must be proposed and at least one manuscript has a focus on biostatistical methodologies. The proposed manuscripts should be of the merits and quality to be potentially published in a recognized peer-reviewed journal judged by Major Professor and the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. The scope and content of each manuscript will be decided upon by the student under supervision of the Major Professor and approved by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee. In situations where the original publication plan or manuscript structure is not well suited to the dissertation findings, students may change to the traditional format upon approval by the Committee. Two manuscripts must be submitted for publication before defense. Although co-authors will need to be identified for manuscript submission, co-author's names should not be included in the dissertation itself. In general, it is understood that the doctoral student will be first author or lead author, the Major Professor, in general, will be the correspondence author. Committee members and other individuals who have made significant contributions to the manuscript as judged by requirements and standard of common journals will be co-authors. The doctoral committee shall decide, in collaboration with the student, in what order the co-authors should be listed for each manuscript. The student and committee should agree to general authorship of the publications before the defense of the doctoral proposal. The dissertation must conform to the specifications outlined in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website. Dissertation Research Proposal The student will write his/her proposal and will orally defend the proposal in a public defense in which the Doctoral Committee and other interested parties are present. The proposal is presented in a formal presentation to the student's Doctoral Dissertation Committee. This presentation is open to other faculty, other students, and the general public. Steps in the Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Defense Process
Format of Proposal Presentation The purpose of the Dissertation Proposal defense is to provide students with the opportunity to present their plan for dissertation research, and refine the methods based on recommendations and suggestions from the committee and audience at-large. The student will make a formal oral presentation not to exceed 45 minutes, followed by a period of question and answer. The presentation should include: the rationale for the proposed research, the research topics, proposed statistical methods, applications and significance, source of data, and preliminary results when applicable. The Dissertation Proposal Defense At the end of the Dissertation Proposal Defense, the Dissertation Committee will excuse the student and the public and convene in committee meeting to evaluate the appropriateness of the proposed dissertation topic and to recommend changes in the proposal. The committee may require that a proposal be presented for a second time before being approved, if substantive modifications in the original proposal are necessary. Committee members sign the Department Approval of Dissertation Proposal Defense Form only after the corrections, additions or changes have been made in writing and the corrected final copy has been distributed to the committee members. Approval of Dissertation Proposal Defense is not an endorsement of the proposal as a completed research plan. Acceptance of the dissertation proposal by the student's Dissertation Committee also does not preclude the committee from requiring additional modifications in the research plan. The proposal must be successfully defended for the student to continue in the Doctoral Program in Biostatistics. Upon successful completion of the oral defense, the student is given permission to begin the dissertation. More information about the dissertation proposal defense is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook. Doctoral Dissertation Defense Upon completion of the dissertation research project, the student will defend his/her work in a public defense attended by the Doctoral Dissertation Committee, faculty, students and any interested individuals who wish to attend. The doctoral student must have met regularly with his/her committee such that the defense is a pro forma event and the committee is apprised well in advance on the progress of the student toward completion of the degree. The student must provide all Doctoral Dissertation Committee members a final draft of the dissertation document at least four weeks before the desired defense date. Committee members must be given at least two weeks to read the dissertation and provide feedback prior to signing the Ph.D. PhD Request for Dissertation Defense Form. Steps for the Final Oral Presentation of the Dissertation
Successful completion of the oral defense is the culminating step of the doctoral program. This defense is the student's opportunity to present the dissertation in a public forum where faculty, other students, and guests are invited. Format of the Dissertation Defense The student will make an oral presentation not to exceed 45 minutes. The presentation should cover the entire dissertation research. Following the presentation will be rounds of question-and-answer by the committee members. The moderator may allow for one-round of question and answer by non-committee members in the audience towards the end. The entire oral defense normally should not exceed 3 hours in duration. Details of the format of the Dissertation Defense are provided in the Department Doctoral Student handbook. Following the oral dissertation defense and committee examination, the Doctoral Committee convenes without the student present to assess the student's dissertation research as well as the performance in presenting the dissertation research. The doctoral committee may approve the dissertation at it stands without any modification, or require minor to moderate modifications of the dissertation before approval for submission to the Graduate School, or require extensive modification of the dissertation and ask the student to undergo another formal defense. The student's Doctoral Dissertation Committee has final approval of the oral defense and the written documentation. A student's dissertation is approved only if ALL members of the committee judge both the dissertation and the performance of the student in oral examination to be satisfactory. Approval of the dissertation is granted by signature on the Successful Defense of the Ph.D. PhD Dissertation Form. The student has sole responsibility for assuring that all forms related to the proposal and dissertation are completed, and that all work related to the dissertation conforms to the accepted style and format of the USF Graduate School. Read the Graduate School website for specific details required by the USF Graduate School regarding dissertation presentation and preparation of the final manuscript (http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.php). After the successful defense of the doctoral dissertation students should submit the Successful Defense of the Ph.D. PhD Dissertation Form signed by Committee members and moderator to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs. In addition, students should also submit the Certificate of Approval Form for Theses and Dissertations Form to the Department Academic Coordinator and the COPH Office of Academic and Student Affairs after it has been signed by committee members after all corrections and modifications have been completed satisfactorily. Submission of Dissertation It is essential that the dissertation be submitted in an acceptable format. The details of the format of the doctoral dissertation defense are provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website. Students are required to attend an Electronic Thesis and Dissertation (ETD) Workshop sponsored by the USF Graduate School (in person or online) the semester prior to graduation. Students are required to follow the format given in Graduate Studies Thesis and Dissertation web site at (http://www.grad.usf.edu/thesis.php). Additional information about the dissertation submission process is provided in the Department Doctoral Student Handbook and the USF Graduate School Catalog and website. |
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