Curriculum-Coursework Requirements

Degree Requirements:

Ten units (8 units of classroom work and 2 units comprising a mentored clinical research project), are required of all degree candidates. 

The degree mandates 6 units of core or required credit, 2 elective , and 2 units as part of the research project. Research Project is to be submitted for publication.

Required Core Courses:

		Units
MSCI 321	Introduction to Biostatistics--This course focuses on applications and interpretations of data, ANOVA & the general linear model, and statistical references, amongst other basic biostatistical concepts. The use of SPSS is a course requirement.	1.0
MSCI 421	Intermediate Biostatistics--Intermediate Biostatistics builds upon the material learned in Introduction to Biostatistics. Specifically, the course will focus on multivariate methods of analysis for epidemiologic and clinical studies including correlation, linear regression, logistic regression, Cox proportional hazards regression, and life table analysis. Prerequisites: MSCI 321 or PH 302 Introduction to Biostatistics.	1.0
HSIP 402	Introduction to Health Measurement Science--This course will focus on methodological issues regarding the design, implementation, analysis, and interpretation of health measures. Various types of measurement approaches will be discussed, including physiologic, psychometric, and economic approaches. Students will learn and understand the principles of measurement of clinical data, including information from performance-based tests, biomarkers, clinical interview, and self-report.	1.0
PUB HLTH 302	Introduction to Biostatistics--The course focuses on descriptive statistics, basic probability concepts, probability distributions, estimation, hypothesis testing, correlation, and simple linear regression, and the application of these methods in the medical and health fields.**Permission required from both the MSCI & MPH program. [[Course acceptable ONLY if student cannot attend MSCI 321]]	1.0
PUB HLTH 304	Introduction to Epidemiology--This course introduces the science of epidemiology and its uses, including measures of disease occurrence, common sources and types of data, important study designs, and sources of error in epidemiologic studies.	1.0
PUB HLTH 441	Ethical Issues in Clinical Research--This is a case based course of the ethical underpinnings and federal regulations of human subjects research. Issues considered include informed consent, studies of vulnerable populations, clinical trials, and epidemiologic research studies.	0.5
PUB HLTH 445	Writing and Peer Reviewing for Publication--Writing and Peer-Reviewing is an intensive, hands-on, advanced course in writing for publication in biomedical journals and how to be a successful peer reviewer. The student will be expected to prepare an article, respond to 2 peer review cycles, and at the conclusion of the course, to be ready to submit to a journal. Prerequisites: PH 302 Introduction to Biostatistics and PH 304 Introduction to Epidemiology (or MDM II)	1.0
MSCI 499	Research Project--Development and presentation of a research project while participating in the program. Students present a seminar on the project, prepare a grant application, and submit a manuscript for publication	2.0

Elective Courses:
At least two related courses drawn either from those listed below or from those offered by the Program in Public Health (Please note that course offerings change from year to year so check the schedule that is posted on the MPH website). Electives should relate to the student's area of emphasis.

		Units
MSCI 301	Topics in Molecular Medicine--Topics related to the molecular pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of disease.	1.0
MSCI 303	Drug Development Process--Introduces the rationale for, practical aspects of, and new issues in drug and device development policies and regulations.	1.0
MSCI 305	Introduction to Bioinformatics--Introduction to computational concepts and issues relevant to genomic, microarray and proteomics data analysis, especially in the context of clinical and cancer research.	0.5
MSCI 308	Survey of Nanomaterials-Nanochemistry--This course provides an overview of basic concepts of nanomaterials and nanotechnology.  The goal is to introduce basic concepts of nanotechnology including various delivery methods, modifications of nanomaterials, approaches to characterize nanomaterials, and techniques important for nanoscale development including nanolithography and nanopatterning.	1.0
MSCI 422	Introduction to Translational Research--This course is intended to introduce the basic life sciences graduate student to the thought processes involved in human disease research and its translation into therapy by providing an overview of disease processes, how they are treated, and how basic biological science is used to develop those treatments. **Required for MSCI Certificate	1.0
MSCI 428	Introduction to Bioinformatics--This course will cover a variety of data mining and pattern recognition techniques, including clustering, principal component analysis, feature selection, high-dimensional classification model, model selection via cross validation, Bayesian network, and ontology enrichment analysis. Bioinformatics resources such as GEO database and ENCODE will be introduced as well. **Some familiarity with biostatistics is encouraged.** **R-Software will be utilized**	1.0
MSCI 490	Independent Study--Permission of instructor and department required	1.0
EPI BIO 305	Data Management & Programing--The purpose of this course is to prepare students for computer-based data management, statistical data processing, and programming using SAS systems. There will also be a brief introduction to other statisti cal packages including R (which is the open source version of SPlus) and SPSS. Prerequisites: Introduction to Biostatistics (EPI BIO 302) and Epidemiology (EPI BIO 301).	1.0
PUB HLTH 446	Clinical Trials--This course introduces commonly used designs for clinical trails, methods for randomization, blinding and sample size determination, choice of controls, collaborative/ multicenter trial requirements and operational issues, data management and data quality issues, interim analysis methods, critical review of clinical trial results, and statistical techniques for analyzing data. Prerequisites: PH 302 Introduction to Biostatistics and PH 304 Introduction to Epidemiology (or MDM II)	1.0
PUB HLTH 431	Basic Decision Analysis--This course covers the quantitative analytic techniques intended to inform decision makers at the bedside as well as at the policy-making level. Topics include probability, Bayes’ theorem, sensitivity and specificity of diagnostic tests, Bayesian decision analysis, utility assessment, cost-effectiveness analysis, and expert systems.	1.0
PUB HLTH 437	Applied Data Analysis--This course provides hands-on experience in the design and analysis of epidemiologic studies, with emphasis on applying methodology learned in intermediate level courses. Through independent projects and class exercises, the course covers practical aspects of conducting research. Public health students are encouraged to bring ideas for their Culminating Experience to the course so that they can further develop and refine their research plan. Prerequisites: PH 302 Introduction to Biostatistics and PH 304 Introduction to Epidemiology, with Intermediate Biostatistics/Epidemiology desired, but not required.	1.0
PUB HLTH 438	Survey Design & Methodology--This course focuses on methodological issues regarding the design, implementation, analysis, and interpretation of surveys and questionnaires in public health research. Various types of self-report data will be discussed, including knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and patient-reported outcomes. Issues will include formatting and layout, wording of items and response scales, multilingual translations, sampling, timing of assessments, interviewer training, participant recruitment, data analysis, and respondent and staff burden. Prerequisites: PH 302 Introduction to Biostatistics and PH 304 Introduction to Epidemiology.	1.0
PUB HLTH439	Qualitative Research Methods--This course will focus on qualitative research methods and will include investigation of issues related to research design, sampling, data management, analysis and report writing. Methods covered will include unstructured, semi-structured, and structured interviewing, writing and using field notes, cognitive interviewi ng for survey construction, group interview methodologies, participant observation, cognitive tasks such as decision modeling, domain analysis and the use of mapping techniques in qualitative research.	1.0
PUB HLTH 444	Advanced Decision Analysis--This course covers advanced decision-analytic methods useful in medical decision modeling.  Included are the probabilistic theory of hazard rates and modeling of age-dependent mortality, Markov modeling, stochastic tree modeling, techniques for multi-way sensitivity analysis such as probabilistic sensitivity analysis and information-value analysis, and software for stochastic tree modeling. Medical decision-analytic literature is reviewed and theoretical underpinnings of models are explored. A project using decision analysis software is required.  Prerequisite: PH 431 or equivalent.	1.0
PUB HLTH 435	Design and Analysis Strategies in Health Services Research--PH 435 provides a broad overview of health services research, including an introduction to research methodologies unique to the field. The course includes a historical retrospective of economic and policy issues leading to the emergence of health services research as a distinct discipline. Class topics include small-area variations, medical effectiveness, outcomes research and case-mix adjustments for outcomes research, measuring quality of care, continuous quality improvement, guideline development, and technology assessment.	1.0
HIMT 453	Managerial Challenges in the Pharm, Biotech, and Med Devices Industries--	1.0

Total Required Units: 10.0

Other electives may be taken with permission of mentor, course director, and program director.

Translational Research Emphasis: Students opting for a translational research career will be encouraged to take one or more of the following elective courses

Need more information? Contact our MSCI Program Administrator.