University of Pennsylvania
Graduate Program in Public Health
MPH Degree Program
Course Syllabus – Fall 2010
Title: PUBH 501 - Introduction to Biostatistics
Course Units: 1.0 c.u., Contact Hours: 42 hours
Course Description: This course is designed to provide a broad overview of biostatistics
methods as well as applications commonly used for public health research. Topics covered
include measurement and categorizing variables, use and misuse of descriptive statistics, testing
hypotheses, and applying commonly used statistical tests. An emphasis will be placed on the
practical application of data to address public health issues, rather than theoretical and
mathematical development. Students will learn how to choose and apply statistical tools to data
sources, when and how statistical tools can be used to analyze data, and how to interpret others’
quantitative studies. Students will gain experience using online datasets and the STATA
statistical software package.
Placement / Room Assignment:
Wednesday, 5:00-8:00 PM Lecture & Discussion
1413 Blockley Hall
Course Director:
Jeane Ann Grisso, MD, M.Sc.
Professor of Public Health, Medicine, and Nursing
jgrisso@nursing.upenn.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment.
Teaching Assistant: Steffanie Halberstadt
Biostatistics Doctoral Student
halberst@mail.med.upenn.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment.
Pre-requisites: Enrollment in a master’s or doctoral program. Undergraduates and nonmatriculated students need permission of the instructor.
Course Overview: This course aims to provide the student with basic skills in biostatistics and
common applications of biostatistics in public health research.
Co-requisites: None.
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
 Explain, calculate, and interpret descriptive statistics including scales of measurement,
frequency distributions, measures of central tendency, measures of dispersion, standard
scores, and the normal curve.
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Read, construct, and analyze charts, graphs, and contingency tables.
Understand the basic concepts of inferential statistics including probability, confidence
intervals, and hypothesis testing.
Know when and how to apply common parametric statistical tests.
Develop basic skills in critical review of the public health literature.
Gain experience using computer technology in the application of statistical procedures.
Develop a proposed research project including a plan for biostatistical analysis.
Core Competencies:
1. Select and define variables relevant to defining public health problems.
2. Recognize how data illuminate ethical, political, scientific, economic and overall public
health issues.
3. Collect, summarize, interpret and communicate information relevant to a population
health issue.
Teaching Methods: Lecture and discussion groups.
Evaluation Methods:
50%
30%
20%
Exams
Group Project and Teaching Presentations
Class Participation
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MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAM - 25% each, total 50%
There will be a midterm exam in class on October 20th. The final will be a “take home”
exam and will be given out around December Dec. 15th. The two exams will count a total
of 50% of the grade.
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GROUP PROJECT AND TEACHING PRESENTATIONS - 30%
Each group will organize teaching presentations on one or two different statistical tests.
Each group will also develop a proposal for a group project and present their proposed
project to the class at the end of the semester.
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CLASS PARTICIPATION - 20%
Class attendance, participation, and homework will count for the remaining 20% of the
grade.
Class Participation: Students are expected to come to class on time prepared with comments
and questions from their assigned readings and exercises. They are also expected to participate
actively in discussions and work in their groups to organize a teaching session and develop a
proposed project.
Assigned Readings: Statistics: A tool for social research, Joseph F. Healey, Eighth edition
This text will be supplemented with hand outs.
Academic Integrity: Students are expected to adhere to the University’s Code of Academic
Integrity. Care should be taken to avoid academic integrity violations, including: plagiarism,
fabrication of information, and multiple submissions. Students who engage in any of these
actions will be referred to the Office of Academic Integrity, which investigates and decides on
sanctions in cases of academic dishonesty.
See link for more information: http://www.upenn.edu/academicintegrity/index.html
MPH Academic Standing Policy/Academic Probation: According to University policy, a
graduate student must maintain a ‘B’ average or better to be considered in good academic
standing. A student who does not meet the University policy of a ‘B’ /3.0 average will be
reviewed by the MPH Program Director, the Associate Director and the Academic Progressions
Committee. A student may be put on academic probation for a period of 1 semester to improve
his/her overall average may be put on academic probation for a period of 1 semester to improve
his/her overall average.
Any course in which the student receives a grade below a B- will not be applied toward
the Master of Public Health degree. The record of any student who receives an unsatisfactory
grade (less than a ‘B-‘) in a course or who does not meet the University policy of a ‘B’ /3.0
average will be reviewed by the MPH Program Director, the Associate Director and the
Academic Progressions Committee. A student may be put on academic probation for a period of
1 semester to improve his/her overall average
Students may continue to take other courses during the probation period and the student
must make arrangements with the course director to remediate any grades lower than a B-. These
arrangements must be approved by the MPH Program Director with input from the Academic
Progressions Committee as needed. Any student who is on academic probation for a period
greater than 1 semester will be referred to the Academic Progressions Committee for review and
recommendation. This committee is authorized to dismiss the student or allow the student to
remain in the program on a probationary basis. A return to good academic standing is contingent
on receiving an acceptable grade (B or higher) in all remaining courses.
The MPH grading policy is at the discretion of the individual course instructors.
Please find below the generally used grading scale for the MPH Program.
A+ 97-100
B+ 87-89
C+ 77-79
A
93-96
B
83-86
C
73-76
A- 90-92
B- 80-82
C- 70-72
F
Please note that an A+ carries the same weight (4.0) as an A.
0-69
Incomplete Grade: It is expected that a matriculated Master of Public Health student shall
complete the work of a course during the semester in which that course is taken. A student who
fails to complete a course within the prescribed period shall receive at the instructor’s discretion
either a grade of I (incomplete) or F (failure). If the incomplete is given, the instructor may
permit an extension of time up to one year for the completion of the course. In such cases, any
course which is still incomplete after one calendar year from its official ending must remain as
incomplete on the student’s record and shall not be credited toward the MPH degree. Students
who receive two or more incompletes within a semester may not register for the subsequent
semester(s) without the permission of the Department.
For additional information on academic policies, please refer to the corresponding sections in the
Student Handbook.
Course Outline / Assignments:
Class
1
Date
9/15
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2
3
4
5
9/22
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9/29
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10/6
10/13
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6
10/20
Class Topics
Intro to class and biostatistics
Descriptive statistics
Rates
Ratios
Percentages
Graphs & Charts
Assignments
Healey (Chapters 1 & 2)
Measures of Central Tendency
Healey (Chapters 3&4)
Mean
Median
Mode
Skew
Measures of Dispersion
Range
Standard deviation
Variance
The Normal Curve
Healey (Chapters 5&6)
The concept
Z-statistic
Probabilities & areas under the curve
Inferential Statistics
Random sample
Standard error of the mean
Stratified sample
Cluster sample
NO CLASS - DR. GRISSO AWAY
Confidence Level
Healey (Chapters 7&8)
Alpha error
Bias
Hypothesis Testing
Null Hypothesis:Alternative Hypothesis
Statistical significance
One-tailed, two-tailed
Sample Size: Type 1 error, Type 2 error, Power Hand out
Hypothesis testing : Student’s t-test
Healey (Chapter 9)
7
10/27
MIDTERM
8
11/3
Analysis of Variance
Healey (Chapter 10)
9
11/10
Chi Square Test
Linear Regression
Healey (Chapter 11)
Healey Chapter 15)
10
11/17
Multivariate Regression
Odds Ratios
Healey (Chapters 16, 17)
Hand out
11
11/24
Logistic Regression
Survival Analysis
Hand out
12
13
12/1
12/8
Critical review of the literature
NO CLASS - THANKSGIVING
Presentations
14
12/15
Presentations & Take Home Final Exam
Hand out