Introduction to Biostatistics

Catalog description

This course is designed to provide a broad overview of biostatistics and its applications to public health research and practice. Topics covered will include techniques for describing and summarizing observations, for assessing associations among variables, and for determining the extent to which chance may be explaining and/or influencing the observed results. An emphasis will be placed on the practical application of biostatistics to address public health issues, rather than the underlying theoretical and mathematical concepts. Students will learn how to choose, apply, and interpret commonly used statistical tests. In addition, students will gain experience using STATA, a statistical software package, to analyze data. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to explain the (1) role of quantitative methods and sciences in describing and assessing a population’s health and (2) the critical importance of evidence in advancing public health knowledge.