Biostatistics Certificate Program

This online certificate program in Biostatistics and Epidemiology covers the skills needed to gather, analyze, and assess data for clinical trials, epidemiology studies, and medical research.

Overview

This online certificate program in biostatistics and epidemiology provides the skills needed to gather, analyze, and assess data for activities like clinical trials, medical research, and public health studies. This ten course program – including seven required courses and three electives – covers the critical, statistical concepts used in medical and health sciences.

The core curriculum includes instruction at the graduate level, and is taught by leading experts in biostatistics and epidemiology. The certificate program includes a deep dive into biostatistics for medical science and public health, and mixes theory and practical application so you can apply your skills immediately at your current job or leverage them as you seek a new one. You can choose your electives so as to focus on either epidemiology or randomized controlled trials.

This certificate offers a path to college credit – via the American Council on Education – to other institutions in the U.S. It offers approximately 28 credits in this way; compare to a Master’s degree program in biostatistics. See course offerings below.

Who This Certificate Serves

Forbes recently named Biostatistician as the #1 best Master's Degree for job seekers. This program is for you if you are a medical or public health researcher seeking to boost your statistical skills, a biologist or statistician seeking to extend your skills to biostatistics, or a clinical trial professional seeking to master the statistical issues in clinical trials. Related job titles include:

Medical researcher
Healthcare Professional
Professor
Research Scientist

Epidemiologist
Data Analyst
Data Scientist
Quantitative Scientist

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of the program, you will have learned how to gather, analyze, and assess data for activities like clinical trials, medical research and public health. More specifically, you will be able to:

Design and analysis principles for randomized controlled trials
Design principles for observational (epidemiological) studies, and the potential problems with these studies
Understand concepts of inference relevant for biostatistics (ROC curves, odds ratios, relative risk)
How to fit linear and logistic regression models, interpret output, and conduct diagnostics

Know how to model and evaluate survival (time-to-event) data
Choose best methods to determine sample size for a study, and calculate power
Use Bayesian methods for analyzing data (electives)

Prerequisites

You should be familiar with introductory statistics; if needed we can enroll you in Statistics 1 and Statistics 2 at no charge.

Statistics 1 – Probability and Study Design

This course, the first of a three-course sequence, provides an introduction to statistics for those with little or no prior exposure to basic probability and statistics.

Topic: Statistics, Introductory Statistics | Skill: Introductory | Credit Options: ACE, CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 2, 2020, Oct 30, 2020

Statistics 2 – Inference and Association

This course, the second of a three-course sequence, will teach you the use of inference and association through a series of practical applications, based on the resampling/simulation approach, and how to test hypotheses, compute confidence intervals regarding proportions or means, computer correlations, and use of simple linear regressions.

Topic: Statistics, Introductory Statistics | Skill: Introductory | Credit Options: ACE, CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 9, 2020, Nov 6, 2020, Dec 4, 2020

Required Courses

The Biostatistics Certificate Program consists of ten 4-week courses offered completely online at Statistics.com. Below find the seven required courses you will need to take:

Biostatistics 1 – For Medical Science and Public Health

This course teaches the principal statistical concepts used in medical and health sciences. Basic concepts common to all statistical analysis and of specific importance in medicine and health are covered in detail.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CEU
Class Start Dates: Jan 1, 2021, Jul 30, 2021

Biostatistics 2 – For Medical Science and Public Health

This course teaches you clinical trial designs including randomized controlled trials, ROC curves, CI and tests for relative risk and odds ratio, and an introduction to survival analysis.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CEU
Class Start Dates: Feb 5, 2021, Aug 27, 2021

Categorical Data Analysis

This course will teach you the analysis of contingency table data. Topics include tests for independence, comparing proportions as well as chi-square, exact methods, and treatment of ordered data. Both 2-way and 3-way tables are covered.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 2, 2020, Apr 2, 2021, Oct 8, 2021, Apr 1, 2022

Designing Valid Statistical Studies

This course will teach you how to design studies to produce statistically valid conclusions. Topics covered in the course include: overview of validity and bias, selection bias, information bias, and confounding bias.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Introductory | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Feb 12, 2021, Jul 2, 2021

Regression Analysis

This course will teach you how multiple linear regression models are derived, assumptions in the models, how to test whether data meets assumptions, and develop strategies for building and understanding useful models.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 2, 2020, Jan 15, 2021, May 7, 2021, Oct 1, 2021

Sample Size and Power Determination

This course will teach you how to make sample size determinations for various statistical tests and for confidence intervals, as needed for experimental studies such as comparison studies, as well as for other types of experiments.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Introductory, Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 30, 2020, Apr 9, 2021, Oct 29, 2021

Survival Analysis

This course will teach you the various methods used for modeling and evaluating survival data or time-to event data.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Sep 18, 2020, Mar 5, 2021, Sep 17, 2021

Elective Courses

In addition to the required courses for the Biostatistics Certificate program, you must choose three electives from the list below to complete your program:

Introduction to MCMC and Bayesian Regression via rstan

In this course, students learn how to apply Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques (MCMC) to Bayesian statistical modeling using R and rstan.

Topic: Statistics, Bayesian, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate, Advanced | Credit Options: CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 16, 2020, Oct 15, 2021, Oct 14, 2022

Spatial Statistics for GIS Using R

This course will teach you spatial statistical analysis methods to address problems in which spatial location. This course will explain and give examples of the analysis that can be conducted in a geographic information system such as ArcGIS or Mapinfo.

Topic: Statistics, Analytics, Data Exploration, Statistical Modeling, Using R | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 23, 2020

Statistics 3 – ANOVA and Regression

This course, the third of a three-course sequence, provides ananalysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression through a series of practical applications.

Topic: Statistics, Introductory Statistics | Skill: Introductory, Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Sep 18, 2020, Nov 20, 2020

Introduction to Resampling Methods

The course introduces the basic concepts and methods of resampling methods including bootstrap procedures and permutation with little or no complex theory or confusing notation.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Introductory, Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Mar 5, 2021, Mar 4, 2022

Introduction to Statistical Issues in Clinical Trials

This course will teach you the basic statistical principles in the design and analysis of randomized controlled trials.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Introductory | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Nov 27, 2020, Jun 11, 2021, Nov 26, 2021, Jun 10, 2022

Logistic Regression

This course will teach you logistic regression ordinary least squares (OLS) methods to model data with binary outcomes rather than directly estimating the value of the outcome, logistic regression allows you to estimate the probability of a success or failure.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Jan 8, 2021, Jul 16, 2021

Matrix Algebra

This course will teach you the basics of vector and matrix algebra and operations necessary to understand multivariate statistical methods, including the notions of the matrix inverse, generalized inverse and eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Mar 26, 2021, Aug 13, 2021, Mar 25, 2022

Maximum Likelihood Estimation

This course will teach you the derivation of maximum likelihood estimates and their properties.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Nov 27, 2020, Apr 16, 2021, Nov 26, 2021

Meta Analysis 1

This course will explain meta analysis and the methods that are used to assess multiple statistical studies on the same subject and draw conclusions.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Nov 6, 2020

Meta Analysis 2

This course will teach you advanced issues in meta-analysis and the statistical analyses that are used to synthesize summary data from a series of studies.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Aug 20, 2021, Aug 19, 2022

Modeling Count Data

This course will teach you regression models for count data, models with a response or dependent variable data in the form of a count or rate, Poisson regression, the foundation for modeling counts, and extensions and modifications to the basic model.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate, Advanced | Credit Options: CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Oct 23, 2020

Multivariate Statistics

This course will teach you key multivariate procedures such as multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA), principal components, factor analysis, and classification.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate, Advanced | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Jan 29, 2021, Jul 23, 2021, Jan 28, 2022

Clinical Trials – Phamacokinetics and Bioequivalence

This course will teach you the statistical measurement and analysis methods relevant to the study of pharmacokinetics, dose-response modeling, and bioequivalence. The course provides practical work with actual/simulated clinical trial data.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Jul 16, 2021, Jul 15, 2022

Cluster Analysis

This course will teach you how to use various cluster analysis methods to identify possible clusters in multivariate data. Methods discussed include hierarchical clustering, k-means clustering, two-step clustering, and normal mixture models for continuous variables.

Topic: Statistics, Analytics, Marketing Analytics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: ACE, CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: May 28, 2021, May 27, 2022

Epidemiologic Statistics

This course will teach you the underlying concepts and methods of epidemiologic statistics: study designs, and measures of disease frequency and treatment effect.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Introductory | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Nov 6, 2020, Nov 5, 2021

Independent Data Monitoring Committees in Clinical Trials

This course will teach you the statistical display and analysis methods used in monitoring clinical trials for safety, as well as the biases and pitfalls inherent in safety review.

Topic: Statistics, Biostatistics | Skill: Introductory, Intermediate | Credit Options: CEU

Introduction to Bayesian Computing and Techniques

This course will teach you how to apply Markov Chain Monte Carlo techniques (MCMC) to Bayesian statistical modeling using WinBUGS software.

Topic: Statistics, Bayesian | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Aug 20, 2021, Aug 19, 2022

Introduction to Bayesian Hierarchical and Multi-level Models

This course will teach you how to extend the Bayesian modeling framework to cover hierarchical models and to add flexibility to standard Bayesian modeling problems.

Topic: Statistics, Bayesian, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate, Advanced | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Nov 20, 2020, Nov 19, 2021, Nov 18, 2022

Introduction to Bayesian Statistics

This course will teach you the basic ideas of Bayesian Statistics: how to perform Bayesian analysis for a binomial proportion, a normal mean, the difference between normal means, the difference between proportions, and for a simple linear regression model.

Topic: Statistics, Bayesian, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Jan 22, 2021, Jul 23, 2021, Jan 21, 2022

Bayesian Statistics in R

This course will teach you how to specify and run Bayesian modeling procedures using regression models for continuous, count and categorical data Using R and the associated R package JAGS.

Topic: Statistics, Bayesian, Statistical Modeling, Using R | Skill: Intermediate | Credit Options: CAP, CEU
Class Start Dates: Sep 18, 2020, Sep 17, 2021

Bootstrap Methods

This course will teach you the basic theory and application of the bootstrap family of procedures with the emphasis on applications.

Topic: Statistics, Statistical Modeling | Skill: Intermediate, Advanced | Credit Options: CEU
Class Start Dates: Sep 17, 2021, Sep 16, 2022, Sep 15, 2023

Course Calendar

You can get started with any of these courses:

Biostatistics 1
Categorical Data Analysis
Sample Size and Power Determination
Designing Valid Statistical Studies

Try it out: take one of the courses, then apply it retroactively to your certificate program after you enroll.

Survival Analysis	(4-week class)	Sep 18, 2020
Categorical Data Analysis	(4-week class)	Oct 2, 2020
Regression Analysis	(4-week class)	Oct 2, 2020
Sample Size and Power Determination	(4-week class)	Oct 30, 2020
Biostatistics 1 - For Medical Science and Public Health	(4-week class)	Jan 1, 2021
Regression Analysis	(4-week class)	Jan 15, 2021
Biostatistics 2 - For Medical Science and Public Health	(4-week class)	Feb 5, 2021
Designing Valid Statistical Studies	(4-week class)	Feb 12, 2021
Survival Analysis	(4-week class)	Mar 5, 2021
Categorical Data Analysis	(4-week class)	Apr 2, 2021

What Our Students Say

I really enjoyed this course and found it sufficiently challenging, although well explained and the instructor was very approachable and explained concepts and addressed questions clearly and fairly. Looking forward to Biostats 2!

Claire Kentler

La Trobe University

A very nice introduction to the subject. As someone without any real background in epidemiology, now moving into an area where I need it, this course was very helpful indeed.

Rhondda Jones

James Cook University

Tuition and Fees

Our Biostatistics Certificate Program – the equivalent of a Master’s Degree in content and topical coverage – is a fraction of the cost of what you would pay at a University. The workload is equal to 28 credits in the U.S. academic system which are transferable via the American Council on Education. Choose to pay as you go, or get a discount for paying in full today.

Pay As You Go

$5,647

Pay In Advance

$5,000

Payment options

$5000 one-time fee [best value]

$290/month for 18 months [$5220]

$495 enrollment + course fees [$5750]

Frequently Asked Questions

Are there admission requirements?

You should have recently had introductory statistics, equivalent to our Statistics 1 and Statistics 2 courses. If you haven’t, or if you’d like to go over that basic material again as a refresher course, we’ll put enroll in Statistics 1 and Statistics 2 at no charge once we accept your application.

Please see our knowledge center for more information.

Can I apply courses I have already taken?

We will transfer up to three courses to your program, provided you received adequate grades on your courses.

Is there an application deadline for the certificate program?

Applications are accepted year-round on a rolling basis and courses begin every month.

Are the certificate programs accredited?

The Institute for Statistics Education is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV).

In addition, many of the courses at The Institute for Statistics Education have been recommended for credit by The American Council on Education (ACE), INFORMS, and can be used as CEUs in many programs.

The American Council on Education (ACE) approved credit for many of the required courses for our certificate programs and can be transferred to another educational institution that accepts ACE credit.

How long do I have to complete the certificate?

If you take one course at a time, most programs can be completed in 12-15 months. We know that sometimes life takes unexpected turns, so you have three (3) years to complete the certificate.

Please see our knowledge center for more information.

Visit our knowledge base and learn more.

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Additional Series Information

Organization of Program

The Certificate program includes are all standard Statistics.com courses – small classes, regular interaction with your instructor throughout the course, rapid expert feedback on your homework and projects. You can register for the courses individually, and even incorporate courses that you have recently successfully completed.

Time Requirements

There are 10 courses, each are 4 weeks long. You may build your own course calendar to meet your individual requirements. The certificate program can be completed in less than a year.

Course Fee & Information

The fee for the Biostatistics Certificate program if you pay in full is only $5,000. This includes the program registration fee, and individual course fees. It reflects considerable savings that are available if you pay the program cost upon enrollment. Note: all tuition held on account must be used within two (2) years from date of purchase.

You also have the option to pay on a course-by-course basis with our pay as you go model estimated fee of $5,973. You will need to pay the registration fee to enroll which is $495. The “pay-as-you-go” estimate includes the registration fee, individual course fees (required: $3,473 and estimated electives:$1,425) that you pay as you progress through the program, as well as various tuition savings available to you once you are a matriculated certificate candidate at the Institute. The actual total cost of the program may vary slightly depending on several factors and may differ slightly from the estimate above; fees are subject to change without prior notice.

Options for Credit and Recognition

Our Biostatistics Certificate program – the equivalent of a Mastery Degree – is equal to 28 credits in the U. S. academic system which are transferable via the American Council on Education. More details on ACE and accreditation can be found here.

Miscellaneous

Visit our knowledge base to learn more about our Certificate programs.