Biostatistics for the Health Sciences (BIOST 310) – Winter 2013

BIOST 310: Biostatistics for the Health Sciences (4 credits)

Instructor: James P. Hughes, Ph.D.

Lecture: MWF, 2:30-3:20, Health Sciences T-639

Discussion: Th, 2:30-3:20, Health Sciences K-069 Or Fri, 1:30-2:20, Health Sciences T531

Prerequisites: College algebra (MATH 111) or higher.

The objective of this biostatistics course is to provide students with an understanding of basic concepts of data analysis and statistical inference in the medical and health sciences.

The major areas covered are:

• Data Description and Exploratory Data Analysis used in health-related journals
• Design of Medical and Health Studies
• Screening Tests for Disease
• Role of statistical inference in public health and medical studies
• Statistical methods for evaluating the association of factors with health outcomes

The course will make extensive use of case studies and examples drawn from the biomedical and health sciences literature; many of these examples will have been covered in the popular press and may be familiar to students. Each case study will cover approximately one week (3 lectures and a discussion) and will be used to motivate learning basic statistical ideas in the areas outlined above. Presentation of concepts will be emphasized and students will not be expected to do extensive analyses of data themselves.

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