Course Requirements

EPIDEMIOLOGY

Epidemiologic Methods I & II (EPI 512-513)
Principles and methods of epidemiology. Covers measures of disease frequency, measures of effect, causal inferences, descriptive epidemiology, study types, misclassification, and effect modification. EPI 512: 4 credits
Considers how designs of epidemiologic studies may be constructed to maximize etiologic inferences. Covers confounding randomized trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, and selected topics. EPI 513: 4 credits

BIOSTATISTICS

Applied Biostatistics I (BIOSTAT 517)
Introduction to the analysis of biomedical data. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis for discrete, continuous, and right censored random variables. Analytic methods based on elementary parametric and non-parametric models for one sample; two sample (independent and paired), stratified sample, and simple regression problems. Offered: A. BIOST 517: 4 credits

Applied Biostatistics II (BIOSTAT 518)
Multiple regression for continuous, discrete, and right censored response variables, including dummy variables, transformations, and interactions. Introduction to regression with correlated outcome data. Model and case diagnostics. Computer assignments using real data and standard statistical computer packages. Prerequisite: BIOST 517 or permission of instructor. Offered: W. BIOST 518: 4 credits

Medical Biometry I, II & III (BIOST 511, 512, 513)
The principles and methods of data description and elementary parametric and nonparametric statistical analysis drawn from examples in the medical literature. BIOST 511: 4 credits
Multiple regression, analysis of covariance, and an introduction to one-way and two-way analyses of variance: including assumptions, transformations, outlier detection, dummy variables, and variable selection procedures. Examples drawn from the biomedical literature with computer assignments using standard statistical computer packages.

BIOST 512: 4 credits
Analysis of categorical data including two sample methods, sets of 2 x 2 tables, R x C tables, and logistic regression. Classification and discrimination techniques. Survival analysis including product limit estimates and the Cox proportional hazards model.

BIOST 513: 4 credits

(Both sets of Biostatistics classes cover the same topics)

Survival Data Analysis in Epidemiology (BIOST 537)
Introduction to multivariate analysis of survival data using multiplicative models. Application to epidemiologic studies. Familiarity with interpretation and available computer programs gained by analysis of bona fide sets of data and critiques of analyses appearing in the literature. Prerequisite: BIOST 536 or permission of instructor. BIOST 537: 4 credits

HEALTH SERVICES

Advanced Health Services Research Methods I: Large Public Databases; Big Data (4-5) HSERV (523)
Introduces the new big data of health services research, health claims, and survey databases. Discusses the promises and pitfalls of the data and models for analyzing the correlates of health care costs and utilization. Prerequisite: either HSERV 511, BIOST 511/BIOST 512/BIOST 513, BIOST 517/BIOST 518, or EPI 511/EPI 512, and permission of instructor.

HEALTH ECONOMICS & OUTCOMES RESEARCH

Pharmacoepidemiology (HEOR 520)
Overview of pharmacoepidemiology including drug development and approval; application of epidemiologic methods to study drug safety and effectiveness; exploration of the interplay between research and public policy; introduction to resources for information about drugs; introduction to pharmacology principles pertinent to pharmacoepidemiology. HEOR 520: 3 credits

Economic Evaluation in Health and Medicine (HEOR 530)
Concepts and methods for evaluating cost and outcomes of health and medical interventions with a focus on cost-effectiveness analysis, pharmacoeconomics, health and quality of life assessment, resource allocation, and medical decision-making. HEOR 530: 3 credits

Advanced Methods in Economic and Outcomes Evaluation (HEOR 533)
Covers advanced methods and techniques for evaluating costs, outcomes, and cost-effectiveness of health, medical, and pharmaceutical interventions. Topics include: network meta-analysis, Markov modeling, probabilistic sensitivity analysis, value of information analysis, utility mapping, conjoint analysis, and budget impact analysis. Prerequisite: either HEOR 530 and HEOR 531 or permission of instructor. HEOR 532: 3 credits

Assessing Outcomes in Health & Medicine (HEOR 534)
Methods and techniques for evaluating costs and cost-effectiveness of health, medical, and pharmaceutical interventions. Emphasis on economic evaluation, decision analysis, and modeling techniques for resource allocation and decision making. Applications to technology assessment, health policy, clinical practice, and resource allocation. HEOR 531: 3 credits

Health Economics (HEOR 540)
Applies microeconomic principles and models to understand the nature of health care markets and systems. Topics cover a wide range of health sector activities and policy issues studied by applying rigorous economic analytical tools coupled with review of key related econometric and empirical analyses. Prerequisite: introductory coursework in microeconomic principles and basic statistics. HEOR 540: 3 credits

Methods in Pharmaceutical Policy Analysis (HEOR 545)
Introduction to the tools used in and the framework and dominant contexts for pharmaceuticals policy development and analysis. Methods reviewed in a series of sessions presenting a specific method and case analyses involving pharmaceuticals development. HEOR 545: 4 credits

Advanced Health Services Research Methods III: Casual Inference Using Observational Data (HEOR 551)
Focuses on reviewing statistical methods developed for “micro” (individual-level) data on behavior (choices or exposures) and outcomes in order to make casual inference about the role of a choice or an exposure on outcomes. Prerequisite: either HSERV 523, BIOST 511, BIOST 512, BIOST 513, or permission of instructor. Cross-listed with HSERV 525.

Graduate Seminar* (HEOR 597)
Interactive discussion of topical issues, methods, or analytic techniques. Topics vary. Credit/no credit only. Prerequisite: graduate program student. HEOR597: 1 credit (Minimum 12 credits)

Independent Research (HEOR 600): variable credits + Electives** (must have between 32 credits)

Doctoral Dissertation Research (PHARM 800): variable credits (must have 27 to graduate)

*Students must enroll in HEOR 597, Seminar each quarter they are enrolled as a student.

**Recommended Electives are: HSERV 524-Advanced Methods II (Advanced Biostatistics/Econometrics); EPI 588-Preparing & Writing Research Proposals; PPM 506 Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis

ELECTIVES

Below is a selection of available electives appropriate for areas of specialization.

This list is not all-inclusive. Students are encouraged to check the websites of classes in these departments and in other listings; and then to work with their mentor to formulate a plan to optimize selections to fit interests.

List of Suggested Electives

Bold = highly recommended as an elective

BIOMEDICAL & HEALTH INFORMATICS

MEBI 530: Medical Informatics (3)
MEBI 533: Public Health & Informatics (3)
MEBI 534: Biology & Informaticists (3)
MEBI 552: Clinical Decision Support (3)
BIME 535: Clinical Care Informatics (3)

BIOSTATISTICS/STATISTICS

BIOST 509: Intro to R for Health Sciences (2)
BIOST 516: Statistical Methods in Genetic Epidemiology (3)
BIOST 524: Design of Medical Studies (3)
BIOST 526: Bayesian Biostatistics (3)
BIOST 527 Nonparametric Regression and Classification (3)
BIOST 529: Sample Survey Techniques (3)
BIOSTAT 532: Research Ethics in the Data Sciences (2)
BIOST 536: Categorical Data Analysis (4)
BIOST 540: Longitudinal & Multilevel Data Analysis (3)
BIOST 544: Introduction to Biomedical Data Science (4)
BIOST 546: Machine Learning and Big Data (3)
CS&SS 508: Introduction to R for Social Scientists (1)
CS&SS 510: Maximum Likelihood Methods for the Social Sciences (5)
CS&SS 526: Structural Equation Models for the Social Sciences (3)
CS&SS 529: Sample Survey Techniques (3)
CS&SS 536: Analysis of Categorical and Count Data (3)
CS&SS 560: Hierarchical Modeling for the Social Sciences (4)
CS&SS 564: Bayesian Statistics for the Social Sciences (4)
CS&SS 566: Causal Modeling (4)
CS&SS 567: Statistical Analysis of Social Networks (4)
CS&SS 569: Visualizing Data (4)
CS&SS 589: Multivariate Data Analysis for the Social Sciences (3)
STAT 516, 517, 518: Stochastic Modeling of Scientific Data (3,3,3)
STAT 519: Time Series Analysis (3)
STAT 542: Multivariate Analysis (3)

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING

CSE 142: Computer Programming I (4)
CSE 143: Computer Programming II (5)
CSE 160: Data Programming (4)
CSE 512: Data Visualization (4)

ECONOMICS, ECONOMETRICS AND COST-EFFECTIVENESS

IND E 250 – Healthcare Modeling and Decision Making
ECON 400: Advanced Microeconomics (5)
ECON 450: Public Finance: Expenditure Policy (5)
ECON 454: Cost-Benefit Analysis (5)
ECON 500: Microeconomic Analysis I (4)
ECON 518: Contract Theory (3)
ECON 534: Empirical Industrial Organization (3)
ECON 580: Econometrics I: Introduction to Mathematical Statistics (4)
ECON 581: Econometrics II (4)
ECON 591: Microeconomics of Development (3)
ECON 592: Development Policy (3)
ECON 594: Economic Growth (3)
ECON 595: Growth and Inequality(3)
PPM 506: Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis (4)
PPM 512: Data Analysis Practicum (4)
HSERV 587: Health Policy Economics (3)

EPIDEMIOLOGY

EPI 510: Epidemiologic Data Analysis (3)
EPI 514: Application of Epidemiologic Methods (5)
EPI 515: Advanced Epidemiological Methods I (3)
EPI 516: Advanced Epidemiologic Methods II (4)
EPI 517/PHG 511: Genetic Epidemiology (3)
EPI 520: Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases (3)
EPI 524: Cancer: Epidemiology and Biology (3)
EPI 529: Emerging Infections of International Public Health Importance (3-)
EPI 530: AIDS: A Multidisciplinary Approach (2)
EPI 542: Clinical Epidemiology (2)
EPI 546: Psychiatric Epidemiology (3)
EPI 548: Research Methods for Social & Contextual Determinants of Health (3)
EPI 570: Occupational & Environmental Epidemiology (2)
EPI 573: Methods in Using Biological Measurements (3)
EPI 582: Design and Analytic Strategies to Enhance the Validity of Epidemiologic Studies (2)
EPI 583: Epidemiology Seminar (1, max. 12)
EPI 588: Preparing, Writing, and Critiquing Scientific Research Proposals (2-3)
EPI 591: Current Literature in Epidemiology (1, max. 15)

EVALUATION SCIENCES

HSERV 527: Survey Research Methods (4)
BIOST 529: Sample Survey Techniques (3)
SOC WL 590: Topics in Advanced Research Methods (3)
EDPSY 588: Survey Research Methodology & Theory (3)
EDPSY 592: Advanced Educational Measurements (3)
EDPSY 595: Item Response Theory Models of Testing (3)
GH 533: Survey Research Methods (4)

GLOBAL HEALTH

GH 531: Research & Evaluation Methods in Global Health (3/4)
GH 533: Survey Research Methods (4)
GH 541: Implementation Science (4)
GH 543: Global Health Pharmacy: Medicines, Practice, & Policy (2)

HEALTH SERVICES

HSERV 509: Public Health & Informatics (3)
HSERV 512: Health Systems & Policy (3)
HSERV 513: Health Policy Research (3)
HSERV 514: Social Determinants of Population Health & Health Disparities (3)
HSERV 518: Social & Ethical Issues (2-4, max. 4)
HSERV 521: Advanced Qualitative Methods in Anthropology & Public Health (5)
HSERV 522: Health Program Evaluation (1-5, max. 5)
HSERV 527: Survey Research Methods (4)
HSERV 528: Critically Appraising & Applying Evidence in Healthcare (3)
HSERV 529: Intro to Systematic Reviews & Meta-Analysis of Evidence (3)
HSERV 544 Maternal and Child Health in Low and Middle Income Countries (3)
HSERV 548 Research Methods for Social and Contextual Determinants of Health (3)
HSERV 551: Public Health Law (2)
HSERV 552: Health Policy Development (3-)
HSERV 553: Health Policy Development and Advocacy in the United States (4)
HSERV 555 Health Disparities (2)
HSERV 575: Cancer Prevention & Control (3)
HSERV 578: Grant Writing (3)
HSERV 580 Foundations of Health Behavior and Social Determinants of Health (2)
HSERV 589: Community Based Participatory Research & Health (3)
HSERV 592: Program Seminars (1)

HEALTH MANAGEMENT

HSMGMT 500: Risk & Insurance Seminar (3)
HSMGMT 501: Epidemiology/Critical Evidence Appraisal (2-4, max. 4)

HUMAN CENTERED DESIGN AND ENGINEERING

HCDE 511: Information Visualization (4)

INFORMATION SCHOOL

IMT 543: Relational Database Management Systems (3)

METHODS

BIOST 524: Design of Medical Studies (3)
HSERV 529: Introduction to Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis of Evidence (3)
HEOR 510: Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (2)

PROGRAMMING

BIOSTATS 509: Introduction to R
FISH 552/553: Intro and Advanced R Programming
INFX 501: Concepts in Algorithmic Thinking for Information (1)
INFX 502: Database Concepts for Information Professionals (1)

PUBLIC AFFAIRS; PUBLIC POLICY & MANAGEMENT

PPM 506: Advanced Microeconomics for Policy Analysis (4)
PUBPOL 518: Applied Cost Benefit Analysis (4)

PUBLIC HEALTH GENETICS

PHG 512: Legal, Ethical, and Social Issues in Public Health Genetics (3)
PHG 580: Interactive Seminar (1, max. 30)

QUALITATIVE METHODS

HSERV 590: Qualitative Research Methods in Public Health (3)
HSERV 521: Advanced Qualitative Methods in Anthropology & Public Health (3)
GEOG 426: Qualitative Methods in Geography (4)
EDPSY 586, 587: Qualitative Methods of Educational Research (5)

Course Waivers:

Admitted and enrolled students may request to waive one or more required course(s) if they have already taken the course at the UW in another degree program, or a comparable graduate-level course at another institution. Complete the following form to initiate this process:

Request to Waive a Required Course