The program consists of 8 courses (20 academic credits), which comprised the core curriculum of the Master of Science courses in the Department of Population Health Sciences. Training includes courses in analytic methods, statistical programming, and research methods.

$850 per credit

All required courses for the certificate program are self-contained within the Department of Population Health Sciences (e.g., no need for courses outside the department).

Please note:

• Odd-numbered courses are offered in the fall and even-numbered courses are offered in the spring.
• Each course is a full-year, indivisible course offered in two parts (fall and spring). You must take both parts of the same course in the same year (e.g., if you take Analytic Methods I, you must take Analytic Methods II the same year), and you may not take the courses out of sequence (e.g., Analytic Methods I must be completed before taking Analytic Methods II).
• In order to support students who have relevant prior experience or training, courses may be substituted with a more advanced (800-level or 900-level) PHS course in a similar area. This requires prior approval of the PHS Director of Graduate Studies.
   

POPHS 701 Foundations of Biostatistics for Population Health
Instructor: Brad Hammill

This course is an applied introduction to biostatistical methods for population health research. Topics include descriptive data analysis, foundational concepts of statistical inference, inferential methods for categorical and continuous data, and simple regression analysis for continuous outcomes. Students will use statistical software to explore data and perform statistical analysis.

POPHS 702 Regression Methods for Population Health 
Instructor: Brad Hammill

Building on POPHS 701, this course covers regression methods for population health data. Topics include multivariable linear regression and logistic regression, with an introduction to generalized linear models and causal inference methods. Survival analysis and related regression methods are also covered. Students will use statistical software to explore data and perform statistical analysis.

POPHS 703 Introduction to Statistical Programming for Population Health Sciences I
Concurrent with POPHS 701
Instructor: Faculty

Students will be introduced to statistical software packages (e.g., SAS Software System, R Statistical Computing Platform) to provide an introduction to the core ideas of programming, including data preparation, input/output, debugging, and strategies for program design. Students will learn to write code to perform descriptive, statistical, and graphical analyses, and write maintainable code to test for correctness, and to apply basic principles of reproducibility. Programming techniques and their applications will be closely connected with the methods and examples presented in the co-requisite Biostatistics in PopHealth course POPHS 701. This course assumes minimal programming knowledge. 

POPHS 704 Introduction to Statistical Programming for Population Health Sciences II
Concurrent with POPHS 702 
Instructor: Faculty

Students will build on programming learned in POPHS 703 using the SAS Software System and R Statistical Computing Platform. Students will perform descriptive, statistical, and graphical analyses, and write maintainable code, test code for correctness, and apply basic principles of reproducibility. Programming and assignments will be closely connected with the methods and examples presented in the co-requisite regression methods course POPHS 702. 

POPHS 705 Introduction to Population Health Sciences
Instructor: Heather King

This course introduces students to population health, the distribution of health within and between populations across the lifespan and over time; understood through health determinants, disparities, and outcomes as well as healthcare access, cost, and quality. The course explores the who and how of population health sciences, which aims to intervene at multiple levels to improve population health. Within population health sciences, attention will be paid in the course to preliminary research considerations (e.g., ethics, searching the literature, critical appraisal, theories/models/frameworks), research questions, and approaches (i.e., quantitative and particularly qualitative and mixed methods).

POPHS 706 Introduction to the US Healthcare System
Instructor: Virginia Wang

This course is designed to introduce students from multiple disciplines to the fundamental characteristics of health care systems; the organization, financing, and delivery of services in the US health care system; the role of prevention and other non-medical factors in population health outcomes; key management and policy issues in contemporary health systems; and public policy and its impact on the prospects for improvement health systems and population health.

POPHS 707 Research Methods I - Measuring Health and Designing Studies in Population Research
Instructor: Sudha Raman

This is the first in a two-course sequence in which we will establish a strong foundation in population health research methodology through in-depth coverage of quantitative study design. The course introduces critical concepts in research methods including understanding populations, measuring and describing health, defining exposures, interventions and outcomes, study design including randomized trials and cohort studies, and threats to internal validity, such as confounding and bias. The course work and activities aim to develop the ability to identify and select study design features in a given context, and interpret and critique research results.

POPHS 708 Research Methods II: Evidence, Methods, and Decision Making in Population Health
Instructors: Dana Pasquale

The course introduces critical concepts in research methods including understanding populations; measuring and describing health with limited or imperfect data; defining exposures, interventions, and outcomes; study design in applied settings; challenges to application; and working with stakeholders. The course work and activities aim to develop the student’s ability to understand how to design, interpret, and critique population health assessments and interventions. The foundation for these topics and skills was set in 707. 

The PHSR is designed exclusively for working professionals and is not available to any degree-seeking students, those at Duke or elsewhere.

Participants may take up to 3 years to complete the program. Completion over 2 years is recommended, though participants have the option to complete the certificate in 1 year. 

Please email Heidi McCann a CV and a 500-word personal statement.

All submitted applications will be reviewed by a faculty member.

Selected candidates will be asked to complete a virtual interview with members of the DPHS Education Team, prior to a decision being reached.

The application decisions will be made on a rolling basis and no later than September 1. Decisions will be released through email notification only.

Coursework will be graded according to the same policies outlined by The Graduate School:

• A (exceptional, 4.0 grade point) is the highest grade.
• B (good, 3.0 grade point) and
• C (satisfactory, 2.0 grade point)
• F (failing) is unsatisfactory.
• I (incomplete) indicates that some element of the student’s work is missing for an acceptable reason at the time grades are reported.