Biostatistics Graduate Certificate
December 9, 2026
January 11, 2027
Overview
Ohio State’s online Biostatistics Graduate Certificate equips you with the background in epidemiologic study designs, biostatistics, and statistical computing required for public health data analysis in the public and private sectors.
- Understand statistical methods and techniques such as survival analysis
- Assess and improve study designs commonly used in public health research
- Interpret standard regression models using industry-standard statistical software
- Gain hands-on experience analyzing public health data
These are in-demand skills for roles like management analysts, medical scientists, statisticians, and epidemiologists.
Top 30 U.S. public health school
Join 700+ students pursuing degrees and certificates at the College of Public Health — many of them online.
Top 30 biostatistics program
Earn a graduate certificate from the home of Ohio’s best biostatistics program (U.S. News & World Report, 2026).
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Biostatistics Graduate Certificate is 100% online, with no campus visits required.
Online programs at Ohio State are here to work on your schedule. You are welcome to schedule as many credit hours per semester as you feel that you can handle. The amount of credits you schedule will help determine how long it will take to complete your program. Your expected time commitment will vary based on your course load. For every credit hour you are enrolled in, expect to complete three hours of work outside of class, for studying or projects.
Yes, this online program is fully asynchronous, meaning you can log in to view instructional materials and complete your work whenever it is best for your schedule.
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Academic Calendar
Multiple start dates are offered during the academic calendar year for online students in non-degree programs, so you can decide when to take the next step toward earning your Biostatistics Graduate Certificate.
Academic Calendar
Multiple start dates are offered during the academic calendar year for online students in non-degree programs, so you can decide when to take the next step toward earning your Biostatistics Graduate Certificate.
Spring 2027
Application Deadline
December 9, 2026
Term Start Date
January 11, 2027
Summer 2027
Application Deadline
June 27, 2027
Term Start Date
May 10, 2027
Autumn 2027
Application Opens
August 3, 2026
Application Deadline
July 30, 2027
Term Start Date
August 24, 2027
Admission Criteria
To enroll in the online Biostatistics Graduate Certificate program, you must hold a bachelor’s degree (or higher) from an accredited institution, with a B- or higher in all coursework.
Application Details
The following materials are required to be considered for admission into the program. You may review the status of your application and any outstanding requirements at appstatus.osu.edu.
To complete your application and verify your degree and undergraduate GPA, you must submit transcripts from all educational institutions you have attended.
Transcripts should be submitted directly by the sending institution by mail or electronic transfer to be considered official. Please request your transcripts be sent early so they arrive before the deadline. Transcripts can be sent to:
For U.S. institutions: Transcripts can be sent electronically from the issuing institution directly to gpadocs@osu.edu or mailed directly from the issuing institution to:
The Ohio State University
Graduate Admissions Office
P.O. Box 182004
Columbus, OH 43218-2004
For international institutions: Send copies of international transcripts, diplomas or degree certificates and English translations in sealed university envelopes to:
Graduate and Professional Admissions
The Ohio State University
Student Academic Services Building
281 W. Lane Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210-1132 USA
When applying:
- You may upload scanned copies of official transcripts, diplomas, or degree certificates to the online application system.
- These scans help form a complete application packet, but they do not replace the need for official documents.
What is not accepted:
- Advising reports
- Unofficial transcripts or scans labeled “UNOFFICIAL”
- Documents with a URL across the top
- Transcripts missing the institution’s name, seal, stamp, or GPA
These types of documents will not be used for degree verification or GPA calculation.
Exception: You do not need to submit transcripts for coursework or degrees earned from The Ohio State University.
Your current resume or CV should highlight relevant knowledge, skills, and abilities which will demonstrate that you are a good fit for the program.
A non-refundable application fee of $60 is required. Ohio State alumni may be eligible for an admissions fee waiver.
The Ohio State University participates in the State Authorization Reciprocity Agreements (SARA).
SARA is a national initiative that increases student access to distance education courses and programs while maintaining compliance with state regulations. Institutions participating in SARA can offer educational opportunities in all 49 SARA member states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico without seeking individual approval in each state.
California is not a SARA member state, however, OSU may offer online courses and programs to students located in California under the California Private Post-Secondary Act of 2009.
The Application Process
Once you understand your program’s admission criteria, please note the application deadline. You’ll need a quiet space and a variety of materials for your application. To learn more, please see our Admissions page for the full process. Ready to Apply? Find your application here.
Career Outlook
Ohio State’s online Biostatistics Graduate Certificate offers essential skills for today’s statisticians, epidemiologists, environmental health scientists and specialists, management analysts and medical scientists.
Top Occupations by Median Income
What They Do
Develop and apply biostatistical theory and methods to the study of life sciences.
Work Activities
Draw conclusions or make predictions, based on data summaries or statistical analyses. Analyze clinical or survey data, using statistical approaches such as longitudinal analysis, mixed-effect modeling, logistic regression analyses, and model-building techniques. Write detailed analysis plans and descriptions of analyses and findings for research protocols or reports.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $60,390
- Mid Level: $103,300
- Senior Level: $170,700
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
11.8%
Related Careers
- Bioinformatics Scientists
- Bioinformatics Technicians
- Clinical Data Managers
- Data Scientists
- Statisticians
Job Sectors
- Mathematics
- English Language
- Computers and Electronics
- Medicine and Dentistry
What They Do
Investigate and describe the determinants and distribution of disease, disability, or health outcomes. May develop the means for prevention and control.
Work Activities
Communicate research findings on various types of diseases to health practitioners, policy makers, and the public. Oversee public health programs, including statistical analysis, health care planning, surveillance systems, and public health improvement. Investigate diseases or parasites to determine cause and risk factors, progress, life cycle, or mode of transmission.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $56,950
- Mid Level: $83,980
- Senior Level: $134,860
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
18.8%
Related Careers
- Clinical Nurse Specialists
- Emergency Medicine Physicians
- Geneticists
- Medical Scientists, Except Epidemiologists
- Preventive Medicine Physicians
Job Sectors
- Mathematics
- Biology
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Computers and Electronics
What They Do
Conduct research or perform investigation for the purpose of identifying, abating, or eliminating sources of pollutants or hazards that affect either the environment or public health. Using knowledge of various scientific disciplines, may collect, synthesize, study, report, and recommend action based on data derived from measurements or observations of air, food, soil, water, and other sources.
Work Activities
Communicate scientific or technical information to the public, organizations, or internal audiences through oral briefings, written documents, workshops, conferences, training sessions, or public hearings. Monitor effects of pollution or land degradation and recommend means of prevention or control. Collect, synthesize, analyze, manage, and report environmental data, such as pollution emission measurements, atmospheric monitoring measurements, meteorological or mineralogical information, or soil or water samples.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $50,130
- Mid Level: $80,060
- Senior Level: $134,830
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
7.3%
Related Careers
- Conservation Scientists
- Environmental Compliance Inspectors
- Environmental Engineers
- Environmental Science and Protection Technicians, Including Health
- Industrial Ecologists
Job Sectors
- English Language
- Biology
- Customer and Personal Service
- Law and Government
- Computers and Electronics
What They Do
Conduct organizational studies and evaluations, design systems and procedures, conduct work simplification and measurement studies, and prepare operations and procedures manuals to assist management in operating more efficiently and effectively. Includes program analysts and management consultants.
Work Activities
Gather and organize information on problems or procedures. Confer with personnel concerned to ensure successful functioning of newly implemented systems or procedures. Analyze data gathered and develop solutions or alternative methods of proceeding.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $59,720
- Mid Level: $101,190
- Senior Level: $174,140
Job Outlook
Bright
Related Careers
- Business Intelligence Analysts
- Data Scientists
- Information Technology Project Managers
- Project Management Specialists
- Training and Development Managers
Job Sectors
- English Language
- Administration and Management
- Customer and Personal Service
- Mathematics
- Education and Training
What They Do
Conduct research dealing with the understanding of human diseases and the improvement of human health. Engage in clinical investigation, research and development, or other related activities.
Work Activities
Follow strict safety procedures when handling toxic materials to avoid contamination. Evaluate effects of drugs, gases, pesticides, parasites, and microorganisms at various levels. Plan and direct studies to investigate human or animal disease, preventive methods, and treatments for disease.
Wage Range
- Entry Level: $61,860
- Mid Level: $100,590
- Senior Level: $168,210
Job Outlook
Bright
Projected Growth
11.5%
Related Careers
- Biochemists and Biophysicists
- Epidemiologists
- Geneticists
- Microbiologists
- Physicians, Pathologists
Job Sectors
- Biology
- English Language
- Medicine and Dentistry
- Chemistry
- Mathematics
National occupational information in Ohio State Online’s Career Outlook tool is sourced from O*NET Online and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The median annual wage displayed to the right of each occupational title above is based on the BLS Employment Projections program. Outlook and percent change indicate projected growth or decline over the next 10 years.
Curriculum
The curriculum for the Biostatistics Graduate Certificate is delivered 100% online. Classes are asynchronous, so you can complete coursework each week on your own schedule. Coursework is focused in the areas of biostatistics and epidemiology, understanding of statistical methods such as survival analysis and introduction to a range statistical computing packages.
Introduction to the nature and scope of epidemiology; survey of basic epidemiological methods and their application to selected acute and chronic health problems.
Theory and application of basic statistical concepts for design of studies in health sciences, integrated with statistical software applications.
A second course in applied biostatistical methods with an emphasis on regression methods commonly used in the health sciences. The focus is on linear regression and ANOVA. Integrated with use of computer statistical packages.
The course will focus primarily on regression models for the different generic problems including methods for hypothesis testing, evaluating assumptions, confounding, and selection of predictors.
Selective Courses
Choose from one of the following courses (2 credit hours) to complete the Biostatistics Certificate.
Introduction to programming using SAS software to accomplish public health data management and analysis.
Introduces underlying concepts of the R programming language and R package ecosystem for manipulation, visualization, and modeling of data, and for communicating the results of and enabling replication of their analyses.
The basic statistical procedures covered will be illustrated using SAS. The intent of the course is to cover some of the SAS statistical methods that graduate students from outside the Statistics Department require for their own research.
Understanding Online Course Types
As you research the right online program for you, you likely will come across the terms “asynchronous” and “synchronous.” Learn what these terms mean and how they’re important to consider when understanding how a program will fit into your life.
Learn More
Faculty
Patrick Schnell
Assistant Professor
Fernanda Schumacher
Assistant ProfessorTestimonials
Find out how online learning has helped Ohio State students succeed.
“I could not have faced so many obstacles without the support, strength and guidance from the faculty and staff. Even when times were tough, they believed in me, so I believed in me.”
“Ohio State is a large institution with a lot of possibilities and opportunities. You will meet people who you can connect with and who will connect you with others.”
“Being able to apply everything I was working on for school immediately to my work was my favorite part of the program.”
Tuition fees are subject to change. The table above serves as a guide and not an official bursar’s bill.
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