Syllabus - Texas A&M University

Stat 645: Applied Biostatistics and Data Analysis
Fall 2012
Time and Place: MWF 12:40pm-1:30pm BLOC 448; Question and Answer Session W 6pm-7pm BLOC
448
Instructor: Dr. Alan Dabney
Office: 404D Blocker Building
Email: adabney@stat.tamu.edu
Office Hours: By appointment only
Teaching Assistant: Xinxin Zhu; email: xzhu@stat.tamu.edu; office hours: F 1-3pm BLOC 525A.
Course Description: This course will present a survey of many important topics in biostatistics. The goal
is for each student to gain an understanding of the statistical issues underlying these topics, as well as existing
methods and their use in R. This will be a Masters-level course, suitable for students in their second year of
studies. Students from disciplines other than statistics are encouraged to enroll. Whereas the existing twosemester
STAT 643-644 biostatistics sequence focuses on the mathematical details of biostatistics methods,
this course will be geared toward preparing Masters-level statisticians for real-world data analysis.
We will spend some time initially on getting familiar with R. We will then spend 1-3 weeks on each of the
following topics: (1) Applications of regression in biostatistics, (2) Analysis of correlated data, (3) Logistic
and Poisson regression for binary or count data, (4) Survival analysis for censored outcomes, (5) The design
and analysis of clinical trials, and (6) Special topics (including sample size calculations by simulation, and
the bootstrap for assessing statistical significance in general testing situations).
Course Material: No textbook required, although material will be representative of that in books like Linear
Models by Searle, Applied Survival Analysis and Applied Logistic Regression by Hosmer and Lemeshow,
Fundamentals of Clinical Trials by Friedman, Furberg, and DeMets, and Analysis of Longitudinal Data by
Diggle, Liang, Zeger, and Heagerty, among others.
DoStat: We will use the DoStat course management system. To access the site:
1. Go to http://dostat.tamu.edu and click on the REGISTER HERE link if you have not previously
registered. If you have previously registered this semester, continue with step 3.
2. Fill in all of the information and click on SUBMIT.
3. Log into http://dostat.tamu.edu using the information entered in step 2.
4. Click on the Add Course link to the left.
5. Fill in the Course Reference “DS-161” and Registration Code “biodata” and press Register.
The codes are the characters within the quotes, but do not include the quotes.
6. Click on the course name to access the materials.
Prerequisites: STAT 651 and 652, or equivalent. Or prior approval by the instructor.
Computing: All computing will be done with R.
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Grading: Your grade will be computed as follows:
• Homework: 40% - There will be periodic homework assignments. The assignments will typically
involve the analysis of real datasets. Note: All homework is to be submitted in PDF format through
WebAssign.
• Exams: 40% - There will be two midterm exams (Monday Oct. 1, and Monday Nov. 19), each
counting 20% of your grade. Effective fall 2012, all students in section 700 who are not receiving their
complete degree in an online program (both STAT and non-STAT) must take the exam at the same
date and time as the on campus students. Students must verify through an email to Penny Jackson
that they are receiving their complete degree in an online program in order to take the exam outside
the scheduled on campus exam time. Please note the exam dates and times provided and make any
special arrangements if necessary.
• Research Project: 20% - You will be assigned a research project requiring a comprehensive analysis
of a real biostatistics dataset. Reports due Friday, Dec. 7.
Incomplete Grade: A temporary grade of I (Incomplete) at the end of a semester indicates that the
student has completed the course with the exception of a major quiz, final exam, or other
work. The instructor shall give this grade only when the deficiency is due to an authorized absence or other
cause beyond the control of the student.
Statement on Disabilities: The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination
statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things,
this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides
for reasonable accommodation for their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an
accommodation, please contact the Office of Support Services for Students with Disabilities in Cain Hall.
The phone number is 845-1637.
Statement on Plagiarism: The handouts used in this course are copyrighted. As such, you do not have
the right to copy them unless I expressly grant permission. As commonly defined, plagiarism consists of
passing off as one’s own ideas, words, writing, etc., that belong to another. In accordance with this definition,
you are committing plagiarism if you copy the work of another person and turn it in as your own, even if you
have the permission of that person. If you have any questions, please consult the latest issue of the Texas
A&M University Student Rules, under the section “Scholastic Dishonesty.”
Academic Integrity Statement: “An Aggie does not lie, cheat, or steal or tolerate those
who do.” Please refer to the Honor Council Rules and Procedures at http://www.tamu.edu/aggiehonor.
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