Master of Science in the Field of Biostatistics
Program Director and Academic Advisor A. F. Elmi
The master of science (MS) degree program in biostatistics is jointly administered by the Department of Statistics in the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences (CCAS) and the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Milken Institute School of Public Health (SPH) and its associated research facility, The Biostatistics Center. This degree program is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education through the CCAS and by the Council on Education for Public Health through the SPH Regulations, and requirements for this graduate degree have been designed to be compatible with policies and scholarship requirements of both CCAS and SPH. The degree is conferred by Columbian College.
Visit the program website for additional information.
The following requirements must be fulfilled: 33 credits, including 18 credits in core statistics courses, 7 credits in core public health courses, 6 credits in elective courses, and 2 credits in consulting.
Admission Considerations
The courses listed below (or course equivalents) are prerequisites for admission consideration and must appear on the student's transcript. Students may apply to the program only after they have fulfilled this requirement:
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 1231 | Single-Variable Calculus I | |
| MATH 1232 | Single-Variable Calculus II | |
| STAT 2118 | Regression Analysis |
Applicants lacking the courses listed below (or course equivalents) are considered for admission; however, if admitted, the student is required to complete these courses within two semesters of matriculation in the program. Credit earned in these courses does not count toward the 33 credits required for the degree and grades earned are not reflected in the overall grade-point average.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| MATH 2184 | Linear Algebra I | |
| MATH 2233 | Multivariable Calculus | |
| One of the following: | ||
| PUBH 6249 | Use of Statistical Packages: Data Management and Data Analysis | |
| STAT 2183 | Intermediate Statistics Lab/Packages | |
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required statistics courses | ||
| STAT 6201 | Mathematical Statistics I | |
| STAT 6202 | Mathematical Statistics II | |
| STAT 6210 | Data Analysis | |
| STAT 6227 | Survival Analysis | |
| PUBH 6265 | Design of Medical Studies | |
| PUBH 6266 | Biostatistical Methods (Basis for Master’s Comprehensive Examination) | |
| Required public health courses | ||
| PUBH 6003 | Principles and Practices of Epidemiology | |
| PUBH 6299 | Topics in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (2 credits) | |
| Two courses selected from the following: | ||
| PUBH 6262 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| PUBH 6262 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | |
| PUBH 6268 | Advanced SAS | |
| PUBH 6282 | Introduction to R Programming | |
| Approved Electives | ||
| 6 credits in elective courses selected from the following: | ||
| PUBH 6121 | Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology | |
| PUBH 6242 | Clinical Epidemiology and Public Health: Reading the Research | |
| PUBH 6244 | Cancer Epidemiology | |
| PUBH 6245 | Infectious Disease Epidemiology | |
| PUBH 6250 | Epidemiology of HIV/AIDS | |
| PUBH 6252 | Advanced Epidemiology Methods | |
| PUBH 6281 | Analysis of Complex Surveys Using SAS and Stata | |
| STAT 3187 | Introduction to Sampling | |
| STAT 4181 | Applied Time Series Analysis | |
| STAT 4188 | Nonparametric Statistics Inference | |
| STAT 6197 | Fundamentals of SAS Programming for Data Management | |
| STAT 6215 | Applied Multivariate Analysis I | |
| STAT 6216 | Applied Multivariate Analysis II | |
| STAT 6217 | Design of Experiments | |
| STAT 6223 | Bayesian Statistics: Theory and Applications | |
| STAT 6231 | Categorical Data Analysis | |
| STAT 6242 | Modern Regression Analysis | |
| STAT 6287 | Sample Surveys | |
| STAT 8226 | Advanced Biostatistical Methods | |
| STAT 8265 | Multivariate Analysis | |
| STAT 8273 | Stochastic Processes I | |
| STAT 8281 | Advanced Time Series Analysis | |
| STAT 8288 | Topics in Sample Surveys | |
| Consulting | ||
| PUBH 6258 | Advanced Topics in Biostatistical Consulting | |
| PUBH 6283 | Biostatistics Consulting Practicum | |
The Master’s Comprehensive Examination
The master's comprehensive examination is a written exam in the field of biostatistics and is based on the content covered in PUBH 6266 Biostatistical Methods. It is administered by the faculty of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics in the Milken Institute School of Public Health.