BA in Mathematics to MS in Biostatistics
The BA in Mathematics to MS in Biostatistics program allows strong undergraduate students to complete both programs at an accelerated pace. This program will prepare students for PhD studies or employment in biotech, pharmaceutical, and other medical/public health fields.
Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs are linked bachelor’s and master’s degree programs in which the two degrees are conferred sequentially. This Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program allows students to apply a maximum of 8 units from their undergraduate degree toward the associated master’s degree. The units applied toward the master’s degree must be at the 500 level or above.
Students must apply to Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs before the conferral of the bachelor’s degree. Typically, students apply to the BA in Mathematics to MS in Biostatistics program in their junior year. Students in the program must complete at least 24 units while enrolled as a graduate student. Students should consult with the Financial Assistance office to learn how entrance into the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Program might impact their financial aid.
Admission
Admission to the BA in Mathematics to MS in Biostatistics program requires individual application by each student and evaluation of each application by the Master’s Admissions Committee. Applicants must already be majoring in mathematics (specialty in statistics) and making good progress on satisfying the requirements listed below. The BA in Mathematics to Master’s in Biostatistics program can be combined with undergraduate minors. For information on application requirements and deadlines, please see the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences’ Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs application website.
Potential applicants must first complete at least one upper-level course (400-level or higher statistics course for the statistics option, and 500-level or higher mathematics course for the mathematics option). As part of the application, one of the two required letters of recommendation should be provided by the instructor of such a course.
Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate mastery of concepts in probability theory, random variation, and commonly used statistical distributions and mathematical statistics.
- Implement the theory of linear models into biostatistical data analyses.
- Apply advanced biostatistical methods, and analyze and interpret quantitative data for scientific inference using the appropriate statistical software.
- Employ the skills needed to work effectively as a collaborative biostatistician in a variety of team science environments.
Requirements
Students in the BA in Mathematics to MS in Biostatistics program must complete all the requirements for the CAS BA in Mathematics (specialty in statistics), including MA 581 and MA 582; they must also complete, for the MS in Biostatistics, 8 units of required courses (EP 770, BS 805 or BS 806, and PH 700); plus a capstone course (BS 880) and Career PREP (SPH PH 746), both 0 units. An additional 16 units of approved electives from the MS in Biostatistics program are required; specific courses that may be taken are listed on the MS in Biostatistics website.
No overlap is permitted between the mathematics courses taken to satisfy the BA requirements and the 16 units of electives required by the MS in Biostatistics. For instance, the three courses in the MA 500–599 level required for the BA in Mathematics cannot be counted toward the 16 units of elective coursework for the MS in Biostatistics.
For further specific information concerning the Mathematics/Biostatistics Bachelor’s-to-Master’s program, please consult an advisor in the department. For general information regarding admissions and graduation, please refer to the Bachelor’s-to-Master’s Programs section of this Bulletin.
