MS in Applied Biostatistics

The MS in Applied Biostatistics provides graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional confidence to apply the statistical methods commonly used in biomedical research; apply basic principles and methods to design, plan, conduct, and interpret biomedical studies in clinical trials, observational studies, and big genomic and genetics data; and provide effective biostatistical advice as a member of a team with strong consultancy, oral, and written communication skills. The degree will be awarded upon successful completion of 34 units of coursework and co-curricular requirements including a research mentorship, and a final written report based on the research experience. Graduates of the program are prepared for careers as biostatisticians in biomedical research enterprises, pharmaceutical companies, contract research organizations, government, and federal agencies.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the program, students will have the knowledge, skills, and professional confidence to:

Eligibility

Eligible students will have at least one year of college-level calculus, including at least one term of college-level multivariable calculus, and preferably 2 units of linear algebra, covering matrix algebra and singular value decomposition. Applications from students with no formal coursework in linear algebra will be considered and students provisionally accepted will be expected to complete the requirement before the beginning of the Accelerated Statistics Training (AST) by taking a residential or online course and providing appropriate documentation of completion. No previous training in statistics is required, nor is an undergraduate major in mathematics or statistics.

Degree Requirements

The Master of Science in Applied Biostatistics requires a minimum of 34 graduate units of coursework (including a 2-unit summer intensive) and both a research mentorship and practical training. All students are required to complete the degree within five years. A minimum grade of B– or better is required for each of the core MS courses.

Foundations of Public Health

Effective public health requires expertise from many disciplines, and students need to have a broad foundation of knowledge across these diverse disciplines to collaborate effectively with other health professionals.

SPH PH 700 Foundations of Public Health (0 units) is an online course designed to provide students with foundational knowledge in the profession and science of public health and factors related to public health. PH 700 meets the foundational knowledge criteria (as outlined by CEPH) for all SPH students.

Required MS Core Courses

• SPH BS 728 Public Health Surveillance (2 units)
• SPH BS 800 Accelerated Statistics Training (AST) for Biostatisticians (2 units)
• SPH BS 803 Statistical Programming for Biostatisticians (2 units)
• SPH BS 806 Multivariable Analysis for Biostatisticians (4 units)
• SPH BS 831 Genomics Data Mining and Statistics (2 units)
• SPH BS 849 Bayesian Modeling (2 units)
• SPH BS 851 Applied Statistics in Clinical Trials I (4 units)
• SPH BS 852 Statistical Methods in Epidemiology (4 units)
• SPH BS 853 Generalized Linear Models (4 units)
• SPH BS 857 Analysis of Correlated Data (4 units)
• SPH BS 858 Statistical Genetics I (4 units)
• SPH PH 746 Professional Development (0 units)

Students will be required to complete 100 hours of a research mentorship and 400 hours of practical training, BS 910, at the end of their final term. Students will be registered during the summer internship/practicum learning and be able to graduate in the summer term of each year. This practical training can be based on extension of the research mentorship, industry-based internships, or employment in the field of biostatistics. Students are required to write a research paper based on the practical training.