2013-2014 University Catalog
Biostatistics, MS
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Banner Code: VS-MS-BSTA
School: Volgenau School of Engineering
Department: Statistics
The MS in Biostatistics will allow students to specialize in the design and analysis of health-related and biological studies, while maintaining the rigor and technical training of the Statistical Science master’s program.
In this degree, students will take a statistics core and a “bio” core, involving courses in public health, biology, and clinical medicine (including ethics). It also involves a research core which allows students to solve real data problems in the biological or health area and collaborate with other scientists in an interdisciplinary team. Finally, students will choose from electives in bioinformatics, global and community health, or targeted statistics courses.
This graduate degree prepares students for analyzing difficult data specific to biology and health. The program, with its research core, will also be sufficiently rigorous for students who wish to pursue a PhD in Biostatistics.
Admission Requirements
In addition to satisfying general admission requirements for graduate study, all applicants are expected to have basic computer literacy. They also must hold a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution in a field that includes coursework in multivariable calculus, matrix or linear algebra, statistics, and calculus-based probability. Applicants with degrees in such fields as mathematics, statistics, and some engineering programs usually meet these requirements. For applicants with degrees in other fields, these requirements are normally satisfied if students have successfully completed courses equivalent to the following Mason courses: MATH 113, 114, 213; MATH 203 or 321; STAT 250 or 344; and STAT 346 or MATH 351. Coursework taken to correct deficiencies in undergraduate preparation is not counted toward the degree.
Degree Requirements
In addition to meeting general requirements that apply to master’s degrees at Mason, all students must complete the 24-credit core requirements for the degree. A grade of “B-” or better is required in all 500-level statistics core courses. Students build on these core requirements by choosing 12 credits of electives. |