Offered On Campus in Tucson
The Master of Science in Biostatistics is offered by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics. The educational objective is to prepare individuals to work effectively as applied biostatisticians in a variety of public health, epidemiological and clinical research settings. The difference between the MS in Biostatistics and the MPH concentration in Biostatistics is that the MS provides training in probability and statistical theory with a research focus, while the MPH provides a broader background in public health.
The overall course of study for the MS degree will be developed by the student and their Faculty Advisor and approved by the student's Graduate Committee and Biostatistics Program Director. On average, the MS program requires approximately two years for completion. The first year is usually devoted to core coursework and completion of the qualifying exam. The second year is focused on remaining coursework and development of the master's thesis research.
Students who join the MS Biostatistics program and pass the Biostatistics Qualifying Exam after their first year of coursework may apply directly to the PhD program without completing the MS degree. If admitted to the PhD program, all of the coursework taken in the first year would then count towards the PhD degree.
Curriculum
MS in Biostatistics Competencies
Required Major Courses (24 units)
- EPID 573A Basic Principles of Epidemiology (3)
- BIOS 576A Biostatistics in Public Health (3)
- BIOS 576B Biostatistics for Research (3)
- BIOS 576C Applied Biostatistics Analysis (3)
- BIOS 585 Public Health Fundamentals for Researchers (3)
- BIOS 688 Statistical Consulting (3)
- MATH 564 Theory of Probability (3)
- MATH 566 Theory of Statistics (3)
Elective Courses, Computational/Modern Methods Module (minimum 6 units required)*
Choose from:
- BIOS 576D* Analysis of Public Health Data (3)
- BIOS 511* Healthcare Data Science (3)
- STAT 675 Clinical Trials and Intervention Studies (3)
- BIOS 648 Analysis of High Dimensional Data (3)
*Three units must come from BIOS 576D or BIOS 511
Culminating Experience: Choose one of the following options (minimum 3 units)
- Master's Project, BIOS 699 Independent Study (3 units)
- Master's Project, BIOS 900 Research (3 units)
- Master's Thesis, BIOS 910 Thesis (6 units)
Oral Defense of Thesis Research or Project and completion of a professional portfolio are required.
