Ms in Biostatistics

The MS program in biostatistics can be completed by one of three options. The descriptions below are for students who have completed all prerequisite courses for required and elective courses included in each degree program. Additional credit hours may be needed for remediation of missing or lacking student capabilities encountered following matriculation or for capabilities outside the standard coursework required for an identified project or thesis.

• The Standard Program is a 30-credit hour, non-thesis curriculum that emphasizes a broad understanding of biostatistics and can be completed in three semesters by full-time students. The standard program can be completed in a traditional classroom format or entirely online.
• The Thesis Option involves continuing beyond the required coursework for the standard program to pursue the preparation and defense of a master’s thesis in an additional semester, during which the student enrolls for a thesis research course for no fewer than six (6) credit hours. The thesis option is recommended for students intending to pursue a Ph.D. degree or wanting to pursue a research project that interests them. However, a master’s thesis is a requirement for the thesis option only. A student who elects to pursue the thesis option and subsequently does not successfully complete the thesis remains eligible for the award of a degree under the standard program.
• The Bioinformatics Concentration is a 30-credit hour, non-thesis curriculum that is based on coursework in bioinformatics and biostatistics and can also be completed in three semesters by full-time students. The Bioinformatics concentration is currently available in a traditional classroom format only.

Coursework Requirements

Program Core

The following courses are required for all three tracks:

The Master of Science (MS) degree prepares students for careers as professional biostatisticians in industry, government, or academia. Students in our program receive training in:

Design of research studies, with a particular focus on clinical trials
Data management and statistical computing
Modern descriptive, graphical, and inferential statistical methods, with a focus on generating statistical results meaningful to lay audiences
Communication and collaboration with scientific investigators
Foundational statistical theory and basic research in statistical methodologyBioinformatics and advanced computational techniques Graduate degree-holding statisticians and biostatisticians are highly sought after in the marketplace, so there are many career opportunities for M.S. and Ph.D. statisticians and biostatisticians. The American Statistical Association Career Center is an excellent resource for learning about careers in statistics, and the Stattr@k website has many resources for current students and recent graduates of statistics programs. You can also read through the ASA’s Salary Reports to learn what to expect after completing a degree. Locally, the University of Louisville Career Center has valuable information on career development and job advertisements.

Students We Seek

For our MS and Ph.D. programs, we’re looking for mathematically capable students that are curious about data in the health sciences. While our academic programs are rigorous, we don’t restrict admission to students with degrees in mathematics or statistics. We welcome students from a diverse array of academic backgrounds and can be flexible about prerequisites for admission. You will need to have prior coursework in calculus with coverage through multivariable calculus (partial differentiation and multiple integrations), typically covered in a Calculus I-III sequence at most institutions. If you have prior quantitative training but lack the background in calculus, check out our Math Tools summer courses, which provide instruction in the components of calculus necessary to be successful in our program.

Our Certificate in Biostatistics is a less mathematically intensive curriculum, invites students with even more diverse backgrounds. We generally welcome any students with interest in clinical research and some introductory-level quantitative training.

Careers in Biostatistics

Biostatisticians are very highly sought after, and graduates can find work in varied fields. Academic biostatisticians are engaged in developing new statistical methods, collaborating with scientists in other fields, and teaching. Biostatisticians employed in government agencies like the FDA, NIH, and CDC do much of the same work as academic biostatisticians. Biostatisticians find work in private industry conducting methodological research and statistical data analysis with contract research organizations (CRO), health insurance companies, and in drug and device development with pharmaceutical companies. Head over to our careers page to find links to current job listings in statistics and biostatistics, and get an idea of what kinds of jobs are available. http://louisville.edu/sphis/departments/bioinformatics-biostatistics/resources/careers

Biostatisticians are well-compensated for their expertise. An individual with a master’s degree can expect to earn roughly $60,000 annually upon graduation, while Ph.D. graduates can expect to earn around $80,000 in academia and $100,000 in industry. Consult the salary survey of the American Statistical Association for more details