• Description of Program
• Degree Requirements
• Special Opportunities
• Careers

Description of Program

The M.S. program in Biostatistics will prepare the students with various academic and professional goals, such as to become clinical scientists, public health researchers, and biostatisticians in pharmaceutical industry. The students will receive fundamental training in probability and statistical theory, regression models, and statistical packages. They will also gain expertise in modern topics such as statistical learning, high-dimensional models, and clinical trials. Our program also emphasizes research in interdisciplinary areas, effective collaboration and communication with scientists and practitioners. Students are prepared for quantitative doctoral programs in public health, such as biostatistics and epidemiology.

The infectious disease modeling (IDM) track will provide specialized training in applying advanced statistical, mathematical, and computational methods to public health challenges. Students will learn to translate complex biological, ecological, and social data into actionable models that will inform public health action. The curriculum  provides hands-on experience in infectious disease modeling, GIS risk mapping, and computational simulation of both population and spreading processes. While the focus will be on epidemic/pandemic preparedness and response, the training in mechanistic modeling and data analytics will provide a portable, quantitative skillset applicable across scientific disciplines. Graduates will be prepared for high-impact careers at the forefront of public health and biosecurity, where their expertise in data analysis, modeling, and outbreak science will be critical for informing policy, guiding healthcare planning, improving interventions, and advancing public health response. 

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 36 credit hours is required to complete the M.S program in Biostatistics. A minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average (GPA) is required for graduation. A minimum grade of C is required in each course.  SPH-Q 63X courses cannot be used towards requirements of M.S. in Biostatistics

Complete the following required course (0 credits)

• Students in the M.S. in Biostatistics degree program must complete the Public Health Foundations online prerequisite prior to the first day of classes. Complete details and registration information for this experience can be found at the following website: https://iu.instructure.com/enroll/MNG3L6

STANDARD TRACK:

Complete each of the following biostatistics core courses (24 credits)

• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 651 Introduction to Statistical Distributions in Public Health (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 652 Biostatistical Inference (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 603 Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 604 Applied Linear Regression (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 605 Analysis of Multi-level and Longitudinal Data (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 611 Statistical Packages in Research (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 612 Survival Analysis (3 cr.)

Complete a 3-credit biostatistics elective course (3 credits)

Options include any SPH-Q or STAT-S course at 600-level or above. (excluding SPH-Q63X courses).  Recommended choices include:

• SPH-Q 654 Modern Regression Methods (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 656 Introduction to Statistical Genetics (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 657 Biostatistical Methods for Clinical Trials (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 659 Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiological Research (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 626 Bayesian Theory and Data Analysis (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 650 Time Series Analysis (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 660 Sampling (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 611 Applied Statistical Computing (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 670 Exploratory Data Analysis (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 675 Statistical Learning: High-Dimensional Data Analysis (3 cr.)
• STAT-S 676 Statistical Learning: Model Selection (3 cr.)

Complete a 3-credit multi-disciplinary elective course or another biostatistics elective above (3 credits)

A multi-disciplinary course is recommended to provide background knowledge for the areas where biostatistical methods are applied, such as biology, genetics, psychology etc.

INFECTIOUS DISEASE MODELING TRACK:

Complete each of the following IDM core courses (21 credits) 

• SPH-E 651 Epidemiology (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 651 Introduction to Statistical Distributions in Public Health (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 604 Applied Linear Regression (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 611 Statistical Packages in Research (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 671: Applied Geospatial Analytics (3 cr.)  
• SPH-Q 672: Advanced Analytics in Population-Level Studies (3 cr.)  
• SPH-Q 673: Computational Epidemiology (3 cr.)  

Complete a 3-credit multi-disciplinary course (3 credits)

• SPH-E 655 Infectious Disease Epidemiology (3 cr.) 

Complete two 3-credit biostatistics elective course from the list below (6 credits)

• SPH-Q 603 Categorical Data Analysis (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 605 Analysis of Multi-level and Longitudinal Data (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 612 Survival Analysis (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 652 Biostatistical Inference (3 cr.) 
• SPH-Q 654 Modern Regression Methods (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 656 Introduction to Statistical Genetics (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 657 Biostatistical Methods for Clinical Trials (3 cr.)
• SPH-Q 659 Biostatistical Methods in Epidemiology Research (3 cr.) 

BOTH TRACKS:

Complete a thesis in biostatistics research (6 credits)

• SPH-Q 699 M.S. in Biostatistics Thesis (6 cr.)

 In cases where the M.S. is being awarded as an off-ramp degree from the Ph.D. in Biostatistics, students may opt for a non-Thesis option, contingent on the approval of the Director of Graduate Studies.

This option requires the student to:

• Pass a competency exam administrated by the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
• If required, complete an additional biostatistics elective course reach the minimum 36 credits

Special Opportunities

Students have the opportunity to develop skills by participating in research activities supervised by faculty members or in collaboration with other graduate students. The students may also have the opportunities to work with our external industry partners. Students are strongly encouraged to publish research results in professional journals and via presentations at national conferences.

Careers

The field of biostatistics is unique in that it combines elements of the medical field with that of math, statistics, and science, offering a wide array of different types of jobs in biostatistics. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the job outlook for biostatistics to grow 30% from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations (i.e., 5%). Biostatisticians are hired by a wide variety of industries and institutions: 

• State and local health departments (e.g., the Indiana State Health Department and Monroe, Marion, and Morgan County Health Departments).
• Federal government agencies (e.g., the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration).
• Pharmaceutical companies (e.g., Pfizer, Merck, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb).
• Technology companies (e.g., Google, Microsoft, Amazon).
• Medical device companies (e.g., Cook).
• Insurance companies (e.g., Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., and Cigna Corporation).
• Institutes of higher education (e.g., the University of Michigan and the University of Chicago).
• International agencies (e.g., the World Health Organization and the U.S. Agency for International Development).
• Consulting firms.
• Medical centers and health care facilities.