Considering MS/PhD in Biostatistics

Graduate School
1

<p>I'm currently a first year undergrad student at a UC. My school offers 3 B.S options for statistics: Applied, General, and Computational. Since I have little interest in computer science, I just ruled it out right off the bat. I'm hoping to pursue a career in biostatistics/epidemiology (I just want to apply stats to the health field), so I went with the Applied option. Later I spoke with a graduate advisor in the biostat dept, and she seemed to be strongly against the Applied option and told me to opt for the General option instead if I want to go to graduate school. I asked her if I should start taking biology related courses as preparation, and she told me that I don't necessarily have to have a biology background to apply to a biostat program. What admission officers look for is a strong background in math/statistics. So extra knowledge in biology would just be a boost. Even if I do have some biology courses down but my stats/math grades are just average, then those bio courses won't do much good.</p>

<p>All in all, she emphasized the importance of having a strong stats/math background when applying to a biostats program. Is this the right way to go? Is stats a lot more important than bio with it comes to biostatistics? Will the courses from the General option put me at an advantage when applying to grad school? </p>

<p>Any insight would be helpful; thanks so much.</p>

<p>APPLIED</p>

<p>Preparatory Subject Matter (26-31 units)</p>

<pre><code>MAT 16A-B-C or 17A-B-C or 21A-B-C Calculus (21 series recommended)
MAT 22A Linear Algebra
ECS 30 Intro to Programming and Problem Solving or ECS 40 Intro to Software Development and Object-Oriented Programming
2 Introductory courses serving as the prerequisites to upper division courses in a chosen discipline to which statistics is applied
Any one introductory statistics course except STA 10
</code></pre>

<p>Depth Subject Matter (51-56 units)</p>

<pre><code>STA 106 Analysis of Variance
STA 108 Regression Analysis
STA 138 Analysis of Categorical Data
STA 141 Statistical Computing
STA 130A-B Mathematical Statistics: Brief Courses
</code></pre>

<p>Three courses from:</p>

<pre><code>STA 104 Nonparametric Statistics
STA 135 Multivariate Data Analysis
STA 137 Applied Time Series Analysis
STA 142 Reliability
STA 144 Sampling Theory of Surveys
STA 145 Bayesian Statistical Inference
</code></pre>

<h2>Five upper division elective courses outside of statistics</h2>

<p>GENERAL</p>

<p>Preparatory Subject Matter (30-32 units)</p>

<pre><code>MAT 21A-B-C-D Calculus
MAT 22A or 67 Linear Algebra
MAT 25 Advanced Calculus
ECS 30 or 40 Intro to Programming/Software
Any one introductory statistics course except STA 10
</code></pre>

<p>Depth Subject Matter (51-52 units)</p>

<pre><code>STA 106 Analysis of Variance
STA 108 Regression Analysis
STA 138 Analysis of Categorical Data
STA 131A-B-C Intro to Probability and Mathematical Statistics
MAT 125A Real Analysis
MAT 108 Abstract Math or 125B Real Analysis
MAT 167 Applied Linear Algebra
</code></pre>

<p>3 courses from:</p>

<pre><code>STA 104 Nonparametric Statistics
STA 135 Multivariate Data Analysis
STA 137 Applied time Series Analysis
STA 141 Statistical Computing
STA 142 Reliability
STA 144 Sampling Theory of Surveys
STA 145 Bayesian Statistical Inference
</code></pre>

2

<p>Your advisor is right.</p>

<p>1) While biostatistics is an applied form of mathematics/statistics, PhD-level biostatisticians (and epidemiologists) don’t just use biostats for health sciences. They do research on new methods of analysis and research within the field. For that, you will need some theoretical classes in addition to the applied math/statistics classes. Applied is for people who want to work right away with a BS in stats, or maybe get an MA/MS in statistics. But if you already know you want a PhD, then take the general route and get a good theoretical foundation.</p>

<p>2) You don’t necessarily need any biology courses for a biostat or epi program - but they are helpful, especially in epidemiology. Many programs recommend having a solid foundation in the natural/biological sciences, which I’d imagine could be anything from 2-5 courses. So if you want to take biology courses - if that’s something that interests you - go ahead. But if you don’t want to, don’t worry about it. A lot of epidemiologists actually do more social sciency stuff than biology - I had two friends in grad school who were social science majors or had social science master’s degrees and then got a PhD in epi or biostats. Both are currently gainfully employed.</p>

<p>Yes, stats is a LOT more important than bio in biostatistics. The “bio” just means that the stats are applied to problems in the health sciences, and you will learn techniques that are commonly used there - such as survival analysis and categorical data analyses.</p>

<p>You should definitely take at least 2 semesters of calculus - and really, three honestly. You want to take a theoretical/mathematical statistics class like STA 131 and you want to take real analysis. So I think the general course is much better for you.</p>