Biostatistics & Epidemiology Master's Degree Requirements

Program | Faculty | Master's | Doctoral | Courses

Master of Public Health Degree Program

M.P.H. Degree Program in Biostatistics

The primary focus of the Master of Public Health degree program in biostatistics is to prepare individuals to undertake meaningful teaching, research, and service roles in the fields of medicine and public health. Graduates of this program are expected to understand the role that statistics play in helping to identify and resolve contemporary health problems, assist in the planning and implementation of health-related studies, and undertake analysis and draw appropriate conclusions from the collected data.

M.P.H. applicants must have an advanced professional degree in a health field (M.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., D.O.), or a health-related mas-ter's degree and at least three years' experience directly relevant to biostatistics, or a bachelor's degree and a minimum of five years' experience relevant to biostatistics and public health.

The degree program can be completed in three academic semesters.

Degree requirements include a minimum of 39 credits:

15 credits of public health core courses

15 credits of biostatistics core course

6 credits of elective courses

3 credits for M.P.H. project and oral presentation or for one-course option with a final oral exam

Practice Experience Practicum*.

M.P.H. Degree Program in Epidemiology

The Master of Public Health degree program in epidemiology is designed for the health professional who wishes to pursue a public health degree. This generalized degree provides an opportunity to expand one's knowledge base and broaden perspectives; develop an epidemiological orientation to public health problems; and improve methodological and quantitative skills.

M.P.H. applicants must have earned an advanced professional degree (M.D., D.V.M., D.D.S., D.O.), have completed a master's or doctoral degree in a health-related field, or have considerable experience in a health-related field.

The degree program can be completed in three academic semesters and the intervening summer, although many students choose to spread the program over two years.

Degree requirements include a minimum of 39 credits:

15 credits of public health core courses

9 credits of epidemiology core courses

12 credits of elective courses

3 credits for M.P.H. project and oral presentation or for two-course option with a final oral exam

Practice Experience Practicum*.

*Note: All M.P.H. students are required to complete a practice experience as part of their degree requirements, and may receive credit for it depending on their major department's policy. Practice experiences may be paid or unpaid. Placements are arranged in consultation with the student's faculty adviser or the Office of Public Health Practice and Outreach in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. The adviser reviews the student's interests, preferences, financial standing, experience, and skills, and is usually able to arrange for interviews with a suitable organization either directly or through another faculty member.

Master of Science Degree Program

M.S. Degree Program in Biostatistics

The major focus of the Master of Science degree program in Biostatistics is to prepare highly qualified individuals with advanced research skills to undertake public health research responsibilities. The program emphasizes the applied aspects of biostatistical research in measuring and investigating contemporary biomedical and public health problems.

M.S. applicants are accepted with backgrounds in the quantitative sciences, and from associated fields.

The degree program is generally completed within two years.

Degree requirements include a minimum of 45 credits:

9 credits of public health core courses

24 credits of biostatistics core courses

6 credits of biostatistics elective courses

6 credits for M.S. thesis and oral defense or a two-course non-thesis option with exam.

A 10-week field training placement is required unless prior relevant field experience can be demonstrated.

M.S. Degree Program in Epidemiology

The Master of Science degree program in epidemiology is designed for the student without professional training but with a career interest in epidemiological research. It provides methodological skills in research design, study implementation, and data analysis. Each student develops a focus area in epidemiology through a combination of elective courses, course papers, choice of summer field training, and selection of thesis topic.

M.S. applicants are accepted with backgrounds in a variety of fields but most commonly in the biological, behavioral, and quantitative sciences.

The degree program is generally completed within two years. The time taken to complete the thesis is the major factor determining the length of the student's program.

Degree requirements include a minimum of 45 credits:

9 credits of public health core courses

21 credits of epidemiology core courses

6 credits of epidemiology elective courses

3 credits of elective courses

6 credits for M.S. thesis and oral defense

A 10-week field training placement is required unless prior relevant field experience can be demonstrated.

For further information, contact: Graduate Program Director, Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Arnold House, 715 North Pleasant Street, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003-9304; tel.: (413) 545-2861; e-mail: bioepi@schoolph.umass.edu.