Admissions for 4+1 Accelerated MS in Biostatistics
Admissions to the 4+1 BS/MS in biostatistics program
The accelerated master of science (MS) degree program offers the opportunity to students to complete the MS degree within one academic year plus an intervening summer. With a focus on modern challenges in statistical computing and big data as related to public health, the biostatistics MS program at UMass Amherst trains students in data management, data analysis, and statistical theory. By pursuing an accelerated MS degree option, talented undergraduate students can speed up their path to finding a niche in this attractive and fast-growing job market.
Students who are interested need to start planning for the accelerated MS track by the beginning of their junior year. Admitted students begin graduate coursework in their senior undergraduate year, and then complete their MS degree with one additional year of full-time graduate study.
Who the program is open to:
- This program is open to all UMass Amherst students, AND to students from the Five College Consortium.
- Students from any major can apply.
Credits needed to apply:
- Graduate courses may NOT count towards the 120 credits required to complete the undergraduate degree; therefore, students interested in the 4+1 should have earned a minimum of 96 credits going into their senior year.
GPA needed to apply:
- Students should have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher.
What graduate classes need to be taken during senior year:
- The accelerated degree program requires students to take between 9-15 graduate credits while still an undergraduate student. Some of these may be counted towards your undergraduate major. The remaining credits are taken after completing the undergraduate degree and apply towards the MS degree.
- Students typically will need to take 18 credits per semester in both their junior and senior years; this usually includes two graduate courses for each semester of senior year.
Application deadline:
- Application is due by February 1 during the student’s junior year; students should have earned at least 75 credits prior to applying to be on-track to enroll in the program.
- Admission to the 4+1 MS program does not entitle students to enter the MS program directly. In their senior year, 4+1 students formally apply to the Graduate School and must meet admissions requirements to continue in the MS program.
Link to application portal:
Internship information if relevant to program:
- There is no requirement to have completed an internship prior to enrolling in the program.
Questions?
- If you have questions, contact the Accelerated Biostatistics Degree Program Coordinator at biostats4plus1 [at] umass [dot] edu (biostats4plus1[at]umass[dot]edu).