Program Overview

Mathematics BA / Biostatistics MS

The College of Arts and Sciences and the Dornsife School of Public Health offer an accelerated Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Master of Science in Biostatistics. Participants can earn both a BA degree in Mathematics and a MS degree in Biostatistics in five years.

About the Program

In this accelerated degree program, students participate in the undergraduate program for four full years (with or without one co-operative experience). After two years of undergraduate study, students begin their graduate studies in the Master of Science in Biostatistics program. The third and fourth year are a mix of undergraduate and graduate courses. After the successful completion of their fourth year, students receive their BA. When students successfully complete the remainder of their graduate studies (typically two graduate quarters), they will receive the MS degree.

Admission Requirements

Application to the BAMS program begins after a student has completed at least 90.0 credits and no more than 120.0 credits. A freshman student can be designated as a BAMS Provisional Admit but is not officially accepted into the BAMS program until the student completes at least 90.0 credits and meets the admissions criteria.

• Acceptance to the MS in Biostatistics is conditional upon a 3.0 overall undergraduate GPA, a 3.5 GPA in math, and a minimum grade of B in Linear Algebra and Calculus courses.
• Applicants who meet the GPA and grade criteria will be evaluated by the MS in Biostatistics admissions committee in order to be considered for admission.
• Students must verify their intent to continue or enroll in the accelerated program with their advisor by the end of the spring term of year one.
• Students must submit a SOPHAS Express application to the graduate Master of Science in Biostatistics program during their third year.

Degree Requirements

• General Education Requirements:
  • CIVC 101: Introduction to Civic Engagement (1.0)
  • COM 230: Techniques of Speaking (3.0)
  • COOP 101: Career Management and Professional Development (1.0)
  • ENGL 101: Composition and Rhetoric I: Inquiry and Exploratory Research (3.0)
  • ENGL 102: Composition and Rhetoric II: Advanced Research and Evidence-Based Writing (3.0)
  • ENGL 103: Composition and Rhetoric III: Themes and Genres (3.0)
  • UNIV S101: The Drexel Experience (1.0)
  • UNIV S201: Looking Forward: Academics and Careers (1.0)
• College of Arts and Sciences Core Curriculum:
  • Engaging the Natural World (6.0-8.0)
  • Analyzing Cultures & Histories (6.0-8.0)
  • Understanding Society & Human Behavior (6.0-8.0)
  • Cultivating Global Competence (6.0-8.0)
  • Perspectives in Diversity (3.0-4.0)
  • Any BIO, CHEM, PHYS, or PHEV course (3.0-4.0)
• Undergraduate Free Electives: 66.0
• Computer Science Sequence:
  • CS 150: Computer Science Principles (3.0)
  • CS 171: Computer Programming I (3.0)
  • CS 172: Computer Programming II (3.0)
• Core Mathematics Requirements:
  • MATH 121: Calculus I (4.0)
  • MATH 122: Calculus II (4.0)
  • MATH 123: Calculus III (4.0)
  • MATH 200: Multivariate Calculus (4.0)
  • MATH 201: Linear Algebra (4.0)
  • MATH 210: Differential Equations (4.0)
  • MATH 220: Introduction to Mathematical Reasoning (3.0)
  • MATH 331: Abstract Algebra I (3.0-4.0)
• Math Major Electives: Select a minimum of 30.0 credits from the following:
  • MATH 205: Survey of Geometry
  • MATH 221: Discrete Mathematics
  • MATH 222: Combinatorics
  • MATH 235: Math Competition Problem Solving Seminar
  • MATH 238: History of Mathematics
  • MATH 250: Mathematics of Investment and Credit
  • MATH 285: Differential Equations II
  • MATH 300: Numerical Analysis I
  • MATH 301: Numerical Analysis II
  • MATH 305: Introduction to Optimization Theory
  • MATH 311: Probability and Statistics I
  • MATH 312: Probability and Statistics II
  • MATH 313: Probability and Statistics III
  • MATH 316: Mathematical Applications of Symbolic Software
  • MATH 318: Mathematical Applications of Statistical Software
  • MATH 319: Techniques of Data Analysis
  • MATH 320: Actuarial Mathematics
  • MATH 321: Vector Calculus
  • MATH 322: Complex Variables
  • MATH 323: Partial Differential Equations
  • MATH 332: Abstract Algebra II
  • MATH 387: Linear Algebra II
  • MATH 401: Elements of Modern Analysis I
  • MATH 402: Elements of Modern Analysis II
  • MATH 422: Introduction to Topology
  • MATH 449: Mathematical Finance
  • MATH 450: Introduction to Graph Theory
  • MATH 475: Cryptography
  • MATH 483: Introduction to Monte Carlo Methods
  • MATH 489: Tensor Calculus
• Required MS Biostatistics Courses:
  • BST 522: Introduction to Probability for Biostatistics (3.0)
  • BST 551: Statistical Inference I (3.0)
  • BST 553: Longitudinal Data Analysis (3.0)
  • BST 555: Introduction to Statistical Computing (3.0)
  • BST 557: Survival Data Analysis (3.0)
  • BST 567: Statistical Collaboration (3.0)
  • BST 569: Linear Statistical Models (4.0)
  • BST 570: Generalized Linear Models (4.0)
  • BST 675: Statistical Collaboration Lab (3.0)
  • BST 701: Advanced Statistical Computing (3.0)
  • EPI 570: Introduction to Epidemiology (3.0)
  • PBHL 501: Introduction to Public Health (0.0)
• Master's Project: Select one from the following:
  • BST 698: Statistical Collaboration in Practice
  • BST 699: Data Analysis Project
• Graduate Electives: Select from the list below:
  • Any (BST) Biostatistics 500-999 level course
  • Any (EPI) Epidemiology 500-999 level course

Sample Plan of Study

4+1, 1 co-op (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)

Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.

• First Year:
  • Fall: CS 150 or 164 (3.0), ENGL 101 or 111 (3.0), MATH 121 (4.0), UNIV S101 (1.0), (UG) Engaging the Natural World (3.0-4.0)
  • Winter: CIVC 101 (1.0), CS 171 (3.0), ENGL 102 or 112 (3.0), MATH 122 (4.0), (UG) Engaging the Natural World (3.0-4.0)
  • Spring: COOP 101 (1.0), CS 172 (3.0), ENGL 103 or 113 (3.0), MATH 123 (4.0), MATH 200 (4.0)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: COM 230 (3.0), MATH 201 (4.0), MATH 220 (3.0), (UG) Cultivating Global Competence (3.0-4.0), (UG) Perspectives in Diversity (3.0-4.0)
  • Winter: (UG) Analyzing Cultures & Histories (3.0-4.0), (UG) MATH Courses (6.0), (UG) Free Electives (10.0)
  • Spring: MATH 210 (4.0), (UG) Analyzing Cultures & Histories (3.0-4.0), (UG) MATH Course (3.0), (UG) Understanding Society & Human Behavior (3.0-4.0)
• Third Year:
  • Fall: MATH 401 or 331 (3.0-4.0), (UG) MATH Course (3.0), (UG) Free Electives (6.0), BST 569 (4.0), EPI 570 (3.0)
  • Winter: UNIV S201 (1.0), (UG) MATH Course (4.0), (UG) Free Electives (8.0), BST 555 (3.0), BST 570 (4.0)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: (UG) Cultivating Global Competence (3.0-4.0), (UG) Free Electives (9.0), BST 522 (3.0), BST 557 (3.0)
  • Winter: (UG) MATH Course (7.0), (UG) Free Electives (6.0), BST 551 (3.0), BST 553 (3.0)
• Fifth Year:
  • Fall: BST 567 (3.0), BST 675 (3.0), PBHL 501 (0.0), (GR) Graduate Electives (3.0)
  • Winter: (GR) Graduate Electives (6.0), BST 698 or 699 (3.0)

4+1, no co-op (Accelerated program completed in 5 years)

Students complete undergraduate requirements in four years, then convert to graduate status in the fifth and final year.

• First Year:
  • Fall: CS 150 or 164 (3.0), ENGL 101 or 111 (3.0), MATH 121 (4.0), UNIV S101 (1.0), (UG) Engaging the Natural World (3.0-4.0)
  • Winter: CIVC 101 (1.0), CS 171 (3.0), ENGL 102 or 112 (3.0), MATH 122 (4.0), (UG) Engaging the Natural World (3.0-4.0)
  • Spring: CS 172 (3.0), ENGL 103 or 113 (3.0), MATH 123 (4.0), MATH 200 (4.0), (UG) Understanding Society & Human Behavior (3.0-4.0)
• Second Year:
  • Fall: COM 230 (3.0), MATH 201 (4.0), MATH 220 (3.0), (UG) Cultivating Global Competence (3.0-4.0), (UG) Perspectives in Diversity (3.0-4.0)
  • Winter: (UG) Analyzing Cultures & Histories (3.0-4.0), (UG) MATH Courses (6.0), (UG) Free Electives (10.0)
  • Spring: MATH 210 (4.0), (UG) Analyzing Cultures & Histories (3.0-4.0), (UG) MATH Course (3.0), (UG) Understanding Society & Human Behavior (3.0-4.0)
• Third Year:
  • Fall: MATH 401 or 331 (3.0-4.0), (UG) MATH Course (3.0), (UG) Free Electives (6.0), BST 569 (4.0), EPI 570 (3.0)
  • Winter: UNIV S201 (1.0), (UG) MATH Course (4.0), (UG) Free Electives (8.0), BST 555 (3.0), BST 570 (4.0)
• Fourth Year:
  • Fall: (UG) Cultivating Global Competence (3.0-4.0), (UG) Free Electives (10.0), BST 522 (3.0), BST 557 (3.0)
  • Winter: (UG) MATH Course (7.0), (UG) Free Electives (7.0), BST 551 (3.0), BST 553 (3.0)
• Fifth Year:
  • Fall: BST 567 (3.0), BST 675 (3.0), PBHL 501 (0.0), (GR) Graduate Electives (3.0)
  • Winter: (GR) Graduate Electives (6.0), BST 698 or 699 (3.0)

Writing-Intensive Requirements

In order to graduate, all students must pass three writing-intensive courses after their freshman year. Two writing-intensive courses must be in a student's major. The third can be in any discipline. Students are advised to take one writing-intensive class each year, beginning with the sophomore year, and to avoid "clustering" these courses near the end of their matriculation. Transfer students need to meet with an academic advisor to review the number of writing-intensive courses required to graduate.