Program Overview

Master of Science in Biostatistics

The Master of Science in Biostatistics program offers a pragmatic and flexible approach to education, allowing students to tailor their course of study to their interests while gaining a well-rounded skill set. This program is designed to meet the needs of health systems, academic/research organizations, and biotech companies that are actively recruiting biostatisticians with in-depth expertise in statistical analysis of complex data.

Program Tracks

The program includes multiple tracks, developed based on extensive interviews with research and industry leaders, to provide students with the training expected by professionals in the field. These tracks include:

• Biostatistics – Generalist track
• Genomics and Bioinformatics
• Health Care Analytics
• Social and Behavioral Science

Each specialty track includes non-statistics courses focused on the research methods unique to that area of application, ensuring that graduates have the well-rounded background needed to collaborate effectively.

Career Opportunities

Our students come from many disciplines, including:

• Statistics/Math
• Biology/Biochemistry
• Genetics/Genomics
• Anthropology/Sociology/Psychology
• Health and Biomedical Sciences

Graduates are well-prepared to join health systems, academic/research organizations, and biotech companies in solving pressing challenges in contemporary research and care. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 14 to 30 percent growth in employment in statistics or biostatistics over the next several years.

Internship/Practicum Opportunities

The MS in Biostatistics program includes an internship or practicum that is at least 160 hours long. Students work with faculty and community partners, such as the Cleveland Clinic, MetroHealth, and University Hospitals, to identify opportunities that align with their interests and specialization. The internship/practicum experience is focused on providing students with the chance to gain professional experience as a biostatistician, serving as either a consultant or collaborator on a project. The objectives of this mentored experience are to learn the role of the consulting biostatistician, experience the life cycle of a project, develop and apply interpersonal and communications skills, strengthen skills learned in the program, and gain insight into the life and career of a biostatistician.

Program Details

The program is designed to allow students to complete their internship/practicum anywhere in the world and still complete the program in as short as 11 months. All students are required to produce a professionally written report in the format of a report to a client or a research paper at the end of the internship or practicum. This experience helps prepare students for future job interviews and jobs and may lead directly to a job.

Admission and Curriculum

For more information on admission criteria and curriculum details, please refer to the Biostatistics MS Admission section. The program's curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in biostatistics, including courses in statistical analysis, data visualization, and research methods. Students who are thinking of continuing to a PhD may want to consider the department's PhD program in Epidemiology/Biostatistics.