What can I do with a master’s in Biostatistics?

Most employers currently require biostatisticians to have earned a master’s degree based on the Labor Insights’ 2020 data, which conveyed that 61.6% of U.S. employers’ biostatisticians job postings required advanced education.

Furthermore, expected job growth for statisticians is an astonishing 31% over the next 10 years (bls.gov). Our master’s in biostatistics opens the door to this booming industry and prepares you to provide statistical insights for the healthcare industry—the third largest employer of statisticians.

Besides an astounding job outlook, biostatistics master’s graduates can also expect an increase in salary. BLS states the median salary in 2021 for a statistician was $96,280.

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Note: Any application completed after the deadline is considered for admission for the next admission term. We recommend you work on and submit your complete application well in advance of the deadline, as obtaining transcripts and other materials may take more time. Summer admission is only for student seeking provisional admission to the MS with the requirement to complete our Math Tools sequence in remedial calculus.

Steps to Apply

1. Complete graduate application
2. Submit $65 non-refundable application fee
3. Submit all official transcripts of graduate work in English from all previous institutions
4. Check for Scholarships

Note: Electronic transcripts are only accepted directly from the institution(s). Please have electronic transcripts sent directly to UofL Graduate Admissions Office.

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Admission Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in any field from an accredited institution
• Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0 to be admitted in good standing
• Mathematics coursework covering differential and integral calculus including partial differentiation and multiple integration
• Minimum of two letters of recommendation written within the past twelve months
• Statement of purpose

Send all materials to:
Graduate Admissions
University of Louisville
2211 S. Brook Street
Louisville, KY 40292
gradadm@louisville.edu

International Students

The Master’s in Biostatistics program is open to international students. If you live outside of the United States and intend to complete an online academic program from your home country, be sure to review these additional requirements for international students.

1. All transcripts not in English must be certified as authentic and translated verbatim in English. A foreign credential evaluation may be required. View the FAQs for more information.
2. Students whose primary language is not English must show English language proficiency by attaining one of the following:
   • TOEFL score at or above 550 (paper based test and a 5.0 on the TWE test), 213 (computer based test), 79 (internet based test), OR
   • Submitting an IELTS test score of 6.5 or higher, OR
   • Duolingo English test score of 105 or higher
   • Successful completion of the exit examination for the advanced level of the Intensive English as a Second Language Program (IESL) at the University of Louisville, OR
   • Submitting an EFCMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) certification, OR
   • Demonstration of a degree award from an acceptable English language institution
3. International students will not be issued a U.S. visa, since there are no campus attendance requirements. All courses in the program are taught 100% online, allowing you to attain the entire degree from the comfort of your home and at any time convenient for you, regardless of your current location, anywhere in the world.

For more information on the admission and application process, please contact our Online Learning Enrollment Counselor at 800.871.8635 or by email at online@louisville.edu.

Curious about the differences between a Masters or Graduate Certificate in Biostatistics? Click here and learn more

The online M.S. in Biostats degree is a 33 credit hour program that requires 25 credit hours in core courses with with 5 credit hours in electives, and 3 credit hours of public health education.

Core Courses

1. PHPH 523 fulfills the accreditation requirement that all graduates from the School of Public Health and Information Science receive foundational instruction in public health.
2. Electives are chosen with the approval of a faculty advisor. Students are typically encouraged to select electives from among the following courses from among the following courses:
   • PHST 603 Biostatistics and the School of Public Health and Information Sciences.
   • PHST 640 Statistical Methods for Research Design in Health Sciences
   • PHMS 641 Data Mining I
   • PHST 682 Multivariate Statistics
   • PHST 675 Independent Study in Biostatistics

Students may also choose elective courses outside of the department in fields related to biostatistics, such as Mathematics, Epidemiology, and Computer Science (subject to approval from faculty advisor). Students are responsible for ensuring they have met the prerequisites for these courses.

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Course Descriptions

Featured Faculty

The set of questions and answers outlined below can help you learn more about our program, delivery method, application and admission process, financial aid options and how to succeed as an online student at UofL. 

• Is there a specific undergraduate degree required for admission into the Master of Science in Biostatistics?
  No. Admission to the program requires an exposure to statistics -- preferably via a course at a sophomore level or above -- and a background in differential and integral calculus including partial differentiation and multiple integration. Coursework in linear algebra could be required for some electives.
• Is the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) required for admission?
  No. However, if you have recently taken the GRE we encourage you to submit your scores to us. Also, if you feel as though your transcript doesn't adequately reflect your quantitative training and abilities, scores from the GRE quantitative test can be a helpful addition to an application.
• Is a foreign credential evaluation of transcripts from international institutions required?
  Yes, we require full credential evaluations for any degree earned outside of the USA. The University of Louisville recommends you have your credentials evaluated by World Education Service (WES) or Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE).
• What are the English language proficiency requirements for admission?
  Students must achieve a minimum score on the TOEFL exam (550 on the paper-based TOEFL, 213 on the computer-based TOEFL, 79 on the Internet-based TOEFL), a score of 6.5 or better on the IELTS examination, successful passing of an exit examination for the advanced level of an Intensive English as a Second Language Program, a Duolingo English test score of 105 or higher, or an Intensive demonstration of a degree awarded from an institution with instruction primarily in English, as formally documented by an appropriate institutional official.
• What type of information should be included in the statement of purpose?
  The statement of purpose should cover your background, experiences, and motivations and reason for undertaking graduate work in biostatistics. It is important that this statement describe both your strengths and weaknesses so that the admission committee can make an informed decision regarding admission.
• What are possible career outcomes?
  There is a very high demand for biostatistical training in many industrial sectors including the insurance, pharmaceutical, and chemical industries, as well as at research institutions and various government agencies (NIH, FDA, Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics etc.). Job growth data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics predict that there will be a 31% increase in the need for statisticians in the next 10 years (https://www.bls.gov/ooh/). Another study by McKinsey Global Institute predicts that the United States will need over 150,000 professionals with expertise in statistical methods by 2018 (www.mckinsey.com). Our graduates have secured employment at Humana, Google, UPS, NIH, Texas Children’s Hospital, and several other major employers in the United States.
• What are the advantages of an MS in Biostatistics over a Bachelor’s degree in statistics or mathematics?
  Graduates with Master’s degrees in Biostatistics tend to be more attractive to employers in the industrial market than graduates with Bachelor’s degrees are and generally better compensated, too. The 2020 Salary Association of Business, Industry, and Government Statisticians published by the American Statistical Association shows that the median salary for an entry-level employee in industry with a Master’s degree in statistics, biostatistics, or mathematical statistics was $37,000 higher for master’s graduates than bachelor’s graduates.
• Can the MS degree be completed part-time?
  Yes. Our advisors work with part-time students to develop course plans for completion of the degree.