The following constitutes introductory information regarding the graduate degree program. For a complete outline of degree requirements, see Program Requirements for UCLA Graduate Degrees available in the program office and accessible from the Graduate Division homepage at http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu.
Applicants to the Master of Science program in Biostatistics must have completed a bachelor's degree. Majors in mathematics, computer science, or a field of application in biostatistics are preferred. Undergraduate preparation for the program should include Mathematics 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 33A, 33B (second-year calculus) or equivalent.
See the Master of Public Health (M.P.H.) Admission section under Public Health Schoolwide Programs. Admission requirements for the Master of Science in Biostatistics are the same as for the M.P.H.
Consult the graduate adviser for the areas of specialization. Typical course plans are listed below.
The M.S. degree requires a minimum of nine graduate and upper division courses, of which at least five must be graduate courses (200 and 500 series). The five required graduate courses must be in biostatistics or mathematical statistics, including at least three courses in biostatistics.
Two-Year Plan. Unless previously taken, the following courses must be included in the degree program: Biostatistics 110A, 110B, 115, 200A, 200B-200C, M215, 240A, 240B, 402A, 402B, 596; any three special topics courses from Biostatistics M210 through 214, 230, 231, M232, M234; and all courses numbered 250 and above, such that at least one of these three courses is in the 200 series; Statistics M152A, 152B.
Other courses in biostatistics or mathematical statistics, or in related areas such as biology, physiology, public health, management, or mathematics, are selected with the adviser's consent and approved by the chair.
A written report and written comprehensive examination covering the above course material must be passed.
One-Year Plan. The one-year plan is recommended only for exceptional students who have had a year course in probability and theoretical statistics plus one or more courses in applied statistics.
The following courses must be included in the degree program: Biostatistics 200A, 200B-200C, M215, 240A, 240B, 402A, 402B; two special topics courses in the numbered course sequence defined in the two-year plan; Biostatistics 596.
A written report and written comprehensive examination covering the above course material must be passed.
The written comprehensive examination which covers the content of the required courses must be passed. No more than one reexamination after failure is allowed. Students who do not take the reexamination at the time specified by the department forfeit their right to reexamination.
None.
Qualifications for admission are those currently specified by the Graduate Division. Normally, students receive an M.S. in Biostatistics at UCLA before admission to the Ph.D. program.
Consult the department for further information.
Consult the graduate adviser.
Unless previously taken, the following courses must be included in the degree program: Biostatistics M250A-M250B, 251, 255; Mathematics 276A-276B; and at least three special topics courses from the Biostatistics 230, 270, and 280 series. Some substitution is accepted from courses in mathematics and biomathematics. In addition, the student's full program of study must be approved by the department and must include, at the graduate level, three areas of knowledge: biostatistics, mathematical statistics, and a third field such as biology, epidemiology, infectious diseases, medicine, microbiology, pharmacology, physiology, psychology, zoology, or public health. Students are required to participate in the biostatistics consulting laboratory for one term each year and in the advanced seminar in biostatistics each year.
Written qualifying examinations in biostatistics and mathematical statistics are taken before advancement to candidacy and can be repeated once only. The mathematical statistics examination is taken in the spring of the first year in residence; if failed, it must be retaken the following October. The written qualifying examination is taken in Fall Quarter of the second year.
A doctoral committee is nominated when the student is ready to take the University Oral Qualifying Examination. The doctoral committee consists of at least four faculty members who hold professorial appointments. Two of the faculty must be tenured. Three of the four must hold appointments in the Department of Biostatistics; at least one must not hold an appointment in the School of Public Health; one of the four must be from the minor field.
The University Oral Qualifying Examination is taken before advancement to candidacy and after successful completion of the written examinations. Administered by the doctoral committee, it is usually a defense of the dissertation proposal. A failed examination may be repeated once. The timing of reexaminations is specified by the department in the case of written examinations or by the student's committee in the case of the oral examination. Students who do not take the reexaminations at the specified time forfeit their right to reexamination.