The 21st century is the era of "big data." Every day, we create 2.5 quintillion bytes of data — so much that 90% of the data in the world today has been created in the last two years alone. It is estimated that 30% of this data comes from the health care industry. Saint Louis University's Master of Science (M.S.) in Biostatistics and Health Analytics will not only prepare students to handle this data but also to apply analytic techniques to answer important research questions related to health and health care.
This program is designed for students interested in a field that combines quantitative reasoning, coding, and scientific skills to solve problems in health and medicine. It is suited for those with strong quantitative abilities and a desire to apply mathematics, statistics, computer programming and data analysis to health-related issues. An M.S. in Biostatistics and Health Analytics can prepare students for professional biostatistical careers and provides a firm academic foundation for subsequent doctoral study in statistical science.
The field of biostatistics is a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) focus area since the field of biostatistics is a mathematically based science. In 2006, the United States launched a program to increase the number of students who receive training in STEM areas. This program will fill the need for graduates with technical abilities to analyze data and draw inferences.
Curriculum Overview
Students take courses in public health, the theory of biostatistics, methods of biostatistics and computing. Students finish by doing a capstone project under the direction of a faculty member in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
Fieldwork and Research Opportunities
Students will have the opportunity to do research as part of their capstone project
Careers
Graduates of SLU's M.S. in Biostatistics and Health Analytics will be prepared to work as a biostatistician, data scientist or data analyst. The number of students in the U.S. who have received master’s degrees in biostatistics has increased by a factor of seven since 2000.
Data scientists, biostatisticians and statisticians are often rated as among the nation's top jobs, measured in terms of salary and job satisfaction.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The College for Public Health and Social Justice offers several ways to help finance graduate education. Opportunities include a limited number of merit-based scholarships and graduate research assistantships. Awards are made to applicants with the highest combinations of GPAs and test scores who complete their applications by the priority deadlines.
For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.
Accreditation
The College for Public Health and Social Justice is fully accredited by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH).
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
