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About the Program
The masters program prepares students to understand the mathematical and theoretical basis of statistical methodology; collaborate on the design of research studies in the health sciences; provide advice on the proper collection, entry, storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data; take primary responsibility for the analysis, interpretation and dissemination of data in a research study using state-of-the-art statistical methods and software.
Career Opportunities
Graduates of the MS program readily find employment in government agencies; research areas of medicine, nursing, dentistry, allied health sciences and the biological sciences; and in the pharmaceutical industry.
Financial Support
Students accepted into the program will be considered for a Graduate Assistantship (GA) package that includes stipend support and a reduced tuition rate of $25/semester. A limited number of GA packages will be awarded each year, on a competitive basis and according to the availability of funds.
Admission Requirements
Completed Online Application for Graduate Programs. Please visit the Office of Admissions website: http://www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions/
Application deadlines for application and required materials and documents:
Early submission of all application materials is strongly advised.
February 1 - Fall entry
Note: All required application materials and documents must be received in order for an application to be considered complete and before an admission decision can be made. Applications and supporting materials received after the program deadline will only be considered on a space-available basis.
Minimum Degree Requirement and Official Transcripts: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university. To be used to satisfy degree requirement, evaluation of foreign educational transcripts must show degree(s) earned that are the U.S. equivalency of degree(s) required by the program.
Official transcripts are required from all universities and colleges ever attended. Only in the case of transcripts from international colleges/universities will an official course‐by‐course transcript evaluation based on official transcripts and documents be accepted in lieu of an official transcript.
Official transcripts should be sent to GHSU’s Office of Academic Admissions. To remain official, all transcripts must remain in the original, unopened, sealed and stamped/signed envelope from the Registrar’s office of the issuing institution. Alternatively, GHSU will accept official electronic transcripts from the registrar’s office at your prior institution. Electronic transcripts should be directed to admissions@georgiahealth.edu.
Transcript/Credential Evaluation of Foreign Transcripts: An official, professional course-by-course evaluation based on official transcripts and documents is required for all foreign educational transcripts and documents from one of the following three credentials evaluation services: Josef Silny & Associates, Inc., World Education Services (WES), Educational Credential Evaluators, Inc. (ECE). Silny and WES are recommended. Official evaluations based on unofficial transcripts, documents, or copies will not satisfy this requirement.
References: Recommendations (which include a reference form and letter of recommendation) from three individuals are required. Referees should be individuals qualified to critically assess the applicant’s prior academic (usually college professors), employment, artistic, research and/or clinical experience (clinical or research supervisor/mentor) and qualifications (as applicable) as well as the applicant’s potential as a graduate student in the field/program selected.
Graduate reference forms and letters of recommendation can be submitted online only. As part of the online application process, applicants provide the names and current email addresses for three individuals they have asked to serve as their referees. Once the online application is submitted, each referee will receive an email notification directing him/her to the online site where he/she can complete the reference form and submit his/her letter of recommendation. To change a referee after the application has been submitted, the applicant is instructed to log into his/her CollegeNet account and update the name and current email address for the referee. Status updates of your referees’ submissions will be provided to you directly from CollegeNet.
GRE Requirement: Official GRE scores are required (only the General GRE test is required) - see Admission Recommendations section below for details on minimum GRE score recommendations.
All official GRE scores must be submitted to GHSU’s Office of Academic Admissions directly from the Education Testing Service (ETS) and must be less than five years old. The institution code for submission of GRE scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code.
TOEFL Requirement: Minimum score of 550 paper‐based, 213 computer-based, or 79 internet-based
Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores are required for applicants whose first language is not English. The institution code for submission of TOEFL scores to GHSU is 5406. Please do not select a department code.
Exemption from the TOEFL requirement is allowed for graduate students who submit proof of earning a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college/university where English is the language of instruction.
Program Specific Requirements
Prerequisite coursework:
- Three semesters of college level calculus completed before admission with a minimum grade of C.
- One semester of linear algebra completed before admission with a minimum grade of C.
Admissions Recommendations
GPA: Minimum overall undergraduate GPA of 3.3 on a 4.0 scale
GRE: Minimum GRE score of 1100 (sum of verbal and quantitative sections) on GRE test taken prior to August 1, 2011 or minimum GRE score of 309 (sum of verbal and quantitative sections) on the GRE taken after August 1, 2011.
* Substitutions and/or waivers of minimum requirements must first be supported and approved at the program level and then formally approved by the Dean of the College of Graduate Studies.
* While every effort is made to maintain this information as current, it may be subject to change. Please check with GHSU’s Office of Academic Admission for recent updates.
* Applications deferred to another semester are subject to all admission requirements and program requirements in effect for the semester to which they are deferred
Competitive Profile
The competitive applicant for the MS program will have the following qualifications:
- Possession of a baccalaureate or higher degree in the mathematical sciences, or in a closely related discipline with rigorous training in calculus and matrix algebra.
- Minimum cumulative GPA on all undergraduate and graduate coursework of at least 3.3
- Computer literacy
- Minimum GRE general test score of 1100 (sum of verbal and quantitative sections)
- A strong personal statement
How to Apply
Apply online at www.georgiahealth.edu/Admissions or contact
Office of Academic Admissions
170 Kelly Building–Administration
Georgia Health Sciences University
Augusta, Georgia 30912-7310
Telephone: (706) 721-2725
Toll free: (800) 519-3388
Fax: (706) 721-7279
E-mail: Admissions@georgiahealth.edu
For more information about the College of Graduate Studies and the Department of Biostatistics visit http://biostat.georgiahealth.edu.
Curriculum
The two-year program comprises three parts: a core set of 30 credit hours of didactic courses that all students take, 9 credit hours of elective courses, and a research thesis or a consulting project. Students will chose, with the advice and approval of their advisory committees, one of these options:
Thesis Track: A formal thesis, directed by a Biostatistics faculty member, will be required. The student will conduct their research under Thesis Research (STAT 8920), for a minimum of 3 credit hours. The thesis project for the MS program will be of two types: (i) use of established but state-of-the-art statistical tools to analyze and report on collected data sets; or (ii) a rigorous review of statistical literature, possibly involving a small amount of methodological research, that has potential use in complex biomedical data analysis. A formal presentation of the thesis will be required, which will be open to public.
Non-Thesis Track: A project write-up (or project write-ups), directed by a Biostatistics faculty member, will be required. The student will perform the project work under Biostatistical Consulting in Research (STAT 8910), for a minimum of 3 credit hours. This course is designed for students to gain practical experience in integration of statistical theory and application in current research, systematic formulation of problems, data formatting and collection procedures, study design, data analysis, and the interpretation and communication of results. It is possible that students may consult on one or two projects, depending on the complexity and scope of the research project(s). A formal presentation will be required at the conclusion of the project(s).
An advisory committee of faculty will help plan, monitor progress, and mentor the student through all phases of the program of study.
Other Requirements
All students must attend departmental and other research seminars and meetings that are relevant to their biostatistics training.
Students must publicize the results of their research through seminars, conference presentations, and/or articles in refereed (peer-review) journals.
Students with graduate assistantships are required to work with a faculty supervisor as Research or Teaching Assistants.
Comprehensive Examination
Final Oral Thesis/Project Defense
Estimated Tuition and Fees
For estimated tuition and fees, please see the Tuition and Fees section of this catalog.
