Biostatistics

Yulia Dementieva, Ph.D. Coordinator

Biostatistics is the application of statistical techniques to data generated from biological problems. A career in biostatistics is ideal for students with strengths in mathematics and science who enjoy working with computers and numbers, and wish to apply their skills to solving real-world problems in biological research. Graduates with a major in biostatistics can find employment in medical facilities, research institutions, pharmaceutical companies, and data analysis organizations. They can also pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in statistics biological research or public health.

LEARNING GOALS AND OUTCOMES

1. Understand a common set of core mathematical concepts/skills/problems/ theorems/ways of thought needed to study mathematical statistics (MATH2103 and MATH2101) 2. Understand foundational principles of biology (BIOL1105 and BIOL1106) 3. Understand chemical structure of components of living systems (DNA, proteins, lipids, etc.) (CHEM1101 and

CHEM1102) 4. Understand descriptive and inferential statistics, probability theory, methods and techniques (MATH2113,

MATH3103, MATH3105) 5. Be able to apply statistical methods and techniques to current biological topics and research (BIOL2123 and one BIOL elective

BIOL2115 or BIOL2119) 6. Be able to use technology and software programs (SAS, R) to analyze data and effectively communicate statistical results to others, especially non-statisticians (MATH2113, MATH3105, MATH4101). Emmanuel College

THE CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE

The Capstone Experience for all biostatistics majors is the Programming in SAS course (MATH4101). This course is completed in the spring semester of the student’s junior or senior year of study. By this time student should complete the Advanced Statistics (MATH3105) course with a grade of at least C. During the capstone experience students complete final projects in SAS using statistical knowledge from previous courses and data of their choice. Presentations of the final projects are shared with the Mathematics department faculty.

B.S. IN BIOSTATISTICS

Requirements Major:

BIOL1105 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology (SI-L) (NSL) BIOL1106 Introduction to Organismic and Evolutionary Biology (SI-L) (NSL) BIOL2123 Genetics

CHEM1101 Principles of Chemistry I* (SI-L) (NSL)

and

CHEM1102 Principles of Chemistry II* (SI-L) (NSL)

or

CHEM1103 Chemical Perspectives* (SI-L) MATH2101 Linear Algebra (QA) (QR) MATH2103 Calculus III (QA) (QR) MATH2113 Statistics with R (QA) (QR) MATH3103 Probability MATH3105 Advanced Statistics MATH4101 Programming in SAS

and one elective to be chosen from the following courses: BIOL2115 Determinants of Health and Disease BIOL2119 Current Topics in Biological Research

MATH 4194 /MATH4195 Research Internships I and II** * Qualified students may replace CHEM1101 and CHEM1102 with CHEM1103. ** MATH4194 counts as a 3000-level math elective for a B.S. in Biostatistics if the entire two-semester internship sequence (MATH4194 and MATH4195) is completed. Students receive academic credit for the second internship course (MATH4195), but it would not be counted as one of the 12 required biostatistics courses.

Students must satisfactorily complete MATH2101 Linear Algebra or MATH2113 Statistics with R before declaring a major in biostatistics.

EXPERIENTIAL INTERNSHIP

Biostatistics majors may apply to do an internship in a non-research setting. The internship site and project must be appropriate for the biostatistics major and it is the student’s responsibility to obtain an internship. The one-semester internship course INT3211 counts as an Emmanuel College elective, but not as an elective toward the biostatistics major.

DISTINCTION IN THE FIELD

To be eligible to apply for distinction in the field of biostatistics, a student must have, at the completion of the first semester of their junior year, a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.3 and at least 3.3 GPA in courses that count toward the biostatistics major. Eligible students will be invited by the math department to apply for distinction. To maintain eligibility for distinction, the student must have a cumulative overall GPA of at least 3.5 and at least 3.5 GPA in courses that count toward the major at the completion of the final semester of their senior year.