Timing of electives vary from what is listed. Please discuss when to take your electives with your advisor.
Sample Timeline for MS Thesis
First Year
| Autumn | Winter | Spring | Summer |
| STAT 512 Statistical Inference | STAT 513 Statistical Inference | BIOST 561 Computational Skills for Biostatistics 2 | Select Thesis Advisor |
| BIOST 514 Biostatistics I | BIOST 515 Biostatistics II | ||
| Elective (optional) | Elective (optional) | Electives | |
| BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics 1 | BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics | BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics |
Second Year
| Autumn | Winter | Spring | Summer |
|---|---|---|---|
| BIOST 536 Categorical Data Analysis in Epidemiology | BIOST 537 Survival Data Analysis in Epidemiology | Electives | |
| Elective | Elective | ||
| BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics | BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics | BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics | |
| BIOST 590 Biostatistical Consulting (one quarter) 3 | |||
| MS Thesis | |||
Core Courses
- BIOST 514 Biostatistics I (4 credits)
- BIOST 515 Biostatistics II (4 credits)
- BIOST 536 Categorical Data Analysis in Epidemiology (4 credits)
- BIOST 537 Survival Data Analysis in Epidemiology (4 credits)
- STAT 512 Statistical Inference (4 credits)
- STAT 513 Statistical Inference (4 credits)
Additional requirements
- BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics (6 credits total)
- BIOST 590 Biostatistical Consulting (3 credits)
- BIOST 700 Master's Thesis (18 credits total)
- Electives
- Minimum 6 credits from Elective List One: Methodological Emphasis
- Minimum 5 credits from Elective List Two: Biology or Public Health Emphasis
- As a department in the accredited University of Washington School of Public health, the Department of Biostatistics requires that all graduates demonstrate foundational knowledge in Public Health. Any questions should be directed to the Graduate Program Director.
- Students who enter the department in Autumn 2019 or later fulfill this requirement by taking BIOST 504 Foundations of Public Health for Biostatistics as one of their List 2 electives, satisfying the most recent requirements set forth by the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH). Students who enter the department in Autumn 2023 or later may take either PHI 500 or BIOST 504 to satisfy the CEPH requirement.
- Students who entered the department in Autumn 2018 or prior fulfill this requirement by taking the core required courses BIOST 536 and BIOST 537 (cross-listed with EPI 536 and 537), and are not required to take BIOST 504, but may optionally take it as a List 2 elective.
- Elective courses may be taken S/NS or equivalent, pending approval of the Graduate Program Director. To earn the grade of "S," students must achieve a 2.7 or higher.
Course recommendations and notes
- The department recommends that students register for and attend the BIOST 580 Seminar in Biostatistics every quarter. Six quarters are required.
- In preparation for work on the thesis, students are expected to master computational skills at the level covered in BIOST 561 Computational Skills for Biostatistics. Taking this course in the first year is recommended.
- BIOST 590 Biostatistical Consulting is a required course and MS Thesis students typically take it at the end of Year 1 or during Year 2. Enrollment is limited to 4-6 students per quarter so advance planning is necessary. Students may email bcurric@uw.edu to sign up for a quarter.
Optional courses
- BIOST 582 Student Seminar is offered every Autumn, Winter, and Spring quarter.
- BIOST 600 Independent Study may be arranged with a faculty advisor in any quarter.
Milestones
- First Year (MS) Theory Exam follows spring quarter of Year 1.
- MS Thesis completed by the end of Year 2.