Biostatistics (BSMS)
Graduate Degree Program
College: Public Health
Abstract
The MS in Biostatistics program is designed to equip students with the biostatistical and analytical skills necessary to interpret and conduct research in the public health, and biomedical fields. The program emphasizes biostatistical methodology as well as practice of biostatistics and data science in public health. It will address workforce shortage in the field of biostatistics while producing future leaders and scholars in public health and biomedical data science. This will be achieve through: 1) advanced training in biostatistical modeling, machine learning, big data computing, epidemiology and public health data science, 2) experiential learning through research opportunities at research centers and institutes within UMD; 3) fostered biostatistical thinking and enhanced data science skills necessary for future careers in academia, pharmaceutical and biotechnological industry, government agencies, and other healthcare and public health administration professional organizations.
Financial Assistance
The Department offers a limited number of graduate teaching and research assistantships. Contact the Director of Graduate Studies for further information.
Contact
Jamie Trevitt, PhD, MPP
Director of Graduate Studies
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics
School of Public Health
University of Maryland, College Park
Email: jtrevitt@umd.edu
Website: http://sph.umd.edu/department/epib
The MS in Biostatistics program has a two-part application process: applicants must submit the SOPHAS application (www.sophas.org), the centralized application service for schools and programs of public health, and the UMD Supplemental application. Both applications must be submitted, complete with all required documents and verified by the scheduled deadline. Applications will be reviewed when both the SOPHAS and the UMD Supplemental applications are completed and verified.
GENERAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
- A Bachelor's degree
- Minimum 3.0 undergraduate GPA
- Preferred coursework: 3 semesters of calculus (including multivariable) and linear algebra
- Transcripts from all previous coursework
- English proficiency test score (TOEFL, IELTS or PTE) (international applicants)
- Statement of purpose and objectives including career and educational goals, professional experience, and public health areas of interest
- Response to Personal Experiences Question(s)
PROGRAM SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
- SOPHAS application & UMD Supplemental application
- Three letters of recommendation
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Fit between the applicant's goals and expectations and program's degree competencies
- Official GRE Test Scores submission is optional*. If you decide to submit your GRE scores, please have ETS send scores to SOPHAS (code 0485)
*The review committee will evaluate GRE scores if they are submitted. The lack of scores will not impact applications. If submitted, the program considers competitive scores to be 50th percentile or higher in each of the three parts.
Note for applicants with foreign credentials:
- The SOPHAS application requires that applicants submit a WES credential evaluation.
- The UMD supplemental application requires the upload of unofficial transcripts issued in the original language with a literal English translation. Visit the Graduate School website for additional information
- Evidence of English Language proficiency is required if the applicant does not hold a degree from a U.S. institution or from one of the English-speaking countries listed on the Graduate School website. Language scores must be submitted both to SOPHAS and UMD supplemental application
For detailed instructions on how to apply, please visit the School of Public Health Website: https://sph.umd.ed/graduate-application-process
APPLICATION DEADLINES
| Type of Applicant | Fall Deadline |
|---|---|
| Domestic Applicants | |
| US Citizens and Permanent Residents | April 3, 2026 |
| The priority deadline for both the SOPHAS and the UMD applications is December 19, 2025. | |
| International Applicants | |
| F (student) or J (exchange visitor) visas; A,E,G,H,I and L visas and immigrants | March 6, 2026 |
| The priority deadline for both the SOPHAS and the UMD applications is December 19, 2025. |
RESOURCES AND LINKS:
Program website: sph.umd.edu/ms-biostatistics
Application Process: sph.umd.edu/apply
Admissions FAQ: sph.umd.edu/graduate-application-faqs
Our faculty in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics includes individuals with multi-faceted interests in biostatistics, epidemiology, and bioinformatics. Biostatistics faculty apply statistical techniques including survival and longitudinal analysis, computational statistics, statistical analysis of genomic and proteomic data, machine learning, neuroimaging statistics, (network) meta-analysis, missing data analysis, Bayesian hierarchical methods, and bioinformatics to analyze and interpret health data. Epidemiology faculty have research interests and expertise in the epidemiology of infectious disease and chronic disease with particular focus in the areas of HIV/STIs, cancer, health disparities, cardiovascular disease, obesity/physical activity, and sexual and reproductive health. Additional areas of specialization include social and behavioral determinants of health, aging, cultural competency, and community-based interventions.
| Last Name | First/Middle Name | Graduate Faculty Status | Academic Credentials | Positions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter-Pokras | Olivia | Full | B.S., Tulane University; M.H.S., Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health | Professor Emeritus, Epidemiology Professor Emeritus, Biostatistics |
| Cruz-Cano | Raul | Associate | B.S., Autonomous University of Chihuahua, 1999; M.S., University of Texas at El Paso, 2002; Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso, 2005 | Associate Research Professor, Epidemiology Associate Research Professor, Biostatistics |
| Dallal | Cher | Full | B.A., University of California at Berkeley, 1998; M.P.H., Yale University School of Public Health, 2002; M.S., University of Southern California, 2005; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, 2009 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics |
| Dyer | Typhanye | Full | B.A., University of California, Los Angeles, 1995; M.P.H., California State University, Long Beach, 2002; Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 2009 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics |
| He | Xin | Full | B.S., Peking University, 2003; B.A., Peking University, 2003; Ph.D., University of Missouri, 2007 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics Graduate Director, Epidemiology Graduate Director, Biostatistics |
| Kleinman | Dushanka | Full | B.S., University of Wisconsin; D.D.S., University of Illinois-Chicago College of Dentistry; M.Sc.D., Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine | Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Biostatistics |
| Lee | Mei-Ling | Full | B.S., National Taiwan University, 1975; M.S., National Tsing Hua University, 1977; M.A., University of Pittsburgh, 1978; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 1980 | Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Applied Mathematics & Statistics, and Scientific Computation Professor, Biostatistics |
| Liu | Hongjie | Full | B.M., Shanghai Medical University, 1993; M.S., UCLA School of Public Health, 1998; Ph.D., UCLA School of Public Health, 2002 | Chair, Epidemiology Chair, Biostatistics Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Biostatistics |
| Lushniak | Boris | Full | B.S., Northwestern University, 1981; M.D., Northwestern University, 1983; M.P.H., Harvard University, 1984 | Professor, Epidemiology Professor, Biostatistics |
| Ma | Tianzhou | Full | B.S., University of Toronto, 2010; M.S., Yale University, 2013; Ph.D., University of Pittsburgh, 2018 | Assistant Professor, Epidemiology Assistant Professor, Biostatistics |
| Nguyen | Quynh | Full | B.A., Stanford University, 2005; M.S.P.H., UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2009; Ph.D., UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, 2011 | Associate Professor, Epidemiology Associate Professor, Biostatistics |
| Trevitt | Jamie Lynn | Graduate Teaching | M.P.P., Georgetown University, 2006; Ph.D., Johns Hopkins University, 2010 | Assistant Clinical Professor, Biostatistics |
| Turpin | Rodman | Associate | B.S., Howard University, 2008; M.S., Howard University, 2012; Ph.D., University of Maryland School of Public Health, 2018 | Assistant Research Professor, Epidemiology Assistant Research Professor, Biostatistics |