CSUEB Catalog 2007-2008: Biostatistics (Graduate)

Biostatistics

	Department Information
	Program Description
	M.S. in Biostatistics
	Graduate Courses

Department Information

Department of Statistics and Biostatistics
College of Science
Office: North Science 229
Phone: (510) 885-3435


Professors Emeriti Michael L. Orkin, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley Bruce E. Trumbo, Ph.D. University of Chicago Professor Julia A. Norton Ph.D. Harvard University Associate Professor Eric A. Suess (Chair), Ph.D. University of California, Davis Assistant Professors Lynn Eudey, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley Shenghua (Kelly) Fan, Ph.D. University of Minnesota Joshua D. Kerr, Ph.D. University of California, Davis Jaimyoung Kwon, Ph.D. University of California, Berkeley Mitchell R. Watnik, Ph.D. University of California, Davis YanYan Zhou, Ph.D. University of Maryland

Graduate Coordinators: Lynn Eudey, Eric A. Suess

Please consult the 2008-2009 online catalog for any changes that may occur.

Program Description

The Department of Statistics and Biostatistics offers graduate study leading to the degree Master of Science in Biostatistics. The program is flexible in order to serve the needs of students with varying backgrounds in Statistics, Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Science, Engineering, Business, Economics and Mathematics and with different career objectives. The program includes curriculum designed to prepare students to work in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. All students are expected to master a wide variety of applied statistical and probabilistic techniques and the theoretical foundations on which these techniques rest. They are expected to be familiar with recent developments and to be able to use the statistical literature to learn new techniques and theories throughout their professional careers. In addition to the general requirements stated elsewhere in this catalog, a student must satisfy the departmental requirements stated in the following paragraphs.

Student Learning Outcomes
Students graduating with an M.S. in Biostatistics from Cal State East Bay will have achieved the following:



1.	theoretical, interpretive and basic computational skill in (a) descriptive statistics, probability, and graphical displays, (b) distributions, hypothesis testing and confidence intervals, and (c) uncertainty, likelihood, modeling and error analysis;
2.	ability to derive basic theory and communicate to others results involving (a) descriptive statistics, probability, and graphical displays, (b) distributions, hypothesis testing and confidence intervals, (c) uncertainty, likelihood, modeling and error analysis;
3.	ability to formulate problem solutions, produce appropriate computer code and to decipher standard computer results covering (a) descriptive statistics, probability, and graphical displays, (b) distributions, hypothesis testing and confidence intervals, (c) uncertainty, likelihood, modeling and error analysis.

Admission Requirements


1.	A baccalaureate degree or equivalent.
2.	Differential and Integral Calculus, including multiple integration and infinite series.
3.	Departmental approval.
4.	For "Classified Graduate" status, fulfillment of the University Writing Skills Requirement.

In addition to the above minimal requirements for admission, if students have some of the following background they will be at an advantage both as to selection for the program and optimal progress toward the degree if admitted:


•	basic statistics and probability at the level of STAT 3401, 3502 (or beyond)
•	additional mathematics at the level of MATH 2101 and 3100 or 3300 (or beyond)
•	knowledge of a computer programming language
•	coursework in biology or experience in a setting where studies or experiments are conducted for the collection of data.
Advancement to Candidacy Requirements
1.	Completion of at least 15 quarter units of approved work beyond the baccalaureate, with an average of "B" (3.0) or higher.
2.	Departmental approval. (May be contingent upon a written or oral qualifying examination.)

M.S. in Biostatistics


Degree Requirements Successful completion of the following unit, grade, and course requirements.
A.	Unit and Grade Requirements
	The M.S. in Biostatistics program consists of 45-48 quarter units of approved upper division and graduate work. At least 44 of these units must be approved graduate (6000 level) courses. All work applied toward the 45-48 units must be at an average grade of "B" (3.0) or higher, and no graduate-level required course may be at a grade below "B."
B.	Course Requirements (45 units)
	Elective courses referred to in section # 3 below must be approved in writing in advance by an advisor.
	1.	Required First Year courses (24 units)
		STAT 6205 Probability Theory (4) STAT 6250 Statistical Programming (4) STAT 6304 Advanced Statistical Inference (4) STAT 6305 Analysis of Variance Models (4) STAT 6509 Theory and Application of Regression (4) 1 elective from approved Statistics or Biostatistics graduate courses including:
			STAT 6310 Advanced Stochastic Processes and Simulation (4) BSTA 6841-6849 Selected Topics in Biostatistics (4) BSTA 6500 Statistical Bioinformatics (4)
		Students entering the program with acceptable credit for any of these courses (or equivalents) will select additional courses from approved graduate-level coursework, section # 3 below, or courses from other departments designated as acceptable by a graduate advisor.
	2.	Required Second Year courses (20 units)
		BSTA 6651 Analysis of Categorical Data (4) BSTA 6652 Survival Analysis (4) BSTA 6653 Clinical Trials (4) Select two from the following:
			STAT 6401 Advanced Probability I (4) STAT 6501 Mathematical Statistics I (4) STAT 6502 Mathematical Statistics II (4)
		Relevant coursework in biology should be undertaken at least at the undergraduate level. Advanced coursework in biological sciences is recommended. Topics of interest include logistic regression, clinical trials, survival analysis, and other topics from biostatistics.
	3.	Elective Courses (1-4 units)
		Students with department approval can select courses in Biological Sciences, Computer Science, Business, Economics, Finance, Mathematics, or Statistics as electives. A partial list of electives is given here: BSTA 6500 Statistical Bioinformatics (4) STAT 6402 Advanced Probability II (4) STAT 6515 Advanced Multivariate Analysis (4) STAT 6550 Bayesian Statistics (4) STAT 6555 Statistical Time Series Analysis (4) STAT 6601 Advanced Statistical Computing (4) STAT 6860-6864 Selected Topics in Graduate Probability and Statistics (4) STAT 6895 Practicum in Statistics (1-4) STAT 6898 Co-operative Education (1-4) STAT 6900 Independent Study (1-4) STAT 6950 Graduate Statistics Capstone(4) MATH 3100 Linear Algebra (4) MATH 3300 Analysis I (4)

Comprehensive Examination
Successful completion of a departmental examination is required. This written examination will cover the contents of the courses in the candidate's approved program. Other material may be included, the general nature of which will be specified in advance. The examination will generally be given only in the Fall and Spring quarters, and will cover both applied and theoretical topics.

In each quarter of offering, the department Chair will appoint three or more members of the graduate faculty to administer the examination. Each student will generally take the comprehensive examination in the quarter s(he) intends to graduate or in the preceding quarter, after consulting with the graduate advisor. Students enrolled in the actuarial statistics option may substitute a passing grade on an approved national actuarial exam for a designated portion of the comprehensive examination. The examination committee is the final departmental authority in deciding eligibility to take the examination.

Other Degree Requirements
In addition to departmental requirements, every student must also satisfy the university requirements for graduation which are described in the Graduate and Post-baccalaureate Studies chapter in the graduate section of this catalog. These include the 32-unit residence requirement, the five year rule on currency of subject matter, the minimum number of units of 6000-level courses, the 3.00 grade point average, and the University Writing Skills requirement.

Graduate Courses


The course prefix for the following courses is BSTA.
6500	Statistical Bioinformatics (4) Statistical analysis of genomic data. Includes probability and statistics application to DNA sequence Analysis, phylogenetic inference, statistical population genetics and genetic mapping, statistical molecular evolution, and macromolecular structure prediction. Algorithms for microarray analysis and DNA pattern identification. Emphasis on large datasets. Prerequisite: STAT 6310. Cross-listed with STAT 6500.
6651	Analysis of Categorical Data (4) Methods for discrete data. Topics may include: proportions and counts, contingency tables, loglinear models, logistic/Poisson regression, generalized linear models. Emphasis on computing techniques, analysis of data from health, clinical, biological studies. Report writing. Prerequisite: STAT 6305; Co-requisite: STAT 6205. Cross-listed with STAT 6651.
6652	Survival Analysis (4) Incomplete data; life tables; nonparametric methods; parametric methods; accelerated failure time models; proportional hazards models; partial likelihood; advanced topics. Emphasis on computing techniques, analysis of data from health, clinical, biological studies. Report writing. Prerequisite: BSTA 6651.
6653	Clinical Trials (4) Basic statistical principles of clinical designs, including bias, randomization, blocking, and masking. Practical applications of advanced statistical procedures for clinical trial data. Emphasis on computing techniques, analysis of data from health, clinical, biological studies. Report writing. Prerequisite: BSTA 6652.
6841-6849	Selected Topics in Biostatistics (4) Methods in biostatistics extending beyond regular courses. Variable content to be specified at time of offering. Prerequisites: STAT 6305, graduate standing, advancement to candidacy, and approval of a graduate advisor. With permission, may be repeated once for credit when content varies. Cross-listed with STAT 6841-6849.

Footnotes


Students considering additional graduate education in statistics or biostatistics should consider advanced mathematics coursework.