Biostatistics Program Requirements

M.Sc. Non-Thesis

Training in statistical theory and methods, applied data analysis, scientific collaboration, communication, and report writing by coursework and project.

The M.Sc. non-thesis program is designed to expose students to a wide range of topics including statistical methods for epidemiology, generalized linear models, survival analysis, longitudinal data, and clinical trials. Skills in data analysis, statistical consulting, communication, and report writing are emphasized, and students graduate ready to work in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, in government, or in academic medical research.

Research Project (6 credits)

BIOS 630 Res Project/Practic in Biostat 6 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

Review the project guidelines.

Required Courses (24 credits)

Students exempted from any of the courses listed below must replace them with complementary course credits, at the 500 level or higher, chosen in consultation with the student's academic adviser or supervisor.

BIOS 601 Epi: Intro&Statistical Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

BIOS 602 Epidemiology:Regression Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 523 Generalized Linear Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 533 Regression and ANOVA 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 556 Mathematical Statistics 1 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 557 Mathematical Statistics 2 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer



Complementary Courses (18 credits)

18 credits of coursework, at the 500 level or higher, chosen in consultation with the student's academic adviser or supervisor.

Program Director and Advisor:
alexandra.schmidt [at] mcgill.ca (Alexandra Schmidt)

M.Sc. Thesis

Training in statistical theory and methods, applied data analysis, scientific collaboration, communication, and report writing by coursework and thesis.

M.Sc. thesis students study a foundational set of courses, and write a thesis on a topic of their choice. Thesis students should have a strong interest in research. These students are well-placed to either continue in a Ph.D. program or to work in academic research in statistics; they will also have relevant qualifications for the pharmaceutical industry and government.

Thesis Course (21 credits)

BIOS 690 M.Sc. Thesis 21 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer



Required Courses (24 credits)

Students exempted from any of the courses listed below must replace them with complementary course credits, at the 500 level or higher, chosen in consultation with the student's academic adviser or supervisor.

BIOS 601 Epi: Intro&Statistical Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

BIOS 602 Epidemiology:Regression Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 523 Generalized Linear Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 533 Regression and ANOVA 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 556 Mathematical Statistics 1 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 557 Mathematical Statistics 2 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer



Program Director and Advisor:

alexandra.schmidt [at] mcgill.ca (Alexandra Schmidt)

Ph.D.

Students will study theoretical and applied statistics and related fields; the program will train them to become independent scientists able to develop and apply statistical methods in medicine and biology and make original contributions to the theoretical and scientific foundations of statistics in these disciplines. Graduates will be prepared to develop new statistical methods as needed and apply new and existing methods in a range of collaborative projects. Graduates will be able to communicate methods and results to collaborators and other audiences, and teach biostatistics to biostatistics students, students in related fields, and professionals in academic and other settings.

Thesis

A thesis for the doctoral degree must constitute original scholarship and must be a distinct contribution to knowledge. It must show familiarity with previous work in the field and must demonstrate the ability to plan and carry out research, organize results, and defend the approach and conclusions in a scholarly manner. The research presented must meet current standards of the discipline; as well, the thesis must clearly demonstrate how the research advances knowledge in the field. Finally, the thesis must be written in compliance with norms for academic and scholarly expression and for publication in the public domain.

Required Courses

BIOS 701 Ph.D. Comprehensive Exam
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

BIOS 702 Ph.D. Proposal
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

For additional information see:
BIOS700 Comp Exam.pdf 
BIOS701 Comp Exam.pdf
BIOS702Protocol.pdf


Complementary Courses (46 credits)

0-28 credits from the following list: (if a student has not already successfully completed them or their equivalent).

BIOS 601 Epi: Intro&Statistical Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

BIOS 602 Epidemiology:Regression Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

BIOS 624 Data Analysis & Report Writing 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 523 Generalized Linear Models 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 533 Regression and ANOVA 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 556 Mathematical Statistics 1 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer

MATH 557 Mathematical Statistics 2 4 Credits
    Offered in the:
  • Fall
  • Winter
  • Summer



12 credits (chosen and approved in consultation with the student's academic adviser), at the 500 level or higher, in statistics/biostatistics.

6 credits (chosen and approved in consultation with the student's academic adviser), at the 500 level or higher, in related fields (e.g., epidemiology, social sciences, biomedical sciences).

Program Director and Advisor:
alexandra.schmidt [at] mcgill.ca (Alexandra Schmidt)

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