Accelerated Option for UR Undergraduates (4+1)
Overview
The accelerated option is designed for current and eligible University of Rochester undergraduate students. It allows them to undertake up to 3 graduate-level courses during their senior year. These courses will count towards both their Bachelor's degree and either a Master of Arts in Statistics or a Master of Science in Biostatistics degree from the School of Medicine and Dentistry.
Applications need to be submitted before the end of the junior year to the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology (DBCB). Conditional admission to one of the eligible Master’s programs is granted before the student's senior year based upon criteria established by DBCB and the student's academic performance. Students must maintain and meet GPA requirements through their senior year. Students will be assigned a biostatistics faculty advisor, in addition to their undergraduate academic advisor.
The accelerated option has the potential to save students both time and money compared to completing the requirements for the Bachelor's and Master's degrees independently.
Eligibility Criteria
The 4+1 accelerated program is open only to University of Rochester undergraduate students that meet the following criteria:
1). Students are expected to have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.40 in their undergraduate major.
2). Students must be pursuing one of the following degrees:
- Bachelor of Arts in Statistics
- Bachelor of Science in Statistics
- Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Statistics
- Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics
- Bachelor of Science in Mathematics
- Bachelor of Science in Applied Mathematics
3). Students must complete the following prerequisite courses prior to beginning the graduate program in their 9th semester. Courses taken outside of the University of Rochester will not be accepted for fulfilling prerequisite requirements in general, with the exception of credits obtained from Advanced Placement (AP) exams.
- Three semesters of calculus through multivariate calculus (MATH 161 Calculus IA, MATH 162 Calculus IIA, MATH 164 Multidimensional Calculus, or equivalent)
- MATH 235 Linear Algebra (prerequisite: MATH 165 Linear Algebra with Differential Equations)
- STAT 201 Intro to Probability
- STAT 203 Intro to Mathematical Statistics
- Recommended for the MA Statistics program: MATH 265 Functions of Real Variables I
- Recommended for the MS Biostatistics program: STAT 212 Applied Statistics I
How to Apply
Prior to the end of their junior year, students should reach out to the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology to declare their intention to pursue an accelerated program. Students will need to complete an online application form and submit required materials. Please contact Graduate Program Administrator Karin Gasaway for details.
Students are conditionally accepted into the accelerated program based upon criteria established by the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology and the student's academic performance. Students must maintain and meet GPA requirements through their senior year.
Students who meet these expectations will complete an abbreviated online application in the 8th semester of the Bachelor’s degree program. Students have already been accepted conditional upon meeting GPA requirements, but the application is necessary to officially become a graduate student of the School of Medicine and Dentistry. Prior to formally matriculating in the graduate program, all students must have been conferred their Bachelor’s degree.
Taking Graduate Courses
The Director of the Statistics MA and Biostatistics MS programs, Dr. Tongtong Wu, or a designated graduate faculty mentor will guide the student on selecting graduate coursework (with considerations to accommodate the accelerated timeline of the program), and identifying opportunities for undergraduate research and for their Master’s capstone project (MS program).
Prior to enrollment in any graduate-level BST courses, students should consult with the Director of the Statistics MA and Biostatistics MS programs or a designated graduate faculty mentor.
For both the Master of Arts in Statistics and Master of Science in Biostatistics programs, students will be able to take up to three graduate-level classes and have them count towards their undergraduate degree program with grades B and above and then transfer the credits to the Master’s degree. The courses can be chosen from the following:
- BST 401 Probability Theory (fall)
- BST 411 Statistical Inference I (fall)
- BST 461 Biostatistics Methods I (fall)
- BST 462 Biostatistics Methods II (spring)
- BST 465 Design of Clinical Trials (spring)
- BST 430 Introduction to Statistical Computing (fall)
Courses with a grade B- or less are not eligible for transfer into the master’s program.
Questions?
Contact: Karin Gasaway, Graduate Program Administrator | Dr. Tongtong Wu, Director of Master's Programs