Admission to the Department

As a graduate program within the College of Graduate Studies, the Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology program is subject to all pertinent College rules and regulations, as they are published periodically in the Medical University of South Carolina Bulletin. The MUSC Enrollment Services webpage has application forms and admission information at the University and College of Graduate Studies level.

The following provides specific admission information for the department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Epidemiology:

Requirements for Admission
Prerequisite Coursework
Transfer Credit
MUSC Application
Schedule of Academic Charges
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Requirements for Admission

Admission of an applicant is recommended by the Department, but the final decision on admission rests with the Graduate Council of the College of Graduate Studies.

Undergraduate and Graduate Record
Applicants to the M.S. and Ph.D. programs should have a superior undergraduate academic record. Applicants may have diverse backgrounds in the basic sciences, with emphasis in analytical, biological, or physical sciences as well as engineering.

Graduate Record Examination
Superior scores on the general Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are expected. International applicants whose native language is not English must take the GRE in the three general areas, and must submit TOEFL scores.

Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation from instructors or supervisors who have had close contact with the applicant during their undergraduate, graduate or research training are required. Letters of recommendation should address the student's aptitude and capabilities for a research-oriented career.

Personal Interview
A personal interview with each applicant, if conditions permit, is considered a useful part of the admission process. This interview allows a prospective student to visit the Department and interact with the people under whom he/she will be training. It also provides the faculty an opportunity to assess the student's ability, independence of thought, and attitude toward a scientific career.

Prerequisite Coursework

Prerequisites include two semesters of college level calculus or permission of Admissions Committee. Many courses require some knowledge of mathematics and biological science. Students missing prerequisites for specific courses can make them up. This is most readily accomplished through courses taken at local consortium institutions (College of Charleston or The Citadel).

Transfer Credit

In exceptional circumstances, students may, with the approval of the Graduate Training Committee, transfer credits for graduate level course work taken at other institutions prior to admission into the program. A maximum of nine semester hours of didactic graduate level course work may be accepted towards the degree requirements.