Prospective Students

Admission Requirements

M.S. Program

A background of science, mathematics, or health sciences is recommended. The minimum grade-point-average required for admission is 3.0. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required. Applicants should have a minimum combined verbal and quantitative score of 300.  If you took the exam prior to August 1, 2011, the recommended minimum score on the combined verbal and quantitative portions of the GRE is 1050. International students, except permanent residents, are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.   An acceptable TOEFL score is a minimum of 600 (250 computer-based test or 100 internet-based test) or a minimum IELTS score of 7.0 (with no subscore lower than 6.0).

Ability to program in at least one computer language is required. Three collegiate-level courses in calculus (at the level of University of Iowa courses MATH:1850, MATH:1860, and MATH:2850—see descriptions below) and a collegiate-level course in linear algebra (at the level of University of Iowa course MATH:2700—see description below) are prerequisites for the Biostatistics program. Those applying to the Biostatistics program should provide, as part of the application, transcript verification and/or a brief statement indicating whether and how these prerequisites have been met, either through coursework at the University of Iowa or through regularly-scheduled coursework or independent study at other institutions.

University of Iowa course descriptions of prerequisite coursework

MATH:1850 Calculus I (4 s.h.)
Fundamental concepts, methods, techniques of single-variable differential and integral calculus; differentiation, techniques of integration, series, applications. General Education: quantitative or formal reasoning.

MATH:1860 Calculus II (4 s.h.)
Continuation of MATH:1850.

MATH:2850 Calculus III (4 s.h.)
Multivariable calculus; vector functions, line integrals, total differentials, gradient, implicit functions, coordinate systems, Taylor's expansion, extrema, multiple integrals, vector fields, surface integrals, Stokes's theorem.

MATH:2700 Introduction to Linear Algebra (4 s.h.)
Vector algebra and geometry of three-dimensional Euclidean space and extensions to n-space and vector spaces; lines and planes, matrices, linear transformations, systems of linear equations, reduction to row echelon form, dimension, rank, determinants, eigenvalues and eigenvectors.

Ph.D. Program

Entrance requirements for the Ph.D. are the same as for the M.S. degree. Completion of an M.S. program in biostatistics or statistics, either at the University of Iowa or elsewhere, is generally required for admission to the Ph.D. program; although strong candidates with a Bachelor’s degree may be considered for Ph.D. admission.