Biostatistics and Data Science Program FAQ

The right biostatistics degree depends on your career goals, interests, and preferred area of study. Some students want to apply statistical methods to solve real-world public health challenges, while others are interested in developing new analytical methods, conducting research, or pursuing academic careers. Rollins School of Public Health offers a range of biostatistics degree programs so you can choose the pathway that best aligns with your professional goals.

A Master of Public Health (MPH) in Biostatistics is ideal for students who want to apply statistical methods to improve population health. The program combines training in biostatistics with a broad foundation in public health, preparing graduates to analyze health data, evaluate public health programs, support evidence-based decision-making, and communicate findings to diverse audiences. Graduates often work in government agencies, health departments, health care organizations, nonprofit organizations, consulting firms, and the private sector.

A Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) in Biostatistics includes the same strong public health foundation while providing more intensive training in statistical theory, advanced quantitative methods, data science, and research. It is well suited for students who want to build expertise in developing and applying statistical methods for public health research. Graduates often pursue careers in research institutions, government, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, consulting, or doctoral study.

A PhD in Biostatistics prepares students to conduct original research, develop new statistical methods, and address complex public health and biomedical research questions. PhD graduates often pursue careers as faculty members, research scientists, principal investigators, and senior biostatisticians in academia, government, industry, and research organizations.

The key difference among these degree programs is their focus. An MPH in Biostatistics emphasizes the practical application of biostatistics in public health practice. An MSPH in Biostatistics provides deeper quantitative and research training while maintaining a strong public health perspective. A PhD in Biostatistics prepares students to advance the field through methodological innovation and independent research.

At Rollins, you can choose from all three biostatistics degree pathways—MPH, MSPH, and PhD—allowing you to select the program that best fits your interests and long-term career goals. Students learn from internationally recognized faculty and apply biostatistical methods to real-world public health challenges through research and collaborations with leading public health, health care, and scientific organizations.

Biostatisticians and bioinformaticians use data to answer important questions about health, disease, and medicine. They work with researchers, physicians, public health professionals, and policymakers to analyze information, identify patterns, and help develop solutions that improve lives.

Biostatisticians apply statistical methods to understand complex health problems, while bioinformaticians use computational and data science tools to study biological information such as genes and DNA. Professionals in both fields are in high demand and pursue careers in health care, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, government agencies, research institutions, and academia. Their work supports everything from clinical trials and disease prevention to precision medicine and the development of new treatments. 

The right data science program depends on your career goals, academic background, and the public health challenges you want to address. Some students want broad training in data science for public health, while others want to apply advanced analytics to specific fields such as behavioral science, environmental health, or global health. Rollins School of Public Health offers multiple data science programs so you can choose the pathway that best aligns with your interests and professional goals.

The MSPH in Data Science is ideal for students who want comprehensive training in data science, biostatistics, machine learning, data visualization, and computational methods to solve public health problems. The program prepares graduates to collect, manage, analyze, and interpret complex health data while supporting evidence-based decision-making across a variety of public health settings.

Students who want to combine data science with a specific area of public health can choose one of Rollins' specialized MSPH programs:

• The MSPH in Data Science in Behavioral, Social, and Health Education Sciences prepares students to use advanced analytics to study health behaviors, evaluate interventions, and improve health outcomes for individuals and communities.
• The MSPH in Data Science in Environmental Health focuses on applying computational and statistical methods to understand how environmental exposures affect human health and to develop data-driven solutions to environmental health challenges.
• The MSPH in Data Science in Global Health prepares students to analyze complex global health data, evaluate health programs, and generate evidence to improve health outcomes across diverse populations and settings.

Current Rollins MPH and MSPH students can also add a Certificate in Data Science to complement their graduate degree. The program provides specialized training in data science, programming, machine learning, and data visualization, allowing students to strengthen their analytical skills while pursuing a master's degree in public health.

The key difference among these programs is their focus. The MSPH in Data Science provides broad, interdisciplinary training in public health data science, while the specialized MSPH in Data Science degrees combine advanced analytical methods with expertise in a specific public health discipline. The Certificate in Data Science allows Rollins master's students to add in-demand data science skills to their MPH or MSPH degree.

Rollins School of Public Health offers multiple pathways to develop expertise in public health data science, allowing you to choose the program that best supports your career goals. Whether you want to become a public health data scientist, analyze global health trends, evaluate behavioral interventions, address environmental health challenges, or strengthen your analytical skills through a certificate, Rollins provides programs that prepare you to turn data into actionable public health solutions.

Data scientists are some of the most sought-after professionals in public health and health care, with 34% projected job growth in data science fields projected by 2034.

Data scientists use a toolkit of analytical methods to find insights in data, assisting on research projects and improving systems and projects. They might develop machine learning algorithms, present findings with data visualization, or select the most useful data to solve a complex problem. They work across health care, industry, academia, government, and more.