Department of Biostatistics

Information for Incoming Students

The Department of Biostatistics welcomes you to the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. In addition to the information you will be receiving from the Fielding School of Public Health Student Services Office and Graduate Division, here are additional items to help guide you prior to your arrival on campus.

For the most updated schedule of classes and deadline changes go to: http://www.registrar.ucla.edu/schedule/ and http://www.ursa.ucla.edu


Establishing California Residency for Tuition Purposes (US Citizens and Permanent Residents only):

Domestic students who are not California residents will need to establish residency to avoid assessment of nonresident tuition. In order to establish your residency, certain requirements must be met. Please refer to the Registrar's web page or call the Residence Deputy at (310) 825-3447 for more information on establishing California Residency. This is very important. Otherwise, you may have to pay non-resident tuition during your second year.


University Records System Access (URSA) registration, enrollment & course suggestion for entering students:

Please refer to the Graduate Division Orientation Handbook which contains information on how to register, how to enroll, and how to access URSA online. For the most updated enrollment information visit the registrar's web site. You may enroll in classes on-line through your URSA account.


Course Suggestion for Entering Students

MS : Biostatistics 110A, Biostatistics 403A and Biostatistics 202A

PhD : Biostatistics 245 (seminar), Biostatistics 250A, Biostatistics 255, and Biostatistics 409 (consulting)

MPH: Biostatistics 110A, Biostatistics 403A, and an SPH core course

   (Health Services 100 and/or Environmental Health Science 100)

DrPH: Biostatistics M215, Biostatistics 245 (seminar), Biostatistics 250A, and Biostatistics 409 (consulting) or Special Topics Course

Fall 2012 class enrollment begins in June 2012. Please visit URSA online for your enrollment appointment. Because SPH core courses fill up quickly, you should enroll in them as soon as your enrollment appointment begins.

Note to PhD Students: Depending on your previous course work and the recommendation of your advisor, your study list may vary.


Waiver Exam for DrPH and MPH Students Only

Please note, the waiver exam is only for MPH and DrPH students who are required to take the 4 SPH core courses: CHS 100, EHS 100, EPI 100, and HS 100. This waiver exam does not apply to Biostatistics students looking to waive out of Biostatistics courses. Please refer to the Course Waiver Exam Handout for information on requirements, schedules and times for the waiver exam.


Registration Fees

Registration fees must be paid prior to each term. Fees can be paid by check, credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover), or cash. View the Academic Calendar for specific dates. Visit the Graduate Division website for detailed information on the current graduate student fee rates.


BruinCard (Student ID)

BruinCard is the official campus identification for UCLA, and is required for all students, faculty, and staff. Your BruinCard also serves as your library card, recreation card (Wooden Center), door access card, and much, much more! The BruinCard is free to all students. The replacement cost for a lost/stolen card is $23.50. Report lost or stolen cards ASAP online at the BruinCard website; by calling 310-825-2336 or 310-825-4775; by email at bruincard@finance.ucla.edu; or visit a BruinCard Center.

BruinCard Campus location and Hours:
    123 Kerckhoff Hall -- 9am - 4pm Monday-Friday


Bruin Online - Email Account

All Biostatistics students are required to have email accounts. Please visit the Bruin Online website to create a new e-mail account. All future department announcements will be distributed via email. For a complete listing of services, software, etc. available via Bruin Online, please visit their web site at http://www.bol.ucla.edu


Transportation and Parking

If you would like to apply for a campus parking permit, you should submit your application no later than Friday, July 20, 2012. Parking spaces are limited, please be sure to submit your application by the due date. Please visit the Transportation and Parking website for an application and more information.


Other Means of Transportation

Options include vanpools, carpools, buspools, public transit, bicycles, scooters and motorcycles. The BruinGo! program allows members of the UCLA community to ride the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus and Culver City Bus at a reduced fare, using their BruinCards. Go Metro program offers discounted quarterly transit passes for Metro bus and rail lines. A comprehensive look at campus transportation options is outlined in the Green Commute Guide, published by the UCLA Commuter Assistance Ride-sharing (CAR) Office.

For more information call (310) 794-7433 or stop by 555 Westwood Plaza, Room 200.


UCLA Housing

Most graduate students plan their own living arrangements. You can check the UCLA Community Housing Office and the Daily Bruin's classifieds for listings. In addition, there are housing listings in the LA Times, Craigslist, and through professional listing services, such as www.westsiderentals.com.


Change of Address

If your email and/or mailing address changes you must update your contact information at URSA online. Please also make sure to contact Roxy Naranjo via email at rlnaranjo@ph.ucla.edu with your address change. It is EXTREMELY important that we have your most current addresses. All future announcements will be sent to you via email.


Fall 2012 Important Academic Dates

Please visit the UCLA Academic Calendar for a full list of important due dates and deadlines.

Highlights

  • Registration Fees Payment Deadline - September 20
  • Last day to waive University of California Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP) - September 20
  • Quarter Begins - September 24
  • LATE registration fees payment automatically assessed to students not paid - September 27
  • Instruction Begins - September 27
  • Classes dropped if fee payment is not completed by 5 p.m. - September 28
  • Instruction Ends - December 7
  • Final Examinations - December 10-14
  • Quarter Ends - December 14


Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (Foreign Students)

The Dashew Center for International Students and Scholars (DCISS) is located at 417 Charles E. Young Dr. West, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1379, (310) 825-1681. DCISS office hours are Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Please visit the DCISS home page for more information. ALL international students must register for and attend one of the following MANDATORY New Intl Student & Scholars Orientation (NISSO) during the fall quarter at UCLA. These Orientations focus on how, you as an international student, must maintain your visa status while at UCLA.

Please register and plan to attend ONE of the following NISSO Sessions by going to DCISS:

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 15, 2012
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2012
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2012

(All sessions are the same. Students need only attend ONE of the above sessions)


Orientation

Monday, September 24, 2012
8:30 - 4:00pm
Location: TBD

The Fielding School of Public Health Orientation Day for Incoming Students will be Monday, September 24, 2012 from 8:30-4:00pm. Be sure to attend the Orientation as important information will be conveyed to help you acclimate to UCLA. During orientation you will receive your academic advisor assignments and you will receive the Biostatistics Student Handbook. The Biostatistics Student Handbook will be your resource for degree requirements and study list guidance to help you navigate through the department during your time here. Attendance is required! Click here for the UCLA campus map.

In addition to the Fielding School of Public Health and Graduate Division incoming student activities, the Graduate Student Resource Center is sponsoring a general introduction to campus services and offices that are of specific importance to new graduate students.


New Graduate Student Orientation

Friday, September 21, 2012
9:00am - 4:00pm
Ackerman Grand Ballroom

For more information and to register, please visit the Graduate Student Orientation page.


Entering Graduate Student Welcome Reception

Agenda and details will be available later in the summer. For more information and to RSVP, visit the UCLA Graduate Division page.


ESL Placement Examination (MANDATORY EXAM for International Students)

You must take the ESL Placement Examination (ESLPE) at UCLA if you are a non-native speaker of English and you are new to the United States. If you are a non-native speaker of English but you are not new to the United States, you may also be required to take the ESLPE (for example: if you were required to submit a TOEFL score when you applied to UCLA, you will need to take the ESLPE.) You should take the ESLPE before the Fall 2012 quarter begins. To register for the exam, visit the ESLPE web page.

ESLPE Schedule for Fall Quarter 2012. (You must be registered for ESLPE in order to take the exam.)

  • Wednesday 19 Sept - 9:30-11:00am - Check back for location
  • Wednesday 19 Sept - 2:30-4:00pm - Check back for location
  • Wednesday 6 Sept - 9:30-11:00am - Check back for location
  • Wednesday 26 Sept - 2:30-4:00pm - Check back for location


Useful Links


Student Employment Opportunities

Almost all doctoral students are able to find employment in the form of stipends, fellowships, or employment related to their field (e.g. Special Readers, TA's, Graduate Researchers). Many Master's students are also able to find employment, especially after they have completed their first quarter or if they have completed certain courses (such as Biostat 403A and M403B). Two positions, GSR (Graduate Student Researcher) and SR (Special Reader), may also carry fee remissions from 80% to 90% in addition to the standard salary pay. If you are seeking employment as a SR in the Department of Biostatistics, you should apply at least six weeks before the beginning of the quarter to ensure that you receive full consideration. To apply for SR positions you must complete a Special Reader Application. To apply for GSR positions you must complete a GSR Application (Application For Part Time Employment). Completed applications must be submitted to Roxy Naranjo in 51-254 CHS (Biostatistics Office), via e-mail:rlnaranjo@ph.ucla.edu. Please visit the Biostatistics website to obtain the application for all Student Employment.

You may also apply for positions in any other department on campus by contacting the department representative directly. Please visit the following site for information on campus opportunities: http://www.gdnet.ucla.edu/gss/ase/index.html. The Biostatistics Graduate Student Affairs Officer, Roxy Naranjo, will also forward you any emails of job opportunities that are sent directly to her.

Both employment forms are PDF documents, if you do not have a PDF viewer, you can download one for free here.

Your applications are kept by the department for only one quarter, so if you are seeking work, make certain to submit a new application for each quarter you wish to work.


Study Cubicles for Biostatistics Students

The Department of Biostatistics is very excited to offer two recently renovated office space rooms for Biostatistics graduate students, A1-228 CHS and A1-227 CHS. Graduate students may use this as study rooms during SPH building hours. Assignments to cubicles are reviewed annually at the beginning of the fall quarter. Students are asked to fill out an application and priority is given to students who do not have other office space within reasonable walking distance of the Fielding School of Public Health. Students who are not assigned a cubicle can use any cubicle as long as the student that is assigned to the cubicle is not using it. Please see Roxy Naranjo during the second week of fall quarter for more information at 51-254A CHS.


SPH Student Lockers

To reserve a locker in the Fielding School of Public Health, please contact Nicholas Young at (310) 825-5600 or email him at neyoung@ucla.edu. Only combination locks can be used on lockers and the lock must be registered in the Administrative Services Office. Lockers are assigned on a first come basis. Lockers must be renewed once a year at the beginning of Fall quarter.


Student Mailboxes

Each student has their own mailbox in the Biostatistics Department Main Office – CHS 51-254.


Department of Biostatistics
UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772
310-825-5250 FAX:310-267-2113
biostat@ucla.edu