Program Overview

Introduction to the Health Sciences Integrated Program

The Health Sciences Integrated Program (HSIP) offers doctoral student training across multiple disciplines within the health sciences. PhD students have the opportunity to focus on the following tracks:

• Biostatistics
• Health & Biomedical Informatics
• Health Services & Outcomes Research
• Medical Imaging
• Social Sciences & Health

Estimated Timeline to the Degree

The program is structured over four years, with the following milestones:

Year 1

• Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Doctoral Colloquium
• Three core competencies
• Five track requirements

Year 2

• Core competency writing course
• Three or more courses from track requirements or electives
• Mentor-evaluated research/dissertation development course
• Plan for qualifying exams

Year 3

• Additional courses if necessary
• Prepare for and complete qualifying exams
• Dissertation proposal and proposal defense
• Student teaching experience

Year 4

• Dissertation project

Core Courses & Competencies

Health Sciences Integrated Program students must take coursework in several core competency areas. Track faculty may designate which courses fulfill each competency for a student in their track. A more advanced course can be substituted if the student already has the equivalent of an introductory course.

To complete a track, there are track-specific requirements of approximately five to eight additional classes in that content area and related electives.

If a comparable course has been taken at another graduate institution, then a student may be able to waive a requirement. Note that a minimum number of nine (9) graded courses must be taken to fulfill the residency requirement of The Graduate School at Northwestern University.

Core Competency Requirements

The following core competencies are required:

• Ethics, Informatics, & Communication
  • HSIP 400 Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Doctoral Colloquium
  • HSR 460 Applied Ethical Issues in Health Services and Outcomes Research
• Statistical Methodology
  • BIOSTAT 302 Introduction to Biostatistics
  • PUB_HLTH 302 Introduction to Biostatistics
• Research Design
  • BIOSTAT 301 Introduction to Epidemiology
  • HSR 425 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Health Services & Outcomes Research
  • HSIP 441, 442, 443 Informatics Methods I, II, III
• Measurement and Outcomes
  • HSIP 401 Introduction to Health Measurement Science
  • HSIP 441, 442, 443 Informatics Methods I, II, III
• Writing
  • PUB_HLTH 445 Writing and Peer Reviewing for Publication
  • HSR 462 Grant Writing

Program Structure

The Health Sciences Integrated Program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in their chosen track, with a focus on interdisciplinary research and collaboration. The program is structured to allow students to complete their degree in four years, with a combination of coursework, research, and dissertation work.