Program Overview

Biomedical Informatics and Data Science, PhD

Program Description

The Doctor of Philosophy program in biomedical informatics and data science enables students to develop expertise in areas such as bioinformatics, clinical informatics, population health management, and biomedical imaging science. This program fosters collaboration among academic researchers, health care providers, and industry partners and allows students to apply new developments in informatics theory to clinical practice, biomedical research, and public health. Students may also explore cross-cutting areas such as artificial intelligence and digital health.

At a Glance

• College/school: College of Health Solutions
• Location: Tempe
• STEM-OPT extension eligible: Yes

Degree Requirements

• 84 credit hours
• A written comprehensive exam
• An oral comprehensive exam
• A prospectus
• A dissertation

Required Core (22 credit hours)

• BMI 502 Foundations of Biomedical Informatics Methods I (3)
• BMI 504 Introduction to Clinical Environments (3)
• BMI 505 Foundations of Biomedical Informatics Methods II (3)
• BMI 515 Applied Biostatistics in Medicine and Informatics (3)
• BMI 540 Problem Solving in Biomedical Informatics (3)
• BMI 560 Teaching in Biomedical Informatics (2)
• BMI 570 BMI Symposium (2)
• BMI 601 Fundamentals of Health Informatics (3)

Electives (32 credit hours)

• Research (18 credit hours)
  • BMI 792 Research (18)
• Culminating Experience (12 credit hours)
  • BMI 799 Dissertation (12)

Additional Curriculum Information

Students entering the doctoral program with a master's degree in a related discipline may count up to 30 credit hours from the master's degree toward the total credit hours, with program approval.

Admission Requirements

• General university admission requirements
• Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree from a regionally accredited institution
• A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program
• All applicants must submit:
  • Graduate admission application and application fee
  • Official transcripts
  • Statement of purpose
  • Educational background essay
  • Resume or curriculum vitae
  • Three references (academic or professional)
  • Proof of English proficiency

Tuition Information

When it comes to paying for higher education, everyone’s situation is different. Students can learn about ASU tuition and financial aid options to find out which will work best for them.

Application Deadlines

• Fall: Priority deadline of December 1

Program Learning Outcomes

Program learning outcomes identify what a student will learn or be able to do upon completion of their program. This program’s learning outcomes include the following:

• Generate designs to solve biomedical informatics problems
• Apply theories, typology, frameworks, representations, methods, and processes used in different contexts of biomedical informatics
• Create new knowledge, including theories, typologies, frameworks, representations, methods, and processes, to address biomedical informatics problems

Career Opportunities

Professionals with advanced training in biomedical informatics and data science are in high demand across a variety of sectors and industries, including academic institutions, not-for-profit research institutes, and governmental and public health agencies and health care organizations, as well as the information technology, biotech, and pharmaceutical industries. Career examples include:

• Bioinformatics scientist
• Biostatistician
• Data scientist
• Deep learning engineer
• Public health informatics scientist
• Research scientist
• Senior analyst
• Software engineer
• University faculty

STEM-OPT Extension

This program may be eligible for an Optional Practical Training extension for up to 24 months. This OPT work authorization period may help international students gain skills and experience in the U.S. Those interested in an OPT extension should review ASU degrees that qualify for the STEM-OPT extension at ASU's International Students and Scholars Center website. The OPT extension only applies to students on an F-1 visa and does not apply to students completing a degree through ASU Online.