Program Overview

Overview of the MS Applied Health Sciences Informatics Program

The MS Applied Health Sciences Informatics program is a master's degree designed for individuals seeking to acquire practical competencies in biomedical informatics and data science. The program is guided by the AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association) guidelines, which emphasize the development of innovative applications of information technology and information systems to address clinical or public health priorities.

Program Structure

The MS Applied program requires students to complete core courses, a student seminar, electives, and a capstone project. The core courses provide a broad overview of foundational content in biomedical and public health informatics, clinical informatics, health information systems, and data science. The student seminar offers a forum for students to explore current topics, learn from experts in the field, and develop a professional network and support structure. Electives can be chosen from relevant offerings across the university, allowing students to tailor their education to their interests and career goals. The program culminates in a 200-hour, student-designed, faculty-supervised capstone project that provides students with the opportunity to develop or apply relevant competencies within a professionally relevant project.

Online and Onsite Offerings

The MS Applied program is offered in both online and onsite formats. The online program is the most popular and allows students to continue working full- or part-time while completing the degree requirements within a 36-month window. This format is particularly suited for working professionals who wish to enhance their skills in health informatics without interrupting their careers. The onsite program, on the other hand, is an intensive, full-time, 12-month program of study designed for individuals who can dedicate themselves to full-time study. The onsite program is ideal for those who prefer a more traditional academic setting and can benefit from direct, in-person interaction with faculty and peers.

Admission Criteria

To be considered for the MS Applied program, applicants should meet specific criteria:

• Hold a terminal degree (masters or doctorate) in a relevant area of healthcare or public health.
• Hold a bachelors degree in a relevant area of study, plus 3 to 5 years of related professional work experience.
• Hold a bachelors degree in a relevant area of study, plus possess relevant technical and analytic skills.

The Admissions Committee considers a range of factors, including the undergraduate and/or graduate academic record, statement of purpose, professional experience, letters of recommendation, technical and statistical background, English language proficiency, and the overall motivation and readiness of the individual to pursue graduate studies. A target average GPA of 3.5 or above (on a 4.0 scale) is preferred.

Relevant Areas of Study or Employment

Relevant areas of study or employment for the MS Applied program include, but are not limited to:

• Medicine
• Public health
• Dentistry
• Veterinary science
• Nursing
• Ancillary therapies
• Librarianship
• Biomedical science
• Computer science
• Mathematics/statistics
• Information science
• Business
• Information technology

Those with non-healthcare educational backgrounds are expected to have worked in healthcare for at least 3 years, with demonstrated abilities in areas like leadership, organizational-level thinking, quality assurance, management, etc.

Program Requirements

The MS Applied program is composed of:

• Core courses that provide a foundational understanding of health informatics and data science.
• A student seminar that facilitates exploration of current topics and professional networking.
• Electives that allow for specialization and deeper exploration of interests.
• A capstone project that applies theoretical knowledge to practical problems in health informatics.

There is also an ethics requirement, underscoring the importance of ethical considerations in the application of health informatics and data science.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the MS Applied Health Sciences Informatics program, students are expected to achieve several key learning outcomes:

• Provide a theoretical grounding in health informatics by introducing key concepts and frameworks relevant to applied informatics practice.
• Offer exposure to and competent practice with a broad range of relevant methods and tools for working with health information systems and medical records data.
• Promote leadership and professionalism by providing substantive opportunities for students to interact with and learn from leaders in the field of health informatics.
• Expose students to cutting-edge work in clinical informatics, data science, population health, and entrepreneurship.
• Provide networking opportunities with practitioners and leaders in clinical informatics, data science, population health, and entrepreneurship.
• Offer a structured opportunity for students to apply their competencies to professionally relevant projects.

These outcomes are designed to equip graduates with the knowledge, skills, and professional networks necessary to succeed in the field of health informatics and to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of healthcare through the application of information technology and data science.