Health Informatics M.S.
Program Director: Timothy P. Coffin, Ph.D., coffin@hood.edu
The Master of Science (MS) in Health Informatics program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles at the intersection of healthcare, information technology, and data science. This comprehensive program combines advanced coursework, practical training, and research opportunities to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to address complex healthcare challenges using innovative technology solutions. Students will learn to understand the fundamentals of health informatics, including terminology, standards, regulations, and ethical considerations. They will demonstrate proficiency in managing health data, including collection, storage, analysis, and reporting. Additionally, the will learn to apply principles of information technology and systems management to optimize healthcare workflows and improve patient outcomes.
The MS in Bioinformatics has the following learning outcomes:
- Possess a comprehensive understanding of healthcare systems, electronic health records, and health information technologies.
- Demonstrate proficiency in managing and analyzing healthcare data to drive evidence-based decision-making. Apply advanced data analytics techniques to extract meaningful insights and support healthcare quality improvement initiatives.
- Develop and implement health information systems, ensuring interoperability, security, and compliance with industry regulations.
- Evaluate the impact of technology solutions on healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and population health management.
- Demonstrate leadership skills and ethical decision-making in the context of health informatics.
- Communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, including healthcare professionals, policymakers, and technology specialists.
- Contribute to research and innovation in health informatics through independent projects and collaborations.
- Demonstrate proficiency in R, Python, Unix/Linux and an understanding of programming best practices.
- Obtain, utilize, archive, and share data using the best practices for reproducible research.
- Apply principles of machine learning to identify and interpret patterns in data.
- Utilize leadership skills to plan and execute a project in a matrix environment.
Application Requirements:
Students wishing to enter the program must have 1) a completed undergraduate degree (BA or BSc) with a GPA of 2.75 or higher in a STEM related field; or 2) an in-progress or completed Hood College Certificate in Health Informatics with a 3.0 or higher; or 3) a completed Master's degree (MA or MSc) in a Healthcare Related field or computer science related field with a 3.0 or better.
Program Requirements
The 30-credit M.S. in Health Informatics includes a 3-credit capstone project. All of the classes are taught in the evening or online by experts in the field who interact personally with their students. The degree includes a required “gateway” foundational course that differs according to the student’s background in either biology or computer science.
Program Requirements
Foundation Courses
The foundation coursework represents background knowledge and skills necessary for successful completion of degree requirements. The foundation course may be waived by the program director, based upon an analysis of the student’s previous work. A student holding a baccalaureate degree in computer science will normally be granted exemption from, but not graduate credit for, the foundation course. Any foundation course required is in addition to the 30 credits required for program completion.
| CSIT 512 | Elements of Computer Programming | 3.0 |
| | or | |
| BIFX 502 | Foundations in Computer Science | 3.0 |
Core Requirements (21 credits)
| HIFX 500 | Fundamentals of Health Informatics | 3.0 |
| HIFX 501 | Health Information System & Data Standards | 3.0 |
| HIFX 502 | Introduction to US Healthcare Systems and Economics | 3.0 |
| BIFX 503 | Biostatistics in R | 3.0 |
| BIFX 530/IT 530 | Applied Database Systems | 3.0 |
| BIFX 551 | Advanced Programming for Bioinformatics | 3.0 |
| HIFX 579 | Health Informatics Capstone | 3.0 |
Electives (9 credits)