School of Public Health and Health Systems

The Master of Health Informatics (MHI) degree program is offered through two fields: Computer Science or Public Health and Health Systems.

The Master of Health Informatics (MHI) degree program in the Public Health and Health Systems field is specifically designed for professionals with backgrounds in public health and/or health care: professionals who require more knowledge about computer science and health informatics in order to identify, design and manage informatics solutions relevant to health and health systems.

Students may pursue their studies on a full-time or part-time basis.

Admission Requirements

The minimum requirements for admission to the MHI (Public Health and Health Systems) program are:

• An overall B+ (78%) average in a 4 year undergraduate degree program in a health or related field from a recognized university.

• An undergraduate course in statistics (with a minimum B+ average). Other applicants will be considered but must demonstrate, to the satisfaction of the Admission Committee, that they have obtained competence in elementary statistics through other course work or professional experience.

• Three letters of reference, with at least one from an academic source.

• Resume/CV indicating past academic and professional experience.

• A Supplementary Information Form explaining the applicant’s goals, aspirations, and potential for future leadership in the field.

• Provide proof of proficiency in English (if applicable); accepted examinations and required minimum scores for graduate studies are listed on the English Language Proficiency page.

Degree Requirements

The MHI (Public Health and Health Systems) program includes the completion of nine graduate-level courses, and a one-term professional practicum placement.

Three of the nine courses are existing core courses common to both the Computer Science field and the field in Public Health and Health Systems.  

Required Courses:

• HSG/PHS 611 - The Health Care System

• HSG/PHS 612/CS 792 - Health Informatics I - Data Structures and Standards

• STAT 631 - Introduction to Statistical Methods in Health Informatics

Four required courses are specific to the MHI (Public Health and Health Systems) field:

• PHS 613 - Information Technology for the Health Professional

• PHS 615 - Requirements Specification and Analysis in Health Systems

• PHS 616 - Decision Making and Systems Thinking in Health Informatics

• PHS 637 - Public Health Informatics (currently offered through the MPH on-line) 

Elective Courses:

Two of the required nine courses are electives. Electives can be chosen from offerings in the School of Public Health and Health Systems, or with permission, from offerings in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science.

The following courses are currently offered by the School of Public Health and Health Systems and can be chosen as electives:

• PHS 603 - Health Policy in Public Health

• PHS 608 - Health and Risk Communication in Public Health

• PHS 609 - Management and Administration of Public Health Services

• PHS 614 - Evaluation of Public Health Programs

• PHS 631 - Public Health Surveillance

• PHS 632 - Health Economics and Public Health

• PHS 661 - Geographic Information Systems and Public Health

• PHS 662 - Global Health

Examples of elective choices offered by the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science include:

• CS640 - Principles of Database Management and Use

• CS645 - Software Requirements Specification and Analysis

• CS655 - System and Network Architectures and Implementation

• CS793 - Health Informatics II - Application Domains 

MHI (Public Health and Health Systems) - Professional Practicum Placement

 
The professional experience component (i.e., a “practicum”) provides several advantages to students. It provides a way for students to gain their first work experience in the field of health informatics. Professional students who may already have experience in this area may choose to complete their workplace opportunity in an area less familiar to them, which will broaden their scope of practice. Workplace sites may include hospitals, government agencies, community-based organizations, integrated delivery systems, etc.

Based on the increased demand for health informaticians in the work force, many practicum sites may be interested in hiring MHI graduates. A professional experience component will enable employers to assess the skills of future graduates, which may lead to potential hire of the student upon graduation.

Students will be required to find their own workplace opportunity. However, they will receive on-going information from the School of Public Health and Health Systems throughout their studies regarding potential employers seeking students. The School will ensure that workplace settings meet the following conditions:

- that the employer demonstrates commitment to education and student learning in the area of health informatics;
- that the employer provides a meaningful learning experience for the MHI student;
- that MHI students receive a positive working experience in a practical setting that will enhance the skills acquired in their course work prior to the work term; and
- that the MHI students’ professional experience component goals are related to the program’s learning outcomes.

Supervision and assessment of each professional experience component will be the joint responsibility of (1) a designated field supervisor employed within the organization where the professional experience takes place, and (2) a designated MHI advisor, who will be a School of Public Health and Health System faculty member affiliated with the MHI program. The field supervisor will have primary oversight and responsibility for the dayto-day work experience of the student(s), and may assign specific objectives, work tasks, training exercises, projects, and assignments as part of the basis for assessment of the student. The main responsibilities of the faculty MHI advisor are to ensure that the professional experience is in accord with the overall educational objectives of the MHI program, to support both the student and field supervisor in questions of an advanced theoretical or conceptual nature, to provide helpful advice when needed, and to ensure the academic integrity of the professional experience by helping to formulate learning objectives for each student and reviewing the assessment of each student at the end of their work experience. 

Contact information and further details about the MHI (Public Health and Health Systems) program can be found on the School of Public Health and Health Systems website.