Master of Health Informatics (MHI)

The program information below was valid for the spring 2016 term (May 1, 2016 - August 31, 2016). This is the archived version; the most up-to-date program information is available through the current Graduate Studies Academic Calendar.

The Graduate Studies Academic Calendar is updated 3 times per year, at the start of each academic term (January 1, May 1, September 1). Graduate Studies Academic Calendars from previous terms can be found in the archives.

• Admit term(s) 
  • Fall
• Delivery mode 
  • Online
• Program type 
  • Master's
  • Professional
• Registration option(s) 
  • Full-time
  • Part-time
• Study option(s) 
  • Coursework

• Minimum requirements 
  • An overall 78% average in a four year undergraduate degree program in a health or related field from a recognized university.
  • An undergraduate course in statistics (with a minimum 78% average).
  • Other students 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.
• Application materials 
  • Résumé/Curriculum vitae
    • Indicating past academic and professional experience.
  • Supplementary information form
  • Transcript(s)
• References 
  • Number of references:  3
  • Type of references: 

    at least 1 academic

• English language proficiency (ELP) (if applicable)

Coursework option:

Graduate Academic Integrity Module (Graduate AIM)

Courses 

• Required courses
  • The MHI program includes the completion of 9 graduate-level courses, 7 of the 9 courses are core 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
    • 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 (offered online)
• Elective courses
  • 2 of the required 9 courses are electives. Electives can be chosen from offerings in the SPHHS, or with permission, from offerings in the David R. Cheriton School of Computer Science. The following courses are currently offered by the SPHHS 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:
    • CS 640 Principles of Database Management and Use
    • CS 645 Software Requirements Specification and Analysis
    • CS 655 System and Network Architectures and Implementation
    • CS 793 Health Informatics II - Application Domains

Link(s) to courses

• Public Health Sciences (PHS) courses
• Applied Health Sciences (AHS) courses

Academic Integrity Workshop

Graduate Studies Practicum

• 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 (SPHHS) 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.
  • 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 SPHHS faculty member affiliated with the MHI program. The field supervisor will have primary oversight and responsibility for the day-to-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.