Faculty of Applied Health Sciences

Health Informatics is a rapidly expanding area of expertise relevant to all aspects of health. Evidence-based decision-making, fundamental to effective health policy and planning, is dependent upon collection and analysis of new data as well as the analysis of existing data, and this, in turn, is increasingly dependent upon information technology.

The Health Informatics Option is designed for Health Studies students who are interested in the application of information technology to all aspects of applied health research and practice, including clinical practice, health promotion and disease prevention, delivery of health services, and health policy development. This Option offers students interdisciplinary training in basic computer science and information management in addition to their training in health sciences. Admission and graduation requirements are listed below:

1. Normally, Health Studies students who intend to have the Health Informatics Option recognized on their transcript must communicate that intention to the Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies for the School of Public Health and Health Systems, prior to the start of Year 3 by completing a Plan Modification/Internal Transfer Form (www.registrar.uwaterloo.ca/forms/PlanModification.pdf).
2. Successful completion of 20.0 units, including the requirements for the Honours Health Studies degree.
3. Students are required to complete 3.5 units from the following Health Informatics clusters:
   A1. Management
   A2. Computer Science and Technology
   A3. Socioeconomic aspects of Health Information
   A4. Multidisciplinary seminar in Health Informatics
   
   (A1) Management 0.5 unit:
   BUS 111W (see WLU calendar) or AFM 131
   
   (A2) Computer Science & Technology 1.0 unit:
   CS 100/200
   or
   CS 115/116
   
   (A3) Socioeconomic aspects of Health Information 0.5 unit:
   STV 100, STV 202, STV 205, ECON 101
   
   (A4) Multidisciplinary seminar in Health Informatics 0.5 unit:
   HLTH 451
   HLTH 452
   HLTH 473 Contemporary Issues in Health - Health Informatics topic approved by Associate Chair, Undergraduate Studies
   
   (A5) 1.0 additional unit from:
   CS 330, CS 432
   or additional courses from any of list A3 or A4.
4. The cumulative averages required are the same as for Honours Health Studies. Refer to Applied Health Sciences, Standings.