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 School of Public Health and Health Systems 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.
Requirements
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Normally, students who intend to have the Health Informatics Option recognized on their transcript must communicate that intention to the School of Public Health and Health Systems associate director, undergraduate studies, prior to the start of Year Three by completing a Plan Modification Form.
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Successful completion of 20.0 units, including the requirements for the Bachelor of Science, Honours Health Studies degree or the Bachelor of Public Health, Honours degree.
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Students are required to complete 3.5 units from the following health informatics clusters:
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Fundamental computer science (2.0 units):
One of: CS 115, CS 135
One of: CS 116, CS 136
One of: CS 230, CS 234
CS 338
- Socioeconomic aspects of health information (0.5 unit):
One of: STV 100, STV 202, STV 205, STV 302
- Advanced health informatics (1.0 unit):
Two of: CS 330, CS 370, CS 436, HLTH 451, HLTH 452, HLTH 453, HLTH 454, HLTH 473 (must be a Health Informatics topic and approved in advance by the associate director, undergraduate studies), MSCI 343
- The cumulative averages required are the same as for the Bachelor of Science, Honours Health Studies. Refer to the Faculty of Health, Academic Standing.