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Master of Science Program Overview
The School of Health Information Sciences at UTHSC-H strongly believes that healthcare increasingly will be a cooperative interaction among the health disciplines. The result will be a need for health practitioners to better understand the technology, data, information, knowledge, assumptions and decision making of others as they attempt to design, provide and evaluate health care in the 21st century.
About the Masters Degree Program
The Masters Degree
The masters degree program requires 42 hours at the graduate level (See the Masters Degree Matrix of Courses for detailed course requirements). Students may be enrolled full-time or part-time. Full-time students usually take 5 semesters to complete the program. Part-time students usually take about three years to complete the program.
Classes are scheduled either in face-to-face or online. Generally, face-to-face classes meet for a three hour block Mondays or Wednesdays. Exceptions may occur. Students can choose to take classes only one day a week or more days.
Some of the classes are available online. This gives students more flexibility in completing the coursework. Online courses do not require regular classroom time. Faculty have electronic office hours. They are also available by appointment for conferences in person, by phone, or by video. The School uses a course software called MOODLE to deliver courses to the students.
Many classes require participation in the end of semester poster symposium. Students in online classes will be required to participate as well, arrangements for synchronous participation will be made individually for each student.
Curriculum Choices
The Masters of Science in Health Informatics degree allows student to select courses geared in several focus areas focus. The focus areas are:
- Clinical Informatics
- Learning and Technology
- Computational Biomedicine
- Dual Degree with The School of Public Health
Practicum and State of the Science Paper
During the course of the master's degree every student will complete at least six semester hours of practicum to gain real world experience in his/her chosen field of health informatics. The practicum is designed by the student in coordination with the student's advising committee.
The
State of the Science Paper is based on research in the student's area
of interest. It usually originates from the practicum. The paper will
be submitted to a peer-reviewed journal, however, publication is not a
prerequisite for graduation. The paper is signed off by the student's
advising committee.
Upon completion of all requirements, students will receive an engraved diploma with Masters of Science in Health Informatics.
Program Completion
Successful completion of the program consists of coursework and a publication quality paper.Classes
Students have to pass each course with a grade of A or B. If more than 2 grades of C, F or WF are earned including concurrent/interinstitutional enrollment the result will be automatic dismissal.
Transfer to the Doctoral Program
Students who wish to transfer to the doctoral program must first seek admission to the program. Students must seek approval from your advising committee. Students must have earned a grade of A or B to be eligible to transfer the course.
Required Academics
Course Requirements
- Matrix of Courses (Effective Fall 2007)
- Previous Matrix of Courses (For students who began study prior to Fall 2007)
Students who began study prior to Fall Semester 2007 will automatically continue under the previous Matrix of Courses or may choose to satisfy the new matrix. If you choose to use the new matrix, please contact Debbie Todd to make a formal change to your degree requirements.
Informatics Competencies
Health Informatics has three
areas of competencies. They are biomedicine, computer science, and
mathematics. You need to be proficient in each of these areas to
successfully do informatics.
If you have little or no computer science and
programming skills, you should take HI 5006 Information
Technology for Biomedicine and HI 5007 Data Structures and Algorithms in Biomedicine.
If you do not have a biomedical background, you should take HI 5004 Introduction to Clinical
Healthcare and HI 5003 Molecules to Man in Health Informatics.
If you have not taken college calculus, you should take HI 5005 Essential Mathematics for Biomedicine.
Technical Writing is required of all students.
Cost of the Program
For details see Program Costs.
Admission to the Masters Degree Program
Applications are deadlines are: Fall - July 1, Spring - November 1, and Summer - March 15.How to Apply
All Applicants must submit the following official documentation and test scores to the Registrar's Office.- A completed online application form.
- A $30.00 non-refundable application fee.
- A Miller's Analogy Test (MAT) or Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required.
- A student criminal background check after admission is offered.
- A baccalaureate degree or higher.
- A Grade Point Average (GPA) in previous degree with a minimum of 3.0.
- A two page double spaced essay describing the applicant's interest in health informatics, career goals, and reason for applying to the program.
- At least three letters of recommendation from people who are qualified to evaluate the applicant's health informatics work related experience, academic or professional performance, ability, motivation and character. Must use our form.
- A resume and/or curriculum vitae.
Applicants are to submit relevant materials to the Registrar's Office. These documents will be sent to the Director of Admissions. The Director of Admissions will assembly a portfolio which will be forwarded to an admission committee for review. The admissions will look at various factors including but not limited to:
Prior academic preparation (depth, breadth, and performance)
Relevant work experience, particularly practice in the field of study
Career Goals
Motivation
Integrity
Scores on GRE or MAT and TOEFL (if required)
Theses, publications and other scholarly works
Overcoming social, economic, and educational disadvantages: interview, goal statement, and resume, supplemental documents supplied by the applicant demonstrating first time in college or in a medical or dental profession in the family, qualifying and receiving financial aid, region of residence and the comparative availability of members of the applicants chosen professional program in that region, non-academic responsibilities, including employment, child rearing, elder care, multilingual proficiency, region of residence at the time of application, military service.
No portfolio will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee unless it is complete. The Committee meets monthly to consider complete portfolios.
The Admissions Committee recommends the qualified applicants to complete the admissions process with an interview.
Interview
The second component for admission is a personal interview. Applicants will interview with a two faculty members in the school. The applicant selects the two persons with whom to interview. Separate interviews may be conducted due to scheduling. The interview is expected to focus on the applicant's goals and how they can be achieved in the master's program, communication skills, and understanding of the program. The two interviewers make a recommendation for or against admission to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. If the applicant is admitted, the two interviewers become the student's advising committee.
International Applicants only
- Test score of English as a foreign language TOEFL. A minimum paper-based test of 550, a minimum computer-based test of 213, and an internet-based score of writing 26, speaking 23, reading 21, listening 17, and total of 87.
All outside USA college transcripts must be evaluated on a course by course basis by an independent organization such as Educators Credential Evaluators or World Evaluation Services prior to application.
Contact Information
For further information about the Masters of Science in Health Informatics Program please contact the Coordinator of the Masters Program.Robert W. Vogler, D.S.N.
Coordinator, Masters Program
The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciences at Houston
Voice: 713-500-3940
For more information or questions about the masters program, contact the Director of Admissions.
Debbie Todd
Director of Admissions
The University of Texas School of Health Information Sciencesat Houston
7000 Fannin, Ste.600
Houston, TX 77030
Voice: 713-500-3903
Fax: 713-500-3907
Juanita Williams
Sr. Staff Assistant
Voice: 713-500-3910