MS in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics

The residential MS in Health Informatics curriculum includes foundational coursework in health information technology as well as health administration. The curriculum integrates learning across computer science, health informatics, and health administration, while also developing student research interests. Individuals with three or more years of professional experience are encouraged to apply for admission to the Executive MS in Health Informatics cohort (please see Executive plan of study information below).

Degree Requirements

The MSHI curriculum requires 37 credit hours of course work.  Prior coursework in computer science is not required. 

Students must maintain a minimum 3.0 cumulative MU graduate grade point average to earn the Master's degree. 

Residential MSHI students have the option to complete a 12-week internship during the summer following their first year, although it is not required for the degree.*  HMI's executive-in-residence will work with HI students who wish to complete an internship to find an appropriate placement.

Required Courses
HMI 7410Introduction to the US Health Care System3
HMI 7430Introduction to Health Informatics3
HMI 7440Health Information Technology3
HMI 8435Information Security, Evaluation and Policy3
HMI 8437Data Warehousing and Data/Text Mining for Health Care3
HMI 8441Biomedical and Health Vocabularies and Ontologies3
HMI 8443Enterprise Information and Solutions Architecture for Strategic Healthcare Operations3
HMI 8571Decision Support in Health Care Systems3
HMI 8550Health Data Analytics3
HMI 8610Consumer Health Informatics3
HMI 8870Knowledge Representation in Biology and Medicine3
HMI 8090Thesis Research in Health Management and Informatics4
*

If a student chooses to complete an internship, the student must register for HMI 8689 Field Experience in Health Management and Informatics and must abide by all internship program requirements.

Executive MSHI Program

In addition to the residential (on-campus) mode, the MSHI degree is offered in an alternative format for professionals who have significant experience in health informatics.  HMI accepts an Executive MSHI cohort to begin in January of each year.  The executive MSHI combines three on-campus weekend sessions per semester with independent study and online interaction in an innovative two-year course of study, and requires 33 credit hours of health informatics coursework.  Students must complete a substantial independent research project, which they present during their oral comprehensive examination in their final semester.

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Sample Plan of Study - Residential MS in Health Informatics

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
HMI 74103HMI 84413HMI 8689 (Optional)
HMI 74303HMI 84433 
HMI 74403HMI 85503 
HMI 84353HMI 80901 
HMI 80901  
 13 10 0
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCredits 
HMI 84373HMI 85713 
HMI 86103HMI 88703 
HMI 80901HMI 80901 
 7 7  
Total Credits: 37

Sample Plan of Study - Executive MS in Health Informatics

Executive students begin in the Spring semester

First Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
Please note: Executive students begin in Spring semester, and program runs on a calendar year. HMI 74103HMI 75803
 HMI 74303HMI 84503
 0 6 6
Second Year
FallCreditsSpringCreditsSummerCredits
HMI 85503HMI 84353HMI 84513
HMI 85713HMI 84413 
 6 6 3
Third Year
FallCredits  
HMI 84373  
HMI 84433  
 6    
Total Credits: 33

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Thesis/Non-Thesis Requirement

Residential HI students have the option to complete a formal Master's thesis to be submitted to the Graduate School. Students who choose not to complete a thesis must complete a substantial independent research project. All HI students must defend their thesis or research project, typically in their final semester of the program.

Financial Aid

Further information about costs, financial aid, and external scholarship opportunities is available on the HMI Department's website at: http://hmi.missouri.edu/prospective/financial_aid.html.

Admissions Requirements

Applicants are required to meet two sets of minimum qualifications for admission: the requirements of the MS in Health Informatics program and the minimum requirements of the Graduate School. Because requirements vary, you must refer to a degree program’s graduate admission page to learn about specific admission criteria, application deadlines, eligibility and application process. Before official admissions to the University of Missouri, your application materials will be reviewed by both the degree program to which you’ve applied and the Graduate School.

Admissions Information for the Department of BBME

Deadline for Fall entrance: August 1st-December 1

There are two prerequisites for the program: a college level statistics course and a college level algebra course.

A minimum of a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution

Undergraduate GPA: 3.0 during the last 60 hours of undergraduate course work and any subsequent graduate course work

Minimum TOEFL scores:

Internet-based test (iBT) Paper-based test (PBT)
100 603
  • Minimum Academic IELTS scores: 
Item Score
OVERALL 7.5
  • Minimum GRE Scores: 
When did you take the GRE? Verbal + Quantitative
Prior to August 1, 2011 50th percentile
On or After August 1, 2011 50th percentile
  • In lieu of GRE, minimum GMAT score: 50th percentile.  HMI also accepts LSAT and MCAT scores.  GRE scores are not required for applicants to the Executive cohort.

Required Application Materials

Master's program applicants should apply online through the Graduate School application system. When completing the online application, you will have an opportunity to upload/attach additional documents. Please include the following documents:

  • an updated résumé or curriculum vitae;
  • personal essay that:
    • outlines your professional plans and career objectives;
    • explains how you became interested in health services management/health informatics and how your prior training and experience would help your career;
    • includes specific issues and problems in health care you consider challenging and why;
    • indicates if you intend to apply to the traditional (residential) on-campus degree program or the distance education (executive) format

Other required documents:

  • Official transcripts of all coursework from all colleges, technical schools and/or universities attended
  • Three letters of recommendation (submitted through the Graduate School application system)
  • Official GRE/GMAT score report (Residential Students only)

You may also be required to submit other documentation and in some cases complete prerequisite courses. Below is a checklist to help make sure your application is complete:

  • Request to re-enroll form (for previously admitted students only)
  • Application for Change of Degree form (for students already enrolled in a Master's degree or Graduate Certificate program)
  • Letter of support from your employer (Executive Students only)
  • Official TOEFL report (for international applicants only - have official results sent to us: institution code is 6875, our department code is 25 - minimum score of 100 on the Internet-based exam required)
  • Prerequisites - links to information about prerequisites for each degree program are available at https://medicine.missouri.edu/departments/health-management-and-informatics/graduate-degrees-programs

For additional information about the Executive MS in Health Informatics degree, please visit https://medicine.missouri.edu/departments/health-management-and-informatics/graduate-degrees-programs/executive-health-informatics-program or call (573) 884-0698.

Admissions Contact

https://medicine.missouri.edu/departments/biomedical-informatics-biostatistics-medical-epidemiology

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