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 7410 | Introduction to the US Health Care System | 3 |
| HMI 7430 | Introduction to Health Informatics | 3 |
| HMI 7440 | Health Information Technology | 3 |
| HMI 8435 | Information Security, Evaluation and Policy | 3 |
| HMI 8437 | Data Warehousing and Data/Text Mining for Health Care | 3 |
| HMI 8441 | Biomedical and Health Vocabularies and Ontologies | 3 |
| HMI 8443 | Enterprise Information and Solutions Architecture for Strategic Healthcare Operations | 3 |
| HMI 8571 | Decision Support in Health Care Systems | 3 |
| HMI 8550 | Health Data Analytics | 3 |
| HMI 8610 | Consumer Health Informatics | 3 |
| HMI 8870 | Knowledge Representation in Biology and Medicine | 3 |
| HMI 8090 | Thesis Research in Health Management and Informatics | 4 |
| * | 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.
Sample Plan of Study - Residential
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| HMI 7410 | 3 | HMI 8441 | 3 | HMI 8689 (Optional) | 3 |
| HMI 7430 | 3 | HMI 8443 | 3 | ||
| HMI 7440 | 3 | HMI 8550 | 3 | ||
| HMI 8435 | 3 | HMI 8090 | 1 | ||
| HMI 8090 | 1 | ||||
| 13 | 10 | 3 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | ||
| HMI 8437 | 3 | HMI 8571 | 3 | ||
| HMI 8610 | 3 | HMI 8870 | 3 | ||
| HMI 8090 | 1 | HMI 8090 | 1 | ||
| 7 | 7 | ||||
| Total Credits: 40 | |||||
Sample Plan of Study - Executive
Executive students begin in the Spring semester
| First Year | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| Please note: Executive students begin in Spring semester, and program runs on a calendar year. | HMI 7410 | 3 | HMI 7580 | 3 | |
| HMI 7430 | 3 | HMI 8450 | 3 | ||
| 0 | 6 | 6 | |||
| Second Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | Spring | Credits | Summer | Credits |
| HMI 8550 | 3 | HMI 8435 | 3 | HMI 8451 | 3 |
| HMI 8571 | 3 | HMI 8441 | 3 | ||
| 6 | 6 | 3 | |||
| Third Year | |||||
| Fall | Credits | ||||
| HMI 8437 | 3 | ||||
| HMI 8443 | 3 | ||||
| 6 | |||||
| Total Credits: 33 | |||||
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.
HMI Admissions Information
Deadline for Fall entrance: Rolling; Priority deadline March 1
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;
- a 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 http://hmi.missouri.edu/prospective/rmha_description.html
For additional information about the Executive MSHI degree, please visit http://hmi.missouri.edu/prospective/emshi_description.html or call (573) 884-0698.
Admissions Contact
Veronica Lemme, MPA
CE740 CS&E Building, DC006.00
One Hospital Drive
Columbia, MO 65212
http://hmi.missouri.edu
(573) 884-0698
lemmev@health.missouri.edu