Student presenting on health care informatics

With the MS Health Care Informatics program, you will develop skills in high-demand areas in health care, such as systems analysis and design, database design and management, clinical decision support and computer programming.

Program Type

Master’s

Program Format

On Campus, Online

Request Information
Loading…

Health Care Informatics…

“focuses on the use of information technologies, data analytics and automation of medical data to assist with the problem solving and decision making that improves health care.”
– American Medical Informatics Association

Are you interested in information systems, database management, computing, network design, automation and documentation in a health care setting? The Zilber College of Public Health MS Health Care Informatics program may be a great fit for you.

Your work in health care informatics could take you to a wide variety of settings, including health care systems, hospitals, physician offices, medical group practices, nursing homes or government agencies.

Student sitting in front of a computer with a spreadsheet

The MS Health Care Informatics program is designed to help you develop skills in high-demand areas in health care. You will learn about systems analysis and design, database design and management, clinical decision support and computer programming. These skills are essential for professionals who want to work in the healthcare industry.

In addition to these core skills, you will also have the opportunity to specialize in areas such as data analytics, health information exchange, and predictive modeling. This will give you a competitive edge in the job market and help you stand out from other candidates.

Our program is designed to be flexible and convenient for working professionals. You can complete your coursework online or on campus, depending on your schedule and preferences. Our faculty and staff members are experts in their fields and are committed to helping you succeed.

We also offer a range of resources to support your academic and professional goals. These include campus-level career services, networking opportunities, and access to cutting-edge technology.

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in biomedical and health informatics, our program is an excellent choice. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals!

Successful Alumni

Visit our Alumni page and be inspired by where a degree from the College of Public Health can take you.

Admission

You must meet UWM Graduate School requirements and the GRE requirement is waived at this moment since COVID.

No specific undergraduate major is necessary for admission. Typical applicants have a background in a health-related or information/computer-related field, but applicants from other academic or professional backgrounds are welcome to apply.

We accept applications for both fall and spring semesters. Our admissions are on a rolling basis and there are no deadlines.

For questions regarding admissions, please contact zcph-info@uwm.edu

Advising

Major Professor as Advisor

A student must have a major professor to advise and supervise the student’s studies as specified in Graduate School regulations. Initially the director of the HCI Program advises and supervises newly admitted students. Students are then assigned faculty advisors according to faculty advising loads.

When should I meet with my advisor?

You are encouraged to meet with your advisor at least once per semester to ensure timely progress to graduation.

Enrolling for spring semester?

Schedule an appointment with your advisor in October or November.

Enrolling for fall semester?

Schedule an appointment with your advisor in March or April.

You are also welcome to schedule an appointment with your advisor at any time to discuss academic challenges, career opportunities or any other questions.

How can my advisor help me?

Our advisors understand the challenges of balancing academics, work, family and the social aspects of college life. Advisors partner with you to:

  • Explore your academic and career interests
  • Plan the sequence of your courses
  • Prepare for course enrollment
  • Access tutoring and other academic support
  • Identify opportunities for campus involvement
  • Connect you to campus resources
  • Plan for graduation

The MS Health Care Informatics degree is awarded upon completion of 33 credits (non-thesis option) or 36 credits (thesis option) of prescribed graduate study; 24 credits of core courses, 6 credits of electives, plus either three credits of project or six credits of thesis.

Core required courses (24 credits)

CourseCredits
HI 700: Introduction to Health Care Informatics3
HI 722: Legal, Ethical and Social Issues in Health Care Informatics3
HI 723: Health Care Systems Applications—Administrative & Clinical3
HI 740: Introduction to Biomedical Database Applications3
HI 741: Essential Programming for Health Informatics3
HI 742: Computational Intelligence in Health Informatics3
HI 745: Health Big Data Processing Platforms3
PH 801: Seminar in Public Health Research3

Electives (6 credits)

Electives other than those listed below are to be approved by the program director.

CourseCredits
HI 721: Health Information Technology Procurement3
HI 743: Predictive Analytics in Healthcare3
HI 744: Text Retrieval and Its Applications in Biomedicine3
HI 776: Biomedical Natural Language Processing3
HI 789: Biomedical Information Extraction3
HS 917: Seminar in Health Outcomes Assessment3
HI 760: Biomedical and Healthcare Terminology and Ontology 3
HCA 541G: Healthcare Information Systems Analysis & Design 3

Project (3 credits) or Thesis (6 credits)

CourseCredits
HCA 891: Health Care Informatics Professional Project OR3
HCA 890: Health Care Informatics Research and Thesis1-6

Career Outlook

Our MS Health Care Informatics program can prepare you for a variety of positions in health IT such as Chief Information Officer, Chief Medical Information Officer, HIM Director, Health Informatics Director, Health Data/Information Resource Manager, Health Information System Application Designer, Compliance Officer, Health Analyst and IT Consultant. These positions are in high demand and offer competitive salaries.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, health informatics and other health services and medical managers earn a median average salary of $104,280. However, salary expectations for health informaticists vary widely based on education, experience, location, title and responsibilities. Entry-level salaries in informatics range from $50,000 upward, with some positions paying higher. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/management/computer-and-information-systems-managers.htm

It’s important to note that the information provided is not intended to represent a complete list of hiring companies or job titles. Degree program options do not guarantee career or salary outcomes. Students should conduct independent research for specific employment information.

Lu He
  • Assistant Professor, Health Care Informatics
Portrait of Jake Luo
  • Associate Professor, Health Care Informatics Graduate Program Director
Priya Nambisan
  • Associate Professor, Health Care Informatics
Portrait of Min Wu
  • Associate Professor, Health Care Informatics & Administration