The formal study of informatics at the master’s level is designed as a multi-disciplinary approach to accomplish these important goals:
The applicant should present to the Registrar’s Office the following:
Applicant materials will be organized into a portfolio for review by the SBMI Admissions, Progression and Graduation (APG) committee. The committee will consider such areas as:
Requirements for International Applicants:
Master of Science in Health Informatics application deadlines:
Fall admission - July 1
Spring admission - November 1
Summer admission - March 1
Transfer credit for equivalent courses taken elsewhere may be awarded and used to meet degree requirements if their equivalency to a SBMI degree program course is approved through a Petition for Equivalency Credit. Courses for which grades of less than “B” were achieved will not be accepted for equivalency.
The maximum number of transferable semester credit hours is 12 for the master’s program.
Applicants who are presenting coursework from universities or colleges outside the United States to meet admission or graduation requirements are referred to the section on International Applicants in this catalog for a listing of additional requirements.
Academic Requirements
Credit hours must total at least 39 semester hours for all courses in the degree plan. Each student follows a degree plan developed with an Advising Committee. A total of 39 semester credit hours must be completed prior to graduation. There are two tracks within the Master’s Program. Students should work with the Office of Academic Affairs and their advisor to assure they are taking courses in their desired focus area.
A full-time student in the Program in Biomedical Informatics has up to four years (12 semesters) from the time of entry to complete the required course work. A part-time student has up to eight years (24 semesters) from the time of entry to complete the required course work. Continuous enrollment is required unless approval from the advising committee is obtained. A maximum of one year of an approved leave of absence will be allowed for continuance in the program. If more than one year of leave occurs, the student must apply for readmission to the program.
Each course with an HI/BMI prefix in the Biomedical Informatics degree plan is a graduate-level course and should be passed with a grade of “B” or better. Only one course grade of “C” is allowed. The minimum grade point average (GPA) required for graduation is 3.0 on all courses.
Computer Requirement
Every student is required to have reliable access to a computer that meets the minimum technical requirements. Students are encouraged to purchase a laptop that meets the minimum SBMI requirements.
Computer requirements are listed on the website (https://sbmi.uth.edu/current-students/student-handbook/computer-requirements.htm) and are subject to change.
Traditional Track
The curriculum of the traditional track for the Master of Science degree in Biomedical Informatics includes required didactic courses and a practicum. Didactic courses (lecture/discussion, demonstration and student laboratories) are presented to provide facts, concepts, and theories related to the techniques and procedures of health informatics. The courses include instruction in basic informatics, research, advanced informatics and elective courses. The practicum is designed to give the students the opportunity to apply theory and techniques in the hospital, research, or private laboratory setting.
Each student will develop a degree plan with written approval of their advising committee. A degree plan will be filed that includes the core and required courses as specified below:
Changes to the degree plan must be approved in advance in writing by the advisor/advising committee.
Applied Track
The curriculum of the traditional track for the Master of Science degree in Applied Biomedical Informatics includes required didactic courses and a practicum. Didactic courses (lecture/discussion, demonstration and student laboratories) are presented to provide facts, concepts, and theories related to the techniques and procedures of health informatics. The courses include instruction in basic and applied informatics. The practicum is designed to give the students the opportunity to apply theory and techniques in the hospital, research, or private laboratory setting
Each student will develop a degree plan with written approval of their advising committee. A degree plan will be filed that includes the core and required courses as specified below:
Changes to the degree plan must be approved in advance in writing by the advisor/advising committee.
Students in the Master of Science in Biomedical Informatics must select an area of interest in which to apply the knowledge and skill gained during the didactic courses while participating in the required practicum course. Students must complete at least 24 credit hours in their master’s program before participating in the practicum requirement. Students should work with the Practicum Coordinator for any necessary affiliation or program agreements with the practicum site, if agreements are not already in place. A practicum proposal must be submitted by week three of the semester of enrollment to the Practicum Coordinator and it must be approved, in writing, by the student’s Faculty Practicum Advisor. Students can complete all required practicum credit hours during one semester or the course can be repeated for a maximum of 3 semester credit hours (for HI/BMI 6000) to meet degree requirements. During the course of the semester(s), student must create weekly logs to chronicle their hours, tasks, and reflections on how the duties of the practicum relate to Health Informatics courses taken. Once the student has logged all 135 clock hours and concluded all practicum projects, she or he must create in a 10 page APA format double spaced capstone report that details the major project they completed during their practicum. This report, along with other deliverables, will be submitted in completion of the practicum. If students have any questions regarding the practicum, they can contact the Practicum Coordinator or the Office of Academic Affairs.
For further curriculum information, please contact:
UTHealth School of Biomedical Informatics Office of Academic Affairs
7000 Fannin Street Suite 650
Houston, Texas 77030
Telephone: (713) 500-3591
Email: SBMIAcademics@uth.tmc.edu