McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston, formerly UTHealth Houston School of Biomedical Informatics (SBMI), offers six graduate-level certificates: Applied Biomedical Informatics, Biomedical Informatics, Public Health Informatics, Dental Informatics, Health Data Science, and Pharmacy Informatics. These certificates are designed for self-motivated health care professionals seeking informatics education as well as other professionals and recent graduates who want to transition into the health care industry via informatics. Each certificate requires the completion of five selected courses, which can be finished in as little as two semesters. Semester credit hours earned in the certificate programs are transferable to the corresponding master's program.
* Students pursuing a certificate as their only academic program are not eligible for financial aid. Certificate students may be eligible for McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics scholarships if funds are available.
Please ensure you review the Admissions Requirements for your particular program of interest. Feel free to visit our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page to also assist with your application journey.
| PROGRAM | FALL | SPRING | SUMMER |
| Certificate | July 1 | November 1 | March 1 |
| Master's | July 1 | November 1 | March 1 |
| PhD | December 1 | July 1 | N/A |
| DHI | March 1 | Only one DHI cohort will be admitted annually. | |
Interested in learning more? Visit the Prospective Student Information Sessions webpage for upcoming prospective student webinars for all programs offered at McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics (SBMI). Be sure to register for the event date and time that best works with your schedule!
Students can choose between a certificate in biomedical informatics, applied biomedical informatics, public health informatics, pharmacy informatics or health data science. All certificates consist of five courses (three or four semester credit hours each), totaling 15 or 16 hours of graduate credit once completed.
The 15 semester credit hour certificate in applied biomedical informatics is a fully online program designed to provide students with the knowledge and skills to evaluate, implement and maintain electronic health records and health information systems.
Option 1 - A set of five predetermined courses with an emphasis in Electronic Health Records (EHRs).
Option 2 - BMI 5300 Introduction to Biomedical Informatics (required) and the choice of any four courses from the catalog with advice from the certificate program coordinator(s). This option allows professionals interested in biomedicine or learning and technology to customize their certificate to meet their needs.
The 15 semester credit hour certificate in biomedical informatics focuses on the opportunities and challenges in integrating technology in modern health care. It is designed to introduce students to basic and practical solutions in developing health information solutions. The certificate can be completed online or in person.
Option 1 - A set of five predetermined classes:
Option 2 - BMI 5300 Introduction to Biomedical Informatics* and the choice of any four courses from the catalog with advice from the certificate program coordinator(s). This option allows professionals interested in a specific area of study to explore one of our concentrations including Bioinformatics, Human Factors Engineering, or Clinical Informatics.
The 16 semester credit hour certificate in public health informatics is offered in conjunction with The University of Texas School of Public Health. Students will learn how information science and technology are applied in disease prevention and intervention in public health practice. The certificate can be completed online or in person.
For the fifth course, students can select one of the pre-determined courses listed below:
The 15 semester credit hour joint certificate in dental informatics is offered in conjunction with UTHealth School of Dentistry at Houston (UTSD). Students will focus on the opportunities and challenges in integrating technology in modern oral health care. The certificate requires both online and in-person courses which includes a practicum at UTSD. For information on how to apply, please refer to UTSD Application Criteria page.
The 15 semester credit hour certificate helps students who want to expand their understanding of the interrelatedness of healthcare, data analysis and data visualization. Students studying health data science gain the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively analyze, interpret, and present health care data to increase quality, reduce costs, and improve operations.
The 15 semester credit hour certificate in pharmacy informatics explores informatics practices centered on medication-related patient care and improved health outcomes. Students will learn about the importance of informatics practices while managing medication-related information in electronic health records, pharmacy information systems, and other automated systems.
For the fourth and fifth course, students can select two of the three courses listed below:
For more information about the certificate program please contact:
Office of Academic Affairs
D. Bradley McWilliams School of Biomedical Informatics at UTHealth Houston
713.500.3591 or
SBMIAdmissions@uth.tmc.edu