Mar 19, 2024  
Graduate Catalog | 2019-2020 
    
Graduate Catalog | 2019-2020 Previous Edition

Health Informatics and Analytics, M.S.


The Health Informatics and Analytics program leverages its position within the University’s Data Science Initiative and capitalizes on the strength of its parent colleges, the College of Health and Human Services and the College of Computing and Informatics, to prepare national and international students to advance the professional practice of health informatics through a thorough grounding in data science, system architecture, and health analytics.

This mission is pursued through education, research, and service efforts that:

  • Provide qualified and motivated students from a variety of disciplines, levels of experience, and backgrounds - with a special emphasis on individuals and groups historically underrepresented in graduate education - the knowledge, skills, and abilities to become exemplary practitioners of and advocates for health informatics;
  • Contribute to the body of knowledge related to the design, operation, and analysis of healthcare information systems; and
  • Apply expertise to support health leaders and the communities they serve in, advancing the public’s health.

The Health Informatics and Analytics program is the nation’s premier program in developing practitioners who bridge data sciences and analytics in support of optimal population health.

Admission Requirements


Applicants must meet the general Graduate School requirements for admission to master’s degree programs.  Applications must include all of the materials listed by the Graduate School as typical for master’s degree application submissions.  In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in computer sciences, health sciences, information systems, or life sciences or in an informatics discipline or a closely related field is required for study toward the M.S. in Heath Informatics and Analytics.  Acceptable scores on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical sections of the GRE are required.

GRE Waiver

Domestic applicants holding a terminal degree (e.g., J.D., M.D., D.D.S., Ph.D.) may request a waiver from this requirement.  Applicants to the PSM in Health Informatics and Analytics program also may request a GRE score waiver provided they meet one of the following qualifications:

  • Are transitioning from the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Analytics program and a) successfully completed a minimum of two required courses with at least a 3.5 GPA and b) secure a letter of recommendation supporting their admission into the master’s program from at least one of those instructors
  • Have at least 3 years of full-time post baccalaureate work experience in the field and at least a 3.2 undergraduate GPA

Early Entry Program

Exceptional undergraduate students at UNC Charlotte may apply for the Early Entry Program and begin work toward the graduate degree before completion of the baccalaureate degree.  See the Undergraduate Catalog for details and requirements.  Also see the Degree Requirements and Academic Policies  section of the Graduate Catalog for more information about Early Entry Programs.

Degree Requirements


The PSM in Health Informatics and Analytics program requires 36 graduate credit hours, including 6 credit hours of Foundational Core courses, 12 credit hours of Core courses, 6 hours of Selective courses, 6 credit hours of Restricted Elective courses, 3 credit hours of Internship/Practicum, and a 3 credit hour Capstone course.

A maximum of 6 hours of graduate credit may be transferred.  Students may apply all of the credits earned in the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Analytics  towards the M.S. in Health Informatics and Analytics.

The M.S. courses that also serve the Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics and Analytics program are available via online delivery as well as face-to-face formats, meaning much (but not all) of the M.S. program is available in an online format.

Applicants lacking a college-level statistics course within 5 years of matriculation may be required to take HADM 6108  or a comparable course upon entering the program.  This course would not count toward degree requirements.

By the end of the first semester of matriculation in the program, students must complete (or be excused from based upon prior training and/or experience) non-credit asynchronous training modules in computer vocabularies, programming systems, health vocabularies, and classification systems.

Foundational Core Courses (6 credit hours)


Within the first year of matriculation into the program, students must complete these foundational core requirements.  The Graduate Program Director may approve substituting HCIP electives for either or both of these classes in cases where the student demonstrates having successfully completed comparable undergraduate and/or graduate coursework.

Selective Core Courses (6 credit hours)


Select at least two of the following courses.  Additional selections from these options are encouraged and will fulfill the restricted elective requirement described below.

Restricted Elective Courses (6 credit hours)


Select and complete 6 additional credit hours in other HCIP, HADM, or DSBA course offerings. The Graduate Program Director may approve substituting demonstrably relevant non-HCIP offerings to fulfill all or part of this requirement.

Internship (3 credit hours)


Normally taken in the summer between the first and second years, all students must complete an approved internship experience.  Prior to undertaking the internship, students must have completed 12 credit hours in the degree program, including HADM 6100  and HCIP 6380 , and secure permission from the Graduate Program Director.

Capstone Course (3 credit hours)


Normally taken in the final semester, all students complete this capstone course that engages them in a mentored real world informatics and analytics project.  Students must have completed their internship and secure permission from the Graduate Program Director to register for this course.

Degree Total = 36 Credit Hours