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Academics: Graduate Certificate Program in Biomedical Informatics--Medical Informatics Track: In-Depth

 

Overview

The goal of the OHSU Graduate Certificate in Biomedical Informatics Program is to provide knowledge and skills in the application of information technology (IT) to health care. Graduates of the program have taken on additional IT responsibilities in their existing careers or embarked upon new careers as developers and managers of health care IT systems. In the program, individuals with a variety of backgrounds take courses in medical informatics, management and related areas to gain expertise to assume positions that require a thorough understanding of both IT and the health care environment.

Although all of our programs stand on their own and are usually completed as single units, they can also be used as entry points into higher programs. The Certificate program can thus be used as an entry point for enrollment into the Master of Biomedical Informatics (MBI) or Master of Science (MS) in Biomedical Informatics programs. The MBI program is offered both on-campus and via distance learning, while the MS program is offered on-campus only. Students choose to pursue study in Bioinformatics or Medical Informatics as part of their masters program.

The program is geared to meet the educational needs of health care professionals seeking additional training in information management and technology as well as non-health care professionals seeking training in health information and technology. This is accomplished by providing students with a theoretical and practical understanding of the role of information in health care; a sound basis for implementing, developing, maintaining, and managing information resources and systems in health care; and skills in the management of health information, technology, and decision making.

Coursework

The goal of the graduate certificate program is to provide an educational experience for individuals who seek to enhance their knowledge of the intersection of health care and information technology (IT). Society has a need for more individuals with knowledge and skills in IT generally, and the certificate program provides this with a focus on health care. As such, the graduate certificate program was developed with the needs of working professionals in mind. The course of study is most useful for those interested in gaining skills in medical informatics to complement their existing career as a physician, nurse, other health care professional, IT professional, administrator or librarian. Most program participants will take 1-2 courses per term and will require approximately two years for completion. Courses are offered on-line in consideration of the professional student's other obligations and location.

The curriculum consists of eight three-credit courses, for a total of 24 credit hours.

Students are required to complete the following three courses (9 credit hours):

  • BMI 510 - Introduction to Medical Informatics
  • BMI 512 - Clinical Systems
  • BMI 517 - Organizational Behavior & Management

Five elective courses (15 credit hours) can be chosen from any other classes in the course catalog.

Applying

Applications for the Graduate Certificate Program are made directly to the Department of Medical Informatics & Clinical Epidemiology.

Deadlines:

  • Fall term - September 1st
  • Winter term - December 1st
  • Spring term - March 1st
  • Summer term - May 1st

Application Instructions:

  • Have a bachelor's degree in any field of study from an accredited institution.
  • Have an undergraduate cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
  • Take the TOEFL.
    The Test of English as a Foreign Language(TOEFL) is required of students for whom English is not their native language. An official report of the scores must be sent directly from the Educational Testing Service to the Graduate Admissions Office. The OHSU School of Medicine uses institution code 4865.
  • Send official transcripts.
    You are required to submit an official transcript from each school you have attended after high school. A transcript showing transfer credits is official only for credits taken at that institution. It is not an official transcript for the transferred credits. Request that the transcripts be mailed from the institution attended to the address at the bottom of this page. If you wish, transcripts may be sent with the application, instead. In this case, request that transcripts be mailed to you and forward them in their sealed envelopes with your application. For our purposes, transcripts are official only if the seal is not broken.
  • Complete the application.
    You may complete either the online application or the paper application (which must be mailed to the address at the bottom of this page). Online application instructions:
    • Go to the online application
    • Select "Create Your Account." Write down your username and password. Submit the completed form. You will then be returned to the online application page.
    • Select "Online Certificate Application" at the bottom of the page and completely fill out the online application. (Note: You can fill out the application in multiple sessions. Just save the application each time you make changes. To change anything later, simply log in using the same username and password. You can continue to change and update your application until you pay and submit your application).
    • Before you pay and submit your completed application, print and review the Check List and Signature Sheet.
    • Pay (by credit card or online check) and submit your completed application.
    • Send the signed Check List and Signature Sheet with the required supplemental materials to the address at the bottom of the page.
    • If you have any problems with the online application process, please contact CollegeNet at: 877-944-2525 or e-mail: help@collegenet.com.
  • Submit the application fee.
    Applications must include a $65 non-refundable application fee made payable to Oregon Health & Science University.

Any documents sent to us (paper applications, fees, transcripts, etc.) should be sent to the following address:

Biomedical Informatics Graduate Certificate Program
Attn: Administrative Assistant
Oregon Health & Science University
Mail Code: BICC
3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road
Portland, OR 97239-3098

For any questions, please contact the administrative assistant by phone (1 503 418-1566) or e-mail (informat@ohsu.edu).

Tuition Discount

Members of AMIA, HIMSS, and AMDIS wishing to enroll in the distance learning Graduate Certificate Program are eligible for a 5% tuition discount. The discount only applies to courses taken towards the Graduate Certificate. To receive the discount, the applicant must include the membership number on the application. The discount only applies to regular full membership, and not student, institutional, or associate members.

 
 
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