Master's
Overview | Tracks | Prerequisites | Coursework | Applying
Overview
The goal of the curriculum is to produce students capable of assuming appropriate jobs in biomedical informatics in both industry and academia. The Master of Science (MS) curriculum consists of 60 credit hours, including 41 credit hours of required coursework, 12 credit hours of thesis work, and a minimum of 7 hours of electives. The Master of Biomedical Informatics (MBI) curriculum consists of 52 credit hours including 43 credit hours of required coursework, 6 credit hours of capstone project work, and a minimum of 3 credit hours of electives. OHSU operates on a quarter system, so a full-time student should be able to complete the coursework portion of the program in 4-5 quarters. Part-time enrollment in the program is allowed. Tuition and fee information can be found on the Registrar's page.
Tracks
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Bioinformatics has become increasingly algorithmic and quantitative, in particular in the area known as computational biology. The primary goal of both our Master's programs (MBI and MS) in bioinformatics is to provide students with a rigorous grounding in the tools needed to successfully address current problems in the field. To this end, our bioinformatics track focuses on developing five core strengths. Taken together, these domains make up the knowledge base of bioinformatics:
- Bioinformatics algorithms and statistical methods to research problems.
- Knowledge of biology , especially its genetics aspects, to bioinformatics and computational biology problems.
- Basic statistical analyses to bioinformatics problems.
- Basic computer science principles to problems in health and biomedicine.
- Students will build strong skills in advanced scholarship , including the ability to address ethical issues in the field, communicate effectively in oral and written form, and complete a dedicated research project in the form of a thesis (MS degree) or capstone (MBI degree).
Clinical Informatics
The primary goal of both our Master's programs (MBI and MS) in Medical Informatics is to educate the future developers and managers of health care information systems. Individuals with a variety of backgrounds are provided a strong technical grounding in medical informatics, health and medicine, computer science, and research methods so that they may assume positions that require a thorough understanding of both information technology and the health care environment. The core domains that comprise a solid knowledge base in medical informatics are:
- Basic principles of biomedical informatics to problems in different domains of health and biomedicine.
- Operational knowledge of the human body in health and disease as well as the organization of the health care system .
- Principles of organizational behavior and management skills to biomedical informatics problems.
- Basic statistics and quantitative or qualitative research methods to evaluative research projects.
- Basic computer science principles to problems in health and biomedicine.
- Students will be adept in the tools of advanced scholarship , including the ability to address ethical issues in the field, communicate effectively in oral and written form, and complete a thesis (MS degree) or capstone (MBI degree).
Health Information Management
As the Health Information Management discipline has grown over the last several years, the need for qualified professionals with appropriate credentials has increased. CAHIIM, the national credentialing agency in the field, has adopted a policy requiring that all directors of HIM programs have at least a master's degree as well as RHIA (Registered Health Information Administrator) credential. This degree has become the entry-level degree in the field.
The curriculum includes the same courses that are in the MBI and MS Clinical Informatics Track with the addition of the 7 core HIM courses:
- BMI 582 Healthcare Data Management
- BMI 583 IT in Health Information Practice
- BMI 584 Clinical Classification systems & Applied Reimbursement Methodologies
- BMI 585 Applied Management in Health Information Practice
- BMI 586 Applied Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Information Practice
- BMI 587 Research, Statistics, and Quality Applied to Health Information Practice
- BMI 588 HIM Capstone and Professional Practice Experience
All 52 credits of the MBI HIM track are required or individual competency courses. Fifty-eight of the 60 credits of the MS HIM track are required or individual competency courses.
MBI HIM Track Forecasting Sheet
MS HIM Track Forecasting Sheet
Prerequisites
Coursework
Bioinformatics & Computational Biology
Required CoursesBMI 550 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology I: Algorithms
BMI 551 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology II: Statistical Methods
BMI 552 Research in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
BMI 553 Readings in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Elective Courses
BMI 514 Information Retrieval
BMI 516 Standards and Interoperability
BMI 549 Health Information Privacy and Security
BMI 558 Biological Modeling and Simulation
BMI 582 Health Care Data Management
BMI 583 IT in Health Information Practice
BMI 584 Clinical Classification systems & Applied Reimbursement Methodologies
BMI 585 Applied Management in Health Information Practice
BMI 586 Applied Legal and Ethical Issues in Health Information Practice
BMI 587 Research, Statistics, and Quality Applied to Health Information Practice
Artificial Intelligence - CS 560
Introduction to Computational Neurophysiology - BME 565
Machine Learning - CS 545 (PSU)
Natural Language Processing - CS 562
Statistical Analysis of Microarrays - PHPM 507C
Biomedical Sciences
Required Courses
Genetic Mechanisms - CON 662 OR
Cellular Neurophysiology - NEUS 624
Individual Competency (Choose 1)
Bioregulation - CON 663
Development, Differentiation and Cancer - CON 665
Molecular Cell Biology - CON 664
Structure and Function - CON 661
Electives
Molecular Biology for Clinical Research - HIP 514
BMI 562 – Quantitative Research Methods
Biostatistics
Required Courses
Estimation and Hypothesis Testing for Applied Biostatistics - BSTA 511
Linear Models - BSTA 512
Categorical Data Analysis - BSTA 513
Computer Science
Required Courses
Databases - BMI 544
Software Engineering - BMI 546
Bioinformatics and Programming and Scripting - BMI 546
Individual Competency (Choose 1)
Computer Networks - BMI 542
Human-Computer Interaction in Biomedicine - BMI 548
Advanced Scholarship
Required Courses
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Biomedical Informatics - BMI 515
Master's Thesis - BMI 503 (Master of Science only)
Capstone Project - BMI 581 (Master of Biomedical Informatics only)
Scientific Writing and Communication for Informatics Students - BMI 570
Electives
Independent Study - BMI 502
Internship - BMI 504
Practicum: Biomedical Informatics - BMI 509
Reading & Conference - BMI 505
Research - BMI 501
Seminar: Biomedical Informatics - BMI 507
Clinical Informatics
Biomedical Informatics
Required course
BMI 510 – Introduction to Biomedical Informatics
Individual Competency courses
BMI 512 – Clinical Systems Information
BMI 514 – Information Retrieval
BMI 520 – Consumer Health Informatics
BMI 521 – Public Health Informatics
Healthcare
Required course
BMI 530 – Practice of Health Care
Individual Competency courses
BMI 536 – Evidence-based Medicine
BMI 537 – Healthcare Quality
BMI 538 – Medical Decision Making
Computer Science
Required courses
BMI 540 – Computer Science and Java Programming
BMI 544 – Databases
Individual Competency courses
BMI 542 – Computer Networks
BMI 546 – Software Engineering
BMI 548 – Human Computer Interaction in Biomedicine
Required courses
PHPM 524 – Introduction to Biostatistics
BMI 560 – Design and Evaluation in Health Informatics
Elective courses
BMI 561 – Qualitative Research Methods
Organizational Behavior and Management
Required courses
BMI 517 – Organizational Behavior and Management
BMI 518 – Project Management
Elective Course
BMI 519 – The business of Health Care Informatics
Advanced Scholarship
Required Courses
Ethical, Legal, and Social Issues in Biomedical Informatics - BMI 515
Master's Thesis - BMI 503 (Master of Science only)
Capstone Project - BMI 581 (Master of Biomedical Informatics only)
Scientific Writing and Communication for Informatics Students - BMI 570
Electives
Independent Study - BMI 502
Internship - BMI 504
Practicum: Biomedical Informatics - BMI 509
Reading & Conference - BMI 505
Research - BMI 501
Seminar: Biomedical Informatics - BMI 507
Hybrid Courses
For those who study off-campus, there is a 6-credit (2-course) on-campus requirement. Once or twice a year, several hybrid courses (see hybrid schedule) are offered on the OHSU campuses, allowing you to meet and work closely with faculty and with other students. Each course spans several weeks and the on-campus portion lasts 3-5 days, depending on the course. These courses require pre- and post-campus work such as reading of the text(s) and weekly assignments. Details are included in course syllabi. Most of the courses are scheduled back-to-back in September so that students may satisfy the 2-course requirement in one trip to Portland.Applying
Master's application - Application dates are as follows:Clinical Informatics Application Dates
| Open | Close | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (2012) | May 1, 2012 | Aug. 1, 2012 |
| Winter | Sept. 15, 2011 | Nov. 1, 2011 |
| Spring | Dec. 15, 2011 | Feb. 1, 2012 |
Bioinformatics Application Dates
| Open | Close | |
|---|---|---|
| Fall (2012) | Sept. 1, 2011 | March. 1, 2012 |
Applications and all supporting documents received after the closing date will be considered for the following term. Applications are valid for one year. If all supporting materials are not received within one year, a new application and fee payment will be required. Application fees are non-refundable.
Application Instructions
