The University of California Davis Health Program in Clinical Informatics offers a comprehensive Master's Degree in Health Informatics designed to prepare students for a variety of careers in research, teaching, and information management within healthcare computing. This program includes an intensive in-person curriculum integrated with mandatory research projects aimed at producing work suitable for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Its focus aligns with current healthcare needs both locally and nationally.
The curriculum for the Master’s degree requires a total of 55 units, encompassing 19 units of core coursework, 27 units of domain-specific elective courses, and 9 units of independent research (MHI 299) in health informatics. This structure ensures that graduates are adept in areas such as digital health technologies, clinical decision support systems, and information management policies 1.
Core Coursework
Core courses include topics such as Electronic Health Records, Decision Support Systems, and Database Management in Healthcare. Each course is structured to apply theoretical concepts in practical environments, enhancing the students' understanding of how informatics supports clinical practices. For example, the Electronic Health Records course provides hands-on experience with EPIC, a widely used health informatics system, ensuring students are well-versed in practical applications 6.
Domain Elective Coursework
In addition to core courses, the program mandates a minimum of 27 units of domain elective coursework. These electives allow students to tailor their learning according to specific interests within health informatics, such as Consumer Digital Health, Security in Informatics, and Programming in Health Informatics 8. This aspect of the program emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of health informatics by allowing collaboration with other professional schools within the university.
Research Opportunities
A key component of the program is the independent research project, facilitating real-world applications of health informatics principles and allowing students to explore areas such as patient privacy, data sharing, and systemic improvements in healthcare delivery 1. Faculty members actively assist students in identifying suitable research topics and are committed to mentoring for thesis completion.
Admissions Criteria
Admission to the program requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 from a regionally accredited institution, along with a completed bachelor’s degree. Furthermore, applicants must submit official TOEFL or IELTS scores unless they have graduated from a U.S. institution where English is the primary language of instruction. The program does not require GRE scores, making it more accessible to a diverse pool of applicants 2 3.
Visa Support and Competitiveness
The program is classified as highly interdisciplinary and aims to foster professionals from diverse educational and professional backgrounds, including clinicians, health technology specialists, and researchers. It provides visa support and is able to sponsor student visas for international applicants in the form of F-1 visas, thus promoting diversity within its cohorts 1 9.
Financial Support
Potential financial support consists of a range of financial aid opportunities, external fellowships, and student employment options. Students can pursue Graduate Student Research roles or Teaching Assistant positions which can help alleviate tuition costs 10. There are no application fees for the program, encouraging a broad range of applicants.
Unique Aspects of the Program
Unique to UC Davis is its emphasis on an integrative learning approach, combining advanced health informatics education with technology, human factors, and clinical exposure. Students benefit from access to extensive resources across various disciplines, which enriches the educational experience before transitioning into their professional careers 11.
Academic Timeline
The typical course completion timeline spans approximately two years, during which students are expected to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. Successful completion of the program prepares graduates for roles in academia, healthcare organizations, technological industries, and governmental agencies 12.
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