Biomedical and Health Informatics Program (GRAD)
The Biomedical and Health Informatics program is an interdisciplinary program that administers the master of professional science in biomedical and health informatics and the doctor of philosophy in health informatics.
Biomedical and Health Informatics, M.P.S.
The MPS in Biomedical and Health Informatics is an interdisciplinary, 35-credit, non-thesis degree program. The degree is available as an online program or residential (on-campus) program.
Graduates of the program will gain knowledge and skills in:
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Management of large scale projects related to clinical and public health information systems
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Development and evaluation of health information systems that impact clinical decision making and health care quality
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Analysis and management of health data for improvement in clinical practice, biomedical research and public health services
The program partners with several top-ranked academic units on UNC campus. Its interdisciplinary nature draws faculty and scholars from information and computer science, public health, biostatistics, medicine, nursing, dentistry, data science, and pharmacy.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Informatics Core | 9 | |
| Intermediate Selected Topics (CHIP 690.335) 1 | ||
| Database Systems in Healthcare 2 | ||
| Systems Analysis in Healthcare 3 | ||
| Biomedical and Health Informatics Foundations | 6 | |
| Electronic Health Records | ||
| Healthcare Systems in the US 4 | ||
| Track Course (Required) | 3 | |
| Applied Health Informatics in Complex Health Care Systems | ||
or HPM 620 | Implementing Health Informatics Initiatives for Emerging Leaders | |
| Electives | 14 | |
| Complete a minimum of 2 credits for the Biomedical and Health Informatics Foundations Electives. Select from the list below. 5 | 2 | |
| Complete a minimum of 3 credits for the General Informatics Core Electives. Select from the list below. | 3 | |
| Complete a minimum of 3 credits for the Track Electives (clinical informatics or public health). Select from the list below. | 3 | |
| Complete a minimum of 6 credits for the Business Skills Electives. Select from the list below. | 6 | |
| Thesis/Substitute or Dissertation | ||
| CHIP 793 | Health Informatics Internship | 3 |
| Minimum Hours | 35 | |
- 1
- 2
Students previously took CHIP 490.297.
- 3
Students previously took CHIP 490.296 (on campus), CHIP 490.311 (online), CHIP 690.296 (on campus), or CHIP 690.311 (online).
- 4
- 5
We recommend students take CHIP 770.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Biomedical and Health Informatics Foundations Electives | ||
| Health Informatics Seminar | ||
| Intermediate Selected Topics (CHIP 690.295 Foundations of Clinical Data Science, CHIP 690.001 Introduction to Statistical Analysis in Healthcare, or CHIP 690.307 Human Factors in Healthcare) | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Modeling | ||
| Usability Testing and Evaluation | ||
| Applied Statistics, Machine Learning, & Data Communication | ||
| Data Science Basics | ||
| General Informatics Core Electives | ||
| Information Resources and Services | ||
| Information Retrieval | ||
| Applications of Natural Language Processing | ||
| Organization of Information | ||
| Information Visualization | ||
| History of the Book and Other Information Formats | ||
| Text Mining | ||
| Database Systems II: Intermediate Databases | ||
| Information Analytics | ||
| Data Mining | ||
| Intermediate Selected Topics (CHIP 690.309 QI Visualization in Healthcare, CHIP 690.310 Healthcare Data Analytics, or CHIP 690.314 QI and Lean Six Sigma) | ||
| User Interface Design | ||
| Metadata Architectures and Applications | ||
| Introduction to Metadata Architectures and Applications | ||
| Introduction to Digital Curation | ||
| Information Technology Foundations for Managing Digital Collections | ||
| Perspectives on Information, Technology, and People | ||
| Applied Data Analysis | ||
| Track Elective (clinical informatics or public health) | ||
| Text Mining | ||
| Information Analytics | ||
| Data Mining | ||
| Intermediate Selected Topics (CHIP 690.309 QI Visualization in Healthcare, CHIP 690.310 Healthcare Data Analytics, or CHIP 690.333 Intro to Public Health Informatics) | ||
| User Interface Design | ||
| Perspectives on Information, Technology, and People | ||
| Critical Issues in Global Health | ||
| Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation | ||
| The HIV/AIDS Course Online | ||
| Clinical Measurement and Evaluation (PUBH 760.001 Clinical Measurement and Evaluation) | ||
| Population Health: Interprofessional Management in a Changing Healthcare System | ||
| Informatics for Safe and Effective Health Care | ||
| Applied Data Analysis | ||
| Business Skills Electives | ||
 Leading and Managing: An Introduction to Organizational Behavior | ||
| Digital Health Innovations and Impact | ||
| Intermediate Selected Topics (CHIP 690.314 QI and Lean Six Sigma) | ||
| Leadership in the Workplace | ||
| Applied Project Management: Frameworks, Principles and Techniques | ||
| Introduction to Financial Accounting | ||
| Business Communication | ||
| Introduction to Entrepreneurship and The Entrepreneurial Mindset | ||
| Build Your Professional Brand: Develop Job Search Skills and Materials to Make Employers Notice You | ||
| Executive Perspective: Business Fundamentals | ||
| Team Collaboration | ||
| Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling for Business | ||
| Health Care Strategy and Marketing | ||
| Leadership and Workforce Management Strategies | ||
| Health Care Finance | ||
| Health Care Reimbursement | ||
| Management for Information Professionals | ||
| Project Management: Strategy and Applications | ||
| Introduction to Monitoring and Evaluation | ||
| The HIV/AIDS Course Online | ||
| Leading Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) in Public Health Locally And Globally | ||
| Project Management Principles and Practices | ||
| Leadership in Health Policy for Social Justice | ||
| Project Management Strategy and Application | ||
| Healthcare Analytics | ||
Milestones
The following list of milestones (non-course degree requirements) must be completed; view this list of standard milestone definitions for more information.
- Master's Committee
- Master's Oral Exam/Approved Exam Substitute
- Thesis Substitute
- Residence Credit
- Master's Exit Survey
Health Informatics, Ph.D.
The PhD in Health Informatics program at UNC Chapel Hill (UNC-CH) prepares graduate students to contribute to the field of biomedical and health informatics studies through research, teaching and exposure to practical biomedical and health informatics challenges. The Carolina Health Informatics Program (CHIP) PhD trains scholars for careers in research and instruction as well as leadership roles in the industry. The program provides students with research experience, familiarity with biomedical and health informatics concepts, theories and methods.
Course Requirements:
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core & Frontier Pillar | 6 | |
Must take a minimum of 6 credit hours. See a list of elective options below. | ||
| Tools & Infrastructure Pillar | 6 | |
Must take a minimum of 6 credit hours. See a list of elective options below. | ||
| Research Methods Pillar | 3 | |
Must take a minimum of 3 credit hours. See a list of elective options below. | ||
| Project Management & Leadership Pillar | 3 | |
Must take a minimum of 3 credit hours. See a list of elective options below. | ||
| Implementation Science & Research Translation Pillar | 3 | |
Must take a minimum of 3 credit hours. See a list of elective options below. | ||
| Electives | 12 | |
Any graduate level course that advances a student’s knowledge of health informatics, and/or relevant skills needed to successfully conduct their dissertation research, will count toward the required coursework for the health informatics PhD program. A list of course subject areas is available on Canvas. See a list of elective course options below. | ||
| Thesis/Substitute or Dissertation | ||
| CHIP 994 | Doctoral Research and Dissertation 1 | 3 |
| Minimum Hours | 55 | |
- 1
Students must take CHIP 994 twice for a minimum of 6 credit hours.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core & Frontier Pillar | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Computing and Data Management | ||
| Introduction to Data Science | ||
| Probability and Statistical Inference I | ||
| Statistical Computing - Basic Principles and Applications | ||
| Intermediate Selected Topics | ||
| Principles of Epidemiology for Public Health | ||
| Leadership and Workforce Management Strategies | ||
| Information Retrieval | ||
| Introduction to Database Concepts and Applications | ||
| Information Visualization | ||
| Information Ethics | ||
| Database Systems II: Intermediate Databases | ||
| User Interface Design | ||
| Data Governance and Curation | ||
| Web Databases | ||
| Data Science Basics | ||
| Introductory Statistical Methods | ||
| Health Informatics Seminar | ||
| Applied Health Informatics in Complex Health Care Systems | ||
| Introduction to Statistical Modeling | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Tools & Infrastructure Pillar | ||
| Intermediate Selected Topics | ||
| Electronic Health Records | ||
| Image Processing and Analysis | ||
| SAS and Data Management | ||
| Geospatial Data Analysis with Google Earth Engine | ||
| Advanced Spreadsheet Modeling for Business | ||
| Operations Research for Healthcare Systems | ||
| Applications of Natural Language Processing | ||
| Programming for Information Science | ||
| Systems Analysis | ||
| Information Analytics | ||
| Visual Analytics | ||
| Data Analysis | ||
| Information Assurance | ||
| Urban Data Analytics | ||
| Introduction to Machine Learning | ||
| Principles of Statistical Inference | ||
| Text Mining | ||
| Applied Data Analysis | ||
| Methods of Data Analysis H | ||
| H | Honors version available. An honors course fulfills the same requirements as the nonhonors version of that course. Enrollment and GPA restrictions may apply. |
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Research Methods Pillar | ||
| Intermediate Selected Topics | ||
| Quantitative Methods in Clinical Research | ||
| Epidemiologic Research Methods | ||
| Epidemiologic Research with Healthcare Databases | ||
| Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement and Application in Healthcare Research and Practice | ||
| Principles of Health Policy Research Methods | ||
| Overview of Health Services Research/Health Policy | ||
| Health Services/Health Policy Research Methods | ||
| Seminar in Research Methodology | ||
| Usability Testing and Evaluation | ||
| Best Practices for Rigor and Reproducibility in Research | ||
| Research in Biological and Biomedical Sciences | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Project Management & Leadership Pillar | ||
| Digital Health Innovation | ||
| Environmental Crisis Management | ||
| Change Leadership and Systems Improvement | ||
| Leadership in the Workplace | ||
| Applied Project Management: Frameworks, Principles and Techniques | ||
| Implementing Health Informatics Initiatives for Emerging Leaders | ||
| Leadership and Workforce Management Strategies | ||
| Strategic Planning for Public and Non-Profit Organizations | ||
| Management for Information Professionals | ||
| Project Management: Strategy and Applications | ||
| Implementing Health System Innovations in Complex Organizations | ||
| Project Management Principles and Practices | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Implementation Science & Research Translation Pillar | ||
| Specialized Methods in Health Statistics | ||
| Team-based Consulting for Technology Commercialization | ||
| Introduction to Health Policy and Management | ||
| Implementing Health Informatics Initiatives for Emerging Leaders | ||
| Health Policy Analysis and Advocacy for Health Leaders | ||
| Implementation Science in Health | ||
| Information Retrieval | ||
| Healthcare Analytics | ||
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Electives | ||
Course options not used to fulfill the pillar course requirements may be taken as an elective. | ||
| Health Informatics Internship | ||
Milestones:
The following list of milestones (non-course degree requirements) must be completed; view this list of standard milestone definitions for more information.
- Doctoral Committee
- Doctoral Oral Comprehensive Exam
- Doctoral Written Exam
- Prospectus Oral Exam
- Advanced to Candidacy
- Dissertation Defense
- Doctoral Dissertation Approved/Format Accepted
- Residence Credit
- Doctoral Exit Survey
- Doctoral Intradepartmental Review (PhD Checkpoint)
Carolina Health Informatics Program
