Health Informatics (MS)
As of Fall 2026, this program is no longer accepting applicants.
Create data-driven solutions to improve patient care.
With the abundance of data, particularly in health care, a Master of Science (MS) in Health Informatics & Data Science from Loyola University Chicago's Parkinson School of Health Sciences and Public Health will prepare students to understand how to use data to improve patient care and population health. Learn how to unlock the power of data through a wealth of career paths such as: Healthcare Data Analyst or Informaticist.
In our 100% online program, you will access real-world data through an internship or capstone project. Become a part of the new health care workforce trained in informatics and data science to improve outcomes and delivery, minimize health inequities, and achieve better care.
The Health Informatics (MS) also offers an Accelerated Master's Pathway for Undergraduate students to complete their Graduate studies in a fifth year. Further details of the AMP, including the suggested sequence of courses, can be found under the Curriculum tab.
Related Programs
Curriculum
Loyola's MS in Health Informatics is a two-year, 100% online program, with full- and part-time options available. You will start with foundational courses in health care informatics and data science, then hone in on your interests with elective courses. The program concludes with a capstone project and/or internship.
The program is 33 credit hours with a capstone project.
Besides the traditional Master's program, the Health Informatics (MS) is also offered as an Accelerated Master's Pathway where exceptional students can complete the program in a fifth year. A suggested sequence for the AMP can be found below.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Foundational Courses | ||
| HIDS 401 | Foundations of Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIDS 405 | Data Wrangling for Analytics | 3 |
| HIDS 408 | Building Trust in Scientific Health Communication | 3 |
| HIDS 412 | Translational Bioinformatics | 3 |
| HIDS 421 | Security and Privacy in Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 422 | Ontologies in Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 424 | Spatial Data Science in Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 441 | Human Centered AI for Healthcare | 3 |
| Data Analysis Courses | ||
| HIDS 411 | Clinical Data Science | 3 |
| MPBH 409 | Biostatistics I | 3 |
| Capstone | ||
| HIDS 499 | Health Informatics Capstone (Taken twice) | 3 |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Capstone Project/Internship
One semester capstone project.
Suggested Sequence of Courses
Traditional Master's Program
The below sequence of courses is meant to be used as a suggested path for completing coursework. An individual student’s completion of requirements depends on course offerings in a given term as well as the start term for a major or graduate study. Students should consult their advisor for assistance with course selection.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| HIDS 401 | Foundations of Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIDS 405 | Data Wrangling for Analytics | 3 |
| HIDS 411 | Clinical Data Science | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIDS 412 | Translational Bioinformatics | 3 |
| HIDS 422 | Ontologies in Healthcare | 3 |
| MPBH 409 | Biostatistics I | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Summer | ||
| HIDS 408 | Building Trust in Scientific Health Communication | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| HIDS 421 | Security and Privacy in Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 441 | Human Centered AI for Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 499 | Health Informatics Capstone | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIDS 424 | Spatial Data Science in Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 499 | Health Informatics Capstone | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Accelerated Master's Pathway
Students can take up to 15 credit hours in the senior year with admission to the AMP. These credits are shared between the Bachelor's and Master's programs.
| Senior | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | |
| HIDS 401 | Foundations of Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIDS 411 | Clinical Data Science | 3 |
| HIDS 421 | Security and Privacy in Healthcare | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Spring | ||
| HIDS 412 | Translational Bioinformatics | 3 |
| HIDS 422 | Ontologies in Healthcare | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Master's | ||
| Summer | ||
| HIDS 408 | Building Trust in Scientific Health Communication | 3 |
| Hours | 3 | |
| Fall | ||
| HIDS 405 | Data Wrangling for Analytics | 3 |
| HIDS 441 | Human Centered AI for Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 499 | Health Informatics Capstone | 3 |
| Hours | 6 | |
| Spring | ||
| MPBH 409 | Biostatistics I | 3 |
| HIDS 424 | Spatial Data Science in Healthcare | 3 |
| HIDS 499 | Health Informatics Capstone | 3 |
| Hours | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 33 | |
Guidelines for Accelerated Master's Pathways
In Accelerated Master’s Pathways, students share limited, authorized credits between their Undergraduate and Graduate degrees to facilitate completion of both degrees in a shorter amount of time. Shared credits are Graduate level credit hours (400-level or higher) taken during the Undergraduate career and then applied both to the Undergraduate degree and towards Graduate program requirements.
Admission and Matriculation
Accelerated Master's Pathways are designed to enhance opportunities for advanced training for Loyola’s Undergraduates. Admission to these programs is competitive and will depend upon a positive review of credentials by the Graduate program. Accordingly, the admission requirements for these programs may be higher than those required if the Master’s degree were pursued entirely after the receipt of a Bachelor’s degree.
Students enrolled in an Accelerated Master's Pathway who choose not to continue to the Master’s degree program upon completion of the Bachelor’s degree will face no consequences.
Ideally, a student will apply for admission to an AMP program as they approach 90 credit hours in their Undergraduate career.
Students will not officially matriculate into the Master’s degree program and be labeled as a Graduate student by the university, with accompanying changes to tuition and Financial Aid (see below), until the Undergraduate degree has been awarded. Once admitted to the Graduate program, students must meet the academic standing requirements of their Graduate program as they complete the program curriculum.
Advising and Registration
Students in their final Undergraduate year will work with Advising in the home School of their Bachelor's program(s), as well as the Graduate Program Director of the Master’s program. Any 400-level or higher courses that the student plans to enroll in should be reviewed by both advisors to ensure that these courses will complete requirements for both degrees.
Registration in Graduate level courses during the Undergraduate year may require assistance from the Graduate Program Director and/or the student’s current academic advisor to enroll.
Shared Credits
Only courses taken at the 400-level or higher will count toward the Graduate program. At the Undergraduate level, students are restricted to enrolling in and sharing up to the number of Graduate level credits explicitly indicated in the catalog for their selected AMP program.
In general, Graduate level coursework should not be taken prior to admission into the Accelerated Master's Pathway. Exceptions may be granted for professional programs where curriculum for the Accelerated Master's Pathway is designed to begin earlier. On the recommendation of the program’s Graduate Program Director, students may take one of their Graduate level courses before they are admitted to the Accelerated Master’s Pathway if they have advanced abilities in their discipline and course offerings warrant such an exception.
Degree Requirements and Conferral
Undergraduate degree requirements are in no way impacted by admission to an Accelerated Master’s Pathway. Students should not, for example, attempt to negotiate themselves out of a writing intensive requirement on the basis of admission to a Graduate program.
The program’s Graduate Program Director will designate credit hours to be shared through the advising form and Master’s degree conferral review process. Graduate credit hours taken during the Undergraduate career will not be included in the Graduate GPA calculation.
If students wish to transfer credits from another university to Loyola University Chicago, the program’s Graduate Program Director will review the relevant syllabus or syllabi to determine whether it meets the criteria for a 400-level course or higher.
Programs with specialized accreditation requirements that allow programs to offer Graduate curriculum to Undergraduate students will conform to those specialized accreditation requirements.
Degrees are awarded sequentially. All details of Undergraduate commencement are handled in the ordinary way as for all students in the School/College/Institute. Once matriculated in the Graduate program, students abide by the graduation deadlines set forth by the Graduate program. Students in these programs must be continuously enrolled from Undergraduate to Graduate degree program unless given explicit permission by their program for a gap year or approved leave of absence. In offering the option of an Accelerated Master’s Pathway, the university is making possible the acceleration of a student’s Graduate degree completion. It should be understood that students may not request deferral of their matriculation into the Master’s degree program. If students would like to delay their Graduate studies after earning the Undergraduate degree, they may apply for admission to the traditional Master’s degree program. Any application of Graduate credit earned while in the Undergraduate program is subject to the policies of the Graduate degree granting school.
Graduate & Professional Standards and Regulations
Students in graduate and professional programs can find their Academic Policies in Graduate and Professional Academic Standards and Regulations under their school. Any additional University Policies supersede school policies.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply key health data science concepts to evaluate complexities within the U.S. healthcare and global public health systems with a strong emphasis on ethical consideration.
- Apply advanced computational techniques such as AI and Machine Learning to augment health information analyses and meet the needs of stakeholders in the healthcare system.
- Assess generative AI tools, health data quality, security, privacy, and informatics ethics, as well as effective strategies for data governance, evaluation, management, and workflow.
- Utilize ensemble databases to address real-world health challenges and for strategic problem-solving approaches.
- Apply theoretical, analytical, ethical, and communication skills to interpret and present health data effectively, using effective visualizations and other data presentation techniques to address complex healthcare challenges.