The Master of Science in Health Informatics is designed to provide specialized training in the informatics aspects of health, information science and technology, and social and behavioral science, as delineated in the foundational domains of the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). A particular emphasis is placed on health information science and technology to help train the workforce to meet the expanding need for experts in this area.
Upon completion of this program, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate basic proficiency in understanding the theories and methods of social and behavioral science applicable to health informatics.
- Demonstrate advanced knowledge of the concepts, methods, tools, and current challenges of health informatics.
- Demonstrate the mastery of computerized tools of information science and technology applied to health.
- Integrate the concepts, methods, and tools of social, behavioral, information science and technology to evaluate, design, and implement solutions to health informatics problems.
- Employ effective collaborative leadership, ethical principles, and professional practices to motivate system thinking and a team approach to solving complex health informatics problems.
This program accommodates both full-time and part-time students. A minimum of 33 credits is required to graduate from the program. The courses in the program will lead to a generalist degree in health informatics. Courses will be taught by academic and industry experts in the field. The flexible curriculum design as well as a rolling admission, will allow a full-time student to graduate in no more than 4 semesters. A typical part-time student will take approximately 6 semesters to complete the program. Any student with a bachelor’s degree in any field can apply for this program, especially students with a background in health information management.
Public Health Informatics Track
The Public Health Informatics track addresses the critical need for professionals trained in leveraging data for public health decision-making. With ongoing challenges such as infectious disease outbreaks, environmental health risks, and health disparities, there is a growing demand for interdisciplinary expertise that combines epidemiology, data analytics, and digital health technologies.
This track equips students with essential competencies in public health promotion, geospatial analytics, biostatistics, and data visualization. Courses such as HI 510 (Public Health Systems) and HI 580 (Geospatial & Digital Health Analytics) emphasize policy evaluation and the use of digital tools to inform public health strategy. DA 506 (Visual Analytics ond Communication) and NUR 655 (Biostatistics and Epidemiology) provide foundational skills in data interpretation and communication, preparing students for roles in healthcare, government, and public health research.
Data Analytics Track
The Data Analytics track responds to the expanding volume and complexity of health data-spanning clinical records, genomics, and social determinants of health—by preparing students to use advanced analytical methods, artificial intefligence, and knowledge discovery tools to transform data into actionable insights.
This track offers hands-on experience with Al-driven informatics, data fusion, and clinical insights through courses like HI 560 (Applied Al in Health Informatics), HI 570 (Data Fusion in Health Informatics), and Hi 640 (Clinical Knowledge Discovery). Students gain practical skills in data integration, predictive modeling, and semantic reasoning. DA 504 (Data Analytics Tools) ensures proficiency in widely used platforms and programming languages, such as Python.
Clinical Informatics Track
The Clinical Informatics track is designed to meet the growing demand for informatics professionals in clinical settings, as health systems increasingly adopt digital technologies to improve patient outcomes. This track bridges technical knowledge with clinical applications, emphasizing human-technology interaction, quality improvement, and decision support.
Interaction in Health Care) and HI 500 (Quality improvement in Health Care) focus on Improving workflows and patient care. HI 630 (Clinical Decision Support) and Hl 640 (Clinical Knowledge Discovery) provide training in developing intelligent systems and applying clinical ontologies for actionable insights.
Option 1
Core
- HI 501 Health Care Informatics (3)
- HI 509 Legal Issues in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 530 Computational Informatics (3)
- HI 550 Information Security in Health informatics (3)
- HI 610 Databases in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 699 Health Informatics Practicum/Project (3)
Additional Courses
- TIM 500 Project Management (3)
- HI 520 Standardized Code Sets and Medical Terminologies (3)
- HI 540 Human-Technology Interaction in Health Care (3)
- HI 600 Quality Improvement in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 620 Health Information Governance (3)
TOTAL 33 Credits
Option 2
Clinical Informatics Track
Core
- HI 501 Health Care Informatics (3)
- HI 509 Legal Issues in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 530 Computational Informatics (3)
- HI 550 Information Security in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 610 Databases in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 699 Health Informatics Practicum/Project (3)
Track Courses
- HI 540 Human-Technology interaction in Health Care (3)
- HI 600 Quality Improvement in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 630 Clinical Decision Support Systems (3) *
- HI 640 Clinical Knowledge Discovery (3) *
- One Graduate Elective Course (3)*
TOTAL 33 Credits
Option 3
Public Health informatics Track
Core
- HI 501 Health Care Informatics (3)
- HI 509 Legal Issues in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 530 Computational informatics (3)
- HI 550 Information Security in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 610 Databases in Health Informatics (3)
- HI 699 Health Informatics Practicum/Project (3)
Track Courses
- DSA 506 Visual Analytics and Communication (3) *
- HI 510 Public Health Systems (3)
- HI 580 Geospatial & Digital Health Analytics (3) *
- NUR 655 Biostatistics and Epidemiology (3) *
- One Graduate Elective Course (3)
TOTAL 33
*New Courses to the Program: All listed courses are either currently offered at SUNY Poly or have been approved by the SUNY Poly Graduate Council. Elective courses may be selected from any SUNY Poly graduate program or transferred in, SUNY Poly’s graduate residency requirement of 27 credits remains in effect. Students will continue to be admitted into the existing program (Option 1), and choosing a track is optional. DA 504 and DSA 506 are not new courses; they are part of the existing Data Science and Analytics program. Similarly, NUR 655 is an existing course within the Nursing program.