Health Data Science Concentration
Course Information
In addition to the existing core and elective courses in the Master of Science or PhD programs, the Health Data Science concentration features four core courses and five elective courses. Some of these courses are part of the current Master of Science program courses and some are new courses designed specifically for the Health Data Science concentration. One of the four core courses replace required courses for the traditional MS degree (BIOS 653: Applied Statistics III – Longitudinal Data Analysis).
Featured core courses in the Health Data Science concentration
| FIRST TERM OFFERED | COURSE CODE AND TITLE |
|---|---|
| Fall Year One | BIOS 625 Computing with Big Data |
| Winter Year One | BIOS 620 Introduction to Health Data Science |
| Winter Year Two | BIOS 629 Case Studies in Health Big Data |
| Winter Year Two | BIOS 699 Analysis of Biostatistical Investigations |
Additional core courses can be found here.
Featured elective courses in the Health Data Science concentration
| FIRST TERM OFFERED | COURSE CODE AND TITLE |
|---|---|
| Fall Year One | BIOS 607 Computing for Data Analytics |
| Fall Year One | BIOS 615 Statistical Computing |
| Winter Year One | BIOS 617 Theory and Methods of Sample Design |
| Fall Year Two | BIOS 619 Clinical Trials |
| Fall Year Two | BIOS 653 Longitudinal Data Analysis |
| Winter Year Two | BIOS 626 Machine Learning for Health Sciences |
Students' computing skills will be assessed for election of courses from the Health Data Science concentration and other degree core/elective courses. First-year MS students in Biostatistics can access information and advice from the department and faculty to plan their sequence of course selections. Ongoing PhD students are able to complete this concentration. If they choose this route, some additional coursework is needed in order to meet the requirements of both the PhD and the HDS concentration.
HDS students must complete for their capstone courses (i) all four credits of BIOSTAT 699 and (ii) BIOSTAT 629 (1-2 credits). Biostat 629 will correspond to one or two comprehensive projects on mobile health, electronic health records, imaging data, omics data, etc.
Tables I and II below present two examples of course selections for a student with modest computing skills (e.g. having little knowledge of R programming) and for a student with strong computing skills (e.g. having extensive knowledge and experience in R, C++ and Python programming), respectively.
BIOS 607 is designed to prepare students with computing skills. In this way the Health Data Science concentration is more flexible and inclusive as a professional training program for workforce in health data analytics.
Table I. A possible sequence of course selections by an incoming MS student with modest computing skills, who begins with the three modules of BIOS 607.
| Semester | 1st Fall | 1st Winter | 2nd Fall | 2nd Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | BIOS 601 (4) | BIOS 602 (4) | BIOS 615 (3) | BIOS 699 (4), BIOS 629 (1-2) |
| BIOS 650 (4) | BIOS 651 (3) | BIOS 625 (3) | BIOS 626 (3) | |
| BIOS 607 (3) | BIOS 620 (3) | BIOS 619 (3) | Elective/Open Elective (3) | |
| Epid/Open Elective (3) | BIOS 617 (3) | Elective/Open Elective (3) | ||
| Credit Hours | 14 | 13 | 12 | 10 |
| Cumulative Credit Hours | 14 | 27 | 39 | 49 |
Table II. A possible sequence of course selections by a first-year MS student with strong computing skills, who does not take BIOSTAT 607 but begins with BIOSTAT 625.
| Semester | 1st Fall | 1st Winter | 2nd Fall | 2nd Winter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courses | BIOS 601 (4) | BIOS 602 (4) | BIOS 615 (3) | BIOS 699 (4), BIOS 629 (1-2) |
| BIOS 650 (4) | BIOS 651 (3) | BIOS 619 (3) | BIOS 626 (3) | |
| BIOS 625 (3) | BIOS 620 (3) | Elective/Open Elective (3) | Elective/Open Elective (3) | |
| BIOS 617 (3) | Epid/Open Elective (3) | Elective/Open Elective (3) | ||
| Credit Hours | 11 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
| Cumulative Credit Hours | 11 | 24 | 36 | 49 |
Note that there is one course (BIOS 653) not included in the curriculum of the Health Data Science concentration that is required by the PhD qualifying exams. Students interested in pursuing a PhD should take 653 in place of an elective the 2nd fall semester. Students already in the PhD program should take BIOS 653 for their qualifying exams.
Admissions Information
Students must be admitted to the Master of Science or PhD program in the University of Michigan School of Public Health's Department of Biostatistics. Once admitted, students will declare their intention to pursue the Health Data Science concentration at the end of their first year, by the end of May.
Have Questions?
For more information about the Health Data Science concentration, contact one of our graduate program coordinators.
Fatma Nedjari
Phone: 734-615-9812
Email: fned@umich.edu
Nicole Fenech
Phone: 734-615-9817
Email: fenechn@umich.edu
How/when do I apply for this program?
The Health Data Science concentration is not an option in the MS application, and thus there is no application procedure. Interested students should simply declare their intention to complete the Health Data Science concentration by May before their first (Fall) semester at Michigan Public Health by notifying a graduate program coordinator (Fatma Nedjari or Nicole Fenech). Students are encouraged to consult with their academic adviser about Health Data Science course selection.
Will I get in? Is there a cap? Am I automatically in? Are there more prerequisites?
There is no screening or selection procedure. This concentration program is open to all incoming Biostatistics MS students and operated as an automatic enrollment option. Interested students are encouraged to make a decision as soon as they arrive in their first Fall semester since the concentration courses are spread out over two years. As a specific track within the MS program, all Health Data Science courses require the same prerequisites as those in the core courses in the MS program.
When will I know if I get in the concentration program?
You may either notify a graduate program coordinator about your desire to pursue the Health Data Science subplan immediately after you decide to accept your admission offer to the Biostatistics MS program or in the beginning of your first Fall semester. At the stage of enrollment, simply follow the courses required by the Health Data Science concentration.
I have been admitted directly from a bachelor's degree program to the PhD program (or I definitely want to do the PhD program). Am I eligible for this Health Data Science concentration?
Yes, although masters' students interested in applying for the PhD program must be sure to include BIOS 653 (Theory and Application of Longitudinal Data Analysis) in their coursework.