Health Informatics and Bioinformatics, M.S
Program Overview
- Intersection of healthcare, biology, computer science, information science, and statistics
- Leverages biomedical data, information, and knowledge to support scientific research and healthcare advancements
- Facilitates scientific inquiry, problem-solving, and decision-making, with the goal of improving human health and biological discoveries
- Professional Science Master’s Program
- Combines advanced technical training with professional skills to prepare graduates for leadership roles in healthcare and bioinformatics
Program Overview
Characteristics of this Professional Science Master program include:
- Interdisciplinary studies
- No thesis required
- Involve both the university and its industry partners
- Emphasis on teamwork, problem-solving, communication
- Scientific knowledge and technical skills
- Designed to integrate university coursework with hospital, business, and industrial internships to better prepare students for the variety of career paths associated with the life science and health science industry
Final Internship and Capstone
All HIB students must complete an internship as part of their Professional Science Master's curriculum. More information on finding an internship and getting credit for it is at our PSM website.
Please contact Chris Babbitt, our internship partner coordinator, at [email protected], Professor Holli Reyes, and the Career Center for assistance in resume building, interviewing, and finding an internship.
HIB students will also complete the Health Informatics and Bioinformatics Capstone course (CIS 691).
Other Information
What is the difference between the two concentrations?
Health Informatics
Health Informatics is a field that bridges healthcare and technology, focusing on the efficient management of health data and digital systems to improve patient care and medical decision-making. By integrating data science, information systems, and biomedical research, health informatics enhances healthcare delivery and operational efficiency. Professionals in this field contribute to the development and implementation of electronic health records, clinical decision support systems, and telemedicine platforms, ensuring seamless and secure healthcare processes. As defined by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “health informatics is the interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption, and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services delivery, management, and planning.” (U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d.).
Bioinformatics
Bioinformatics combines biology, computer science, and statistical analysis to interpret complex biological data. It plays a crucial role in fields such as genomics, proteomics, and personalized medicine, where vast amounts of biological information require computational tools for organization and analysis. This discipline supports advancements in medical research, drug discovery, and genetic studies by leveraging machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), “bioinformatics is an interdisciplinary field that develops methods and software tools for understanding biological data, particularly when the data sets are large and complex.” (NCBI, n.d.).
AMIA Academic Forum
GVSU's Health Informatics and Bioinformatics Program is a member of AMIA's Academic Forum. Learn more about the Academic Forum.
Student Achievement Data
The following information represents the most recent program outcome data currently available for the M.S. Health Informatics and Bioinformatics program. The program updates these measures annually as additional cohort outcomes become available.
- Admissions/Enrollment for 2025-2026 entering cohort:
- Applicants: 98
- Students admitted: 68
- Students enrolled: 20
- Enrollment yield: 29%
- Retention rate for 2024-2025 entering cohort:
- Eight students entered the program. The one-year retention rate was 100%
- Retention rate for 2023-2024 entering cohort:
- Forty students entered the program. The one-year retention rate was 92.5%, and the two-year retention rate was 87.5%.
Average time to degree completion: 5 semesters/2.25 years
- Graduation rate for 2023–2024 entering cohort:
- Forty students entered the program. 40% graduated within two years; the three-year graduation rate is not yet available.
- Graduation rate for 2022-2023 entering cohort:
- Thirty-eight students entered the program. 31.6% graduated within two years, and 81.6% graduated within three years.
Seventeen of the graduating cohort of 2024-2025 responded to a survey on employment after the program. 76.47% were employed at the time.