The Health Informatics and Bioinformatics program utilizes computer science technology to manage and analyze information in the life and health sciences. Grand Valley State University’s Master of Science degree in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics is designed to integrate university coursework with business and industrial internships to better prepare students for the variety of career paths associated with the life science and health science industries.

The Health Informatics and Bioinformatics M.S. program is part of Grand Rapids’ only Professional Science Master’s (PSM) degree program.

Source: EMSI, 2021

• Innovative. An innovative program designed to integrate university coursework in computer science, business and health industry internships to educate informatics professionals for the future.
• Faculty Research Opportunities. Collaboration with faculty members on ongoing research.
• State-of-the-Art Facilities. Access to a high-performance computing laboratory for health informatics and bioinformatics needs.
• First-rate Faculty. Qualified faculty members with a wide breadth of experience in industry and research.

According to 2021 EMSI Data, West Michigan bioinformatics job seekers should see a 13% growth in job opportunities by 2025. Opportunities in the U.S. are projected to grow by 8%. The median annual wage for these professionals is $86,840 in the U.S. and $72,716 in Michigan. GVSU students who graduate with a degree in health informatics and bioinformatics often hold the following job titles:

• Biologists
• Clinical Systems Analysts
• Programmer Analysts
• Bioinformaticians
• Programmers
• Clinical Scientists
• Clinical Informaticists
• Data Scientists
• Research Analysts
• Developmental Scientists

Source: EMSI 2021

The Skills Employers Want

The M.S. in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics at GVSU will develop the skills you need to land the job you want. Whether the skills are advanced or general, you will build a resume of qualifications that are sure to attract employers. The following skills correlate with those pulled from actual job postings in the health and bioinformatics fields:

Advanced Skills

• R (Programming Language)
• Biology
• Python (Programming Language)
• Data Management
• Data Mining

Source: EMSI, 2020

• Bioinformatics
• Unix
• Oncology
• Data Integration
• DNA Sequencing

Common Skills

• Computer Sciences
• Mathematics
• Research
• Communications
• Presentations

• Data Analytics
• Management
• Creativity
• Operations
• Information Technology

Courses Offered

The Health Informatics and Bioinformatics M.S. P.S.M program is a minimum of 36 credits. The PSM degree programs are interdisciplinary and feature common core courses. The health informatics and bioinformatics program features:

• Directed courses in health informatics and bioinformatics
• An internship
• A culminating capstone experience

Visit the online catalog for course offerings and degree requirements for this program.

Course Offerings

Cost

For more information on tuition and fees, please visit the costs portion of the GVSU Financial Aid website. For financial support, scholarship search, and filing for FAFSA, please visit the GVSU Financial Support website.

Note: Grand Valley does not charge a higher tuition rate based on residency. Tuition is based on the program in which you chose to enroll.

Admission

The M.S. in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics P.S.M. application deadlines are July 1 for the Fall semester, November 1 for the Winter semester, and April 1 for the Spring/Summer semester. The $30 application fee is waived if you’ve already applied to Grand Valley. 

Admission Requirements

Professional Science Master's

Professional Science Master’s degrees are designed in partnership with employers and feature learning in real-world environments. They educate science professionals to meet the STEM workforce demands of the 21st century. Learn more about the Professional Science Master's.

Related Programs

The following programs are similar to this one:

• Applied Statistics, M.S.
• Biostatistics, M.S.
• Cell & Molecular Biology, M.S.
• Data Science and Analytics, M.S.

Use our program comparison tool to compare these programs.

Compare Programs

AMIA Academic Forum

GVSU's Health Informatics and Bioinformatics Program is a member of AMIA's Academic Forum. Learn more about the Academic Forum.