Health informatics covers the organization and management of information in the areas of patient care, research and administration. It focuses on the structuring of health data and knowledge to support data analysis and decision making in medicine and health care with the use of information systems. It covers a wide spectrum of applications, from computer-based patient records in general practices and hospitals to electronic communication between health care providers, from signal analysis and image processing to decision support systems. Effective delivery of health care requires correct decision making on proper management of health information.
The MSHI program has two tracks: bioinformatics (handled by the Department of Physical Sciences and Mathematics) and medical informatics (handled by Medical Informatics Unit).
Objectives
The program is designed to endow prospective leaders in health informatics with solid competencies in health informatics such that the at the end of the program, the student will be able to:
- demonstrate the application of informatics concepts, skills and principles for the efficient solution of health informatics problems;
- introduce perspectives in health informatics that can be used in the critical study of all levels of health information systems;
- plan, undertake, evaluate, and monitor health informatics research projects; and
- deliver technical services to health professionals and agencies for both public and private sectors concerned with management of information which could be the bases for health policy formulation, thereby providing leadership and excellence in health informatics
Admission Requirements
- Applicant must have at least a baccalaureate degree in computer science, biochemistry, molecular biology, engineering, information sciences, medicine or allied health professions. Graduates from other disciplines may be considered but should have experience working in the health sciences field and be particularly interested in health applications.
- Applicant must have good scholastic record from university/institution of higher learning and possess good scholastic ability.
- Applicant must pass a validating examination in computer programming and data structures. Prospective students may opt to take its undergraduate equivalent (CMSC 110) in the department.
- Applicant must have high scholastic ability and potential for postgraduate studies.
- Applicant must have the capability for self-directed learning.
- Applicant must submit the duly accomplished application form (available at the National Graduate Office for the Health Sciences) together with the following documents:
- original copy of the official transcript of records
- 2 recommendations from former professors, supervisors or employers (form included in the application packet)
- receipt of processing fee paid at the UPM cashier’s office
- certified true copy of the college diploma with the seal of the university and the signature of the registrar in ink
- 4 passport-size photos
- For foreign applicants, additional requirements include:
- affidavit of support or certificate of financial capability
- TOEFL score of 500 (if English is not the medium of instruction in the country of origin)
- photocopy of his/her passport (original to be be presented for verifications)
- student visa issued by the Philippine government
Graduation Requirements
MS Health Informatics in Bioinformatics
- Be in residence for at least one full academic year immediately prior to the awarding of the degree
- Have completed a minimum of 32 units of formal courses (13 units of core courses, 13 units of major and 3 elective courses)
- Have a weighted average of 2.0 or better in the major/required courses
- Have successfully defended a master’s thesis
Master of Health Informatics in Bioinformatics
- Be in residence for at least one full academic year immediately prior to the awarding of the degree
- Have completed a minimum of 38 units of formal courses (13 units of core courses, 13 units of major and 6 elective courses)
- Have a weighted average of 2.0 or better, provided there is no grade of 5.0 in any of the courses
- Have passed the master’s comprehensive examination
Course Requirements
Core Courses
- HI 201 (Overview of Health Informatics)
- HI 210 (Systems Analysis and Design)
- HI 271 (Ethical and Social Issues in Health Informatics)
- HI 298 (Graduate Seminar in Health Informatics)
- HI 299 (Research Methods in Health Informatics)
Major Courses
- BNF 201 (Fundamentals of Bioinformatics)
- BNF 216 (Data Modeling and Design in Bioinformatics)
- BNF 231 (Architecture, Dynamics and Structure of Nucleic Acids and Proteins)
- BNF 240 (Representations and Algorithms in Bioinformatics)
- BNF 241 (Stochastic Models in Bioinformatics)
Electives
- BNF 232 (Macromolecular Modeling and Chemoinformatics)
- BNF 233 (Analytical Methods in Bioinformatics)
- BNF 234 (Computational Systems Biology)
- BNF 242 (Decision Theory in Bioinformatics)
- BNF 250 (Business Aspects in Bioinformatics)
- BNF 260 (Bioinformatics in Clinical Practice)
- BNF 295 (Special Topics in Bioinformatics)
- MI 227 (Clinical and Laboratory Information Systems)
- MI 238 (Internet Technologies in Medical Practice)
- MI 295 (Special Topics in Medical Informatics)
Thesis
- BNF 300 (Master’s Thesis)