Health Data Science, M.S.

Saint Louis University's Master of Science program in health data science is designed to prepare students for a career in today's data-driven health care industry. Successful data scientists possess an artful ability to blend, synthesize and communicate data for use in clinical decisions by patients and providers, as well as advancing quality improvement efforts across health systems.

SLU's health data science curriculum and academic training complement other existing programs and course offerings at Saint Louis University, including health informatics (Doisy College of Health Sciences), biostatistics (College for Public Health and Social Justice), and biomedical informatics and computational biology (College of Arts and Sciences). Students will have the opportunity to take courses from each of these programs.

Curriculum Overview

The goal of SLU's M.S. in health data science program is to provide graduates with the expertise and necessary skills needed to manage, manipulate and analyze large-scale clinical and operational databases. Most core courses are offered onsite during hours convenient for working professionals. Some core and elective courses are available through Saint Louis University's Center for Health Outcomes Research’s established online graduate programs. The program may be completed on a full-time or part-time basis.

Students complete 30 credits of coursework across three integrated areas of study:

Applied Statistics

Build capabilities to ask critical questions and draw conclusions from large, complex data with a variety of analytic methods, including predictive modeling, machine learning and data visualization. The program incorporates new software regularly to promote sharp and current analytic skills.

Practical Computing

Learn a diverse set of open source and proprietary software required to link data from disparate sources such as electronic medical records, insurance claims, operations data, patient registries and personal health devices. This software includes R, Python, SAS, SQL and Hadoop.

Health Science Applications

Respond to the challenges of a regulated, dynamic industry by understanding unique health care contexts such as privacy protection, government financing, risk contracting, performance monitoring and population health management.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

The Master of Science (M.S.) in Health Data Science program offered by the Center for Health Outcomes Research provides traditional students and working professionals with the expertise and hands-on skills needed to meet this increasing demand in the health care systems. Focus is placed on highly sought-after skills in health data manipulation, data visualization, data mining, machine learning and predictive analytics.

Students build programming skills in R, SAS, SQL and Python; as well as gain experience working with advanced computing tools such as Hadoop and MapReduce. This program capitalizes on the existing teaching and research strengths of current SLUCOR faculty, most of whom have experience in the corporate world, in addition to academia.

Careers

After graduating with an M.S. in health data science from SLU, students will be prepared for a career as a data scientist. Data scientists blend, synthesize and communicate data for use in clinical decisions by patients and providers and are able to advance quality improvement efforts across health systems.

Admission Requirements

Application Requirements

Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply.

• Application form and fee
• Transcripts from most recent degree(s)
• Professional statement
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation

Requirements for International Students

All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:

• Demonstrate English Language Proficiency
• Proof of financial support must include:
  • A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University
  • A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University
• Academic records, in English translation, of students who have undertaken postsecondary studies outside the United States must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application Deadline

Applications to the program are considered on a rolling basis.

Apply Now

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, applicants should complete their applications by Feb. 1. 

For more information, visit the student financial services office online at http://finaid.slu.edu.