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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Begin your application for this program at www.slu.edu/apply.
All admission policies and requirements for domestic students apply to international students along with the following:
Applications to the program are considered on a rolling basis.
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.
Code | Title | Credits |
---|---|---|
Applied Statistics Courses | ||
HDS 5310 | Analytics and Statistical Programming | 3 |
HDS 5320 | Inferential Modeling | 3 |
HDS 5330 | Predictive Modeling and Machine Learning | 3 |
Practical Computing Courses | ||
HDS 5210 | Programming for Health Data Scientists | 3 |
ORES 5160 | Data Management | 3 |
HDS 5230 | High Performance Computing | 3 |
Health Science Applications Courses | ||
HDS 5130 | Healthcare Organization, Management, and Policy | 3 |
ORES 5300 | Foundations of Outcomes Research I | 3 |
ORES 5210 | Foundations of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment | 3 |
Capstone Experience | ||
HDS 5960 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
Total Credits | 30 |
Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.
Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.
Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.
This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.
Year One | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
Critical course: ORES 5300 | Foundations of Outcomes Research I | 3 |
Critical course: HDS 5310 | Analytics and Statistical Programming | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Critical course: ORES 5210 | Foundations of Medical Diagnosis and Treatment | 3 |
Critical course: HDS 5210 | Programming for Health Data Scientists | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Summer | ||
Critical course: HDS 5320 | Inferential Modeling | 3 |
Credits | 3 | |
Year Two | ||
Fall | ||
Critical course: ORES 5160 | Data Management | 3 |
Critical course: HDS 5330 | Predictive Modeling and Machine Learning | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Spring | ||
Critical course: HDS 5230 | High Performance Computing | 3 |
Critical course: HMP 5000 | Health Care Organization | 3 |
Credits | 6 | |
Summer | ||
Critical course: HDS 5960 | Capstone Experience | 3 |
Credits | 3 | |
Total Credits | 30 |