Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Health Data Analytics, MS

Driven by federal requirements and the demand to improve the quality of healthcare delivery in the United States, the healthcare industry generates and stores massive amounts of electronic data related to patient care, compliance, regulatory and billing requirements, and medical research. In addition, the data includes a wide range of data types and display formats that must be managed and analyzed quickly and effectively to facilitate critical decision making for both individuals and health care delivery organizations. The opportunity to improve health care quality, lower costs and accelerate research collaboration lies in the hands of those capable of synthesizing and analyzing massive data sets to extract the insights necessary for informed decision-making.

The health data analytics concentration (an intensive interdisciplinary program that blends course work in healthcare administration, data science and computational modeling) prepares graduates to assume leadership roles in this emerging discipline. In this 30 credit online program, which can be completed in less than two years, students will develop a broad understanding of the various methods, software tools and topical expertise needed to discover meaningful patterns in health-related data and effectively communicate the implications.

Interdisciplinary Studies master’s degrees

The interdisciplinary studies program offers students a high degree of flexibility in designing a program of study that cuts across disciplinary boundaries. Applicants to the master’s program can pursue one of two approaches — either a self-styled plan or a recognized concentration. Under a self-styled plan, students design a program to address a particular intellectual interest or study a multidisciplinary issue that combines existing courses from any graduate area of the university. Applicants should contact the Graduate School to discuss their intention to seek a self-styled plan. A recognized concentration provides more structure in the courses taken and is built around a defined interdisciplinary theme. For either approach, the degree awarded upon completion of the program is a Master of Arts or Master of Science with a major in interdisciplinary studies.

General requirements

In the self-styled approach, either the Master of Science or the Master of Arts degree program must include two separate fields of study with at least 6 hours in each field for a maximum of 24 hours between the two fields. INSD 5110 and INSD 5940 (for the MA) or INSD 5941 (for the MS) are also required for the self-styled degree. A faculty advisory committee may be formed to help the student develop the degree plan and supervise progress.

For those pursuing the self-styled degree, only STEM-based fields of study will be possible for the MS degree; either STEM or non-STEM-based fields of study are permissible for the MA.

Students may choose the non-thesis option and complete at least 30 semester hours for a Master of Arts or Master of Science. The thesis option requires 24 semester hours plus 6 hours of thesis, for a total of 30 hours.

For any non-thesis degree, the student will successfully complete a capstone seminar.

Admission requirements

Applicants for admission to the degree in interdisciplinary studies must submit the following:

A completed Graduate School application form.
Transcripts from all colleges attended.
A non-refundable application fee.
A current resume or curriculum vitae.
Two letters of recommendation.

After students are accepted into the program, but before they can begin taking classes, they will work with an academic advisor in the Toulouse Graduate School, the director of a concentration (if applicable) and the faculty advisory committee to develop a plan of study for the interdisciplinary program.

Applicants seeking admission to the recognized concentrations should consult with the concentration’s director for concentration specific admission requirements.

University Courses (UCRS)

University courses are interdisciplinary in nature and are available to students working toward the master’s degree with the interdisciplinary major.

Concentrations

Students pursuing the master’s in interdisciplinary studies additionally may request admission to one of the available concentration programs.

Health data analytics requirements, 12 hours

Students will take 12 credit hours from the following courses in health services administration, with INSD 5940 or HLSV 5940 taken during their final semester:

Applied data science core, 12 hours

Students will take the following courses as part of their applied data science core:

Electives, 6 hours

Students will work with the program advisor to identify a specialization field. These courses must be approved by the program coordinator and the department in which the courses are located.