Master of Science in Health Sciences Informatics- Research Program

Applications for the 2025-2026 academic year will be accepted from September 1, 2024 through February 15, 2025. Our admission for this program is on a rolling basis. Hence, students should submit their applications as soon as they are ready, up to the February 15 deadline. Please note that this program is eligible for F-1 sponsorship.

(The application is made available through the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine here.)

About the Program

Health sciences informatics research involves innovations for the health sciences (basic, clinical, nursing, public health, and librarianship) in the understanding of information needs, the design and creation of information technologies, the deployment of information solutions, and the evaluation of information management. 

The approach at Johns Hopkins is interdisciplinary. Although housed in the School of Medicine, the training program partners with all schools in the health sciences and throughout Hopkins.

The program invites applicants from a range of disciplines including public health, clinical care, the nursing sciences and biology, as well as from cognate fields such as computer, library and information sciences.

Objectives

The two year Program begins in late August and has the following goals for its students:

  • To achieve a level of competency in health sciences informatics that generalizes across domains of application
  • To develop proficiency in public health informatics
  • To increase knowledge of fields related to health sciences informatics such as computer science, biostatistics, and evaluation methodology
  • To observe and participate in collaborative research and development activities in public health informatics
  • To make a contribution to the field of informatics by completing a research project

The Curriculum

See the full list of classes and breakdown of the curriculum. The coursework and seminars provide a knowledge base that may be applied across the range of health sciences informatics applications. Didactics include a Core Curriculum in Health Sciences Informatics (Introduction; Leadership and Evaluation; Clinical Informatics; Design to Deployment; Standards and Interoperability; and Knowledge Engineering and Decision support), as well as selectives (e.g., methodology), electives, and two weekly seminars.

Optional practica provide students with the opportunity to see informatics and information technology in action as well as to inform their own research projects. These rotations may take place within the university or with outside partners in the fields of business and government, or with non-profit organizations.

Independent Research comprises 50 percent of student effort in the program and should result in a contribution to the peer-reviewed academic informatics literature.

There are no clinical responsibilities associated with this program.

Application Requirements

Applicants with the following degrees and qualifications will be considered:

  • BA or BS, or
  • BA or BS, and a minimum of five years professional experience in a relevant field, or
  • MA, MLS, MD or PhD, with no further requirements.

"Relevant fields" include public health, medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, nursing, ancillary therapies, librarianship, biomedical science and computer and information science.

This program does not require the GRE. 

The Application Process

Applications for the class entering in 2025 will be accepted through February 15, 2025.

Please note that paper applications are no longer accepted.  The supporting documents listed below must be received by the SOM admissions office by February 15, 2025, Office of Graduate Student Affairs, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1830 E. Monument Street, Suite 620, Baltimore, MD 21287. Applications will not be reviewed until they are complete and we have all supporting letters and documentation.

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • Official transcript of school record
  • Certification of terminal degree
  • You may also submit a portfolio of published research, or samples of website or system development to support your application if you wish.

Personal Interview

Short-listed candidates will be invited for a virtual interview with the Program Director and other appropriate members of faculty to discuss career goals and assess the applicant's scholastic abilities and personal qualities.

Notification

Applicants will be notified of admissions decisions by April 15, 2025.

It is the policy of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine to require criminal background investigations on prospective students in any professional or graduate program at the School of Medicine, interns, residents and clinical fellows in any Graduate Medical Education program sponsored by Johns Hopkins, and other clinical and research postdoctoral fellows at the School of Medicine.

The Johns Hopkins University and The Johns Hopkins Health System do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or veteran status in any student program or activity administered by the university or with regard to admissions or employment. Defense Department discrimination in ROTC programs on the basis of sexual orientation conflicts with this university policy. The university is committed to encouraging a change in the Defense Department policy.

Important Transcript Information

Transcripts can be uploaded to the online application for review. Official transcripts will be required for applicants who receive an offer or accept an offer of admission. Official transcripts from accepted applicants should be directed to the Office of Graduate Student Affairs and gradadmissions@jhmi.edu.

The Curriculum

See the full list of classes and breakdown of the curriculum.

PLEASE NOTE THE DROP/ADD DATES AND WITHDRAWAL DATES FOR THE 2024/25 ACADEMIC YEAR ARE LISTED HERE.