What Are the Courses in a Biomedical Informatics Degree Program?

<p>The biomedical informatics field involves solving problems regarding the collection, storage and optimal use of biological and medical information. This complex discipline requires familiarity with biology, medicine and computer science, so biomedical informatics degree programs are primarily available at the master's and doctoral degree levels. Graduate students may focus on bioinformatics, clinical informatics or public health informatics. </p> <h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutBiomedicalInformatics">Important Facts About Biomedical Informatics</h3> <p /> <table border="1"><tr><td> Possible Careers </td><td> Clinical systems analyst, chief medical officer, account representative, nursing informatics specialist</td></tr> <tr><td> Programs </td><td> Research internships and fellowships are available at the graduate level.</td></tr> <tr><td> Specializations </td><td> At the master's level, specializations in areas like bioinformatics, clinical informatics, knowledge discovery, and population health informatics are available. At the doctoral level, specializations in healthcare management, patient care, and nanomedicine are available.</td></tr> <tr><td> Degree Levels </td><td> Graduate certificates in biomedical informatics and associate degrees in medical informatics are also available.</td></tr> <tr><td>Median Salary (2021)</td><td>$101,340 <i>(Medical and Health Services Managers)</i>*</td></tr> <tr><td>Job Outlook (2021-2031)</td><td>28% <i>(Medical and Health Services Managers)</i>*</td></tr> </table><p><i>Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)</i> </p> <h3 id="section---CoreCourseOptions">Core Course Options</h3> <p>Core courses will typically cover areas such as biomedical informatics fundamentals, statistics and probability, computer science, biomedicine, and research law and ethics. Some schools offer online courses. </p> <h3 id="section---BiomedicalInformaticsFundamentals">Biomedical Informatics Fundamentals</h3> <p>This course explores the use of information technology in the fields of biology and medicine. Students in these courses typically learn about: </p> <ul><li>Biomedical system modeling </li><li>Designing information systems and biomedical software </li><li>Algorithms and representations for molecular biology </li></ul><h3 id="section---StatisticsAndProbability">Statistics and Probability</h3> <p>Students in graduate biomedical informatics degree programs must have a firm grasp of decision science, probability theory and statistics so that they can effectively test hypotheses using biomedical data. Both master's and doctoral degree students in this field may take core courses that cover the following topics: </p> <ul><li>Bayesian statistics and probability theory </li><li>Machine learning and data mining </li><li>Experimental design and decision analysis </li></ul><h3 id="section---ComputerScience">Computer Science</h3> <p>In order to optimize the use of biomedical data, biomedical informatics students learn to create software programs and databases. M.S in Biomedical Informatics and Biomedical Informatics Ph.D. students must demonstrate knowledge in the following areas: </p> <ul><li>Algorithms and data structures </li><li>Programming and data architecture </li><li>Artificial intelligence </li></ul><h3 id="section---Biomedicine">Biomedicine</h3> <p>Students pursuing biomedical informatics degrees, especially those with bachelor's degrees in computer science, engineering or information systems need to take core courses that cover: </p> <ul><li>Biology and immunology </li><li>Biochemistry or molecular biology </li><li>Laboratory methods </li></ul><h3 id="section---ResearchLawAndEthics">Research Law and Ethics</h3> <p>Core biomedical informatics courses in law and ethics expose students to the societal implications of their research. They typically include case study analysis and discussion of issues like these: </p> <ul><li>Confidentiality and privacy </li><li>Public policy </li><li>Management and financing of research </li><li>Responsible research practice</li></ul>