To earn the Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics, a trainee must complete a program of study approved by a committee of biomedical informatics faculty. This program must include successful completion of (a) the required coursework described below; (b) a research project involving significant research, design, or development work and a written report; and (c) a comprehensive examination composed by the Master’s committee.
All required courses must be taken for a letter grade, with the exception of the Journal Clubs, Biomedical Informatics Colloquiums and some Independent and/or Research Studies (to be determined by faculty advisors). A minimum grade of “B” is required in all graduate courses. The Master’s committee may waive course requirements that have been satisfied through prior university-level study, in accordance with the Committee on Graduate Studies guidelines (www.gradstudents.pitt.edu/). A trainee must comply with the regulations of the Committee on Graduate Studies, as well as those regulations established by the biomedical informatics faculty. We expect that the average full time trainee will complete the degree in two years.
Up to 6 credits – grade “B” or better – from another institution or another department within the University of Pittsburgh can be considered for transfer towards the Biomedical Informatics Master’s degree. Acceptance of transfer credit must be discussed between the trainee and the advisor, and approved by Chair of Curriculum Committee.
The Master’s degree in Biomedical Informatics requires at least 36 credits that include 23 credits of required core coursework, 10 credits of electives (includes any transfer credits), and 3 credits of research.
Essential Series
The essential series courses should be taken during the first semester, if needed.
BIOINF 2012: Problem-Oriented Programming (3 credits)
[Strongly recommended for trainees who have little or no programming experience]
BIOINF 2013: Introduction to Patient Care and Clinical Environments (3 credits)
[Strongly recommended for trainees who do not have U.S. clinical exposure and are likely to pursue health informatics]
BIOINF 2015: Mathematics for Biomedical Informatics (3 credits)
[Strongly recommended for trainees who have past course work in fewer than 2 of the following 3 areas: calculus, linear algebra, and probability]
Biology: TBA or check with Training Program Coordinator
[Strongly recommended for trainees who have no biological training and are likely to purse bioinformatics]
Foundation Series (9 required core credits)
BIOINF 2011: Foundations of Clinical and Public Health Informatics (3 credits)
BIOINF 2051: Foundations of Bioinformatics (3 courses)
BIOINF 2118: Statistical Foundations of Biomedical Informatics (3 credits)
Research Methods Series (6 required core credits)
Two of the follows courses:
BIOINF 2119: Probabilistic Methods in Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
BIOINF 2120: Symbolic Methods in Artificial Intelligence (3 credits)
BIOINF 2121: Human Computer Interaction and Evaluation Methods (3 credits)
Research Skills Series (8 required core credits)
BIOINF 2032: Biomedical Informatics Journal Club (1 credit) - Fall Term
BIOINF 2032: Biomedical Informatics Journal Club (1 credit) - Spring Term
BIOINF 2014: Biomedical Informatics Project Course
BIOINF 2134: Publication and Presentation in Biomedical Informatics (3 credits)
Elective Courses (3 or more credits)
Electives are chosen by the trainee — which must be approved by the trainee’s advisor — and consist of 2xxx or higher level courses that address trainee’s educational and career goals. Courses that are not listed below can also be chosen with approval from the trainee’s advisor.
BIOINF 2016: Foundations of Translational Bioinformatics (3 credits)
BIOINF 2017: Clinical Research Informatics (3 credits)
BIOINF 2052 (CMPBIO 2030): Introduction to Computational Structural Biology (3 credits)
BIOINF 2060 (CMPBIO 2070): Computational Genomics (3 credits)
BIOINF 2101: Probabilistic Methods for Computer-based Decision Support (3 credits)
BIOINF 2110: Concepts of Software Project Engineering in Health Care (3 credits)
BIOINF 2111: Cognitive Studies for Health Informatics (3 credits)
BIOINF 2113: Realtime Outbreak and Disease Surveillance (3 credits)
BIOINF 2117: Applied Medical Informatics (2 credits)
BIOINF 2124: Principles of Global Health Informatics (3 credits)
BIOINF 2125: Informatics and Industry (1 credit)
BIOINF 2990: Masters Independent Study (1-6 credits)
BIOINF 2993: Masters Directed Study (1-6 credits)
Research (3 required credits)
BIOINF 2480: Master’s Project Research (3 credits minimum)
Additional Requirements
- Biomedical Informatics Colloquium (0 credit): The colloquium will showcase presentations from DBMI researchers and invited speakers from across campus and beyond. It will meet weekly for one hour during the Fall and Spring terms. Minimum 75% attendance is required of all trainees.
- Instruction in the Responsible Conduct of Research: This requirement must be satisfied within the first month of beginning any academic program at the Department Biomedical Informatics through the CITI training modules.
The University of Pittsburgh now requires the completion of CITI training modules for all individuals involved in research. Go to http://www.rcco.pitt.edu/ResearchTrainingRequirements.htm to access the Training for Researchers guidance document. To simplify user access and better track completion of required research courses, we have built a special pathway or portal to access CITI using the current Pitt HSConnect login process. This will allow users and administrators to continue to use the same method to identify which courses have been completed. All new investigators and research team members, including non-Pitt/UPMC investigators, must create an account on the University of Pittsburgh HSConnect site which can be found at: www.hsconnect.pitt.edu. Users must go through the Pitt CITI Access Portal to affiliate with the university as there is no way to directly affiliate with the university from the CITI website. If you completed the CITI training using by selecting UPMC as your participating site, you must still go to the Pitt CITI Access Portal to affiliate with the University of Pittsburgh.
Once you complete the online modules, it is YOUR responsibility to present a copy of your completion certificate to the Training Program Coordinator for your permanent record.
- Conflict of Interest: This requirement must be satisfied within the first month of beginning any academic program at the Department Biomedical Informatics through the CITI training modules.
Login to the Superform Web site: https://coi.hs.pitt.edu, using your HS Connect login. Under “Review & File Your COI Forms,” select “University of Pittsburgh Faculty/Researcher Form” or “University of Pittsburgh Designated Administrator/Staff Form” to begin making your disclosure. Print your signature page and present it to the Training Program Coordinator.
- Attendance at and participation in the Department Biomedical Informatics’ invited special lectures, symposia, conferences, etc., e.g., The Annual Lindberg Lecture and particularly the Annual Training Program Retreat. Such lectures are considered to be important educational experiences, and introduce trainees to the primary researchers and their work in the field of biomedical informatics.