2025-2026 Undergraduate & Graduate Catalog [In Progress]

Health Informatics and Bioinformatics

For additional information about opportunities your college offers, please refer to the Seymour and Esther Padnos College of Engineering section in this catalog.

Website: gvsu.edu/grad/bioinfo

The Master of Science degree in health informatics and bioinformatics was developed in parallel with two other closely related M.S. programs, one in biostatistics and another in biotechnology. Recently a data science and analytics PSM program has been added. The curriculum for each of the four programs is interdisciplinary, shares a common core, has a similar curriculum design, has a mandatory business/industry internship component, and can be characterized as a "professional science master's degree."

The professional science master's (PSM) degree is an innovative graduate degree to allow students to pursue advanced training in science and technology, while simultaneously developing workplace skills valued by employers. PSM programs consist of two years of academic training in an emerging interdisciplinary area, closely tied to the scientific workforce needs of business/industry, with an intensive internship experience. The health informatics and bioinformatics Master of Science degree consists of 12 varied-credit courses (totaling 36 credit hours). Classes are in downtown Grand Rapids (Pew Grand Rapids Campus) at the Eberhard Center.

Mission

The mission of the professional science masters (PSM) program in health informatics and bioinformatics is to educate and train graduates for leadership roles in healthcare and research institutions, pharma- and biotechnology industries and other sectors of the life sciences by providing them with interdisciplinary knowledge, skills and experience to use computer technology in managing and analyzing information in health care and the life sciences to create a qualified workforce for the future needs of the regional industry. We also require training in understanding ethical, social, and legal issues. We serve health and bioinformatics professionals and consumers by participating in relevant professional societies and continuing education programs, while maintaining informatics leadership in the community. We seek to attract diverse candidates from all backgrounds and experiences.

To enable students to attain this goal, the faculty have three primary responsibilities. First, we will offer a solid conceptual foundation required for a career in health informatics and bioinformatics. Second, we will provide direct, experiential knowledge of the technology necessary to be a productive user/producer of information technology in healthcare and the life sciences. Third, we will instill attitudes essential to all health informatics and bioinformatics professionals.

To achieve these goals, we

work continuously to keep our curriculum relevant to our mission;
ensure that work-relevant experience is part of every class;
establish and nurture industrial contacts; and
establish an integrated, supported internship experience for our health informatics and bioinformatics students.

Admission to the Master of Science in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics Program

In addition to Grand Valley's graduate admission requirements, all students seeking the MS degree in Health Informatics and Bioinformatics must meet the following program-specific requirements:
Grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale from all undergraduate coursework.
Résumé detailing work experiences and accomplishments.
Personal statement of career goals and background experiences, including an explanation of how this program will help achieve educational and professional objectives.
Recommendations from two professional or academic references.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis

Selection process

Selection for the program takes a holistic approach, focusing on the overall strengths of each applicant. This includes academic achievement, work experience, and relevant training acquired in academic, industry, or government settings. Applicants are expected to have a foundational knowledge base suitable for graduate study in health informatics or bioinformatics. This knowledge can be demonstrated through previous academic study or work experience, including at least one technical skill in programming (e.g., Python, R, C, C++, or similar languages), database management, or related technical areas, as well as foundational knowledge in healthcare domains, which may include areas such as medical terminology, cell and molecular biology, genetics, human anatomy, or physiology. Applicants who may lack essential competencies in these areas may be required to complete one or more Laker Ready prerequisite courses (see www.gvsu.edu/computing). Additionally, applicants who do not meet the minimum GPA requirement may still be considered for admission based on the overall strength of their application. In such cases, particular weight is given to a strong GRE score, relevant industry experience, or other indicators of the students capacity to succeed in graduate-level work.

Application Deadlines

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.

Semester	International Students	Domestic Students
Fall Semester	May 1	July 1
Winter semester	September 1	November 1

Study Plan

Before starting the program, students must have a study plan approved by the graduate program director. Students are responsible for keeping the plan of study current before the beginning of each semester and getting the advisor's approval for any changes to the plan.

Curriculum Design

Each of the PSM degree programs share courses common to all five programs, specific courses for critical content in each discipline, laboratory experiences essential for the development of requisite skill and knowledge sets, a common seminar series, a Capstone course, and internships to provide essential hands-on learning in the field. All five programs are interdisciplinary, non-thesis, and involve both the university and its industry partners. All five programs emphasize teamwork, problem solving, communication, and scientific knowledge and technical skills. Each program is designed to integrate university coursework with business and industrial internships to better prepare students for the variety of career pathways associated with the life science and health science industries.