The National Academy of Medicine has described the concept of “Learning Health Systems” as being representative of a new vision for healthcare. This powerful framework for improving patient outcomes leans heavily on the notion of continuous improvement of the health system through the alignment of science, informatics, and care culture. The Learning Health System Science track is the prime option for those who aspire to conduct research meant to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes.
The track offers a pathway to the MS degree that can be completed in as few as 4 academic terms, along with a completed capstone project written in the style of either a research grant or a training grant application. A concentration in Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control is available to students in this track, requiring additional coursework and a capstone project relevant to the focus area.
In addition, the program offers a graduate certificate in as few as 2 academic terms. This abridged offering requires the completion of at least 15 hours of selected coursework in the track, ethics training, and demonstrated competency in graduate-level biostatistics. The certificate does not require a capstone project.
Downloadable: Learning Health System Science certificate requirements
Students who do not begin their certificate pursuit with graduate-level ethics or biostatistics courses in their background may take the program’s offerings to meet the certificate’s requirement.
Coursework Details
Learning Health System Science Core Courses
*Courses may be repeated as dictated by the plan of study.
| THSS 703 | Ethics and Responsibility in THSS I |
1 Credit |
| THSS 704 |
Ethics and Responsibility in THSS II |
1 Credit |
| THSS 720 |
Epidemiology |
4 Credits |
| THSS 730 |
Introduction to Biostatistics |
4 Credits |
| THSS 731 |
Introduction to Biomedical Informatics |
4 Credits |
| THSS 733 |
Learning Health System Team Science Practicum |
2 Credits |
| THSS 735 |
Building Successful Teams |
0.5 Credit |
| THSS 737 |
Organizational Change in Health Systems |
2 Credits |
| THSS 738* |
Learning Health System Colloquium |
0.5 Credit |
| THSS 739 |
Leading Successful Teams |
0.5 Credit |
| THSS 748 |
Translational Research Methods I |
2 Credit |
| THSS 749 |
Translational Research Methods II |
3 Credits |
Elective Courses
No electives are required to successfully complete the track.
| THSS 732 | Statistical Modeling |
4 Credits |
| THSS 742 | Clinical Trial Methods |
3 Credits |
Learning Health System Science Capstone Project Courses for the MS degree
*May be repeated as dictated by the plan of study. †May be exempted for students pursuing the Antimicrobial Stewardship and Infection Control concentration.
| THSS 740† | Scientific Writing |
2 Credits |
| THSS 751* | Research Paper |
1-9 Credits |
| THSS 736 | Implementation Science |
2 Credits |
| THSS 741† | Research Grant Preparation |
1 Credit |
| THSS 752* | Training Grant Application |
1-9 Credits |
Plans-of-Study for the Learning Health System Science Track
Downloadable: Standard MS degree plan-of-study
Downloadable: Standard certificate plan-of-study