Learning Health System Science Track

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
Research Grant Option only
THSS 751*  Research Paper
1-9 Credits
Training Grant Application Option only
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