UC Davis offers a research-focused Master of Science in Health Informatics that connects clinical and public health needs with data systems, decision support, and health information technology. Students complete an in-person curriculum and choose either a thesis or supervised capstone project.
Quick Facts
| School | University of California, Davis |
| Location | Davis, California |
| Degree | Master of Science in Health Informatics |
| Credits | 48 units |
| Format | In person |
| Typical Length | 5 quarters full time; up to 3 years part time |
| Estimated Tuition | About $27,097 for five quarters of resident tuition and required campus fees |
| Completion Options | Plan I thesis or Plan II capstone |
| Admissions Status | Fall 2026 admissions were suspended; UC Davis lists 2027 deadlines |
Program Overview
The UC Davis Master of Science in Health Informatics is offered through an interdisciplinary graduate group led by the School of Medicine. The program prepares students for research, teaching, and information-management work in healthcare organizations, health technology, and academic settings.
The curriculum combines applied and theoretical study. Major topics include clinical data acquisition, electronic health records, data modeling, interoperability, consumer health, privacy, systems architecture, and computer-aided decision support.
Students work with a major professor who guides their thesis or capstone research and a graduate advisor who helps with degree planning. The Division of Health Informatics supports interdisciplinary research that spans clinical care, public health, population science, and health engineering.
Curriculum and Degree Plans
The MS in Health Informatics requires 48 units. Students select one of two plans by the end of their third quarter.
Plan I: Thesis. Students complete 19 core units, 17 elective units, and 12 research units, followed by a written thesis and oral defense.
Plan II: Capstone. Students complete 16 core units, 23 elective units, and 9 research units, followed by a supervised capstone project and written report.
Core courses: Computer-Based Patient Records; Medical Decision Support; Introduction to Health Informatics; Data Modeling and Knowledge Management; and Seminar in Health Informatics, which is required for Plan I.
Electives may include Health Informatics Project Management, Consumer Health Informatics, Research on Protected Data and Systems, Clinical Knowledge for the Health Informaticist, research methods, and programming for health informatics. Students may also use approved graduate or upper-division courses from related fields.
The thesis requires original health informatics research. The capstone may include a software prototype, interactive demonstration, or research presentation, but every capstone requires a written report approved by the project committee.
Admissions Requirements
Applicants need a bachelor’s degree and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. The application includes official transcripts, three recommendation letters, the graduate application and fee, and English proficiency scores when applicable. The admissions committee may request an interview.
Applicants without a healthcare background need basic knowledge of human diseases and conditions. Applicants without an information technology background need preparation in object-oriented programming and relational databases. The admissions committee reviews preparation individually, and admitted students must resolve assigned prerequisite deficiencies by the end of their second quarter with grades of B or better.
UC Davis strongly encourages applicants to contact possible research advisors before applying. The official Graduate Studies profile states that Fall 2026 admissions were suspended. It also lists 2027 deadlines of January 15 for priority review, March 1 for general admission, and June 1 if space remains. Prospective students should confirm the next available entering term with the program before applying.
Tuition, Fees, and Funding
For 2026-27, UC Davis lists full-time graduate tuition and required campus fees of $5,419.30 per quarter for California residents. Five quarters at that rate equal about $27,096.50. Nonresident tuition and required fees total $10,453.30 per quarter, or about $52,266.50 across five quarters. These estimates assume continuous full-time enrollment and exclude changes in rates and other personal costs.
The official graduate tuition schedule lists UC SHIP health insurance at $2,940 per quarter. That would add $14,700 across five quarters unless the student receives an approved insurance waiver. New students may also pay a one-time records fee, and international students may have an added administrative fee.
The program states that most students pay their own costs. A limited number of graduate researcher and teaching assistant positions may be available. Eligible UC Davis Health employees may qualify for employee tuition programs, and students in clinical positions may have access to clinical fellowship support.
In-Person Format and Time to Completion
UC Davis describes the program as in person. Full-time students normally enroll in 12 units per quarter, complete the core curriculum during their first three quarters, and finish the degree at the end of the fifth quarter.
Part-time study may extend the timeline. The program states that a typical part-time student may take up to three years, in consultation with the major professor and the appropriate faculty committee.
Research Areas and Career Preparation
Research and project topics may include digital and consumer health, clinical decision support, health data science, clinical IT architecture, patient privacy and security, data standards, interoperability, and the use of electronic health records.
The program can support careers in clinical informatics, health data analysis, healthcare information systems, research informatics, and health technology project work. Its research requirement may also appeal to students who plan to continue into doctoral study or research-centered roles.
Career fit depends on each student’s prior clinical, technical, or research experience. The program does not promise a specific job title, salary, or professional credential.
Who Is This Program For?
UC Davis may fit students who want a research-oriented, campus-based program with close faculty mentoring and a choice between a thesis and capstone. It may be especially relevant for applicants who want to study electronic health records, clinical decision support, interoperability, privacy, or health data systems.
Students who need a fully online program, prefer a course-only degree, or do not want a substantial supervised research project should compare other options. Applicants should also confirm that admissions are open for their intended term before investing time in the application.
Related Health Informatics Programs
- National University - San Diego
- San José State University - San José
- University of California, Los Angeles - Los Angeles
- University of San Diego - San Diego
- University of San Francisco - San Francisco