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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Health Sciences Integrated Program

Curriculum

Choose a track.

The Health Sciences Integrated Program (HSIP) offers doctoral student training across multiple disciplines within the health sciences. PhD students have the opportunity to focus on the following tracks:

Biostatistics Health & Biomedical Informatics Health Services & Outcomes Research Healthcare Quality & Patient Safety Medical Imaging Social Sciences & Health 

Estimated Timeline to the Degree

 Year 1

  • Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Doctoral Colloquium
  • Three core competencies
  • Five track requirements

 Year 2

  • Core competency writing course
  • Three or more courses from track requirements or electives
  • Mentor-evaluated research/dissertation development course
  • Plan for qualifying exams

 Year 3

  • Additional courses if necessary
  • Prepare for and complete qualifying exams
  • Dissertation proposal and proposal defense
  • Student teaching experience

 Year 4

  • Dissertation project

Core Courses & Competencies

Health Sciences Integrated Program students must take coursework in several core competency areas. Track faculty may designate which courses fulfill each competency for a student in their track. A more advanced course can be substituted if the student already has the equivalent of introductory course.

To complete a track, there are track-specific requirements of approximately five to eight additional classes in that content area and related electives.

If a comparable course has been taken at another graduate institution, then a student may be able to waive a requirement. Note that a minimum number of nine (9) graded courses must be taken to fulfill the residency requirement of The Graduate School at Northwestern University.

Core Competency Courses (required courses vary by track)

Ethics, Informatics, & Communication

 HSIP 400 Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Doctoral Colloquium
HSR 460 Applied Ethical Issues in Health Services and Outcomes Research
Statistical Methodology BIOSTAT 302 Introduction to Biostatistics
PUB_HLTH 302 Introduction to Biostatistics
Research Design BIOSTAT 301 Introduction to Epidemiology
HSR 425 Introduction to Quantitative Methods in Health Services & Outcomes Research
HSIP 441, 442, 443 Informatics Methods I, II, III
Measurement and Outcomes HSIP 401 Introduction to Health Measurement Science
HSIP 441, 442, 443 Informatics Methods I, II, III
Writing PUB_HLTH 445 Writing and Peer Reviewing for Publication
HSR 462 Grant Writing