Health data science is an evolving discipline that responds to the explosion of available and complex data in biomedicine and other health-related fields. It is a rapidly growing field, and the San Francisco Bay Area is a powerhouse location for biotechnology and academia with a high demand for health data scientists. 

Much of health sciences research is being shaped by data science contributions. Data scientists are driving advances in genetics, genomics, biomedical imaging and computational biology. Data scientists also play a key role across biomedical specialties and public health by helping to design and analyze clinical trials and observational studies; set regulatory policy; and conceive and execute laboratory experiments. Training new experts in health data science is essential to maximizing the benefit of future health-related research and clinical application.

Graduates from health data science programs are prepared for many types of careers, including clinical research, public health, biotechnology, consulting, and academia. 

Master’s degree students are required to complete a minimum of 35.5 units of coursework and a capstone project over a 2-year period. Students take the majority of their coursework in the first year, allowing for focus on independent research in the second year. The required courses are listed in the table below. Students are welcome to take additional elective courses. 

Capstone Project

Students will begin developing a longitudinal capstone project as part of their requirements for the MiHDaS degree. Identification of the project will be encouraged in the first part of the program with the help of their UCSF faculty mentors (i.e. the members of their Graduate Committee), one of whom will be the Graduate Committee Chair, one the data science/biostatistics/bioinformatics faculty and one a clinical faculty member within UCSF.

The required capstone project encompasses four components:

1. Submission of a first authored publication in a scientific journal that is data science, general science or medical applications-based (this does not need to be accepted, but does need to be approved by the student’s Graduate Committee);
2. Giving an oral or poster presentation at a scientific conference;
3. Writing a report on the background methodology and technical issues that were adopted or considered for the submitted publication. This report is expected to provide more detail to demonstrate solid understanding by the student of the technical methods used including full literature review with respect to the history of methods development, and
4. Compiling a code and analysis portfolio for marketing the student’s career skills.

These components were chosen to emphasize the crucial skills necessary to be a successful data scientist that go above and beyond purely technical skills. This includes but is not limited to:

• carefully describing methodology used in a written format,
• presenting work orally, and
• conveying the importance of one’s work in peer-reviewed publications and elsewhere.

This capstone element effectively provides students with an “apprenticeship” of sorts in the field of Data Science for the Health Sciences. By producing a submitted scientific paper approved by their committee, giving a presentation, and writing a methodological report, MiHDaS graduates will be able to clearly demonstrate that they are qualified work in the field as part of a Health Sciences team.

Educational Practice

Students in the program will be expected to act as a teaching assistant (TA) for one course during their second year. This experience typically involves leading a weekly small-group discussion section of 10 to 15 students, holding office hours for students and grading homework assignments and projects. This requirement is designed to provide students with a valuable teaching experience without having a significant impact on the time needed for their Capstone project work. In all cases, students will have taken the courses during their first year that they are asked to TA.

Students acting as TAs provides them with important skills while working under the guidance of experienced faculty that they can subsequently transfer into the workplace. Even if they are not working in academia, the ability to explain concepts and interpret results for other members of the team are critical skills for a data scientist that they will acquire in their role as TA.

Minimum requirements for admission are:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA/BS) or the equivalent from an accredited institution in a quantitative or biomedical science, or related field, with a minimum grade point average of 3.0.
• International applicants from non-English speaking countries must also demonstrate proficiency in English by:
  • Completing one year of full-time study with a minimum GPA of 3.2 at a college or university in the United States that has been accredited by an accreditation agency or state agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or
  • Earning a degree from a college or university outside of the United States with instruction fully in English, or
  • Obtaining the minimum scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - administered by ETS, or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Please see the Graduate Division’s International Admission Requirements for minimum scores. Test scores are valid from these institutions for a maximum of two years from the test date. TOEFL official scores must be sent to UCSF’s institutional code 4840; for IELTS scores, email a copy of your score report to [email protected].

International students who have completed degrees in countries where English is the native language are exempt from the testing requirement.

• Timeline:
  September 1, 2022: Application opens
  March 1, 2023: Priority deadline (applications received by this date will be reviewed first)
  May 1, 2023: Final application deadline
  Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early application is particularly encouraged for applicants originating outside of the San Francisco Bay Area who may require housing or travel visas. Submit the following required materials to the UCSF Graduate Division online application.
• Transcripts. Applicants must upload unofficial transcripts from every academic institution attended, even if you did not receive a degree. Alternatively, you may upload a scanned copy of an official transcript. The program does not require official transcripts until admission. If you completed coursework/degrees outside of the United States, you must submit transcripts translated into English. You may upload an unofficial copy of your World Education Services (WES) course-by-course credential evaluation; however, this is optional for your application and you do not need to send your official WES report until you are admitted. Additionally, if your university does not issue grades in a 4.0 grade point scale, you will need to convert your grades for the application. The World Education Services provides a free online GPA calculator for this purpose.
• Three Letters of Recommendation. These letters should be from individuals who are familiar with the nature of your preparation for graduate school and who can provide insight into your potential to succeed as a scientist. We require that at least one letter be from someone who is familiar with your academic strengths and weaknesses, ideally a faculty member with whom you have worked during your education.
• Resume or Curriculum Vitae. Include all applicable information including but not limited to: education; honors and awards; positions held; membership and service in societies; research experience/projects; computer skills; language proficiency; extracurricular interests; and community service.
• Statement of Purpose (2,000 character limit including spaces). Describe your reasons for interest in the program. Include your objectives, potential research interests and goals, and how you envision acceptance into the program can help you accomplish these.
• Personal History Statement (2,000 character limit including spaces). You are welcome to share any other information that is not included in your CV or elsewhere in your application that might be relevant for the admissions committee to know, such as: What unique characteristics you bring and can contribute to a cohort of master’s students. If you have below a 3.0 GPA or if there is an area of potential concern in your transcript or CV, please address any extenuating circumstances.
• Application fee: U.S. citizens or permanent residents may qualify for an application fee waiver. International applicants are not eligible to apply for fee waivers. See guidelines on Application Fee Waivers to determine your eligibility for this exemption. To request the waiver, select the “application fee waiver” option in the payment area of the online application.
• TOEFL or IELTS scores (see above minimum requirements for international applicants from non-English speaking countries)

Tuition and Fees

The master’s program is a minimum two-year course of study, requiring registration for seven quarters (summer, fall, winter, spring in the first year and fall, winter, spring in the second year).

The student tuition and fees for the master’s program are $40,961 for the 2022-23 academic year; this is the cost of one year of our two-year program. The tuition and fees for the two-year master’s program total approximately $82,000.

The tuition and fees include enrollment into the Student Health Insurance Plan, but do not include the cost of books, software, supplies, housing, or personal expenses. Tuition and fees are the same for all certificate students, regardless of residency status in California or the United States.

The detailed costs for the current academic year are posted by the Office of the Registrar (click on Graduate Division). Figures for systemwide tuition and fees represent currently approved amounts and may not be final. Actual systemwide tuition and fees are subject to change by the Regents of the University of California. Final approved tuition and fee levels may be higher or lower than the amounts presented.

Financial Aid

UCSF Student Financial Services offers opportunities for students to apply for federal loans or federal work-study jobs through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

Please note that only US citizens and eligible noncitizens are eligible for Federal Financial Aid. Refer to the Federal Student Aid website for additional information regarding eligibility.

Non-US citizens and non-permanent residents are eligible for private educational loans. Please refer to the UCSF Student Financial Services website if you are an AB 540 student or international student.

Applicants from outside the US must be eligible to obtain an F-1 visa and demonstrate they have financial support to attend the program and live in the US. If you are offered admission, the UCSF International Students and Scholars Office must document and verify your ability to cover the costs of study first before the I-20 form (required to obtain your student visa) can be issued.