Students enrolled in this program must follow all UWM Graduate School requirements and regulations. The minimum requirement for the PhD in Medical Informatics will be 61-67 credits beyond the Bachelor's degree. Up to 24 credits from a related master's degree may be applied toward the Ph.D..

The curriculum will consist of a common set of core courses for all tracks, required and elective courses for each individual track, and the dissertation. The purpose of the core is to ensure that all graduates of the program share a basic common knowledge in Medical Informatics. The purpose of the tracks is to enable the students to develop significant strengths in specific sub-areas within Medical Informatics. The courses identified in the curriculum are offered by UWM or MCW and, in some case, by both institutions. Following are descriptions of these components and their corresponding credit requirements.

• Core Courses
• Knowledge Based System Track
• Health Services Management and Policy Track
• Health Information Systems Tracks
• Medical Imaging and Instrumentation Track

Additional Requirements

Residence

The student must meet Graduate School residence requirements.

Qualifying Examination

Please see detail requirements for taking qualifying examination.

Doctoral Preliminary Examination

The student is also required to take a preliminary examination after all the course work is completed and prior to the advancement of candidacy to determine the student's preparation for independent research. Prior to the examination, the student must present a proposal for a doctoral dissertation. The preliminary examination may cover both graduate course material and the dissertation proposal. The preliminary examination must be successfully completed within five years of initial enrollment.

Dissertation

The candidate must complete a dissertation presenting independent original research that adds to the existing body of knowledge in Medical Informatics. It should be of such caliber that warrants publication in respected journals.

Dissertation Defense

The final oral examination will be an oral defense of the Dissertation but may also cover the general field of the primary area of study. The examination may not be taken until all other degree requirements are satisfied. A majority of the examination committee members must approve the dissertation in order for the student to pass. The Committee shall consist of members from both Health Care and Information Technology fields. The final oral examination must be taken within five years after passing the preliminary examination. Candidates who exceed this time limit may be required to retake the preliminary examination and be admitted to candidacy a second time.

Time Limit

All components of the Ph.D. program must be completed within 10 years of matriculation.

Course Descriptions

For a catalog statement of each of the courses listed above, please visit the websites of the appropriate program area (see below):

• Computer Science (COMPSCI)
  
• Clinical Lab Sciences (CLSCI)
  
• Health Care Administration (HCA)
  
• Business Administration (BUS ADM)
  
• Educational Psychology (ED PSY)
  
• Mathematical Sciences (MATH)
  
• Mathematical Statistics (MTHSTAT)
  
• Economics (ECON)
  
• Nursing (NURS)
  
• Library and Information Studies (L&I SCI)
  
• Occupational Therapy (OCCTHPY)
  
• Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering (IND ENG)
  
• Electrical Engineering (ELECENG)