Health and Social Innovation

Degree Offered

MS

Program Description

The Master of Science in Health and Social Innovation is 36 credit program of study in which students explore principles of innovation, entrepreneurship, and design-thinking to solve complex health and social challenges. Students learn a wide range of skills that will allow them to be innovative leaders in their given professions. There are three concentrations within the MS degree that are also stackable, 12-credit Post-Baccalaureate Certificates (PBCs). The concentrations are Health Science, User Experience, and Biomedical Entrepreneurship. Courses in this program are taught in face-to-face and in hybrid/online formats. The program is housed in the Graduate Research Innovation District (“the Grid”), the University’s newest innovation space; The Grid is a space designed to support entrepreneurial ventures through education, early stage funding, and programming.

Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the program, students are equipped to launch their own start-ups, examine and impact innovation within existing organizations, and understand how change can be realized by examining policy and regulations. Graduates will also be prepared for employment in local, state and government planning and policymaking, community development and advocacy, nonprofit and for-profit leadership, community managers, city and urban planning, entrepreneurs and business owners, international business and peace-making, and health and social research.

Program Admission

The program is designed for students with related work experience in healthcare, tech transfer, technology, science, basic and translational biomedical research, journalism, social work, community engagement, city planning, and those who have worked in government, private, and non-profit organizations. Candidates for admission apply through the Graduate School. A personal statement of interest, a CV, and three letters of recommendation are also required. All candidates applying for admission must meet the minimum qualifications and standards established by the Graduate School, including the successful completion of a bachelor’s degree program and a minimum, cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores are not required for admission. International students must provide current, official results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (minimum score of 80 for the internet based test) or the International English Language Testing System exam (minimum Band 7).

Degree Requirements

The master’s degree requires students to take 36 credits of coursework for successful completion. Certificate candidates must complete a minimum of 12 credits. Students must maintain a minimum, cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale to remain in good standing in the program. Complete guidelines and requirements for progression and completion are outlined in the Degree Requirements section of this catalog.

Areas of Concentration - Stackable Certificates

There are three concentrations within the degree that are also stackable, 12-credit Post-Baccalaureate Certificates (PBCs). The concentrations and PBCs are Health Science, User Experience, and Biomedical Entrepreneurship. Descriptions of these concentrations also are described as stand-alone certificate programs in this section of the catalog.

The concentration in Health Science educates students to engage with and respond to civic, social, environmental, medical, and economic challenges at the local, national and global levels. Students learn how to search, interpret and evaluate the medical and public health literature. They examine and critically appraise healthcare delivery systems and health policy at the local and global level; discuss and inform health care delivery, patient safety, quality, and risk management; and articulate and explain principles and practice of medical and public health ethics.

The User Experience concentration is a collaboration with the University of Baltimore (UB); acceptance to this program is gained through application to (UB). Individuals must successfully complete this certificate program at UB prior to gaining entry to the MS at UMB. User experience, or UX, encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the company, its services, and its products. Students learn how to use research and principles from design, psychology, business, and computing to create technology that not only solves problems, but is intuitive, functional, and enjoyable to use. Students learn how to promote a user experience that balances the goals of businesses, the demands of content and the needs of users. Students become familiar with requirements analysis, information design and delivery, usability testing and Web-based application development; they also develop, design, and produce a range of electronic information resources.

The concentration in Biomedical Entrepreneurship is a partnership with the Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET), UM Ventures, and the University of Maryland School of Medicine. This concentration and PBC provides students with an opportunity to learn technology development and commercialization skills in the real world environment that combines theory and practice. Students experience the entire spectrum of the commercialization process: taking ideas from their life sciences bench research through invention, product development, technical and market feasibility analysis, intellectual property acquisition and protection, business design, and venture funding, while experiencing what is required to become a stakeholder in a new technology venture.

Required Courses Core Courses for the MS

Health Science Concentration/PBC

Students who select this concentration will choose four courses from this list:

User Experience (UX) Concentration/PBC

Courses at the University of Baltimore:

Biomedical Entrepreneurship/PBC

Students who select this concentration will choose four courses from this list: