Courses

Course Requirements

Total Credits: 9

Total Courses: 3

Required Course (1):

• MSDS510 – Programming Foundations

Electives (choose 2):

• MSDS515 – Data Conscientiousness
• MSDS525 – Data Management Foundation for Data Science
• MSDS550 – Computational Machine Learning
• MSDS560 – Natural Language Processing
• MSDS565 – Predictive Modeling and Analytics
• MSDS570 – Visualization & Unstructured Data
• MSDS730 – Deep learning
• MSBD540 – Introduction to Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• MSBD550 – Applied Machine Learning for Biomedical Data Science

Hands-On Learning and Applied Research

A core feature of this graduate certificate is its emphasis on applied, real-world learning. Students complete a workforce-aligned capstone project grounded in actual health care data and systems challenges. Projects may involve:

• Predictive modeling for clinical outcomes,
• Natural language processing of clinical notes
• Population-level analytics to optimize health outcomes across all patient groups.

This gives learners the opportunity to build technical confidence and develop a portfolio-ready deliverable.

Capstones integrate core competencies from the program—including data preparation, machine learning, visualization and ethical analysis—and culminate in both a technical artifact and an executive-style summary. This experience ensures graduates can demonstrate the ability to translate data into impact, a skill increasingly demanded across today’s health care landscape.

Career Outlook

The AI and Data Analytics for Health Systems Certificate prepares learners for high-impact roles at the intersection of data science, health care operations and AI-driven decision-making. Graduates build practical, graduate-level skills in data analytics, machine learning, health data management, visualization, and responsible AI, equipping them to address the growing demand for data analytics professionals across the health care landscape.

Career pathways may include roles such as:

• Clinical AI Specialist
• Health care Data Analyst
• Data Analyst
• Healthcare AI Project Manager
• Clinical Informatics Analyst
• AI Solutions Analyst (Healthcare)
• Health IT Implementation Analyst

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

• Educational equivalent of at least a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in the U.S.
• All students should have a working knowledge of all aspects of Microsoft Office; and should be familiar with Internet access and usage.
• Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.75 on undergraduate work with a minimum of a “B” (GPA of 3.00) in undergraduate Calculus, Elementary Statistics, or their equivalents.

If you meet all of the above requirements, you may begin the admissions process.

Application timeline

Applicants can apply to begin our programs in the Fall Semester, starting in August, or Spring Semester (starting in January). While we accept students on a rolling basis, the following dates serve as application deadlines for the semester.

Fall 2026 priority application deadline

• May 30, 2026: Priority deadline for application.
• All materials outlined in Step 2 of the applicant process are due by June 13, 2026.

Spring 2027 priority application deadline

• September 30, 2026: Priority deadline for application.
• All materials outlined in Step 2 of the applicant process are due by October 15, 2026.

Please contact the Office of Enrollment Management about applying after these deadlines.

Each applicant must complete the following:

Step 1

Complete an application.

That application will include the following:

• Personal statement: The School of Applied Computational Sciences (SACS) wants to know (1) your personal and career goals, and (2) how the graduate certificate program will contribute to the achievement of your goals via the personal statement form.

Step 2

• Official transcripts: Please ask your institution to send official transcriptsdirectly to the Office of Enrollment Management. We prefer to receive an electronic transcript and the institution can email it to sacsenrollment@mmc.edu.If the institution prefers to mail transcripts, please use this address:
  Office of Enrollment Management, School of Applied Computational Sciences,
  Meharry Medical College,
  3401 West End Avenue
  Suite 260
  Nashville, TN 37203
• CV: Submit an electronic CV to sacsenrollment@mmc.edu.

Get Prepared

Are you interested in this program but need to improve your programming, statistics or other skills? Contact us at sacsadmissions@mmc.edu or complete the request information form to learn about courses you can take to prepare you for either program.

Program Contact

Jayla Stallworth, PHR
Student Recruitment and Admissions Specialist
jayla.stallworth@mmc.edu