Integrated Degrees at CSU: Data Science + Health Science

Cleveland State University became the first institution of higher education in Northeast Ohio to offer new interdisciplinary degrees designed to empower undergraduate students with the skills, versatility and adaptability they need to work at the intersection of multiple disciplines or fields. They are each a purposefully designed blend of curriculum for students whose paths require expertise in several disciplines. 

The university’s combined majors developed not only from faculty members’ proposals, but also from collaboration with local employers, who weighed in on which of the proposed programs might meet the area’s workforce needs.

“As a regional public, as an institution that seeks to serve this community, we said, what do our employers need?” said CSU Provost Nigamanth Sridhar, who is spearheading the initiative.

Today, we are highlighting the Data Science and Health Science Bachelor of Science degree.

Focused on applied informatics in hospital and health system settings, the program equips students to turn complex clinical challenges into data-driven solutions that improve patient care, streamline operations and support informed decision-making.

Led by Professors Judith Ausherman, Sathish Kumar and Douglas Wajda, the program also helps students develop a competitive, interdisciplinary skill set. The curriculum blends advanced analytical problem-solving with strong communication skills, mathematical and statistical expertise, and a practical understanding of health care systems.

“It was a great opportunity for our health science students to explore informatics, because if you look at any of the new data coming out, it's the future of health care,” said Ausherman. “With hospitals using Epic, there was a real need for our health science majors to learn more.”

The integrated program builds on existing health science and data science courses rather than creating new ones, making it efficient and immediately applicable for students in both fields. 

“The program also provides domain expertise,” said Kumar. “With AI expanding across industries, applying those skills to health care gives students a competitive edge.”

Students complete the 120-credit requirements for the undergraduate degree, including 10 required courses in data science and eight in health science, while also earning a certificate through the program. 

“One of the nice things that we brought into this is that we worked with the College of Business to fit in three courses that would allow students to graduate with a certificate as well in terms of health informatics,” said Wajda. “Students can elect to do that or not, but those three classes from health care management will count toward that certificate, and they'll be able to complete their bachelor's plus a certificate.”

CAREER OUTLOOK

As health care becomes increasingly data and technology-driven, faculty began discussing how advances in artificial intelligence, electronic health records and digital health systems are reshaping the industry.

For students, the shift opens new career paths beyond traditional clinical roles. 

“The program is an opportunity to think about what it looks like working in a healthcare system and thinking about not only the data they're looking at, but how it relates to diverse populations that are served as a healthcare system,” said Wajda.

By combining coursework in health sciences and data science, graduates gain the skills to analyze complex health care information, support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes across hospitals, public health agencies and other health care organizations. 

“To start a career in health informatics, the program provides essential knowledge for medical terminology, database management, health care regulations and some roles in data analytics and health IT,” said Ausherman. “It could also be a stepping stone to the master's degree, because general health science is a platform for moving into other medical degrees.”

Wajda said the degree is designed to give students flexibility as they plan their professional futures.

“The program opens doors,” said Wajda. “Students can still pursue advanced medical training if they choose, but they can also work behind the scenes in health care systems, helping improve processes and patient outcomes through data.”

Graduates will be prepared for roles in clinical data analysis, hospital system management, public health informatics, telehealth coordination and health IT, in a program CSU faculty say is designed to stay current as health care technology evolves. 

“Five years ago we wouldn’t have had modules on large language models in an AI course,” Kumar said. “Now we do.”

Health care remains one of the fastest-growing sectors as the population ages and hospitals expand, with increasing reliance on electronic health records and telehealth. Cleveland’s strong health care presence also creates local career opportunities for graduates.

“There’s so much data being collected,” said Wajda. “But someone has to understand it in the context of health care and make it useful.”

Learn more about CSU’s integrated degree programs.

Learn more about the Data Science + Health Science integrated degree