Public health informatics is the applied science of using information, data, and technology to improve population health. It brings together public health practice, information science, and computer science to design and manage systems that support disease surveillance, health promotion, policy development, and emergency response. At its core, public health informatics ensures that the right data are collected, analyzed, and shared in ways that empower decision-makers, strengthen community health programs, and advance equity.
Public Health Informatics
Discover how informatics can help you create a public health career with great potential.
What is Public Health Informatics?
Why Study Public Health Informatics at Berkeley
Public health informatics is more than a technical discipline – it is a way of shaping how health decisions are made. By studying the field, one gains the ability to connect data to action: to detect emerging health threats, reveal inequities, and support interventions that improve outcomes for entire populations.
At Berkeley, this work is enriched by the university’s strengths in public health, computer science, data science, and engineering. One benefits from a culture of interdisciplinary collaboration, applying informatics tools to real-world challenges ranging from chronic disease to environmental health. The emphasis on equity and innovation ensures that graduates are prepared not only to meet the growing demand for data expertise, but to do so in ways that advance health for all communities.
The Impact of Public Health Informatics
A career in public health informatics offers one the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on population health while advancing in a dynamic and rapidly growing field. Informatics professionals play a central role in designing and managing the systems that guide public health action—from outbreak response to health equity initiatives. The work is both intellectually challenging and deeply rewarding, combining technical expertise with a commitment to improving community well-being. In addition, the field provides strong prospects for professional growth, with competitive salaries and expanding opportunities across government, healthcare, non-profits, and industry.
Professional Opportunities in the Field
Public health informatics offers a wide range of career paths across government, healthcare, non-profits, and the private sector. One may work in disease surveillance and outbreak response, designing systems that track emerging health threats in real time. Others focus on health data analytics, evaluating programs and policies to identify what improves outcomes and reduces disparities. Informatics professionals are also needed in healthcare organizations to strengthen electronic health records, support clinical decision-making, and improve patient care.
Beyond traditional health settings, opportunities exist in technology companies, consulting firms, and research institutions, where one can develop innovative tools, improve data integration, and advance health equity through digital solutions. Whether leading projects at a local health department, collaborating with international organizations, or contributing to health technology startups, careers in public health informatics provide both impact and growth.
Curriculum Structure
The CCPHIT curriculum is designed to accommodate students from a wide range of academic backgrounds, including public health, data science, computer science, and engineering. It offers the flexibility for one to build on existing strengths while gaining the interdisciplinary skills needed to apply informatics methods in diverse public health contexts, with courses available in synchronous, asynchronous online, and hybrid formats that include in-person experiences.
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PHIT A: Introduction to Public Health Informatics and Technology
This course provides an introduction to public health informatics and technology. Students will gain an understanding of the basic concepts of public health, including the history and structure of public health in the United States. An overview of public health information systems and data will be explored and how they support public health.
Offered through Bakersfield Community College (BCC) as multiple 8-week sections each semester and through California State University Long Beach (CSULB) as a 16-week course, both delivered via an online platform.
For more information, review steps to enroll on the BCC website or schedule courses on CSULB course website.
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PHIT B: Public Health Informatics: The Role of Data
Students will gain an understanding and application of public health informatics and technology with a focus on health/healthcare disparities. Students will procure, create, clean, manage, and analyze data to answer public health questions. Health informatics standards will also be introduced.
Offered through California State University East Bay (CSUEB) and California State University Long Beach (CSULB) via an online platform.
For more information, please review scheduled courses on CSUEB or CSULB websites.
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PHIT C: Emerging Technologies for Public Health
In this course, students will study Public Health Informatics & Standards, a multidisciplinary field that integrates public health, computer science, information technology, and digital health interoperability standards to strengthen the efficiency, effectiveness, and impact of public health efforts. The course emphasizes the use of information and communication technologies (ICT) to collect, manage, analyze, and share health-related data in support of research, policymaking, planning, and surveillance.
Students will learn to harness technology for more equitable health outcomes, examining the business and policy models that support implementation, address community-specific barriers, and improve adoption. The course uses a case study format, with each case highlighting a technology that advances public health—including health data standards and informatics, community-based mental health apps, applications of AI/ML/NLP, bio-surveillance, and digital devices for lifestyle change. By the end of the course, students will be prepared to apply informatics tools to innovate and improve population health.
Offered through University of California at Berkeley and California State University Long Beach (CSULB) via an online platform.
For more information, please review scheduled courses on UC Berkeley and CSULB course website.
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PHIT D: Courses in Geospatial Data Analysis in Public Health
Several courses are offered in ArcGIS to familiarize students with the principles, methods, and techniques used to apply Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in public health settings. Students engage with readings, discussions, and case studies that highlight applications such as mapping disease clusters, collecting data through mobile technologies, and performing spatial analyses like proximity and site suitability.
Assignments provide hands-on experience in using GIS for infectious disease control, disease cluster detection, environmental justice, health services mapping, and spatial risk assessment.
A culminating project often involves creating a Story Map that integrates maps, narrative text, images, and optional videos to communicate findings for community health education or policy.
Offered through UC Berkeley as 8-week courses in spring and summer, and through California State University Long Beach (CSULB) as a 16-week course, all delivered via an online platform, with some topics in the semester-long course not covered in the shorter summer session.
For more information, please review scheduled courses on UC Berkeley and CSULB course website.
CCPHIT Virtual Series
Since 2023, CCPHIT has organized an annual Virtual Summer Series to provide students with public health informatics training that extends beyond the traditional curriculum offered during the academic year. These sessions have provided accessible, practice-focused learning for a wide range of participants, including members of the public health workforce and recent graduates who may not have had the opportunity to take PHIT coursework during their studies.
The series has featured interactive modules and mentorship, giving learners the chance to gain practical experience while connecting with experts in the field. Content has covered fundamental GIS concepts applied to health and human services, with learners gaining technical skills in ArcGIS software to connect maps, data, and people – enabling informed health decisions through analytics, fieldwork, and collaboration. Each year, the focus has evolved to reflect emerging needs in public health and to strengthen workforce readiness:
- Series 1 (2023) – GIS Foundations
Introduced GIS content and ArcGIS Pro, with mentorship from Esri professionals. - Series 2 (2024) – GIS Advanced Applications
Expanded GIS training through deeper case studies and applied projects, with continued mentorship from Esri experts. - Series 3 (2025) – PHIT C + Internships
Combined PHIT C content with internship opportunities at technology companies to advance workforce readiness in public health informatics.
For information about the upcoming Virtual Summer Series 2026 and future opportunities, please contact the CCPHIT Public Health Informatics team at phinformatics@berkeley.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Who are we?
Our program includes California state community colleges, Cal State campuses, and University of California together in complementary roles to form the CCPHIT in partnership with Health partners, including Departments of Public Health, public health community clinics and associations. We also engage community-based partners, such as health advocacy organizations, health industry providers, insurers, and technology/service organizations. Two of these key partners are: 1) Futuro Health, a community-based non-profit that focuses on the largest network of credentialed allied health workers in the nation, and 2) IEEE, which is at the apex of digital transformation globally, the world’s largest technical professional organization dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity.
Regional health departments and relevant private industry partners are committed to providing paid experiential learning opportunities for participants. CCPHIT can successfully contribute to meeting workforce placements and apply our collective strategies to creating a sustainable, ongoing pipeline of a diverse PHIT workforce to assist in addressing future Public Health challenges. The consortium is 3-tier in its educational institutions with the community colleges as our frontline of engagement with communities. The educational institutions in the consortium will sustain the teaching of the new PHIT courses and motivate other educational institutions outside our consortium to do the same.
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Are there any prerequisites to start?
No! There are no prerequisite courses. However, having a basic understanding of data science fundamentals is helpful.
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What additional resources are available to support my learning experience?
UC Berkeley D-Lab provides resources, training, and support to students, faculty, and researchers across campus to help them acquire, manage, analyze, and visualize data, and to use data in innovative ways to address complex social problems. D-Lab offers a variety of workshops, courses, and research opportunities in areas such as data analysis, visualization, mapping, text mining, machine learning, and more.
D-Lab’s Python Fundamentals series for the Fall 2023 semester will begin on Monday, August 14th. This is a great resource to help develop or advance the data science skills needed for PHIT courses. Python Fundamentals is run five times throughout the semester and events are announced through this newsletter.
D-Lab hosts a variety of different data science workshops and series which are both interesting and extremely useful! For more information on their upcoming offerings, see the D-Lab website.
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What type of internships will I be able to complete?
As part of the PHIT coursework, students are placed into paid internships where they can apply their skills in a practical and professional setting. Students will be able to apply the skills they learn in their courses in a professional setting. They will work with a variety of organizations, from public, private, government and academic agencies, such as local health departments and non-profits. Internship responsibilities are created by the student, employer, and course instructor.
Are you interested in Public Health Informatics?
This project is supported by the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP) of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number 90PH0006/01-05; the Public Health Informatics & Technology Workforce Development Program (The PHIT Workforce Development Program) for grant amount $10,232.066.00 and 0% financed with nongovernmental sources. This information or content and conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by ASTP, HHS or the U.S. Government.