HLTH 453Computing in Health Informatics

Units: 0.50
Faculty: Health
Subject: Public Health Sciences

When it runs

Ran in 3 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.

This course focuses on the fundamental computing methods and concepts that are commonly employed in modern health informatics in order to collect, store, organize, process, analyze, and communicate digital health data/information/knowledge. Students will gain both theoretical knowledge and practical experience so that they can apply the learned methods in practice after completing this course.

Prerequisites

Complete all of the following
- Must have completed the following:
  - HLTH230 - Introduction to Health Informatics (0.50)
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
  - CS105 - Introduction to Computer Programming 1 (0.50)
  - CS115 - Introduction to Computer Science 1 (0.50)
  - CS135 - Designing Functional Programs (0.50)
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
  - CS106 - Introduction to Computer Programming 2 (0.50)
  - CS116 - Introduction to Computer Science 2 (0.50)
  - CS136 - Elementary Algorithm Design and Data Abstraction (0.50)

Antirequisites

None listed.

Leads to

No course lists it as a requisite.

Fall 2026 sections

Enrolment from UW Open Data, which can trail Quest by up to two days. Instructors and rooms: Schedule of Classes.
Section	Class	Enrolled	Meets
LEC 001	2972	8 / 10	MW 08:30–10:20

Reviewed on UW Flow

100% liked it100% easy100% useful

From 3 ratings and 1 comment on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

Great time with Helen. Ended with a 99. I learned a LOT from her. It really is more of an idea and then using the pre-built libraries. This course teaches you python + Ai usage.
The final project was using the stuff you learned to analyze twitter deta on vaccine hesitancy, albeit you could choose your own project anyways, but that was the default. Anyways, ez bird course, take it if you can

May 2026 · liked itOn UW Flow Remove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

2 posts and comments in 2 threads mention HLTH 453, September 2021 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Spring 2022

Jun 4, 2022 BIOL/KIN/HLTH 400 Course Recommendations? 1 point, 1 comment

u/HiCrabs: “… HLTH 453 is interesting if you have a some background in CS. You learn a bit of basic ML later in the course which was the most useful part of the course imo. I thought the course as really easy and fun, but i know some who found it difficult. …”

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Fall 2021

Sep 30, 2021 help - should i take cs 135 or 115? 1 point, 5 comments

“hey i’m a first year and i’m taking cs for an elective. i’m not sure if i should take cs 135 or cs 115. …”

u/NuttingInYourMother: “honestly would recommend you take 115 if you've never programmed before, then 116 afterwards if you're interested. …”

u/Avantasia_Ninety9: “Agreed If you’re not a CS major, 116 is probably the most useful, and you only need one 15 as a pre-req Also, if you’re in health sci, definitely look into HLTH453. …”