Health information managers specialize in analyzing, protecting, and managing patient data and information. This field relies on having an educational background combining business, health science, and information systems. The work performed by health information managers is vital to administrative operations in health care, quality and safety in patient care, and compliance with health care regulations and laws. This program prepares graduates for a variety of career options. Health information managers are considered specialized Medical and Health Services Managers according to occupational classifications published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at the U.S. Department of Labor.
On-Campus Bachelor's Degree Program
In this bachelor's degree program, students work with the latest health information technology and expert faculty at the region's top academic health institution: the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, Kansas. Students typically enter this program after completing two years of prerequisite course work at the University of Kansas (or other qualified accredited institution); once at KUMC, students complete their final 2-years of study. This program is tailored for traditional undergraduate students. For more information, please refer to the program website.
Online Bachelor's Degree-Completion Program
KU offers an online bachelor's degree-completion program for working professionals with the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential, credentialed professionals in a related health profession, military service members, and veterans. This program assists those who have an associates degree and desire advancement to a bachelor's degree in health information management. As an online program, it offers convenience and flexibility for students and is tailored for experienced students and/or working health care professionals. For more information, please refer to the program website.
Prior to entering the program, students must complete two (2) years of undergraduate college course work totaling at least 60 credit hours from the University of Kansas or other regionally accredited university or community college. Applicants to this program must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all program required prerequisite coursework. An overall grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for college course work is required to apply.
All prospective students should obtain ongoing advising from the department to ensure the student’s transcript meets current prerequisites. Additional advising is available at the Undergraduate Advising Center in Lawrence.
KU Students: Students on the Lawrence campus should declare "pre health information management" as their major. To declare "pre health information management", please contact an academic advisor at the Undergraduate Advising Center for advising. To begin your application to the BS in HIM program, please contact the program advisor at him@kumc.edu.
Transfer Students: Students from other institutions must verify that prerequisites are completed prior to applying to the program. Using the CredTran system, students can verify equivalent course that meet the program requirements. Please contact the program advisor at him@kumc.edu with questions or for assistance in transferring to KU.
International students, or those for whom English is a second language, may have additional requirements relative to language proficiency, residency, and citizenship status. See more information.
A background check is also required. Prospective students should review the program requirements and the complete list of application requirements on the department's website.
Prerequisites
NOTE: Students may still apply if currently enrolled or working toward prerequisite course work. However, all prerequisites must be completed before starting the program.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| BIOL 100 | Principles of Biology (or other natural sciences course) | 3 |
| BIOL 240 | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 246 | Principles of Human Physiology 2 | 3 |
| MATH 365 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| ACCT 200 | Fundamentals of Financial Accounting 3 | 3-4 |
| or ACCT 205 | Survey of Accounting |
| ENGL 101 | Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| COMS 130 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| PHIL 160 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 148 | Reason and Argument | 3 |
| PSYC 104 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 104 | Elements of Sociology | 3 |
| HEIM 230 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HEIM 210 | Introduction to Healthcare | 1 |
| BLAW 301 | Legal Aspects of Business (Other) | 3 |
| IST 310 | Introduction to Information & Management Productivity Systems | 3 |
| or IST 205 | Survey of Information Systems |
| Total Hours | 46-47 |
The on-campus program begins each fall on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City, KS. and culminates in a 4-week capstone professional experience at the end of the spring semester of the second year. The online program begins both fall and spring semesters with individualized course plans.
Program requirements and course offerings are subject to change. Prospective students should visit the program website for the latest information.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HEIM 401 | Introduction to Health Information Management (HIM) | 3 |
| HEIM 415 | Healthcare Delivery Systems | 3 |
| HEIM 425 | Pharmacology Concepts for Health Information Management | 2 |
| HEIM 435 | Clinical Concepts for Health Information Management | 3 |
| HEIM 501 | Information Resources and Professional Development | 2 |
| HEIM 570 | Introduction to Healthcare Management | 3 |
| HEIM 420 | Legal Aspects of Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 450 | Introduction to Professional Practices Experiences | 1 |
| HEIM 525 | Healthcare Database and Architecture | 3 |
| HEIM 540 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| HEIM 565 | Clinical Terminologies and Classifications I | 4 |
| HEIM 510 | Professional Practice Experience / Lab I | 1 |
| HEIM 567 | Quality and Performance Improvement in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 571 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 575 | Applied Statistics and Research Methods in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 585 | Healthcare Reimbursement | 3 |
| HEIM 635 | Clinical Terminologies and Classifications II | 3 |
| HEIM 665 | Topics in Health Information Management | 2 |
| HEIM 671 | Leadership in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 676 | Healthcare Analytics | 3 |
| HEIM 679 | Information Governance in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 680 | Management Internship | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 |
The Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) and Health Informatics certificate are moving to the Department of Health Information Management in the School of Health Professions, effective August 1, 2025. Future students interested in Health Informatics should explore degree options in the Department of Health Information Management or contact him@kumc.edu.
Students interested in the BS in HIM bridge to the MS in Health Informatics should contact him@kumc.edu.
Students who are admitted to the BS in HIM program may choose, if advising indicates doing so to be appropriate, to apply to a BS in HIM bridge to Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) degree option during their junior year. This bridge option provides a degree pathway for HIM students to complete a MHSA degree within 1 year of finishing their bachelor's degree. Application to this bridge program is competitive admission, and not all students who apply are accepted.
BS in HIM students admitted to the MHSA program through the bridge option, have a slightly modified HIM course schedule during their senior year as follows:
Notes:
* - This course is a Required major course and is also part of Core 34: Systemwide General Education. If this course is not taken to fulfill the Core 34:SGE requirement, it must be taken in place of elective hours.
** - This course is a Recommended Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This specific course is not required but is recommended by the program’s faculty.
*** - This course is a Required Core 34: Systemwide General Education course. This program is approved by the Kansas Board of Regents to require this specific Core 34:Systemwide General Education course. If a student did not take this course it must be taken in addition to other degree requirements.
Upon successful completion of the Health Information Management program, the student receives a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Information Management (HIM) and is then eligible to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification exam. HIM professionals work in various capacities throughout the healthcare delivery system in roles which are technical, administrative, and/or managerial in nature.
The following technical standards must be met by all students with or without accommodations:
Observational
HIM students must be able to learn from experiences and understand content in didactic and clinical settings. This includes, but is not limited to:
- Medical record content, to include discernment and use of clinical and administrative data displayed within the medical record
- Statistical, financial, and reimbursement data, to include utilizing spreadsheets, software, databases, and performing mathematical calculations
- Management and leadership techniques and styles
- Information systems and technology
- Clinical concepts
Communication
HIM students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in English, to include in electronic formats, with other students, faculty, staff, researchers, and the public.
Effective communication includes the ability to:
- understand assigned readings, lectures, and technical and professional materials
- analyze information
- present results of such analyses
- independently prepare papers and presentations
- follow instructions
Use of computers and other technology is imperative to this communication for manipulating medical records, assimilating information, producing documentation, and interpreting data.
Sensorimotor
HIM students must have gross motor, fine motor and equilibrium functions reasonably required to access information from or use the following:
- a computer, keyboard, touchscreen, or mouse
- a phone
- other office equipment (i.e., printers, scanners, copy machines, etc.)
HIM students must be able to physically manipulate medical records (i.e. turning pages, assembling, sorting, carrying, lifting, filing, etc.).
HIM students are required to travel to a variety of traditional and nontraditional facilities for professional practical experiences.
Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, Quantitative, and Problem Solving
HIM students must be able to make decisions, to include understanding the rationale for their decisions and how to justify decisions. This includes performing the following:
- measurements and calculations
- reasoning and comprehension
- performing and analyzing needs assessments
- synthesizing information from a variety of sources
Behavioral and Social
HIM students are expected to exhibit professional behavior and attitude during their participation in the classroom and clinical situations. This includes, but is not limited to:
- using appropriate language
- demonstrating competency in stressful situations
- accepting responsibility for one’s own actions
- establishing and maintaining healthy relationships with faculty, peers, supervisors, patients, and other stakeholders
- completing tasks and assignments as required by faculty or supervisors
HIM students are expected to demonstrate professional characteristics indicative of success in the profession of health information management. This includes, but is not limited to:
- being honest and ethical
- demonstrating empathy when appropriate
- demonstrating responsibility for oneself
- working effectively in teams
NOTE: Reasonable accommodations will be considered and may be made to qualified students who disclose a disability, so long as such accommodation does not significantly alter the essential requirements of the curriculum and the training program, or significantly affect the safety of patient care. Students who disclose that they have a disability are considered for the program if they are otherwise qualified. Qualified students with a disability who wish to request accommodations should provide the appropriate documentation of disability and submit a request for accommodation to the University’s Office for Academic Accommodation Services or contact their office with questions at 913-945-7035
