The graduate certificate in Health Informatics is an online certificate program that focuses on the design and use of health information technology to store, manage, and analyze health data.

The graduate Health Informatics certificate is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). 

Approved as a Stackable Program: To encourage career and academic progression, students who have completed the Health Informatics Certificate may apply the courses towards the degree requirements for the Master of Science in Health Informatics. A separate application for admission to the MS program would be required.

Admission to the Health Informatics certificate program requires an online application. Students are admitted to begin either the fall or spring semester. Refer to the Department of Health Information Management website for application instructions and deadlines.

Admission Requirements:

• A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution documented by submission of official transcript indicating the degree has been conferred before entering the program. Official transcripts from institutions attended post-baccalaureate are also required. Students with degrees from outside the U.S. may be subject to transcript evaluation indicating the degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree and meets the minimum cumulative GPA requirements.
• A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants who are not native speakers of English, whether domestic or international, must demonstrate they meet the Minimum English Proficiency Requirement.
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.
• A personal statement outlining the applicant's reasons for wanting to pursue graduate education in health informatics, career objectives, and any other information that would help the admissions committee get to know the applicant.
• One letter of recommendation, from a person that can assess the candidate’s academic aptitude and character. The letter is submitted per instructions provided for the online application process. The recommendation may not be obtained from family members, friends, etc.
• A background check is required during the admission process; it may affect the student’s eligibility to enter the program.

After an applicant has been admitted, a program may defer an applicant's admission for one year after which time the applicant must submit a new application.

International Students

Due to the number of required online courses for this degree, the Health Informatics Program at KUMC does not meet the U.S. student visa requirements at this time. Therefore, we are unable to accept individuals who are on student visas. If you are in the U.S. on another type of visa, please contact him@kumc.edu for additional application requirements.

Admission requirements are subject to change. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program.

Certificate Program Information:

Certificates are not granted retroactively. An individual who is not currently a degree-seeking graduate student at KU must apply and may be admitted directly to a certificate program.

The certificate program is not a means of entry into a graduate degree program. If students admitted to a certificate program are later admitted to a graduate degree program as degree-seeking, applicable courses taken for the graduate certificate program may, upon recommendation of the department and within general guidelines, be approved by the Office of Graduate Studies to be counted toward the degree.

While the courses comprising a certificate may be used as evidence in support of a student’s application for admission to a graduate degree program, the certificate itself is not considered to be a prerequisite and does not guarantee admission into any graduate degree program. The certificate program is not intended to serve as a default system for students in a degree program who find that they are not able to complete the degree for academic or other reasons. Should a student drop out of a degree program and seek admission to a certificate program, all certificate admission requirements must be followed for admission and conferral.

Graduate credit from another institution may not be transferred to a certificate program.

Health Informatics Certificate 

Typical Plan of Study

The example below is subject to change. The Health Informatics Certificate program consists of 16 credit hours. 

Fall Start Sample Plan

Year 1
Fall	Hours	Spring	Hours
First 8 week block		First 8 week block
HEIF 850	2	HEIF 853	3
Second 8 week block		Second 8 week block
HEIF 851	3	HEIF 779	3
HEIF 852	3	HEIF 860	2
		Project Defense
	8		8
Total Hours 16

Spring Start Sample Plan

Year 1
Spring	Hours	Fall	Hours
First 8 week block		First 8 week block
HEIF 850	2	HEIF 853	3
HEIF 851	3	Second 8 week block
Second 8 week block		HEIF 860	2
HEIF 852	3	Project Defense
HEIF 779	3
	11		5
Total Hours 16

Student Learning Outcomes

• Apply healthcare informatics using theoretical, conceptual, and experiential knowledge bases.
• Articulate a vision of healthcare informatics in an organization in the context of multidisciplinary practice and complex healthcare delivery systems.
• Implement and evaluate information systems that support multi-professional clinical/administrative practice.
• Facilitate the delivery of evidence-based practice at point of care.

Upon successful completion of the Health Informatics Certificate program, the student receives a graduate certificate in Health Informatics.This certificate is open to graduates in all fields.

The following technical standards must be met by all students with or without accommodations:

1. Observation: Students must be able to observe: lectures, demonstrations, online written and recorded audio/visual material, online meetings, and practice situations. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing.
2. Communication: Applicants also must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in English with other students, faculty, staff and mentors/preceptors. Communication includes not only speech, but also listening, reading, and writing. Effective communication includes the ability to comprehend conversation, presentations, assigned readings, and the ability to present information verbally and in writing. 
3. Motor: A student must have sufficient motor function to attend classes, prepare assignments, use a computer keyboard, and make public presentations if required.
4. Intellectual, conceptual, integrative, quantitative, and problem-solving abilities: An applicant must be able to understand and learn information from readings and didactic presentations, gather information independently, analyze and synthesize learned material, and apply that information. In addition, an applicant must possess the ability to understand and work with measurements, carry out calculations and engage in reasoning, analysis and synthesis based on the calculations. An applicant must be able to draw on all these abilities to be an effective problem solver.
5. Behavioral and social attributes: Integrity, reliability, self-direction, motivation, and the ability to work with diverse groups are qualities necessary for effective preparation for and practice in this field. A student must have the emotional health required for: the full use of their intellectual ability, the exercise of sound judgment, and the timely completion of all responsibilities attendant to the completion of academic responsibilities.

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 Accommodations Services or contact their office with questions at 913-945-7035.