The Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) is an online graduate program that focuses on the design and use of health information technology to store, manage, and analyze health data.  Courses in the program build information management skills, management and leadership skills, healthcare and informatics knowledge, and problem-solving aimed at improving healthcare processes and enhancing patient outcomes.

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

Admission to the Master of Science in Health Informatics 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 an 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. will 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.
• Two letters of recommendation, one from a person that can assess the candidate’s academic aptitude and the other professional potential specific to experience and character. Letters are submitted per instructions provided for the online application process. The recommendations 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 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 the student entered the program.

Degree requirements:

• Degree requirements can be completed within 2 years of admission to the program although a maximum of 7 years is allowed. Part-time students normally complete requirements within 3 years of admission to the program.
• Completion of a minimum of 31 credit hours.
• Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 for all KU and KUMC graduate coursework.
• Successful completion of a health informatics scholarly project the semester the student will graduate.
• Enrollment in a minimum of one (1) credit hour the semester the student will graduate.
• Degree requirements and course descriptions are subject to change. Any courses taken as an equivalent must be approved by the Program Director and the Office of Graduate Studies. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program.
• Successful completion of the Health Informatics courses. These courses provide the core knowledge and skills essential to the practice of health informatics.

• Course List

  Code	Title	Hours
  HEIF 850	Introduction to Health Informatics	2
  HEIF 851	Transforming Health Care through Use of Information Systems and Technology	3
  HEIF 852	Health Data Theory and Practice	3
  HEIF 853	Abstraction and Modeling of Healthcare Information	3
  HEIF 860	Health Informatics Scholarly Project	2
  HEIF 775	Applied Statistics and Research Methods in Health Informatics	3
  HP&M 810	The Health Care System	3
  HEIF 767	Quality and Performance Measurement and Management in Healthcare	3
  HEIF 771	Leadership in Healthcare and Health Informatics	3
  HEIF 776	Healthcare Analytics in Informatics Practice	3
  HEIF 779	Information Governance in Health Informatics	3
  Total Hours		31

  
   

Typical Plan of Study for Spring students

Typical Plan of Study for Fall Start students

Dual Degree: Doctor of Pharmacy & Master of Science in Health Informatics

This dual degree program combines the Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) with the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and is designed particularly for those students intending to pursue opportunities in pharmacy informatics. Students accepted into the dual MSHI/PharmD program concurrently enroll in both programs and can start MSHI courses as early as the spring of the P2 year. Providing that prerequisites are met, the HI practicum will satisfy 1 of 9 required advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). A Health Informatics comprehensive oral examination occurs during the last semester of enrollment in the MSHI program. Admission to this program is restricted to students currently in the KU PharmD program.

Degree Requirements

Health Informatics courses

Student Learning Outcomes

• Use health informatics methods and tools to solve health information problems by applying systems thinking, information science, and technology best practices.
• Design and evaluate information systems and technology with the application of social behavioral theories and human factors engineering methods.
• Contribute to the health of individuals, populations, and organizations by applying theories or models that improve social and behavioral aspects of healthcare.
• Demonstrate ethical, legal, economic, and cultural considerations into the application of health informatics solutions.
• Demonstrate appreciation for the value of information literacy and lifelong learning, maintenance of skills, and professional excellence.
• Collaborate to solve complex health and health information problems by applying relationship-building skills, mutual respect, and shared values.
• Employ leadership and followership methods, concepts, and tools to motivate others toward accomplishing a vision for health informatics solutions.

Upon successful completion of the Health Informatics program, the student receives a Master of Science in Health Informatics degree and is prepared to practice applied health informatics.

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