Exploring Your Future in Health Informatics?
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Ready to Learn More About the MS In Health Care Informatics?
Prepare for your career in Health Care Informatics or Healthcare Data Analytics with our HIMSS-approved program. Earn your degree at our San Diego campus or completely online.
Take our core Health Care Informatics curriculum or specialize in Healthcare Data Analytics.
Now more than ever, professionals who know how to securely capture, analyze and use health data are in demand. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, STEM careers such as healthcare informatics are projected to grow at twice the rate of other occupations. Whether you currently work in healthcare or are new to the industry, USD’s HIMSS-approved MS in Health Care Informatics can help you develop the technical, programmatic and analytic skills that employers are looking for.
Designed with working professionals in mind, this practical, flexible program allows you to take classes on campus in the evenings, or 100% online. Both formats provide an experienced cross-disciplinary faculty, exceptional student support, and the option to select specialized coursework in Health Care Informatics and Healthcare Data Analytics.
*Exciting new changes are coming to the MS-HCI program in Fall 2024. We will be unveiling an updated curriculum that reflects the latest developments in the field. The unit load and course descriptions on this website are expected to change.
Projected job growth (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Salaries for high-level health informatics professionals
Time needed to complete MS in Health Care Informatics
You don’t need to have health care experience to enroll in the MS in Health Care Informatics program. While some of our students do work in a variety of clinical and non-clinical roles, many of our students are preparing to enter the health care field for the first time. Regardless of your prior professional experience, our program is designed to build from a foundation that will prepare you for future success.
Our student profile includes mostly working professionals from the following roles:
Our on-campus program enrolls students new students every September. Our online program allows new students to start in September, January or May. Learn more about the admissions process and requirements at the link below.
Fueled by technology advancements that are reshaping the medical world, health informatics is among the nation’s fastest-growing job sectors. With high demand for qualified informatics professionals in a wide range of positions, employers are paying top dollar to recruit the best talent for these important roles.
*Salary estimates vary and are often adjusted in real-time based on changing data. Salary figures listed here are estimates from leading employment sites such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, LinkedIn, Springboard, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Indeed and Salary.com.
The MS in Health Care Informatics is a STEM-Designated program. A STEM degree is a degree in the field of science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. STEM fields are essential to U.S. economic competitiveness, and careers in STEM have some of the greatest growth potential and the highest salaries, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Online students receive a course schedule designed to help guide them through each term; on-campus students receive a customized degree plan.
Whether you specialize in Healthcare Data Analytics or Health Informatics, our curriculum will prepare you with the most in-demand skills sought after by employers.
As a student in the MS in Health Care Informatics program, you will develop your technical, programmatic and analytic competencies while addressing contemporary issues in health informatics such as population health analysis, data security, clinical documentation and workflow optimization.
You will also be able to customize your coursework by choosing a specialized learning track:
Health Care Informatics (HCI) Track
Healthcare Data Analytics Track
The informatics student understands health care delivery systems, nomenclature, and health care data sources. |
The informatics student is able to identify how culture, social drivers, economic situations, and gender disparities contribute to health care disparities and the implications disparities have on specific groups. |
The informatics student understands the application and management of computer hardware, software, and clinical technology systems. |
The informatics student understands the role and tools of the informatics to assist the clinical team to solve clinical problems by identifying, analyzing and managing health care data. |
The informatics student understands health care regulations governing health care systems, data, and patient privacy. |
The informatics student understands and applies tools to design, manage and evaluate health care, technology, and clinical information systems. |
The informatics student understands principles of leadership, human systems management, and techniques to evaluate those principles. |
Each of the University of San Diego’s high-quality academic programs is regionally accredited by the Western Association of Colleges and Schools. Accreditation is an important quality indicator for college and university degree programs, and regional accreditation is generally regarded as the gold standard that assures you will receive a rigorous education and be able to apply for federal financial aid.
Our expert faculty instructors have professional experience working in health care, and the informatics field in particular. Their expertise, experience and insight about this emerging industry provide students with relevant information and expectations about the health care informatics field.
As a HIMSS Approved Education Partner (AEP), we congratulate the administration of the University of San Diego for creating an online MS in Health Care Informatics that provides an intensive curriculum exposing students to MBA-type courses in many different topics so critical to the health informatics. We are pleased to see topics like financial management, strategic planning and leadership, systems analysis and design, data hygiene/cyber security and others.
JoAnn W. Klinedinst, M.Ed., CPHIMS, PMP, DES, FHIMSS, FACHE
Vice President of Professional Development, HIMSS
The health informatics field resides at the intersection of computer science, information management and healthcare. Its purpose is the automation, management and improvement of health information in the support of health care delivery. The field has been growing rapidly due to advancements in electronic medical records and cloud computing. You can learn more about the field as well as the career potential, by reading this blog post: What is Health Informatics? [Definition + Jobs and Salary Information]
Another good resource is this post: Opportunities in Health Informatics are Vast for Those with a Master’s Degree.
Our MS in Health Care Informatics program was designed with input from health system employers who recognized the need for professionals to help implement and optimize electronic medical records, secure patient data, train staff members on the use of EHRs, and help improve patient outcomes and enhance the patient experience by leveraging robust data analysis skills. Employers were looking for health informaticists who understood the unique challenges of working with healthcare data, and who could take a leadership role in developing and improving systems and processes. Read the blog post What Skills Do You Need for a Successful Career in Health Care Informatics? to get a clearer picture of the knowledge and skills you’ll need to work in the field, and take a look at our Program Curriculum for an inside look into what you’ll be learning as a student in the MS in Health Care Informatics program.
Graduates of our program are employed with hospitals, clinics, medical devices companies, health insurance companies and data/analytic companies. They are employed as clinical analysts, data management professionals, clinical information systems specialists, EHR implementation managers, in managerial roles and in marketing and sales for medical device companies.
Yes, both our on-campus and online programs were designed to be completed while working full time. For online students, the flexible one-class-at-a-time format allows you to do your coursework and participate in the discussion topics from wherever you are, at whatever time works best for you. Read more about things you should consider before earning your degree online. Students in the campus-based program can choose to attend class two or three days a week, and most classes are held in the evenings.
Study time will vary based on the course and your comfort level with the material being presented. Most online and part-time campus students say they spend about 20 hours per week completing their coursework and participating in discussion boards. For full-time, campus students, the time investment is greater.
Our approach to graduate-level health informatics curriculum is unique for several reasons.
Tuition for the MS-HCI program varies depending on whether you attend on campus or online.
Tuition amounts shown on this website, or in other university publications or web pages, represent tuition and fees as currently approved. However, the University of San Diego reserves the right to increase or modify tuition and fees without prior notice and to make such modifications applicable to students enrolled at USD at that time as well as to incoming students. In addition, all tuition amounts and fees are subject to change at any time for correction of errors. Please note that the displayed tuition covers only the cost of courses, and additional expenses such as books and other fees are not included.
Absolutely! We understand that you are more than your undergraduate GPA . Your undergraduate GPA may potentially be offset by work experience, an admission essay, or fulfillment of a graduate-level course to show readiness for success in your graduate degree. During your admission interview, our Academic Director will explore your career goals and identify any ways our team might be able to better support you through your graduate studies. Ultimately, our goal is your success. We want to ensure that the students who are admitted to our program have the experience, tools and resources they need to graduate from the program and pursue their career goals.
Your bachelor’s degree can be in any discipline, and health care experience is not required. If you have not worked in health care, you will be required to complete an online medical terminology course which is not part of the degree curriculum. This will help give you a foundational understanding of the terms and concepts discussed throughout the program.
Whether you attend online or on-campus, you’ll find the faculty and curriculum substantially the same. Below is a list of the primary differences:
Please refer to the specialization pages for more information about specific courses included in each track.
Health Care Informatics is a STEM-designated degree. However, the University of San Diego does not provide Optional Practical Training (OPT) or scholarships for international students. If you plan to study at the University of San Diego in F-1 or J-1 international student status, and are in need of the F-1 or J-1 Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or Form DS-2019) from the University, you will be required to submit documentation showing that you have the minimum amount of expenses estimated for your program available in cash assets. You may review the visa eligibility and application procedures here.
The online MS-HCI program is a total of 37 units.
Students will enroll in two prescribed courses each semester for a total of 6 semester units.
Graduates of our program are prepared to sit for certification by HIMSS. Nurse informaticists can also seek accreditation through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. Read more about the different certifications offered for professionals working in health informatics.
Absolutely – adding a health informatics master’s degree to your resume is likely to help increase your opportunities for promotion. We specifically designed our Health Care Leadership track with professionals like you in mind. It is ideally suited for professionals who already have a strong foundation but would like to develop the specialized skills required to lead a successful team and oversee complex human and technology systems. The Leadership track offers exposure to critical areas required of a health care leader, including health care law, management, finance and strategic planning.
USD’s MS-HCI program is extremely well-suited to both early careerists as well as professionals in other disciplines looking to make a career change. The health informatics specialization starts with two foundational courses that will help you better understand the healthcare field, health information systems, and data/privacy issues. You’ll then take classes that provide a wide range of technical, analytical and leadership skills that will prepare you for certification as well as employment. Our curriculum is aligned with the key competencies required by employers, ensuring you will have the knowledge and confidence to succeed in your new career.
Nursing informatics is a subspecialty of nursing and falls under the broader health informatics umbrella. Nursing informatics deals directly with patient care and is geared toward nurses who want to improve patient safety through the use of computer science, information technology and nursing science. You can read more details about the program differences in this blog post.
If you’re a nurse, you can choose whether to advance your studies with an MSN in Nursing Informatics, or an MS in Health Care Informatics. If you plan to continue working in a patient-facing role, you might find that the MSN provides more growth opportunities with your current employer (and even a bump in pay, depending on your union contract). If you are moving away from a clinical role and find that you enjoy functions such as data analytics and information technology, you may find that the MS in Health Care Informatics will serve you quite well. One important note: at University of San Diego, the MSN program is only offered in the traditional campus-based format, whereas the MS program is offered both online and on campus.
Download free Career Guide: “A Career in Health Care Informatics: How Big Data & Technology Are Creating New Opportunities to Work in Health Care”