Master of Science in Health Care Informatics

What is Health Care Informatics?

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.

What does this degree program prepare me to do?

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 are looking for health informaticists who understood the unique challenges of working with healthcare data, and who can take a leadership role in developing and improving systems and workflows. 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.

Where do graduates typically find employment upon graduation?

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.

Can I work while completing this program?

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 part-time campus-based program will take two evening classes a week, giving them time to balance work and school.

How much time do I need to spend studying each week?

Study time will vary based on the course and your comfort level with the material being presented. Most online students say they spend about 20 hours per week completing their coursework and participating in discussion boards. Students enrolled in the on-campus program will take two to three classes concurrently, requiring an additional time commitment.

What is unique about the program at the University of San Diego (USD)?

Our approach to graduate-level health informatics curriculum is unique for several reasons.

• Choose from two specializations that allow you to develop your health care leadership, programmatic and analytic competencies while addressing contemporary issues in informatics such as population health analysis, clinical documentation, and workflow optimization.
• Our advisory board of industry experts guides the development and continual refinement of our curriculum, ensuring that we are preparing students with the skills they need to be successful in the workforce.
• You can choose to attend classes in person, or earn your degree 100% online
• Our curriculum has been approved by HIMSS and prepares students to sit for certification. You’ll learn practical, up-to-date skills and knowledge that are aligned with the needs of employers.
• USD is a regionally accredited, top 100 university. Regional accreditation is considered the gold standard in assessing the quality and consistency of a higher education program.

What is the cost of tuition for the MS-HCI Program?

Tuition for the MS-HCI program varies depending on whether you attend on campus or online.

• • ONLINE: $995/unit. The total tuition cost for the 30-unit program is $29,850
  • CAMPUS: $1,820/unit. The total tuition cost for the 30-unit program is $54,600, and the cost for the 42-unit program is $76,440

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.

What if my GPA is slightly below the minimum required for admission? Can I still be considered for acceptance?

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.

Is a degree or work experience in health care required for admission?

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.

What is the difference between the on-campus and the online degree programs?

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:

• The cost per unit varies: $995/unit online vs. $1,820/unit on-campus
• Campus-based students also have additional fees associated with being on campus (health services, parking, etc)
• Online students take one accelerated class at a time, and classes run year-round. Each online class lasts just 7 weeks. On-campus students take 2 to 3 classes concurrently over a 14-week term, depending on whether they are enrolled part-time or full-time.
• New students may start the online program in Fall, Spring or Summer. The on-campus program welcomes new students every Fall.

Is this a STEM program?

Health Care Informatics is a STEM-designated degree. In general, after graduating from a master’s program, international students are eligible to complete Optional Practical Training (OPT), which allows them to work up to 12 months at a company in the U.S. to gain work experience before returning to their home country. Those who graduate from a STEM-designated program can extend their OPT to an additional 24 months.

How many units is my program?

The MS-HCI program is a total of 30 units. You’ll take a total of ten required 3-unit courses over 5 terms. Students enrolled in the on-campus program have the option of enrolling full-time, which would consist of three 3-unit courses each term, for a total of 42 units.

After program completion, is there a certification available?

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.

I already work in health informatics but would like to advance. Will this degree help?

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.

I’m completely new to healthcare and informatics. Will this degree help me enter the field?

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.

What’s the difference between health informatics and nursing informatics?

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. Two important notes:

• 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.
• Earning an MSN requires 600 hours of clinical practice hours.