Online On-Campus

Master of Science in Health Care Informatics

Health Care Informatics Specialization

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Health Care Informatics Specialization

The Health Care Informatics (HCI) specialization is the most popular track in the Health Informatics master’s degree program, as it gives students broad exposure to the many different aspects of health informatics. This track covers a wide range of technical, analytical and innovative health care technology skills that will enable students to be proficient in many health care applications. Learning from expert faculty with professional experience working in health informatics — from analytics to leadership and everything in between — gives students unique insights into all facets of the health informatics field. Graduates of this specialization will be prepared for any number of careers in the health informatics field.

This track is for students who: are new to health care informatics, and those who want exposure to different aspects of the field — including data analytics and leadership — without specializing in a single area. Students in this track can pursue a career as a health or clinical informaticist, health care consultant, EHR trainer or implementation specialist, clinical analyst or a health informatics team leader.

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Are You an International Student?

If you are planning to seek a visa to attend the MS-HCI program on-campus, you will enroll in a full-time course of study that includes classes from both specializations and a practicum, for a total of 42 units.

Curriculum for Students in the Health Care Informatics Specialization

Take 8 core courses plus 2 specialization courses
Optional elective courses may be available
Graduate in 20 months (5 terms)
IMPORTANT! All students will need a Windows computer prior to the start of class.

Orientation (Online Students Only)

Prior to beginning your first term, you’ll be required to complete the program orientation course, which generally takes about 12-16 hours. The course is self-paced but is mandatory. Please plan your schedule accordingly.

Orientation for on-campus students will be scheduled near the start of the term and coordinated with you directly by a member of our team.

Core Courses – Taken By All Students

Course	Units
HCIN 540 – Introduction to Health Information, Healthcare Delivery, and Artificial Intelligence Explore the intersection of healthcare delivery, information management, and artificial intelligence, focusing on the ethical, regulatory, a… Read More	3
HCIN 543 – Database Design and Knowledge Management Focus on advanced database design, modeling, and management within the healthcare environment. Gain the technical SQL skills and systems eng… Read More	3
HCIN 552 – Clinical Documentation, Decision Support, and Electronic Health Records Gain a comprehensive exploration of electronic health records (EHRs) and clinical documentation, combining theoretical regulatory frameworks… Read More	3
HCIN 585 – Healthcare Ethics, AI Governance, and the Law Examine the legal and ethical frameworks governing healthcare AI and data privacy. Learn to mitigate liability through risk-management tools… Read More	3
HCIN 571 – Population Health Analytics Focus on foundational analytic methods for population health by training to query healthcare databases, construct demographic and clinical c… Read More	3
HCIN 572 – Healthcare Data Modeling and Visualization Building on analytical foundations, transform complex healthcare datasets into interactive dashboards and data models that drive clinical, f… Read More	3
HCIN 580 – Research Fundamentals and Biostatistics Integrate biostatistics and advanced research methods to evaluate healthcare programs. Gain the data stewardship, security, and analytical s… Read More	3
HCIN 546 – Health Care Informatics Capstone Integrate health informatics theory with practical application through an independent project and reflective ePortfolio focused on evaluatin… Read More	3

Informatics Specialization Courses

Course	Units
HCIN 542 – Systems Analysis and Design for Health Care Informatics Cover the complete systems development life cycle and project management methodologies, such as Lean Six Sigma and Agile, to prepare for the… Read More	3
HCIN 556 – Health Care Leadership, Values, and Social Justice Utilize an experiential learning approach to explore leadership theories, ethics, and social justice principles, to be equipped with the pro… Read More	3

Optional Elective for On-Campus Students (Not Part of Your Degree Requirements)

Course	Units
Health Care Informatics Practicum – Independent Study (HCIN 545P) Gain practical experience in real-world healthcare informatics and data analytics settings, translating theoretical knowledge into practical… Read More	3

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Technology Requirement

All students in the MS-HCI program are required to have a Windows-based computer by the start of their first term.

DEGREE PLAN For campus Students

All campus-based students will start in the Fall term.

Part time students will take 2 classes in the evening each term, with required coursework running year-round (Spring, Summer and Fall terms.) 30 units total.

Full time students will take 3 classes in the evening each term, with required coursework running year-round (Spring, Summer and Fall terms.) In the final term, there are only two required courses, but students wishing to take a third class may enroll in an elective. (42 units are required; 45 with the optional elective in the final term).

International students are required to enroll in the full-time option.

DEGREE PLAN For Online Students

Degree candidates are admitted throughout the year to begin their program during one of three terms (Spring, Summer or Fall). Students will take two courses during each 14-week term, focusing on one 7-week course at a time.

Download a PDF of your degree plan that corresponds with your start term.

Important dates for your starting term will be found in the degree plan. Important dates for subsequent terms can be found in your student success center after acceptance.

Summer 2026

Fall 2026

Spring 2027

Frequently Asked questions

How much time will I need to dedicate to this program?

While this will vary from student to student, most students spend approximately 20 hours per week on their studies.

What is the difference between the online and on-campus versions of this program?

In terms of the quality of education you will receive, there is no difference between the online and the on-campus formats of the HCI program.

Both formats are 30 units, although campus students can choose to take a full-time course of study totaling 42 units.
The same material is taught by the same faculty across both formats
The course learning outcomes and program learning outcomes are the same across both formats

Minor differences include:

On-campus students interact with one another directly within the classroom while online students engage in virtual sessions and online discussion forums.
The campus section only admits new students in the Fall, whereas the online section admits new students in Fall, Spring and Summer.
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. Campus students also attend courses year-round.