Online On-Campus

Master of Science in Health Care Informatics

Informatics Specialization

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Lead the Digital Transformation of Modern Healthcare

As healthcare systems become increasingly complex, the industry needs leaders who can bridge the gap between clinical care and technical innovation. The Health Care Informatics specialization — our most popular track — is designed for professionals who want to master the systems, ethics, and leadership strategies required to improve patient outcomes at scale.

This track provides a comprehensive foundation in the technical, analytical, and innovative skills for modern health informatics. The curriculum uniquely balances technical proficiency with a focus on healthcare leadership, values, and social justice, preparing graduates to manage mission-driven technology and advocate for equitable care. By learning from active practitioners across all facets of the field, graduates are equipped to lead digital transformation in a number of careers such as health or clinical informaticist, health care consultant, EHR trainer or implementation specialist, clinical analyst or a health informatics team leader.

This track is for students who:

Are transitioning from the bedside and want to leverage clinical experience to design more intuitive, efficient EHR workflows.
Want comprehensive expertise and exposure to different aspects of the field through a well-rounded curriculum.
Have an interest in exploring the intersection of social justice and healthcare technology, ensuring that digital tools serve diverse populations.
Are planning to pursue leadership roles within healthcare informatics.

20

Average number of months it takes to graduate from the program

15–20

Average number of hours of coursework to expect each week

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Informatics Curriculum HIGHLIGHTS

10 courses for a total of 30 units over 5 terms
- 8 core courses
- 2 specialization courses
Online students take one 7-week class at a time. Courses are taken year-round in the spring, summer, and fall terms.
Campus students take 3, 14-week courses concurrently in the evening. Courses are taken in the fall and spring semesters, with the option to add on courses in the summer semester.
Optional elective courses may be available

Orientation

Online: Before starting your first term, you’ll be required to complete the program orientation course. This self-paced course typically takes about 12-16 hours to finish, depending on your familiarity with online learning platforms. While you can complete it at your own pace, it is mandatory, so please plan your schedule accordingly.

Campus: 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

The curriculum includes the following courses:

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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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 courses from both specializations.

Technology Requirement

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

Frequently Asked Questions

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

While the exact amount varies by student and will depend on your comfort level with the material being presented, you should plan to spend approximately 15-20 hours per week on coursework.

Students enrolled in the on-campus program will take three to four classes concurrently, requiring an additional time commitment.

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, with the option to pursue a dual track totaling 36 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

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 the 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 3 to 4 classes concurrently over a 14-week semester, depending on whether they are enrolled part-time or full-time. Campus students have the option to take online courses during the summer.
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)