Online On-Campus

Master of Science in Health Care Informatics

Health Care Leadership Specialization

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Health Care Leadership Specialization

The Health Care Leadership specialization will give students a strong foundational understanding of major health informatics concepts while also equipping them with the specialized skills required to lead a successful team. Students enrolled in the leadership track will be exposed to a number of important topics that are critical for leaders to understand, such as health care law, management, finance and strategic planning. Courses in this track are taught by current and former CFOs, CNOs and other healthcare executives and entrepreneurs, giving students exposure to high level leaders and their relevant professional experience. Graduates of this specialization will be able to effectively manage and grow an informatics team while also overseeing complex human and technology systems.

This track is for students who: have military or civilian health care experience working with electronic medical records and/or other informatics projects, and those who aspire to be consultants or hold health care leadership roles. These roles can include clinical team leader, project manager, department head, chief information officer and chief nursing officer, as well as academic roles such as lecturer in health informatics.

Please note that the Health Care Leadership Specialization is open to new student enrollment every Fall. The next available start term is Fall 2023.

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On-Campus

Health Care Leadership Online Specialization Courses

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.

Term 1

Course	Units
Introduction to Health Care Information Management This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides students with necessary skills to understand the basis for health care informatics. Empha… Read More	3
Introduction to Health Care Delivery Systems This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides an overview of the health care delivery system, professional roles, care delivery models,… Read More	3

Terms 2-5

Course	Units
Health Care Leadership, Values, and Social Justice This MS in Health Care Informatics course develops knowledge and hones skills concerning the management of people in healthcare organization… Read More	3
Health Care Law and Risk Management This course explores laws and regulations encountered by health care managers and leaders. Course focuses on strategies to reduce liability … Read More	3
Management of Health Care System Quality Outcomes and Patient Safety This MS in Health Care Informatics course focuses on the evaluation of patient safety and quality of care outcomes from a systems perspectiv… Read More	3
Financial Management in Health Systems This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides a forum for the exploration and evaluation of the financial environment of the health car… Read More	3
Biostatistics This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides students with the necessary skills to perform statistical analysis of data in order to pr… Read More	3
Strategic Planning and Management of Health Systems This MS in Health Care Informatics course emphasizes strategic planning and management as requisite to growth and survival of health care sy… Read More	3
Systems Analysis and Design for Health Care Informatics Prepares students in the planning, analysis, design, and implementation of computer-based information and technology systems. Includes syste… Read More	3
Database Design and Knowledge Management Provides opportunities to gain advanced skills in data and knowledge management. Addresses applied skills in database design, data structure… Read More	3

Term 6

Course	Units
Digital Health Care Marketing This course will explore marketing principles and methods utilized in the health care industry from the perspective of a health care leader.… Read More	3
Advanced Leadership and Systems Management This course explores theoretical and applied principles of leadership in complex health care delivery systems. Students will explore health … Read More	3
Health Care Informatics Capstone This is the final course in the online section of the Health Care Informatics program sequence and is given during the final 14-week semeste… Read More	1

Health Care Leadership On-Campus Specialization Courses

Course	Units
Introduction to Health Care Information Management This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides students with necessary skills to understand the basis for health care informatics. Empha… Read More	3
Introduction to Health Care Delivery Systems This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides an overview of the health care delivery system, professional roles, care delivery models,… Read More	3
Systems Analysis and Design for Health Care Informatics Prepares students in the planning, analysis, design, and implementation of computer-based information and technology systems. Includes syste… Read More	3
Database Design and Knowledge Management Provides opportunities to gain advanced skills in data and knowledge management. Addresses applied skills in database design, data structure… Read More	3
Biostatistics This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides students with the necessary skills to perform statistical analysis of data in order to pr… Read More	3
Clinical Documentation: Electronic Medical Record Systems This MS in Health Care Informatics class introduces theory and applied practice of clinical documentation systems. Includes hands on experie… Read More	3
Health Care Leadership, Values, and Social Justice This MS in Health Care Informatics course develops knowledge and hones skills concerning the management of people in healthcare organization… Read More	3
Management of Health Care System Quality Outcomes and Patient Safety This MS in Health Care Informatics course focuses on the evaluation of patient safety and quality of care outcomes from a systems perspectiv… Read More	3
Health Care Informatics Seminar The HCI seminar course provides the student with the opportunity to work collaboratively with faculty and student colleagues to address conc… Read More	2
Financial Management in Health Systems This MS in Health Care Informatics course provides a forum for the exploration and evaluation of the financial environment of the health car… Read More	3
Strategic Planning and Management of Health Systems This MS in Health Care Informatics course emphasizes strategic planning and management as requisite to growth and survival of health care sy… Read More	3
Advanced Leadership and Systems Management This course explores theoretical and applied principles of leadership in complex health care delivery systems. Students will explore health … Read More	3
Digital Health Care Marketing This course will explore marketing principles and methods utilized in the health care industry from the perspective of a health care leader.… Read More	3
Health Care Law and Risk Management This course explores laws and regulations encountered by health care managers and leaders. Course focuses on strategies to reduce liability … Read More	3

The Health Care Informatics Seminar is worth 3 units for students in the Health Care Leadership track.

Course Calendar for HCI online

Download course schedule (PDF)

Praise From HIMSS

As a HIMSS Approved Education Partner (AEP), we congratulate the administration of the University of San Diego for creating an online M.S. 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. Further, we applaud the design of the 37-unit program that provides students with the opportunity to take two 7-week courses…

JoAnn W. Klinedinst, M.Ed., CPHIMS, PMP, DES, FHIMSS, FACHE
Vice President of Professional Development, HIMSS

Frequently Asked questions

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

While this will vary from student to student, most part-time campus students, as well as online students, spend approximately 20 hours per week on their studies, split between assigned coursework and participating in their online course discussions and/or seminar. Of course, full-time campus students spend more time due to a larger course load.

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. The number of units is slightly different – 37 for the online section and 42 for the campus section, which is primarily due to a campus-based seminar course that is taken each term. In both formats, you will study the same material, learn the same concepts and tactics, have the same faculty, and walk away with the same proficiencies and abilities. On-campus students interact with one another directly within the classroom while online students engage in virtual sessions and online discussion forums. Another minor difference is that online students are required to complete a capstone project in their final term. Finally, the campus section admits new students two times a year (Fall & Spring), whereas the online section admits new students in Fall, Spring and Summer.

What courses will I take that are unique to the Health Care Leadership Specialization?

While all three tracks will cover some aspect of health care leadership, the courses specific to this track are Advanced Leadership and Systems Management, Digital Health Care Marketing, and Health Care Law and Risk Management.