Online On-Campus

Master of Science in Health Care Informatics

Online Program Curriculum

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M.S. in Health Care Informatics Online Program

37 UNITS

The MS in Health Care Informatics program integrates health care technology, clinical analytics, leadership, and business knowledge and skills in preparing you for leadership in health care informatics in a variety of positions within health care organizations.

The 37-unit program consists of an orientation course (12-16 hours) followed by 12 seven-week courses and a final 14-week Capstone course. All students take two foundational courses during their first term and complete the capstone project in their final term.

Online MS-HCI Program Overview

24 month program
Students take one class at a time; all coursework is 100% online
37 units total
- 12 courses (3 units each)
- 1 capstone (1 unit)
New students can start three times per year:
- Fall term starts in September
- Spring term starts in January
- Summer term starts in May
Each class is 7 weeks long. There are two 7-week classes per term.
Students choose one of three specialized learning tracks: Health Informatics, Health Care Analytics/Data Science, or Health Care Leadership

View Class Listing for Your Track of Interest

At a Glance

Program Length 24 months

Total Credits 37 Units

Cost Per Credit $925

Next Term Starts May 9

Application Deadline April 10

Program Length 2-3 years

Total Credits 42 Units

Cost Per Credit $1,640

Next Term Starts August 30

Application Deadline August 1

Program Details

Courses in the Online MS-HCI Health Care Informatics Track

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.

Quick Jump

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
Advanced Health Care Information Management This MS in Health Care Informatics class provides information and skills necessary for leadership in informatics roles in health care system… 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

These courses are offered in a carousel format – refer to the program plan for your start term to see when you will take each course.

Term 6

Course	Units
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 Analytics This MS in Health Care Informatics class prepares students, based upon prior knowledge achieved in the health care informatics program, to a… 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

Courses in the Online MS-HCI Health Care Analytics Track

Quick Jump

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
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

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
Population Health Analytics This MS in Health Care Informatics class explores methods for measuring and analyzing the burden of disease in populations. Students will ap… 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 Analytics This MS in Health Care Informatics class prepares students, based upon prior knowledge achieved in the health care informatics program, to a… 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
Advanced Health Care Analytics This course will explore methods and tools to address a variety of health care issues by leveraging data to design, solve, and test a data-d… 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
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

These courses are offered in a carousel format – refer to the program plan for your start term to see when you will take each course.

Term 6

Course	Units
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
Machine Learning Applications for Health Care This course will explore the application of machine learning (ML) to the health care setting. ML is a field of computer science that trains … 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

Courses in the Online MS-HCI Health Care Leadership Track

Quick Jump

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

These courses are offered in a carousel format – refer to the program plan for your start term to see when you will take each course.

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

Download the program plan for students entering Fall 2022

Medical Terminology Course

In addition to the courses listed above, students who do not have health care experience and basic knowledge of medical terminology will be required to enroll in the online Medical Terminology course before their first day of class. The online Medical Terminology course must be completed before the end of their first semester.

Tuition & Fees

Cost per unit: $925

Student Learning Outcomes

The curriculum is designed to achieve the following learning outcomes, in addition to the graduate learning outcomes shared across all of USD’s Master’s level programs.

Develop specialized field knowledge and integrate knowledge with technical skills across content areas
Demonstrate leadership skills, such as critical inquiry through field-based approaches and methods; organizational and technology management, and professional communication
Apply multidisciplinary learning across contexts within the field, integrating knowledge and practice to improve health care delivery
Reason from an ethical and legal perspective relevant to the field by acknowledging conflicting values or rights as they affect health care decisions