Program Overview

Master of Science in Health Informatics

The Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) is an online graduate program that focuses on the design and use of health information technology to store, manage, and analyze health data. Courses in the program build information management skills, management and leadership skills, healthcare and informatics knowledge, and problem-solving aimed at improving healthcare processes and enhancing patient outcomes.

Admission Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution documented by submission of official transcript indicating the degree has been conferred before entering the program. Official transcripts from institutions attended post-baccalaureate are also required. Students with degrees from outside the U.S. will be subject to transcript evaluation indicating the degree is equivalent to a U.S. degree and meets the minimum cumulative GPA requirements.
• A cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Applicants who are not native speakers of English, whether domestic or international, must demonstrate they meet the Minimum English Proficiency Requirement.
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.
• A personal statement outlining the applicant's reasons for wanting to pursue graduate education in health informatics, career objectives, and any other information that would help the admissions committee get to know the applicant.
• Two letters of recommendation, one from a person that can assess the candidate’s academic aptitude and the other professional potential specific to experience and character. Letters are submitted per instructions provided for the online application process. The recommendations may not be obtained from family members, friends, etc.
• A background check is required during the admission process; it may affect the student’s eligibility to enter the program.

Degree Requirements

• Degree requirements can be completed within 2 years of admission to the program although a maximum of 7 years is allowed. Part-time students normally complete requirements within 3 years of admission to the program.
• Completion of a minimum of 35 credit hours.
• Cumulative grade-point average (GPA) of at least a 3.0 for all KU and KUMC graduate coursework.
• Successful completion of a general examination the semester the student will graduate.
• Enrollment in a minimum of one (1) credit hour the semester the student will graduate.
• Degree requirements and course descriptions are subject to change. Any courses taken as an equivalent must be approved by the Program Director and the Office of Graduate Studies. In most cases, use the catalog of the year student entered the program
• Successful completion of the Health Informatics courses (minimum 17 credit hours.) These courses provide the core knowledge and skills essential to the practice of health informatics.
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    ---|---|---
    IPHI 850| Introduction to Health Informatics| 2
    IPHI 851| Transforming Health Care through Use of Information Systems and Technology| 3
    IPHI 852| Health Data Theory and Practice| 3
    IPHI 853| Abstraction and Modeling of Healthcare Information| 3
    IPHI 854| Knowledge Management in Health Care| 3
    IPHI 856| Health Informatics Practicum| 3
• Successful completion of the Leadership courses. Choose a minimum of 9 credits (including one health policy course) from the following electives:
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    ---|---|---
    NRSG 820| Program, Project, and Communication Planning| 2
    NRSG 808| The Social Context for Health Care Policy| 2
    NRSG 880| Organizational Foundations for Leading Change| 3
    NRSG 885| Evaluation and Analysis for Healthcare Effectiveness| 2
    HP&M 832| Governance and Health Law| 2
    HP&M 833| Ethics| 2
    HP&M 837| Health Policy| 3
• Successful completion of 9 credits of elective courses in one Focus Area. The focus area (Clinical Leadership, Health Policy and Management, Public Health, Project Management, or Telehealth) and the corresponding courses are selected in consultation with the student's advisor based on the student's background and career goals.
  • Clinical Leadership Focus (select 9 credit hours.) Choose from:
    • Course List Code | Title | Hours
      ---|---|---
      NRSG 748| Theories for Practice and Research| 3
      NRSG 755| Professionalism in Advanced Nursing Practice| 3
      NRSG 883| Complexity Science Approaches to Improve Organizational Effectiveness| 3
      NRSG 891| Human Resources and Workforce Development| 3
  • Health Policy and Management Focus(select 9 credit hours). Choose from:
    • Course List Code | Title | Hours
      ---|---|---
      HP&M 810| The Health Care System| 3
      HP&M 822| Health Care Economics| 3
      HP&M 825| Financial Concepts in Healthcare Management| 3
      HP&M 846| Health Information Technology Management| 3
      HP&M 854| Human Resources and Workforce Development| 3
  • Public Health Focus(select 9 credit hours). Choose from:
    • Course List Code | Title | Hours
      ---|---|---
      PRVM 800| Principles of Epidemiology| 3
      PRVM 815| Infectious Disease Epidemiology| 3
      PRVM 845| Health, Society, and Culture| 3
      PRVM 875| Management of Public Health Data| 3
      PRVM 877| Health Communication| 3
  • Project Management Focus (select 9 credit hours).
    • Course List Code | Title | Hours
      ---|---|---
      PMGT 816| Project Management Fundamentals I| 3
      PMGT 817| Project Management Fundamentals II| 3
      PMGT 818| Project Management Fundamentals III| 3
  • Telehealth Focus (select 9 credit hours).
    • Course List Code | Title | Hours
      ---|---|---
      IPHI 861| Introduction to Telehealth Policy and Practice| 3
      IPHI 862| Developing Telehealth Programs| 3
      IPHI 863| Applications of Telehealth Methods and Models | 3

Typical Plan of Study for Part-Time Students

Year 1

Fall| Hours| Spring| Hours| Summer| Hours
IPHI 851| 3| NRSG 880| 3| IPHI 850| 2
NRSG 808| 2| Focus Area course| 3|
| 5| | 6| | 2
Year 2
Fall| Hours| Spring| Hours| Summer| Hours
IPHI 853| 3| IPHI 852| 3| IPHI 854| 3
Focus Area course| 3| NRSG 885| 2|
| 6| | 5| | 3
Year 3
Fall| Hours| Spring| Hours| Summer| Hours
Focus Area course| 3| IPHI 856| 2| IPHI 856| 1
NRSG 820| 2| | Oral Comprehensive Examination|
| 5| | 2| | 1
Total Hours 35

Dual Degree: Doctor of Pharmacy & Master of Science in Health Informatics

This dual degree program combines the Master of Science in Health Informatics (MSHI) with the Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and is designed particularly for those students intending to pursue opportunities in pharmacy informatics. Students accepted into the dual MSHI/PharmD program concurrently enroll in both programs and can start MSHI courses as early as the spring of the P2 year. Providing that prerequisites are met, the HI practicum will satisfy 1 of 9 required advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs). A Health Informatics comprehensive oral examination occurs during the last semester of enrollment in the MSHI program. Admission to this program is restricted to students currently in the KU PharmD program.

Degree Requirements for Dual Degree

• Informatics Core Courses(21 credits)
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    ---|---|---
    IPHI 850| Introduction to Health Informatics| 2
    IPHI 851| Transforming Health Care through Use of Information Systems and Technology| 3
    IPHI 852| Health Data Theory and Practice| 3
    IPHI 853| Abstraction and Modeling of Healthcare Information| 3
    IPHI 854| Knowledge Management in Health Care| 3
    IPHI 858| Health Informatics Practicum: Pharmacy| 4
    IPHI 957| Health Informatics, Human Factors, and Ergonomics as Applied to Patient Safety| 3
• Leadership Courses(9 credits)
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    ---|---|---
    NRSG 820| Program, Project, and Communication Planning| 2
    NRSG 808| The Social Context for Health Care Policy| 2
    NRSG 880| Organizational Foundations for Leading Change| 3
    NRSG 885| Evaluation and Analysis for Healthcare Effectiveness| 2
• Research Courses(2 credits)
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    ---|---|---
    PHPR 629| Research Design and Biostatistics| 2
• Focus Area (9 credit hours)
  • Course List Code | Title | Hours
    ---|---|---
    PHPR 613| Pharmacoeconomics and Health Outcomes| 2
    PHPR 614| Pharmacy Management| 3
    PHPR 621| Pharmacy Law| 2
    PHPR 624| Pharmacoepidemiology and Public Health| 2

Technical Standards

The following technical standards must be met by all students with or without accommodations:

1. Observation: Students must be able to observe: lectures, demonstrations, online written and recorded audio/visual material, online meetings, and practice situations. Observation necessitates the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing.
2. Communication: Applicants also must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in English with other students, faculty, staff and mentors/preceptors. Communication includes not only speech, but also listening, reading, and writing. Effective communication includes the ability to comprehend conversation, presentations, assigned readings, and the ability to present information verbally and in writing.
3. Motor: A student must have sufficient motor function to attend classes, prepare assignments, use a computer keyboard, and make public presentations if required.
4. Intellectual, conceptual, integrative, quantitative, and problem-solving abilities: An applicant must be able to understand and learn information from readings and didactic presentations, gather information independently, analyze and synthesize learned material, and apply that information. In addition, an applicant must possess the ability to understand and work with measurements, carry out calculations and engage in reasoning, analysis and synthesis based on the calculations. An applicant must be able to draw on all these abilities to be an effective problem solver.
5. Behavioral and social attributes: Integrity, reliability, self-direction, motivation, and the ability to work with diverse groups are qualities necessary for effective preparation for and practice in this field. A student must have the emotional health required for: the full use of their intellectual ability, the exercise of sound judgment, and the timely completion of all responsibilities attendant to the completion of academic responsibilities.