Entry-Level MHIIM
The Health Informatics and Information Management degree program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). For more information about CAHIIM, go to www.cahiim.org to verify the accreditation status of the programs.
Admission Requirements for Entry-level MHIIM
| Prerequisite Course Work | Credit Hours |
| Human Anatomy and Physiology | 8 |
| Principles of Management | 3 |
| Personnel Administration | 3 |
| English Composition and Literature | 12 |
| Social Science | 6 |
| Statistics | 3 |
| Medical Terminology | 3 |
| Management Information Systems | 3 |
| Systems Analysis and Design | 3 |
| Database Management | 3 |
| Electives | 45 (12 Upper Division) |
- A baccalaureate degree is preferred but not required;
- Complete all prerequisite courses;
- Minimum grade point average of 2.75;
- Two letters of recommendation from previous college instructors or supervisors;
- Foreign applicants whose native language is not English must meet University requirements for English proficiency;
- Official transcripts;
- Personal interview with the admissions committee;
- Ability to meet published technical standards of the College of Health Professions and the Health Informatics and Information Management program with or without accommodations. Applicants should contact Disability Services for questions about reasonable accommodations;
- A completed application including an essay describing the applicant’s career goals;
- A non-refundable application fee must accompany the application.
- Applications are accepted online
The early deadline for applications to the entry-level MHIIM program each year is March 1 and the late deadline is July 1 for the fall semester start date. A personal interview is granted to an applicant by invitation only. For more general information, please visit the Admissions Office or apply online and follow the directions for admission.
Registration and Fee payment for each semester are done by mail. Each semester, students must pay fees to the Bursar's Office by the deadline to avoid late fee penalties. Students must pay fees to be considered "enrolled" in a course. Information about financial aid and fees are available from the Financial Aid office or from the Costs/Financial Aid page.
The curriculum for the Entry Level MHIIM degree is shown in the table below.
| Course # | Course Name | Credit hours |
|---|---|---|
| 511 |
HIM Health Information Science I |
3 |
| 513 |
Organization & Administration I |
3 |
| 537 | Management Affiliation The management affiliation is the capstone course in the preparation of a competent entry-level health information administrator. The purpose of the management affiliation is to provide a structured field work experience in health informatics and information management. Students complete an on-site management assignment as an intern in a healthcare facility. Student will gain experience in activities and responsibilities of department directors and other HIIM roles. This experience allows the student to synthesize all that has been learned in the professional curriculum and serves to integrate the knowledge, behaviors, and professional attributes acquired throughout the curriculum and to refine the skills needed for successful HIIM practice. Prerequisites: All of the required HIM 500 level courses. |
3 |
| 550 | Clinical Foundations of Health Information Management Study of pathophysiology and pharmacology as utilized in health information management practice. Covers disease processes of all body systems. |
3 |
| 600 | Foundations of Health Information Systems This course provides an overview of the health informatics field, including fundamental concepts in healthcare data, information systems, and digital workflows. Students examine the role of informatics and information management in improving healthcare delivery and learn core terminology, standards, and technologies that comprise health information systems. |
3 |
| 614 | Quality Management for Health Services This course focuses on quality improvement principles in healthcare through the lens of data analytics and emerging technologies. Students examine performance measurement, quality frameworks, and improvement methodologies such as Lean and Six Sigma. Emphasis is placed on using healthcare data and artificial intelligence (AI) concepts to identify quality issues, monitor performance, and support proactive improvement strategies. |
3 |
| 602 | Healthcare Privacy and Security This course examines legal, regulatory, and cybersecurity issues related to healthcare data. Students explore privacy, cyber security, data governance, and compliance in electronic health information systems, with attention to emerging challenges in data analytics and artificial intelligence. |
3 |
| 603 | Leadership in Healthcare The course addresses organizational behavior, strategic planning, change management, project leadership, and communication. Students learn leadership principles necessary to guide informatics initiatives in complex healthcare environments. |
3 |
| 604 | Financial Management for Health Professions This course provides an overview of financial management processes, healthcare reimbursement, and the revenue cycle. The course covers basic principles of financial management and healthcare reimbursement systems with an emphasis on data analytics and reporting tools to improve revenue cycle performance. |
3 |
| 605 | Healthcare Systems Analysis and Design This course examines the design, functionality, implementation, and integration of health information systems such as EHRs, clinical applications, and administrative systems. Students analyze clinical workflows, usability issues, data flows, clinical dashboards, and the impact of artificial intelligence and other technology to gather usable healthcare data. The course also includes system design methodologies including systems analysis and design; systems selection and evaluation; workflow analysis and project management. |
3 |
| 615 | Healthcare Data Standards This course covers the structure, governance, and lifecycle of healthcare data. Students explore data quality, coding and classification systems, and interoperability frameworks. Emphasis is placed on how data are structured to support data mapping and interoperability. |
3 |
| 607 | Advanced Health Analytics and Decision Support This course focuses on advanced healthcare analytics and decision support using statistical and data analysis techniques. Students develop skills in data wrangling, transformation, visualization, and modeling using modern analytics tools. Emphasis is placed on working with real-world healthcare datasets to generate insights, build data-driven reports, and support decision-making. |
3 |
| 608 |
Health Data Analytics |
3 |
| 609 | Concepts of Research Methodology This course explores the elements of research, evaluation methodologies including the research process, study design, and methods of data collection. Students conduct literature searches and scientific writing with an emphasis on ethics and authorship in the age of AI. |
3 |
| 613 | Applied Research Project This serves as a culminating applied informatics project, allowing students to demonstrate mastery of program competencies. Students design, implement, and evaluate a real-world informatics solution. |
3 |
|
Total Hours
|
45 | |
- Is the program available online?
The entry-level MHIIM program is offered on-line. Students utilize the course management system via the Internet to attend classes, complete assignments and interact with classmates and faculty members at a time convenient to their schedules.
- Do I have to attend full time?
Students may attend either full-time or part-time. Part-time students must take a minimum of six credit hours per semester.
- Will I be able to work while in school?
The part-time option is for students who need to continue to work full-time. The program is demanding and takes time and energy to complete assignments and participate in classes. Many students work part-time during the program.
- What kinds of jobs do graduates get after completing the program?
There are many opportunities available to new graduates. The majority of graduates work in hospitals. There are many health information management professionals at the larger hospitals in Tennessee with a variety of responsibilities.
- Is the HIM program difficult?
It is challenging and fast-paced. Mature, independent students do well. All students gain organizational and time management skills. Students report that moving from a general university academic program into a professional program is a big transition and requires adjustments in their personal lives.
- Do you accept out of state residents?
While priority must be given to Tennessee residents who meet the admission requirements, out-of-state residents are encouraged to apply. We have accepted out-of-state students in all of the recently admitted classes. The Financial Aid Office will have more information about tuition.
- How much does the program cost?
The cost of the program is calculated by the credit hours you take each term. For more information, refer to the Cost of Attendance estimate for Health Professions. Or you may contact the Office of Financial Aid Counselor for College of Health Professions Gloria by email at fa-healthprof@uthsc.edu.
- How long does it take to complete the program?
The program may be completed full-time in two years. However, most students take 2 courses per term and it takes 5 or 6 terms to complete the program. The majority of students graduate in 3 years or less.
- Where do I send my transcripts and letters of recommendation?
UTHSC Transcript Verification Department
P.O. Box 9141
Watertown, MA 02471