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Expand your skills to shape the future of the health care industry. As a current health care professional, you observe the effects data and information technology have on your field, from the accuracy and accessibility of electronic health records to improving patient care outcomes. Realize your potential while advancing your career with an online master of science in health informatics from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Reflecting the industry-leading research of the Department of Health Management and Informatics, this executive program harnesses your existing knowledge while training you to manage the complex information technology infrastructure of health care organizations, strengthen security and use data to streamline patient care delivery.
The University of Missouri School of Medicine designed the online master’s in health informatics for professionals with at least three years of relevant experience. As you’ll discover, physicians, nurses, clinical professionals and information technology specialists enroll to grow their understanding of information systems and data applications in the health care field. For such individuals, this format creates a collaborative, enriching environment for sharing knowledge and developing career-enhancing connections as you learn to develop, improve and evaluate information technology and data applications at operational and enterprise levels.
Based on where you see yourself long term, students entering the program complete the online master of science in health informatics alone or in conjunction with the master of health administration (MHA) to strengthen their managerial and organizational leadership skills.
Quick facts
Official name
Master of science in health informatics and bioinformatics with an emphasis in health informaticsCampus
Program type
Master's degreeAcademic home
School of Medicine | Department of Health Management and InformaticsDelivery mode
Blended, some campus visits requiredAccreditation
Higher Learning CommissionCredit hours
33Estimated cost
$29,386.50*This cost is for illustrative purposes only. Your hours and costs will differ, depending on your transfer hours, your course choices and your academic progress. See more about tuition and financial aid.
About the online master’s in health informatics
The health care industry is evolving at a rapid pace, propelled forward by information technology and data availability. Health informatics has emerged at the intersection of these disciplines. Today, health care and public health organizations seek out health informatics professionals to improve service delivery and care outcomes, manage the tools to secure and analyze electronic health records and keep ahead of technology changes.
The MU Department of Health Management and Informatics lives its vision of pioneering health informatics applications through field-advancing research, and an innovative Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)-accredited program. Through this program, we produce graduates ready to lead.
Transforming both health care and information technology professionals to step up to the challenge, the executive online master’s in health informatics:
- Provides high-quality technical and management training integrating clinical, data and computer science competencies from a health administration angle
- Highlights how information use can transform health care and address its current challenges, including delivering more efficient care, strengthening medical information system security and ethical concerns
- Focuses on industry-specific applications of informatics, data science and information technology
- Prepares you to respond to technological changes in health care, including data analysis, information systems and security
- Instructs you in programming language- and statistics-rooted principles for storing, processing and analyzing data to glean more specific insights
Careers
The health care industry makes up roughly 20% of our current economy. Data increasingly plays a larger role in patient care and analyzing population health. Reflecting demand for this skill set, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 11% growth for computer and information system managers across all industries between 2020 and 2030.
Career prospects
Whether you see yourself applying your knowledge in medicine, health care administration, public health, the health sciences or a related area, potential opportunities include:
- Chief information officer
- Clinical informatics manager
- Clinical analyst
- Consultant
- Software designer
- Systems developer
For another credential to get ahead, CAHIIM accreditation qualifies you to sit for American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) exams, including for Certified Professional in Health Informatics (CPHI) and Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA) certifications.
Program structure
The executive online master’s in health informatics uses a blended format that accommodates working professionals. Courses and discussions are held online with the option of independent study, and you'll attend three on-campus weekend sessions per semester.
With an applied orientation format, the master’s in health informatics emphasizes peer-to-peer learning both in person and through online learning activities. You’ll discuss issues facing the health care industry in the present and how data and information technology can help formulate a solution. Current evidence and examples highlight the structure and functions of health care systems and how information technology and data science improve the quality, delivery and safety of clinical services.
At the same time, faculty members involved in advanced population health and health outcomes research provide support and guide discussions.
The online master’s in health informatics uses a semester-based structure. You’ll complete 33 credit hours, including nine core courses and a six credit-hour individual research project. The typical executive candidate takes two classes per semester to finish in two years. Realize that adding the MHA extends this timeline and credit-hour amount.
Course work
Get introduced to health care-related computer science, biomedical informatics and management concepts through courses covering:
- The structure, services and organization of the health care industry
- Clinical information systems and their applications
- Python, SQL, HTML and JavaScript languages
- Information technology usability, functionality and security
- Data warehousing and mining
- Biomedical and health vocabularies and structures
- Enterprise information and solutions architecture for patient care
- Artificial intelligence, database programs and other computer decision-making tools
- Data analysis tools and statistics applications
- Protecting, preserving and making consumer health information accessible
Review all master’s in health informatics courses and descriptions.
Delivery
Blended, some campus visits requiredCalendar system
Semester-basedTypical program length
2 yearsTypical course load
2 classes per semesterEarn a dual master’s degree
Concurrently earn a master of health administration with an online master’s in health informatics to pursue a health care leadership position.
The Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Management Education (CAHME)-accredited program does not require a separate application, but please include your intention to complete both degrees in your statement of interest. Learn more about the academic process for dual master’s degree students at the Mizzou Graduate School website.
Accreditation
The University of Missouri is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, one of six regional institutional accreditors in the United States.
