The Master of Science in Health Informatics degree program provides an interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption, and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services, delivery, management, and planning. Health Informatics is a unique academic model of collaboration involving the Lewis College of Business and the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences (CITE). Accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), Marshall University’s Health Informatics program is the only of its kind in West Virginia.
Students enter the field of Health Informatics because it is a combination of healthcare and technology, Health Informatics appeals to clinicians and technicians interested in the intersections of healthcare and technology. Further, Health Informatics is part of the burgeoning science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) field, appealing to students wishing to work in value-based environments. Students can work at Hospitals/clinics, information systems companies, government agencies, and insurance companies among others, as chief information officers, data analytics, application developers, and project managers.
Growing Demand
There is large demand for Health Informatics professionals. Employment of healthcare occupations is projected to grow 14 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations, adding about 1.9 million new jobs. Healthcare occupations are projected to add more jobs than any of the other occupational groups. This projected growth is mainly due to an aging population, leading to greater demand for healthcare services.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that Employment of medical records and health information technicians will grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. Further, the median annual wage for medical records and health information technicians was $40,350 in May 2018.
Advantages of Health Informatics
Renowned for its affordability and overall quality, MBA Healthcare Management notes that Marshall University’s Health Informatics program “[is] the nation’s #1 most affordable Master’s in Health Informatics degree” and “blends the didactic and experiential learning needed to prepare valuable professionals for leading today’s data and information-driven healthcare industry.” It is renowned for being the only graduate level Health Informatics program in the state of West Virginia.
Marshall University’s Health Informatics program is a unique academic model initiative of three colleges including the College of Health Professions, Lewis College of Business, and the College of Engineering and Computer Sciences.
The combination of skills and knowledge acquired through coursework in this unique academic model, together with the internships in the Health Informatics field at the academic, government or industry levels, will prepare students with the education and real-world experiences necessary to succeed as a leader in this emerging field.
Admission Requirements
Applicants should follow the admissions process described in this catalog or at the Graduate Admissions website.
- Students must have an undergraduate Grade Point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all previously completed undergraduate university work.
- There is no requirement for the GRE
The Health Informatics program may admit applicants provisionally, on a limited basis, at the discretion of the program director.
Program Requirements
Master’s level students in the Health Informatics program must complete at least 39 hours of 600-level courses form 3 colleges (NOTE — Students with no informatics background may be advised to take additional foundational informatics courses.):
| LCOB Course Number | Course Name | 27-31 Hours |
|---|---|---|
| HP 605 | The Role of EHR and PHR | 3 |
| HP 615 | Health Quality and Safety | 3 |
| HP 650 | Health Informatics Practicum | 3 |
| HP 620 | Legal and Regulatory Environment for Health Care and Informatics | 3 |
| HP 630 | Research Methods and Data Analytics for Health Informatics | 3 |
| HP 685-688 | Independent Study | 1-4 |
| MIS 678 | Management Information Systems | 3 |
| HCA 600 | The Health Care System | 3 |
| HCA 656 | Management of Health Care Technology and Information Systems | 3 |
| MIS 680 | Health Care Communications Technology and Telematics | 3 |
| CITE Course Number | Course Name | 12 Hours |
| IS 623 | Database Management | 3 |
| EM 660 | Project Management | 3 |
| IS 665 | Health Informatics Application: or elective | 3 |
| TM 664 | Health Informatics | 3 |
Health Informatics Practicum
MSHI students will be required to complete the Health Informatics Practicum (HP 650), which includes successfully completing at least 400 hours in an educationally directed Health Informatics internship at one of several Health Informatics job sites, approved by the program director. The student internships consist of job placements within the Health Informatics field at academic, government or healthcare industry levels.
Related Programs
Outcome Statistics
As part of the CAHIIM Accreditation standards that require programs to provide reliable information to the public on their performance, including student achievement as determined by the program, the Marshall Health Informatics program provides information on graduates, job placement and graduate salaries.
Program Graduates By Year
| Academic Year | Number of Graduates |
|---|---|
| 2012-2013 | 4 |
| 2013-2014 | 8 |
| 2014-2015 | 6 |
| 2015-2016 | 12 |
| 2016-2017 | 9 |
| 2017-2018 | 12 |
| Total | 51 |
*Academic Calendar starts July 1st to June 30th the following year.
Attrition Rate (Full and Part-Time)
| Academic Year | Number of Students |
|---|---|
| 2016-2017 | 8 |
| 2017-2018 | 3 |
Job Placement
Marshall University’s Health Informatics graduate program has a 100% job placement rate.
Salary Range
The salary range of the graduates is $50,000 to $125,000.