Master of Science (M.S.) Major in Health Informatics

HIM 5199B. Thesis B.

This course provides continued enrollment and faculty supervision for students who have completed the required thesis hours but have not yet finished, defended, or submitted their thesis. Students must remain continuously enrolled in a thesis course each fall and spring semester—and summer if receiving supervision or using university resources—until the thesis is approved by The Graduate College. HIM 5199 provides ongoing supervision and structured progress expectations while students complete remaining research, analysis, revisions, or formatting requirements.

HIM 5300. Advanced Independent Study in Health Information Management.

This course provides a graduate-level independent study experience focused on the in-depth examination of complex and emerging issues in health information management and health informatics. Students conduct advanced scholarly investigation of a selected problem related to health data governance, health information technologies, healthcare analytics, regulatory compliance, or information management strategy. Emphasis is placed on critical evaluation of current research, synthesis of theory and professional practice, and development of evidence-based recommendations that address organizational or industry challenges. The course requires substantial independent inquiry, scholarly writing, and faculty-guided project development. May be repeated for credit with a different emphasis.

HIM 5301. Health Information Technology for Managers.

This course introduces core concepts and competencies in health information technology for healthcare professionals and managers. Topics include healthcare information systems, data governance, privacy and security, systems analysis, project management, clinical informatics, and leadership. Through applied case studies and scenario-based analysis, students examine the use of health information technology to support digital health initiatives and organizational performance. Emphasis is placed on developing strategic, technical, and operational understanding of health IT across healthcare settings.

HIM 5302. Clinical Foundations of Health Information Management.

This course will provide a clinical foundation in essential health informatics and information management principles and concepts. Students learn and apply concepts related to medical terminology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, anatomy and physiology, basic statistics, and microcomputer applications used in healthcare. Creation of graphical representations of healthcare data utilizing pie charts, bar graphs, and histograms is included. Students acquire the core knowledge needed to understand health data, utilize microcomputer and information systems to support clinical workflows, and develop competence as health informatics and information management professionals.

HIM 5311. Health Informatics and Data Visualization.

This course provides an introduction to the fundamental concepts of data analytics and decision support. Students learn how data is collected, organized, analyzed, and transformed into meaningful insights that guide strategic decisions. A major focus is on quality‑driven, data‑based decision‑making systems applied in business intelligence, consumer informatics, and health information exchanges. Students build practical skills for evaluating health data quality, interpreting analytical results, creating data visualizations and applying findings to provide information for effective organizational decision-making processes.

HIM 5320. Biostatistics for Healthcare.

This course will provide an introduction to biostatistics research methods and to the descriptive and inferential statistical techniques required to conduct research studies in healthcare. Students examine foundational approaches for compiling, analyzing, interpreting, and displaying biostatistical information used to report, evaluate, and monitor healthcare outcomes. Students develop practical skills for applying statistical reasoning, selecting analytical methods, and presenting results clearly to support evidence‑based decision making across diverse clinical and organizational environments that reflect current practice standards.

HIM 5340. Healthcare Informatics.

This course will examine health informatics as a discipline concerned with the acquisition, management, and application of data, information, and knowledge across healthcare settings. Students analyze health information systems, data governance frameworks, and information protection strategies within the context of individual health, population health, public health, and health-related research. Through case-based inquiry, collaborative discussion, and a culminating project, students evaluate informatics solutions for healthcare delivery challenges and assess compliance considerations across the health information life cycle.

HIM 5341. Healthcare Terminologies and Vocabularies.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of healthcare terminologies, vocabularies, code sets, classification schemes, and the standards that support their effective use in clinical and administrative settings. Students examine mapping concepts and explore how the Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine (SNOMED) relates to administrative classification systems such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD). Students analyze the purpose, challenges, and differences encountered when mapping a detailed terminology to a broader classification structure. Students apply data interchange standards such as HL7 and FHIR in healthcare applications.

HIM 5342. Information Systems and Technology.

This course will examine the foundational concepts, structures, and strategic uses of health information systems within contemporary healthcare organizations. Students analyze how information technologies support data quality, interoperability, compliance, and organizational performance. Emphasis is placed on system design, database development, project management methodologies, and the evaluation of emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence. Through applied assignments, team projects, and system focused analyses, students learn to assess requirements, recommend solutions, and support the selection, implementation, and governance of data driven health information systems.

HIM 5343. Machine Learning for Healthcare Artificial Intelligence.

This course will introduce foundational concepts of machine learning as applied to healthcare artificial intelligence, emphasizing how analytical techniques can be used to extract meaningful insights from complex clinical healthcare data sets. Students learn to evaluate and apply supervised and unsupervised learning algorithms, including decision trees, clustering methods, and related approaches commonly used in healthcare analytics. Students discover the practical considerations for preparing data, selecting appropriate models, and interpreting results to support informed and responsible decision-making processes.

HIM 5344. Healthcare Database Management Systems.

This course will introduce essential methods for healthcare database management, emphasizing how structured data supports accurate and timely decision making. Students learn principles of physical data modeling and explore techniques for creating databases, populating tables, optimizing data queries, and maintaining strong integrity controls. Additional topics include designing effective database security systems, analyzing data relationships, and generating meaningful reports that help healthcare organizations manage information responsibly to improve clinical and operational outcomes across a variety of settings and processes.

HIM 5351. Data Security, Privacy, and Confidentiality.

This course will provide an in depth examination of the legal, regulatory, ethical, and technological frameworks that govern the privacy, security, and confidentiality of protected health information across the healthcare continuum. Students analyze federal and state laws, including HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules, evaluate organizational policies, and develop strategies for compliance, risk mitigation, and fraud prevention. Through case studies, policy development, team projects, and applied assessments, students learn to identify vulnerabilities, design safeguards, and support organizational accountability in managing health information.

HIM 5352. Introduction to Healthcare Information Security.

This course will introduce foundational concepts, principles, and practices in healthcare information security, emphasizing the protection of electronic protected health information across a variety of technical and organizational environments. Students examine major security threats, vulnerabilities, and attack vectors while evaluating methods for preventing breaches, strengthening authentication, and hardening systems. Topics include confidentiality, integrity, availability, encryption, malware, ransomware, intrusion detection and prevention, social engineering, and risk management. Through applied assignments and team projects, students assess organizational safeguards and develop strategies to enhance security readiness and resilience.

HIM 5353. Risk Analysis of Healthcare Systems.

This course will focus on the methods, tools, and analytical frameworks used to evaluate and manage security risks within healthcare information systems. Students examine computer systems, networks, and security technologies to identify vulnerabilities and understand how weaknesses can compromise electronic health record environments. Coursework emphasizes risk analysis methodology, HIPAA related considerations, penetration testing concepts, wireless security, and audit requirements. Through team based assessments and applied exercises, students learn to analyze threats, determine potential impacts, prioritize risks, and recommend controls that strengthen organizational security posture.

HIM 5363. Health Data Content Structure and Standards.

This course will provide an in depth exploration of health data content, structure, and standards across the healthcare continuum. Students examine documentation requirements, data governance principles, interoperability frameworks, and classification systems used to support accurate, reliable health information. Through applied activities, coding technologies, and analysis of electronic health records, learners develop competencies in data integrity, health information exchange, and information governance. Emphasis is placed on critical thinking, communication, and the evolving role of HIIM professionals in advancing an interoperable health IT ecosystem.

HIM 5370. Healthcare Finance and Revenue Cycle Management.

This course will examine financial and revenue cycle management issues that affect the practice of Health Information Management in contemporary healthcare organizations. Topics include the healthcare financial environment, reimbursement methodologies, coding compliance, case mix index, and revenue cycle processes. Financial statement analysis, operating indicators, and regulatory compliance frameworks are analyzed in relation to organizational performance and financial sustainability. Emphasis is placed on the interaction between coding accuracy, reimbursement systems, and financial outcomes. The course also analyzes regulatory and payer requirements that shape revenue cycle operations and financial management practices within healthcare systems.

HIM 5380. Assessing Healthcare Quality.

This course will provide an in‑depth examination of quality improvement methodologies, including data retrieval, display, outcomes analysis, and key elements of risk management across healthcare sectors. Students explore mechanisms that encourage organization‑wide involvement in achieving high‑quality patient care aligned with accreditation and regulatory standards. Students develop and apply practical strategies for evaluating performance, interpreting quality indicators, and applying improvement tools that support safer, more efficient clinical, technical, and administrative processes throughout various healthcare environments and operational areas.

HIM 5382. Healthcare Compliance.

This course will examine the principles and practices of healthcare compliance with an emphasis on developing, implementing, and evaluating effective compliance programs across healthcare organizations. Students explore regulatory requirements, legal processes affecting health information, risk management strategies, policy implications, and methods for detecting and preventing healthcare fraud. Through applied activities, learners analyze external forces shaping compliance, design training initiatives, and recommend organizational strategies that promote ethical conduct and regulatory adherence. The course prepares graduate health information professionals to support compliance infrastructure and lead initiatives that strengthen accountability and organizational integrity.

HIM 5390. Contemporary Leadership Principles for HIIM.

This course will analyze leadership and organizational management principles relevant to health information management professionals in complex healthcare environments. Topics include leadership theory, organizational change, strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, information governance, workforce development, and professional ethics. Leadership roles and decision-making processes are examined in relation to healthcare policy, organizational strategy, and data-driven management practices. Students also analyze approaches for developing strategic alliances, managing organizational change, and integrating ethical and responsive leadership practices within health information management departments and healthcare organizations.

HIM 5397. HIIM Directed Practicum.

This course will provide structured, supervised experiential learning in a healthcare or related organization, enabling students to apply advanced health informatics and information management competencies in a real world setting. Each student participates in an orientation to the host site, engages in supervised professional activities, and completes a project that addresses an organizational need and is suitable for implementation. The practicum reinforces prior coursework, strengthens professional readiness, and supports the transition from academic learning to applied practice. Prerequisite: Department approval.

HIM 5399A. Thesis A.

This course will begin the graduate thesis sequence. Students develop a formal thesis proposal, establish a thesis committee, and initiate supervised research. Students refine their research question, conduct a literature review, and prepare the official Thesis Proposal Form required by The Graduate College. Activities include defining the study’s scope, selecting appropriate research methods, and completing any required compliance processes such as Institutional Review Board (IRB) or Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) approval. Successful completion of HIM 5399A demonstrates readiness to conduct independent research and provides the foundation for continued thesis work in HIM 5399B.

HIM 5399B. Thesis B.

This course will continue the thesis sequence in which students conduct, analyze, and complete their approved research project. Under the supervision of their thesis committee, students collect and analyze data, interpret findings, and prepare the thesis manuscript according to the Thesis & Dissertation Resource Guides. Students must demonstrate sustained progress each semester of enrollment and remain continuously enrolled in a thesis course until the thesis is defended, approved by the committee, and submitted to The Graduate College. HIM 5399B culminates in the thesis defense and final submission for Graduate College approval.

HI 5321. Health Systems and Population Health for HIIM.

This course examines the structure and function of health systems and their impact on population health informatics. Students explore key topics including the business of healthcare, health disparities, social determinants of health, and the roles of public and population health informatics initiatives. Additional focus is placed on applying health data for behavior change strategies, patient engagement, case management, and disease management. The course also covers behavioral health, substance use, and the integration of healthcare technology and research in improving health outcomes from a health informatics perspective.

HI 5326. Advanced Technology in Health Informatics.

This course examines advanced technologies used in health informatics and health data analytics. Students explore safe information exchange, big data and predictive analytics, mobile health, telemedicine, clinical decision support, cloud computing, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. Emphasis is placed on how these tools enhance clinical decision-making, streamline workflows, and improve healthcare outcomes. Through applied activities and case-based learning, students gain practical experience using innovative digital health solutions to address complex challenges in contemporary healthcare environments.

HI 5327. Advanced Applied Health Informatics.

This course examines advanced health informatics practice with emphasis on enterprise system analysis, strategic leadership, and organizational transformation. Students analyze health information architecture requirements and propose integration approaches using standards-based methods to support enterprise-wide data sharing. Through applied projects, students evaluate artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches for clinical decision support, create governance frameworks for health information management, and formulate strategies for digital health transformation. Students synthesize informatics evidence to produce strategic recommendations that align technology initiatives with organizational objectives and advance health outcomes across populations.

HI 5345. Geospatial Data Analysis for Healthcare.

This course introduces key concepts and terminology and explore fundamental and advanced methods for geospatial data analysis in healthcare. Students learn to analyze healthcare data sets using geospatial programming languages and software tools to monitor and evaluate health outcomes. Key topics include geospatial analytics, data visualization techniques, spatial pattern identification, and mapping for decision‑support. Emphasis is placed on applying geospatial methods to real‑world health challenges to enhance understanding of population health trends, resource allocation, and healthcare accessibility.

HI 5393. Program and Project Management for HIIM.

This course will examine program and project management principles within health informatics and health information management contexts. Students evaluate project management methodologies, including PMBOK, Agile, and hybrid approaches, to assess their application in healthcare technology implementations. Through case-based analysis and applied exercises, students develop project charters, risk management frameworks, and stakeholder communication strategies for complex health IT initiatives. Students also analyze IT governance structures and portfolio management approaches, formulating strategic recommendations that align technology investments with organizational objectives and support successful program outcomes across healthcare enterprises.