Formal study of applied health informatics at the master's level is designed to accomplish these important goals:
The Master Program in Applied Health Informatics is directed toward creating an educated workforce with the knowledge and skills to assess, implement, maintain and evaluate Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and computerized health information systems. The program requires 36 semester credit hours. Each course consists of didactic and laboratory coursework, plus a capstone project. The courses investigate a broad selection of areas such as the modern American healthcare system, healthcare legislation, primary care facilities, electronic health records, health information security protocols, project management, and change management. The program culminates with a capstone project that requires the student to apply knowledge and skills learned from coursework in a practical real world setting.
The Applied Health Informatics Program is an online program.
The applicant should present to the Registrar’s Office the following:
Applicant materials will be organized into a portfolio for review by the admissions committee. The admissions committee will consider such areas as:
Master of Science in Applied Health Informatics application deadlines:
Fall admission - July 1
Spring admission - November 1
Summer admission - March 15
Transfer credit for equivalent courses taken elsewhere may be awarded and used to meet degree requirements, if their equivalency to a SBMI degree program course is approved through a Petition for Equivalency Credit. The maximum number of transferable semester credit hours is six for the applied master’s program.
Applicants who are presenting course work from universities or colleges outside the United States to meet admission or graduation requirements are referred to the section on International Applicants in this catalog for a listing of additional requirements.
Academic Requirements
Credit hours must total at least 36 semester hours for all courses in the degree plan. Each student will follow a degree plan developed with an Advising Committee.
A full-time student in the Applied Health Informatics Program has up to four years (12 semesters) from the time of entry to complete the coursework. A part-time student has up to eight years (24 semesters) from the time of entry to complete the required coursework. Continuous enrollment is required unless approval from the advising committee is obtained. A maximum of one year of an approved leave of absence will be allowed for continuance in the program. If more than one year of leave occurs, the student must apply for readmission to the program.
Each course with a HIT prefix in the Applied Health Informatics degree program is a graduate level course and should be passed with a grade of “B” or better. Only one course grade of “C” is allowed. The minimum grade point average (GPA) required for graduation is 3.0 in all HIT courses.
Other Requirements
In Residence Requirement: The term “in residence” refers to the requirement that a student completes a total of 30 semester credit hours over the course of the program at UTHealth. A student must fulfill his or her in residence requirement in order to receive any academic degree from the School.
Computer Requirement
Every student is required to have reliable access to a computer that meets the minimum requirements. Students are encouraged to purchase a laptop that meets the minimum UTHealth requirements.
Computer requirements are listed on the website (http://www.uth.edu/sbmi/current-students/student-handbook/computer-requirements.htm) and are subject to change.
The curriculum of the Master of Science degree in Applied Health Informatics includes required didactic courses, practicums and a capstone experience. Didactic courses (lecture/discussion, demonstration and student practicums) are presented to provide facts, concepts, and theories related to the techniques and procedures of the applied health informatics area.
The practicums are designed to provide students the opportunity to apply theory and techniques in the hospital, research, or private healthcare settings. The Program in Applied Health Informatics consists of 36 Semester Credit Hours (SCH). The part-time student has up to two and a half years (8 semesters) from the time of entry to complete the required course work. Each student has a designated degree plan that must successfully be completed to satisfy the program requirements.
Each student will be assigned an advisor. The Applied program is designed as an online program only. The three-hour practicum and capstone project are both required so that students receive real world experience.
| Sample Curriculum | |
| Course No. Course Title | Semester Credits |
| Spring Semester | |
| HIT 5300 Introduction to Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5301 The U.S. Healthcare System | 3 |
| HIT 5302 Communication in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5320 Applied Health Information Systems in the Delivery of Healthcare | 3 |
| HIT 5000 Practicum in Applied Health Informatics | 1 |
| Total | 13 |
| Summer Semester | |
| HIT 5324 Project Management in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5327 Standards and Standards Development in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5326 Assessments in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5000 Practicum in Applied Health Informatics | 1 |
| Total | 10 |
| Fall Semester | |
| HIT 5303 Safety and Security in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5325 Social Dynamics in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5323 Evaluation of Health Information Systems in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5322 Systems Analysis in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| HIT 5000 Practicum in Applied Health Informatics | 3 |
| Total | 13 |
| Grand Total | 36 |
For further curriculum information, please contact:
Juliana Brixey PhD, RN
7000 Fannin Street Suite 600
Houston, Texas 77030
Telephone: (713) 500-3643
Email: SBMIAcademics@uth.tmc.edu