MS in Health Informatics
- Overview
- Admissions
- What You'll Learn
- Benefits
USF Health’s Master of Science in Health Informatics addresses both technological and operational aspects of informatics with a focus on the integration and interoperability of technology. Courses provide broad technical skills as well as the organizational competencies needed for senior-level positions.
Health informatics aims at improving the effectiveness and efficiency of care delivery by ensuring that data used for operational and clinical decisions are of high quality. Organizations that have adopted HI realize improved patient outcomes, patient participation, clinician satisfaction and cost management.
Health informatics is a field ideal for technically savvy individuals who want to work in the healthcare industry. When it comes to stepping into the future of healthcare, who can prepare you better than a top-tier medical school? USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine was the nation’s first medical school to offer a Master of Science in Health Informatics 100% online. The program is also accredited by The Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). CAHIIM accreditation assures prospective employers and students that the degree program adheres to rigorous standards of excellence, which may provide graduates with a competitive edge in the workforce.
Earning a CAHIIM-accredited degree from a prestigious medical school means learning from a faculty of healthcare professionals and information technology experts who already work in the field. USF Health’s graduate programs feature a multi-platform online learning experience and a vibrant interactive community that includes live chat rooms, visual whiteboards, instructor-hosted discussion boards, social networking and more.
Who Should Register
Who Should Enroll
Whether you are already working in health informatics and want to advance your career with new credentials, or are interested in transitioning into HI from another profession, a Master of Science in Health Informatics can help position you to meet the growing demand.
This program is designed for:
- Physicians
- Nurses
- Physical Therapists
- Pharmacists
- Mental Health Workers
- Other Healthcare Providers
- IT Professionals
- Health Information Managers
Why Choose USF Health's Morsani College of Medicine
Nationally Recognized Research University
USF is a dynamic, globally respected research institution serving over 50,000 students from 140+ countries.
Flexible Learning
100% online program for convenience and adaptability.
Innovative Curriculum
Focused on integrating informatics with modern patient care to improve outcomes.
Reputation
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine is known for cutting-edge research and academic excellence.
Admission Requirements
All prospective students applying for the MS in Health Informatics program must meet the following criteria for admission:
Education:
- A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited university in biological, chemical, computer, management information sciences, or a related field.
- International students must submit equivalent degrees and additional documentation if applicable.
GPA:
- Minimum overall GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale).
Documents:
- Official transcripts.
- Resume.
- Two professional or academic letters of recommendation.
- Statement of Purpose.
Optional:
- GRE, MCAT, VAT scores, or evidence of substantial health informatics experience to enhance an application.
Certificates Only:
- Certificate Departmental Approval Form.
Additional requirements may apply for international students.
What You'll Learn
In this program, students will learn how to:
- Describe information systems used in healthcare and explain their relationship with data, people, procedures, hardware and software.
- Manage data via relational database systems and the structured query language (SQL) and understand data warehousing, online analytical processing, data quality issues, emerging cloud databases and data mining techniques.
- Integrate electronic medical records with patient care and provide a higher quality of care through better management and availability of medical information.
- Manage the process of electronic health records acquisition and implementation.
- Develop and assess the tools used to represent medical data.
- Assess the functions, limitations, opportunities and challenges of information technology in the healthcare environment.
- Define medical language and classification systems.
- Comply with laws and regulations applicable to managing patient information.
- Communicate effectively with informatics teams and healthcare stakeholders.
- Consider the ethical issues that can arise during the delivery of healthcare with respect to health information.
- Describe clinical workflows from an e-medicine business models perspective.
- Manage healthcare projects using the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK)® Guide.
Graduates of this program will have gained the skills to enter the e-health workforce in some of the following positions, pending experience requirements:
- Clinical Informatics Specialist
- Clinical Documentation Specialist
- Health Informatics Director
- Health Data/Information Resource Manager
- Health Information System Application Designer
- Chief Information Officer
- Chief Medical Information Officer
- Compliance Officer
- IT Consultant
In 2022-2023, USF Health’s MSHI program had an employment rate of 94% within one year of graduation (based on available graduate information).
Average annual salary for a clinical informatics manager in the U.S., as of December 2024: $130,440*
This Program Prepares Students to Sit for Industry Certification Exams**
- American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) – Certified Health Data Analyst (CHDA®)
- American Board of Preventative Medicine – Clinical Informatics Certification***
- Healthcare Information and Management System Society (HIMSS) – Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS)
- HIMSS – Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS)
- AMIA Health Informatics Certification (AHIC)
- Project Management Institute (PMI) – Certified Associate Professional in Project Management (CAPM)®
National long-term projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions, and do not guarantee actual job growth. Information provided is not intended to represent a complete list of hiring companies or job titles, and degree program options do not guarantee career or salary outcomes. Students should conduct independent research for specific employment information.
*Salary.com, Clinical Informatics Manager Salary in the United States at https://www.salary.com/research/salary/benchmark/clinical-informatics-manager-salary
**Students must meet all exam eligibility requirements outlined.
***The Clinical Informatics Practice Pathway expires in 2025. Beginning in 2026, the exam will be available only for those physicians who have completed an ACGME-accredited fellowship in Clinical Informatics. This subspecialty certifying exam will be given annually throughout this