Mar 28, 2024  
Graduate Studies Catalog 2019-2020 
    
Graduate Studies Catalog 2019-2020 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Health Informatics, MS


 

Margarete L. Zalon, PhD, RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN, Program Director

margarete.zalon@scranton.edu

570-941-7655

 

Program Objectives

The Master of Science in Health Informatics at The University of Scranton will provide graduates with an innovative and forward-looking understanding of an ever-evolving discipline located at the intersection of information science, computer science, and health care. This interdisciplinary focus is used to explore the resources, devices, and methods required to optimize the acquisition, storage, retrieval, and use of information in health care. The program explores a number of health informatics tools that include not only information and communication systems, but also emerging and innovative technologies. Graduates will understand how health informatics is applied across the broad-spectrum of health care and learn how to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams to achieve goals in person-centered environments.  

Program of Study

The program of study consists of eleven, 3- credit hour online courses modules, for a total of 33 graduate credit hours. Each course is offered on-line in an 8-week format. The capstone course at the end of the program provides the opportunity to use learning from previous courses for a precepted experience to complete an applied health informatics project.

Admission Requirements

An applicant for the program must possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university and have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.00 on a grading scale of 4.00. Applicants falling below this level may submit other evidence of their ability to complete graduate work such as grades in other graduate level courses, scores on the Graduate Record Examination, and/or a record of progressively higher work responsibilities. A completed application, together with official transcripts of undergraduate and graduate work taken elsewhere, letters of recommendation, any required test scores, and other supporting documents, should be received at least ten days before the term in which the student wishes to begin graduate study. If an applicant does not have the necessary background in either healthcare or information technology, the student will be required to complete a foundational one-credit module in either or both areas (HINF 501 and/or HINF 502). Students may also opt to take an examination to place out of the one-credit modules.  These modules are taken concurrently with the first three-credit course, HINF 520. International students, whose native language is not English, must demonstrate their proficiency in English by meeting criteria established for admission to the University.

Curriculum
  • HINF 520 - Introduction to Health Informatics
  • HINF 530 - Healthcare Knowledge for Health Informatics
  • HINF 535 - Principles of Computer Science and Software Development
  • HINF 540 - Information Technology for Health Informatics
  • HINF 545 - Database Principles and Applications
  • HINF 550 - Population Health for Health Informatics
  • HINF 560 - Business Management and Communication for Health Informatics
  • HINF 570 - Public Policy for Health Informatics
  • HINF 580 - Current Trends in Health Informatics
  • HINF 590 - Health Informatics Capstone
  • One 3-credit elective from the following: ERP 510, ERP 515, HAD 501, HAD 510, HAD 512, HAD 513, HAD 517, HR 501, NURS 507, NURS 590, NURS 591, OM 543  

 

Those students without the requisite background in healthcare and computer information technology may be required to take one or both of the following:

  • HINF 501 - Introduction to Healthcare
  • HINF 502 - Computer Information Technology for Health Professionals

 

Clearances: Students are required to comply with clearance and other requirements for the healthcare organization or agency for the capstone course. These clearances generally include a criminal background check and may include FBI fingerprinting, two-step tuberculosis testing, hepatitis B vaccination, flu vaccination and/or drug screening as well as other requirements. These clearances may require additional fees at the student’s own expense. Delays in completion of these requirements may delay enrollment and/or completion of capstone course requirements.

Health Informatics Certificate

The certificate program in Health Informatics is comprised of courses that introduce professionals to the discipline of health informatics, providing them with a foundation in the intersection of health care and informatics. The program provides a foundation in the theoretical knowledge and practical applications of informatics and the use of the electronic health record. This also includes application of the knowledge of emerging health care trends impacting information technologies, algorithm evaluation and software development processes as applied to information needs and the information infrastructure of health care organizations. The certificate is designed for professionals from business, computer science and health care as well as clinicians from a variety of health care disciplines who are interested in pursuing a career in health informatics as well as those health informatics professionals who want to broaden their expertise with formal course work. The certificate enables professionals to take advantage of opportunities for growth in a rapidly expanding discipline, and career advancement while bringing value to their organizations.

Program of Study

The program consists of four, 3-credit hour on line modules for a total of 12 graduate credit hours. Each is offered on line in an eight-week format. Courses are offered sequentially, and learning is cumulative.