Master of Science in Health Care Informatics


Health Care Informatics is a rapidly emerging discipline that offers new frontiers requiring innovative leadership. Emerging technology provides an understanding of the value of health informatics, how it can reduce health care costs, increase access, and improve the quality of health care services. The master‛s degree in health care informatics is designed for those interested in using information technology, both hardware and software, for better decision making and better patient outcomes. Graduates of this program will be prepared to integrate information technology with health care to support the continuous improvement in patient-care systems, project management, decision making, quality assessment and health care system operations.This health care informatics program involves courses that focus on topics such as: health care politics and economics, legal and ethical principles in health care, and health care research and application. Students will also critically analyze health care research, health care information systems and technology, data management, and the use of health data for process improvement, cost containment, and effective health care delivery. The history, application, impact, and future need for informatics in health care will also be examined.

Graduates may perform a variety of functions for the organization, such as automating clinical care, building new operational data systems, training health care workers in the use of computer systems, and collecting and analyzing data to improve patient care. Depending on their areas of strength and focus, graduates may serve as project managers, project designers, researchers, systems analysts, or administrators and executives at all levels of the organization. Graduates may work in a variety of settings, including hospitals, primary care facilities, doctors‛ offices, insurance companies, pharmacies, technology suppliers, consulting firms, and more.Organizations of potential employment include the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; National Institutes of Health; clinical data exchange insurance sites; the government's Military Health System; Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; state health care; and informational technology vendors.

Program Disclosure

Category Non-Traditional Traditional
Books & Supplies (Per Program) $935 N/A
Tuition & Fees (Per Program) $24,310 N/A
Room & Board (Per Semester, If Applicable) $3,434
On Time Graduation Rate N/A N/A
Median Private Loan Debt N/A N/A
Median TIV Loan Debt N/A N/A
Median Institutional Financing Plan Debt N/A N/A

Program SOC

Occupations
Clinical Data Managers
Medical Records and Health Information Technicians
Medical and Health Services Managers
  1. It is the policy of the University to collect and remit sales, use, excise and/or gross receipts taxes in compliance with state and local taxing jurisdiction regulations which require the University to remit tax where applicable. These regulations vary by location. Please note: It is also the policy of the University to require payment of sales, use, excise, and/or gross receipts tax. Payment of tax is ultimately the student's financial responsibility to the University regardless of financing arrangements. Per Hawaii requirements: It is hereby stated that students residing in the State of Hawaii will be charged Hawaii General Excise Tax on all transactions. Students living in the District of Oahu will be charged 4.5%. Students residing in other Hawaii districts will be charged 4.0%.
  2. Book costs are based on an average. Costs may increase or decrease depending on electronic availability or publisher's book costs.
  3. Room and board costs may be higher or lower depending on housing and meal plan choice. This number is based on an average for students on campus.
  4. Some Non-Traditional programs may be offered on the ground campus or on-line.
  5. N/A identifies that a program is not offered in that modality or that fewer than 10 students graduated within the reported timeframe.
  6. Tuition and Fees for each program are based on current rates. Future Tuition and Fee Rates may vary. Tuition was calculated using the number of credit hours in the program times the current tuition rate and includes the Graduation Fee. Full time students enrolled at a program taken at the main campus include a Student Activity Fee, charged every semester. Online programs include a one time Learning Management Fee. Some programs may also include additional fees based on course materials.
  7. On-time graduation rates and median loan debt are based on students who graduated in the 2011-2012 award year.
  8. Not all GCU programs are available in all states and in all learning modalities.
  9. Program availability is contingent on student enrollment.

Disclosure Information

* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.