Drive the Future of Health Care Data

Advance Health Care with Data-Driven Expertise

Health Information Management (HIM) is the practice of acquiring, analyzing, and protecting the medical information of patients. When you earn your health information management degree online, you’ll become skilled in the latest technology and understand the workflow of health care providers, from large hospital systems to private practices. Health care providers are required to keep their electronic patient records secure, creating a growing demand for individuals who can create and manage this process. They are vital to daily operations and managing electronic health records. With your health information management degree, you too can play a vital role in how the health care industry protects patient information.

As a HIM student, you will learn about the latest technology and understand the workflow of health care providers, from large hospital systems to private practices. You will gain the skills to become integral to daily operations and manage electronic health records. Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management online degree program, you will be able to:

  • Analyze health data structure, content, standards, clinical classification systems, and reimbursement methodologies
  • Manage strategic planning and organizational development
  • Compare and contrast health statistics, biomedical research, quality management, and performance improvement strategies used in health care
  • Examine driving factors influencing health care organization, delivery systems, health care privacy, confidentiality, and legal and ethical issues
  • Evaluate emerging applications in health informatics
  • Evaluate emerging health care trends in information and communication technology, information systems, and data security
  • Analyze the process of job analysis, staffing, appraisal and compensation, training, career planning, and organizational development

Why Choose the University of Arizona Global Campus?

Accelerated 5 week courses
1 course at a time
$0 Application Fee
Accredited by WSCUC

Military Students $250.00/credit

Undergraduate Courses $460.00/credit

Technology Fee** $115.00/course

Books and Other Class Materials** $125.00/average per course

Graduation Fee $150.00

Total Program Cost See UAGC Catalog¹

 

¹Keep in mind that this figure doesn’t factor in any potential discounts, partner benefits, or impact of accepted transfer credits, if eligible.

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Scholarships

UAGC offers enrolled students access to ScholarshipUniverse, a platform that tailors external scholarship opportunities to your unique situation, making it easier to find and apply for scholarships.

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Partnership Savings

UAGC is proud to provide reduced tuition rates for our academic and corporate partners, helping community college transfer students and corporate employees earn their degrees at a lower cost.

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Health Information Management Curriculum Overview

Your Health Information Management degree program explores the technology and workflow that exists within healthcare providers, from large hospital systems to private practices. You will examine topics that include statistics, information systems, and telecommunications; and your program features two Professional Practice Experiences (PPEs), a combination of virtual activities and onsite supervised training within a healthcare facility.

1

Freshman Year

  • In this foundational course, students explore the principles necessary for achieving personal and career success. GEN 101 serves as a road map, guiding students as they begin their academic journey. Through self-discovery, surveying available resources, connecting with UAGC groups, and engaging with Career Services, students learn the essential skills of planning and goal setting. Students apply their personal strengths, skills, and lifelong learning strategies to develop essential career competencies. By making these meaningful connections students gain a deeper understanding of how their education relates to their desired career path.  Congratulations on embarking on this college journey filled with growth, exploration, and endless possibilities! This course is not available for non-degree seeking students and is not available as an elective.

  • This course offers an overview of digital fluency as it applies to personal, academic, financial, and professional success. Students will analyze the impact of digital technology on personal, social, and diversity issues and will develop digital skills that will assist in achieving academic, personal, and career goals. An overview of digital media is introduced with practical strategies for application in personal and professional life.

  • Learn and use key, practical skills that are applicable at home, at work, and in all UAGC courses! As UAGC students progress in their academic journey, strategies for personal, professional, and academic success continue to develop. This introductory course takes a two-pronged approach to setting students on a path to success. It merges fundamental informational literacy concepts with essential resources and skills that prepare students for college and career. Students learn how to identify, locate, evaluate, apply, and acknowledge information obtained through UAGC Library databases and internet search engines. By applying the research process, students sharpen critical thinking skills and learn to use information ethically. The final project is a practical and relevant opportunity for students to apply their learning in personally, professionally, and academically meaningful ways.

  • ENG 121 is designed to introduce students to the standards of writing in both academic and professional settings. The class will operate by first introducing, and then allowing students to practice, several written communication skills. Throughout, we will work to understand writing as a process, one that is strengthened through critical thinking, deepened by research, and built on a foundation of professional standards. Students will articulate a sense of their own skills and goals, and engage in collaborative conversations with peers and their instructor so as to be able to express their ideas more effectively. During the course, students will use the writing process to scrutinize their own perspectives while challenging them to embrace a wider conversation.

  • This course is designed to expand students’ appreciation of film and knowledge of how films are made. Through analysis of storytelling in a visual medium, students will examine the ways in which movies are shot, develop characters, evoke emotion, depict physical reality, reflect society, and have the power to influence it. Though the focus of the course is film itself, students will gain deeper intercultural fluency while growing their skills in critical thinking, written communication, and visual analysis.

  • This course is a study of correct and incorrect reasoning involved in everyday activities. The fundamentals of language and argument, deductive and inductive reasoning and other aspects of practical reasoning are examined. 

  • This course examines and evaluates theories and arguments concerning ethics and moral reasoning from a philosophical perspective. By engaging with historical and contemporary sources, students will analyze theories about the meaning, nature, and justification of ethical concepts; determine and assess how different forms of moral reasoning apply to contemporary moral issues; become more reflective and informed about their own moral beliefs; and develop their capacity for critical practical reasoning.

  • In this course, students will develop and expand their research and writing skills to communicate ideas in informed, ethical, and persuasive written documents intended for a range of audiences across a range of situations and contexts. Students will receive instruction and practice in synthesis and analysis, bolstering their written communication skills with a thorough understanding of academic research while honing critical thinking skills and effective work habits. Through writing well-structured, logical, and effective academic essays, students will explore tools and develop topics in a way that is meaningful to academic and professional lives. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENG 121 or equivalent with a grade of “C-” or better.

  • This course is designed to aid students in understanding the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. Verbal and nonverbal communication patterns among people in personal, social, academic, and professional settings will be examined, within and between cultures, including both face-to-face and technologically mediated channels.  The nature of these interactions will be evaluated using contemporary communication theory. The course will enable students to identify their interpersonal communication skills and behaviors and to more critically evaluate their own oral communication and that of others. The primary goals of the course are to improve the quality of students’ communication in their personal and professional relationships, to enhance students’ experience and. confidence with oral communication, and increase awareness of the importance of interpersonal communication that is inclusive and equitable.

  • A survey of government at the national level. Emphasis is placed on the constitutional basis of American government, federalism, the sources and forms of political behavior, the operation of the three branches of government, and the making of national policy.

2

Sophomore Year

  • Students explore culture in its role of guiding human behavior and providing social order, structure, and stability for individuals and groups of people. Culture is presented as a system of adaptation involving beliefs, behavior, language, customs, socio/political strategies, traditions, and technology that evolve over time. Recommended prerequisite: ENG 122.

  • This course focuses on sustainable development from a cross-disciplinary approach, including, economics, management, education, policy, and science. Students discuss sustainability conflicts at the national and international levels, and use online simulations to understand and evaluate sustainability practices.   Topics include zero waste, water management, smart growth, green technology, global change, renewable energy, agriculture, and land management.  

  • In this course, students will explore a wide range of Algebra topics. Topics will include study of linear equations, linear relationships, slope, polynomials, and functions, including graphing relations and solving systems of equations. Emphasis will be placed on developing an awareness of historical and current uses of algebra in real life settings, in various careers, and in solving important societal problems.

  • The capstone serves as an opportunity to reflect upon, integrate, and showcase learning achievement. Through discussions and course-embedded assessments, students will demonstrate a mastery of essential general education competencies as they relate to their personal and professional lives and provide evidence of growth through application of competency related skills to real-world situations. A minimum grade of “C-“ is required to meet course requirements. Prerequisite: 75 completed credits or permission of the student’s college or dean.

  • This course offers an overview of digital fluency as it applies to personal, academic, financial, and professional success. Students will analyze the impact of digital technology on personal, social, and diversity issues and will develop digital skills that will assist in achieving academic, personal, and career goals. An overview of digital media is introduced with practical strategies for application in personal and professional life.

  • This course is an introduction to computer programming with focus on the program development process and concepts involved in use of a higher- level, object-oriented programming language. In this hands-on, virtual lab-based course, students will analyze, design, code, and test computer programs using the JAVA programming language. Different programming language designs will be explored including building web elements, mobile applications, computer programs, and commands to different machines. Computer hardware and associated technologies are discussed. Students will acquire hands-on experience in the programming process.

  • This is an introductory course that explores the historical evolution of health care in the United States, its financing sources, technology, delivery of care and the stakeholders who comprise the health care system. The structure of the health care system, including the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, better known as Obamacare, will be discussed along with the various components that influence health care such as legal, ethical, regulatory, and fiscal forces. Students will also explore other health care systems and examine the potential future of health care in the United States. 

  • This course is the study of medical language and includes the building blocks of prefixes, suffixes and root words, definitions, pronunciations, basic medical terms, and common laboratory tests, diagnostic tests and procedures by body system.

  • This course is part one of a two-part course that is the study of anatomy, the structure of the body and how the body is organized and physiology, the function and vital processes of the various structures making up the human body. This course includes an overview of the human body, basic chemistry of the body, cell and tissue structures, integumentary, skeletal, and muscular and nervous system.

  • This course is part two of a two-part course that is the study of anatomy, the structure of the body and how the body is organized and physiology, the function and vital processes of the various structures making up the human body. This course includes an overview of the endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, lymphatic & immune, gastrointestinal, urinary and reproductive systems. Prerequisite: HIM 205.

3

Junior Year

  • This course explores the health information management profession from an educational and ethical perspective and examines foundational elements for managing patient health data, including health record content, structure, and standards, health information management departmental functions, and technologies used for managing health information.

  • This course focuses on the evolution, regulations, planning, financing, implementation, and use of electronic health records. Students will gain hands-on experience with various tools used for collecting and reporting patient data and evaluate the components of the legal health record. Prerequisite: HCA 205.

  • This course is the study of common human diseases, disorders and conditions. In the course, students will learn the description, symptoms and signs, diagnostic tests, etiology, and treatment for common diseases, disorders and conditions. In addition, the students will learn about the associated drug class for specific diseases, disorders or conditions. Prerequisite: HIM 105, HIM 205, and HIM 206.

  • This course explores the major legal and ethical issues central to the implementation, application, and utilization of health information across the spectrum of health care settings. Key topics include liability, confidentiality, and the legal and ethical ramifications of federal legislative mandates pertaining to health information management and informatics. Prerequisites: HCA 205 and HIM 217

  • This course is part one of a two-part course that introduces students to clinical classification and coding systems. Students will be introduced to clinical coding guidelines, applications, and relationship to reimbursement. The course emphasizes the ICD-10-CM coding system. Students will participate in authentic learning using a simulation lab for clinical coding. Prerequisites: HIM 105, HIM 205, HIM 206, and HIM 210.

  • This course is part II of a two-part course that introduces students to applications for clinical classification and coding. Students will compare and contrast various processes, policies, and procedures to ensure the accuracy of coded data and demonstrate their understanding of diagnosis and procedure coding systems through practical application. Prerequisites: HIM 105, HIM 205, HIM 206, HIM 210, HIM 217, and HIM 250.

  • This course provides a foundation in healthcare reimbursement methods and revenue cycle management. Reimbursement systems in the public and private sectors will be explored. Managing revenue cycle processes and compliance with regulations will be emphasized. Prerequisite: HCA 205, HIM 250 and HIM 251 or HIM 215.

  • This course introduces collecting, calculating, reporting, and interpreting healthcare data for multiple stakeholders. Determinants of health and population health will be explored. Prerequisites: HCA205, HIM215, and Quantitative Reasoning Core competency.

  • This course provides students with a virtual professional practice experience focused on foundational health information management concepts. Students will participate in practical application activities to prepare them for the health information management profession. Prerequisites: HIM 105, HIM 205, HIM 206, HIM 250, HIM 251, HCA 205, HIM 310, HIM 217, HIM 252, HIM 210, and HIM 360.

4

Senior Year

  • In this course, students will explore foundations and concepts of health care accreditation and continuous quality improvement. Students will discuss the concept of quality assurance based on standards set by selected accreditation, regulatory, licensing, and certification programs. In addition, they will explore the interface of accreditation and reimbursement. Students will use health information systems to analyze health care accreditation, government mandates, and regulatory activities that impact consumer outcomes. Students will also analyze the legal implications of quality improvement and explore the social, political, professional, and organizational influences on health services delivery. Prerequisite: HCA 205.

  • This course addresses key components of healthcare information systems and operational effectiveness. Students will analyze the strategic alignment of health information technology, including the evolution of healthcare information systems and data governance. Students will evaluate health information architecture and infrastructure, applications and service management, and administrative and financial systems. Foundational information on the transition of data into knowledge, value analysis, and information management strategic planning is provided. Prerequisite: HIM 301, HIM 217, HIM 252, HIM 370 and HCA 205.

  • This course focuses on key management principles in healthcare management and unique Health Information Management activities. Students will learn about organizational structure, the planning and decision making process, budgeting, committee and team dynamics, staff hiring and development and key indicators of department performance. Prerequisites: HCA 205, HCA 375, HIM 105, HIM 205, HIM 206, HIM 210, HIM 217, HIM 250, HIM 251, HIM 252, HIM 310, HIM 360 and HIM 370. This course must be taken at the University of Arizona Global Campus and may not be transferred from another institution.

  • This course synthesizes key concepts in health informatics while incorporating emerging technologies to equip students with the skills necessary for data-driven decision-making in healthcare settings. Students will explore the construction and utilization of healthcare datasets, utilize computerized statistical packages, and assess the role of emerging technologies in achieving financial and performance improvement goals. Prerequisite: HIM 301.

  • This course explores in depth the relationship of research and informatics, research methods, the research process and the quantitative and qualitative analysis of data, including descriptive and inferential statistics. Students will explore the role of epidemiology in research and policy development. Prerequisites: Successful completion of quantitative reasoning core competency, HCA 205, HIM 360 and HIM 252.

  • This course explores project management principles in Health Information Management. Students will learn about the project process and related tools and techniques to successfully plan, execute, and manage a project. Prerequisite: HCA 205 and HIM 450.

  • This course is a combination of supervised management experience in a healthcare setting and virtual activities. Students complete 40 hours in a professional work environment demonstrating mastery of their knowledge, application, analysis, and synthesis of key Health Information Management concepts. The virtual activities focus on preparing students for the registered health information administrator (RHIA) credentialing exam. Prerequisite: Completion of BSHIM program core courses. This course must be taken at the University of Arizona Global Campus and may not be transferred from another institution. This course is not eligible to be taken as Non-degree seeking. PPE site approval is required before this course can be scheduled.

Program Requirements
Credit Breakdowns
General Education
43
Credits
Major Credit Requirements
70*
Credits
Electives
17
Credits
Total Credits
120
Credits

To earn your Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management at the University of Arizona Global Campus, you must complete 120 credits. You must earn a minimum of 30 upper-division credits. Also, you must earn a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 in all major coursework attempted at the University.

*In this program, 10 credits from the major may also satisfy General Education requirements.

In order to transfer credits for HIM courses (numbered 215 and higher) in the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program, the credits must come from a program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM).

Licensure and Certification Terms and Conditions

This program is not designed to meet the state educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification in any state. Students seeking licensure or certification in a particular profession shall carefully research the requirements prior to enrollment and regularly review the requirements as they are subject to change. Requirements vary by state. The University of Arizona Global Campus does not guarantee that any professional organization will accept a graduate’s application to sit for any exam for the purpose of professional certification. Further, a criminal record may prevent an applicant from obtaining licensure, certification, or employment in their field of study.

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). This program is aligned with the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) Curricular Competencies. As such, graduates of this program are eligible to sit for the national Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam. Prospective students are advised to regularly review the requirements for jobs in their intended field of employment, which are subject to change. Other factors, such as a student’s criminal history, may prevent an applicant from obtaining employment in this field.

Criminal Convictions & Criminal Background Check Requirements

Applicants to the Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program are required to pay for, complete and successfully clear a Criminal Background Check (CBC) prior to enrollment into the program and a second CBC prior to site placement for their Professional Practice Experience (PPE), dependent on the practicum site requirements. Students will work directly with Sterling Infosystems, Inc. for their initial CBC; the approximate cost of each CBC will be $24.00. Applicants are advised that health care organizations (hospitals, home health agencies, clinics, and other types of health agencies) may require a background check for any student completing a professional practice experience as well as for employment.

Professional Practice Experiences

If you undertake a HIM degree from UAGC, you will complete two Professional Practice Experiences (PPEs), one that is virtual and one that is a combination of virtual and onsite at a facility. As part of the second PPE embedded in the last class of the program, HIM 495, you will complete a minimum of 40 hours of supervised HIM tasks and projects at a nearby facility with the University’s approval. The 40 hours must be completed while you are enrolled in HIM 495. You can only complete your PPE in states where this program is available.

All students enrolling in a degree program with a PPE requirement are expected to complete the PPE in the United States. If you anticipate that you will not be able to complete your PPE in the United States, all exceptions must be approved prior to admission to the program.

Students who reside and/or work outside the United States may be ineligible to complete PPE hours at a facility abroad; requirements and restrictions vary by country. Students must notify the program chair prior to enrolling in the program to discuss a potential PPE location and obtain program chair permission to enroll.

Quality Matters Certification

The Online Teaching Support Certification recognizes programs that require all online faculty to undergo training in best practices for online course delivery, provide faculty with ongoing pedagogical support, encourage faculty professional development to increase their knowledge and skill in online teaching, emphasize instructor availability and feedback to learners, and collect and use feedback from learners to improve online teaching. Learn More

The Online Learner Support Certification recognizes programs that provide all the critical student and academic services needed for learner success and use learner feedback to continuously improve those services.

What Can I Do with a Degree in Health Information Management?

Career Paths

When you complete your bachelor’s in health information management, you will have what you need to begin a potentially rewarding career. Your degree in Health Information Management (HIM) could open the door to one of these opportunities:

  • Clinical Data Manager
  • Medical Records Coordinator
  • Clinical Coordinator

If you successfully earn your AHIMA certification, you may be able to pursue of these careers:

  • Health Information Administrator
  • HIM Supervisor
  • Implementation Support Specialist
  • Document Imaging Supervisor
  • Clinical Data Specialist
  • EHR Implementation Specialist
  • Credentialing Specialist
  • Research Coordinator
  • Customer Service Billing Representative
  • Practice Workflow and Implementation Specialist
  • DRG Validator
  • HIM Revenue Cycle Auditor
  • Quality Improvement Analyst
  • Data, Application, or System Analyst
  • Documentation and Coding Specialist
  • Practitioner Consultant
  • Clinical Documentation Improvement Specialist
Connect With Career Services
Job Market Outlook

Gain insights into the health information management job market by reviewing the Bureau of Labor Statistics market outlook report.

View Full Market Outlook

I looked at a lot of different institutions; however, the friendliness of the staff and knowledgeable advisors really steered me in choosing UAGC.

Gigi R.
UAGC logo
Class of 2023

BS in Health Information Management FAQs

  • A BS in Health Information Management is an undergraduate degree that focuses on the effective management of patient health data and medical records. The HIM program at UAGC offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers health data management, information systems, and privacy and security.

  • Pursuing a bachelor’s in health information management may be a valuable investment in your future. As health care systems increasingly adopt electronic health records and other digital tools, the need for experts who can manage and protect this information is more critical than ever.

    By enrolling in the online health information management degree program at UAGC, you are positioning yourself at the forefront of a dynamic field that combines health care, management, and information technology, opening doors to a variety of career opportunities you may pursue in diverse health care settings.

  • Your health information management degree online explores the technology and workflow that exists within health care providers, from large hospital systems to private practices. You will examine topics that include statistics, information systems, and telecommunications; and your program features two Professional Practice Experiences (PPEs), a combination of virtual activities and onsite supervised training within a health care facility.

  • Designed with the career-oriented professional in mind, this online health information management degree can provide you with the flexibility to continue with your current responsibilities while also going back to school. Attend classes when it’s convenient for you as you will have 24/7 online access to your course material. Take the next steps toward your professional career by pursuing your health information management degree online from the University of Arizona Global Campus.

*

To access this rate using the Liberty Grant, only eligible undergraduate active duty service members, members of the National Guard, Reservists, spouses of active duty, members of the National Guard and Reservists, Department of Defense employees using Tuition Assistance (TA), and civilian employees of the United States Coast Guard (only if utilizing Military Tuition Assistance) will qualify.

**

The Technology Fee covers access to University systems such as the online classroom, the Student Portal, and other academic resources. The Technology Fee and the Course Digital Materials (CDM) Fee are fully refundable if a student does not attend beyond Day 3 of a course (Week 3 if covered under the University of Arizona Global Campus Promise Refund Schedule). After this time, the fee becomes non-refundable. Students are charged the Technology Fee for repeated coursework. Students are not charged the CDM fee for repeated coursework if previously charged.

The transferability of credits is subject to the University of Arizona Global Campus transfer credit policies and requires the submission of official transcripts. The official transcripts will be evaluated by the Registrar’s Office to determine the credits that will officially apply toward a UAGC degree program. Credits must be earned at the same degree level in order to be applied. Additional restrictions may apply. See the UAGC Academic Catalog for full undergraduate and graduate transfer policies.

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