Graduate Health Informatics & Information Management

Faculty

Carol J. Ratcliffe, Interim Chair, Professor
Lakesha Kinnerson, Assistant Professor; Coordinator, Health Information Management
David Robbins, Assistant Professor; Director, Health Informatics and Analytics

Graduate Programs and Requirements

Degree
Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics (M.S.H.I.)

The Department of Health Informatics and Information Management offers a master of science in health informatics and analytics degree.

Master of Science in Health Informatics and Analytics (M.S.H.I.)

The master of science in health informatics and analytics (M.S.H.I.) prepares graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to be leaders in the field of health informatics and analytics. Students will learn how to plan, budget, implement, manage and analyze the informatics systems and data vital to the functioning of all departments in hospitals, medical and dental practices, skilled nursing facilities, home health, community and public health settings, and all other facets of the healthcare delivery infrastructure. Through didactic and experiential learning, graduates will know how to use the potential of health informatics and analysis for improving patient safety, decreasing medical errors, cutting costs, increasing access, and facilitating interprofessional teams.

Admission Requirements

Applicants must:

Possess a baccalaureate degree in any field from a regionally accredited college or university.
Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 on a 4.00 scale.
GRE minimum scores: Verbal, 153; Quantitative, 144; Analytical, 4.0. MAT minimum score: 402.
Five years of work experience in a relevant field can substitute for GRE/MAT with department chair approval.
Achieve a B or higher in all major courses.
Have completed undergraduate level statistics from a regionally accredited college or university with grade of B or higher.
Submit three letters of reference through the application system. References should be from 1) a current or previous professor, 2) a work supervisor (paid or unpaid) and 3) another professional who can provide a knowledgeable testament regarding character, ethics, responsibility, potential for success, and other attributes that predict an applicant’s favorable performance in the program.
International applicants or American citizens who learned English as a second language must score at least 550 (paper), 213 (computer) or 80 (Internet) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). We cannot issue an I-20 for this program at this time.
1. International applicants must also obtain a score of 27 or better on the iBT speaking subtest of the TOEFL or a 50 or better on the TEST of Spoken English. For more information, got to toefl.org.
Submit an online video interview. A link will be provided upon submission of the application.

Exceptions to any admission requirements will be handled on an individual basis.

If accepted, a non-refundable fee of $500 is required to secure admission into the program. The fee is applied to the first semester’s tuition.

For more on the admission/application process, see the following Web site: https://www.samford.edu/publichealth/Master-of-Health-Informatics-and-Analytics.

Time-to-Degree Completion Plan

The program is designed to be completed in five semesters of full-time study or seven semesters of part-time study.

Programs

Master

Health Informatics & Analytics (M.S.H.I.)

Courses

Health Informatics & Information Management