Health information managers specialize in analyzing, protecting, and managing patient data and information. This field relies on having an educational background combining business, health science, and information systems. The work performed by health information managers is vital to administrative operations in health care, quality and safety in patient care, and compliance with health care regulations and laws. This program prepares graduates for a variety of career options. Health information managers are considered specialized Medical and Health Services Managers according to occupational classifications published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics at the U.S. Department of Labor.
On-Campus Bachelor's Degree Program
In this bachelor's degree program, students work with the latest health information technology and expert faculty at the region's top academic health institution: the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in Kansas City, Kansas. Students typically enter this program after completing two years of prerequisite course work at the University of Kansas (or other qualified accredited institution); once at KUMC, students complete their final 2-years of study. This program is tailored for traditional undergraduate students. For more information, please refer to the program website.
Online Bachelor's Degree-Completion Program
KU offers an online bachelor's degree-completion program for working professionals with the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) credential, credentialed professionals in a related health profession, military service members, and veterans. This program assists those who have an associates degree and desire advancement to a bachelor's degree in health information management. As an online program, it offers convenience and flexibility for students and is tailored for experienced students and/or working health care professionals. For more information, please refer to the program website.
Prior to entering the program, students must complete two (2) years of undergraduate college course work totaling at least 60 credit hours from the University of Kansas or another regionally accredited university or community college. Applicants to this program must earn a grade of "C" or higher in all program required prerequisite coursework. An overall grade point average of 2.5 (on a 4.0 scale) for college course work is required to apply.
Changes in health care require frequent curriculum content changes and course revisions. All prospective students should obtain ongoing advising from the department to ensure the student’s transcript meets current prerequisites. Additional advising is available at the Undergraduate Advising Center in Lawrence.
KU Students: Students on the Lawrence campus should declare "pre health information management" as their major. To declare "pre health information management", please contact an academic advisor at the Undergraduate Advising Center for advising. To begin your application to the BS in HIM program, please contact the program advisor at him@kumc.edu.
Transfer Students: Students from other institutions must verify that prerequisites are completed prior to applying to the program. Using the CredTran system, students can verify equivalent course that meet the program requirements. Please contact the program advisor at him@kumc.edu with questions or for assistance in transferring to KU.
International students, or those for whom English is a second language, may have additional requirements relative to language proficiency, residency, and citizenship status. See more information.
A background check is also required. Prospective students should review the program requirements and the complete list of application requirements on the department's website.
Prerequisites
NOTE: Students may still apply if currently enrolled or working toward prerequisite course work. However, all prerequisites must be completed before starting the program.
Course List
| Code |
Title |
Hours |
| BIOL 100 | Principles of Biology (or other natural sciences course) | 3 |
| BIOL 240 | Fundamentals of Human Anatomy 1 | 3 |
| BIOL 246 | Principles of Human Physiology 2 | 3 |
| MATH 365 | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| ACCT 200 | Fundamentals of Financial Accounting 3 | 3-4 |
| or ACCT 205 | Survey of Accounting |
| ENGL 101 | Composition | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Critical Reading and Writing | 3 |
| COMS 130 | Public Speaking | 3 |
| PHIL 160 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| PHIL 148 | Reason and Argument | 3 |
| PSYC 104 | General Psychology | 3 |
| SOC 104 | Elements of Sociology | 3 |
| HEIM 230 | Medical Terminology | 3 |
| HEIM 210 | Introduction to Healthcare | 1 |
| BLAW 301 | Legal Aspects of Business (Other) | 3 |
| IST 310 | Introduction to Information & Management Productivity Systems | 3 |
| or IST 205 | Survey of Information Systems |
| Total Hours | 46-47 |
The on-campus program begins each fall on the KU Medical Center campus in Kansas City, KS. and culminates in a 4-week capstone professional experience at the end of the spring semester of the second year. The online program begins both fall and spring semesters with individualized course plans.
Program requirements and course offerings are subject to change. Prospective students should visit the program website for the latest information.
Course List | Code | Title | Hours |
| HEIM 401 | Introduction to Health Information Management (HIM) | 3 |
| HEIM 415 | Healthcare Delivery Systems | 3 |
| HEIM 425 | Pharmacology Concepts for Health Information Management | 2 |
| HEIM 435 | Clinical Concepts for Health Information Management | 3 |
| HEIM 501 | Information Resources and Professional Development | 2 |
| HEIM 570 | Introduction to Healthcare Management | 3 |
| HEIM 420 | Legal Aspects of Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 450 | Introduction to Professional Practices Experiences | 1 |
| HEIM 525 | Healthcare Database and Architecture | 3 |
| HEIM 540 | Health Information Systems | 3 |
| HEIM 565 | Clinical Terminologies and Classifications I | 4 |
| HEIM 510 | Professional Practice Experience / Lab I | 1 |
| HEIM 567 | Quality and Performance Improvement in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 571 | Human Resource Management in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 575 | Applied Statistics and Research Methods in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 585 | Healthcare Reimbursement | 3 |
| HEIM 635 | Clinical Terminologies and Classifications II | 3 |
| HEIM 665 | Topics in Health Information Management | 2 |
| HEIM 671 | Leadership in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 676 | Healthcare Analytics | 3 |
| HEIM 679 | Information Governance in Healthcare | 3 |
| HEIM 680 | Management Internship | 3 |
| Total Hours | 60 |
Students who are admitted to the BS in HIM program may choose, if advising indicates doing so to be appropriate, to apply to a BS in HIM bridge to Master of Health Services Administration (MHSA) degree option during their junior year. This bridge option provides a degree pathway for HIM students to complete a MHSA degree within 1 year of finishing their bachelor's degree. Application to this bridge program is competitive admission, and not all students who apply are accepted.
BS in HIM students admitted to the MHSA program through the bridge option, have a slightly modified HIM course schedule during their senior year as follows:
