Approved by: Graduate Council
Implementation Date: Summer 2014
Note: Deletions are strikethroughs. Insertions are underlined.
Catalog Copy
Health Informatics
- M.S. in Health Informatics
- Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information TechnologyHealth Informatics
Professional Science Master’s Degree in Health Informatics
hi.uncc.edu
Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information TechnologyHealth Informatics
hit.uncc.edu
The program in Health Informatics is a joint venture between the College of Computing and Informatics, the College of Health and Human Services, and the Graduate School. The program offers both a Certificate and a Master of Science degree designed to prepare students for the complex and rapidly changing healthcare and technology sectors.
Faculty Director
Dr. Mirsad Hadzikadic
343-A Woodward Hall
Graduate Program Director
Joshua Hertel, Graduate School
Denny 212
704-687-8763
College of Computing and Informatics
cci.uncc.edu
College of Health and Human Services
health.uncc.edu
Graduate School
graduateschool.uncc.edu
Deans
Dr. Yi Deng, College of Computing and Informatics
Dr. Nancy Fey-Yensan, College of Health and Human Services
Dr. Tom Reynolds, Graduate School
M.S. in Health Informatics
The Professional Science Master’s (PSM) program in Health Informatics is an interdisciplinary program focused on the complex issues surrounding the management and analysis of electronic medical information. The program is designed to develop future leaders in the areas of health data management and analysis, including programming, security, health information exchange and healthcare analytics. Graduates of the PSM in Health Informatics will earn an M.S. in Health Informatics and be prepared to meet the urgent need for professionals capable of creating, implementing, evaluating, and modifying the next generation of medical information systems.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the general Graduate School requirements for admission to Master’s Degree programs. Applications must include all of the materials listed by the Graduate School as typical for Master’s Degree application submissions. In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following are required for study toward the M.S. in Heath Informatics.
- An earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university in computer sciences, health sciences, information systems, or life sciences or in an informatics discipline or a closely related field
Degree Requirements
The PSM in Health Informatics program requires 359-348 graduate credit hours, including 9-183-6 hours of Foundation courses, 118credit hours of Core courses, 3 credit hours of Core elective courses,159 credit hours of Concentration Track concentration focus courses, and 3 credit hours of Internship/Practicum. There are four specialty Concentrations:
The following table depicts the new program requirements. Additional details can be found in Appendix 7.
Programmer & Software Engineer
Health Information Privacy and Security Specialist
Health Information Management (HIM)/Exchange Specialist
Health Analyst
A minimum of 24 credit hours contributing to the M.S. in Health Informatics must be from courses numbered 6000 or higher. A maximum of 6 hours of graduate credit may be transferred. Students may apply all of the credits earned in the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information TechnologyInformatics towards the M.S. in Health Informatics.
Foundation Courses
Students withlacking an adequate informatics healthcare background will take the “Foundations in Health” course sequence. Similarly, students with lacking an adequate healthcare informatics background will take the “Foundations in Informatics” course sequence. In all cases a minimum of 39 credit hours of Foundations courses are required.
Foundations in Health
HCIP 5370 Health Vocabularies and Classification Systems (3)
HCIP 6100 Introduction to the US Healthcare System (3)
HCIP 6134 Quality and Outcomes Management in Healthcare (3)
Foundations in Informatics
HCIP 5375 Computer Vocabularies and Programming Systems (3)
HCIP 5376 Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 5160/6160 Database Systems for Health Informatics (3)
The adequacy of a student’s background is determined by the Graduate Program Director. Students who are determined by the Graduate Program Director to lack an adequate background in informatics as well as health will be required to take courses from both Foundation sequences (Foundation General) for a maximum of up to 618 hours.
Core Courses
All students complete six four required Core courses (118 hours) that provide a strong general background in health informatics, security, management, leadership, and statistics in preparation for more advanced Concentration courses.
HCIP 6380 Introduction to Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6108 Decision Analysis in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy, and Legal Issues (3)
HCIP 6228 Medical Informatics (3)6XXX Overview of Analytics Tools in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6342 Information Technology Project Management (3)
HCIP 6385 Healthcare Communication and Leadership (3)GRAD 6002 Responsible Conduct of Research (2)
HCIP 6102 Health Care Data Analysis
Core Elective
Students must take 3 credit hours of Core elective coursework from the following set, complementary to the student’s base Foundation coursework.
HCIP 5376 Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6100 Introduction to the US Healthcare System (3)
One of these two equivalent courses:
- HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy, and Legal Issues (3)
- IT ISHCIP 6200 Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
Concentration Requirements
Each student must also complete an approved concentration area consisting of fifteennine (159) credit hours. TrackConcentration coursework balances depth and breadth across the following coursework categories with a breadth requirement. Students must take at least 3 of the 15 hours in a separate category from the majority of the TrackConcentration coursework. ConcentrationCcategory areas and applicable courses include:
Programmer and Software EngineerData Science & Analytics – Students with a focus in this trackconcentration category create and manipulate data as part of advanced health information systems in toin this concentration design and develop advanced health IT solutions creating systems that meet the unique needs and exacting standards of the healthcare industry.
HCIP 5121 Information Visualization (3)
HCIP 5122 Visual Analytics (3)
HCIP 5123 Applied Statistics (3)
HCIP 5166Network-Based Application Development (3)
HCIP 6070Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6112Software System Design and Implementation (3)
HCIP 6162Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
HCIP 6350Principles of Human-Computer Interaction (3)
HCIP 6390Advanced Programming for HI (3)
HCIP 6391Architecting HI Systems (3)
HCIP 6392Enterprise Health Information Systems (3)
HCIP 6410Personalization and Recommender Systems (3)HCIP 5160 Database Systems (3)
HCIP 5166 Network-Based Application Development (3)
HCIP 5220 Vulnerability Assessment and System Assurance (3)
HCIP 5250 Computer Forensics (3)
HCIP 61030 Big Data Analytics for Competitive Advantage (3)
HCIP 6112 Software System Design and Implementation (3)
HCIP 6156 Machine Learning (3)
HCIP 6162 Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
HCIP 6163 Data Warehousing (3)
HCIP 6167 Network Security (3)
HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy, and Legal Issues (3)
HCIP 6200 Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
HCIP 6210 Access Control & Security Architecture (3)
HCIP 6230 Information Infrastructure Protection (3)
HCIP 6342 Information Technology Project Management (3)
HCIP 6350 Principles of Human-Computer Interaction (3)
HCIP 6391 Architecting Health Information Systems (3)
HCIP 6392 Enterprise Health Information Systems (3)
HCIP 6393 Advanced Health Data Integration w/Lab (3)
HCIP 6500 Complex Adaptive Systems (3)
HCIP 6520 Network Science
Health Information Management and Exchange Specialist – Students in this concentration focus on the collection, management, and efficient transfer of medical information across multiple platforms.
HCIP 6070Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6134Quality and Outcomes Management in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6146Information Resources Management (3)
HCIP 6150Health Law and Ethics (3)
HCIP 6199Principles of Computer Networks and Databases (3)
HCIP 6330Medical Practice Management (3)
HCIP 6392Enterprise Health Information Systems (3)
HCIP 6393Advanced Health Data Integration with Lab (3)
Health Information Privacy and Security Specialist – Students in this concentration specialize in the secure exchange and storage of confidential electronic health records.
HCIP 5220Vulnerability Assessment and System Assurance (3)
HCIP 5250Computer Forensics (3)
HCIP 6070Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6134Quality and Outcomes Management in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6167Network Security (3)
HCIP 6200Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
HCIP 6210Access Control & Security Architecture (3)
HCIP 6230Information Infrastructure Protection (3)
HCIP 6240Applied Cryptography (3)
Health AnalystBusiness of Healthcare – Students with a focus in this trackconcentration category develop skills in in this concentration are responsible for analyzing health data to identify risk and to adopt best practices in the healthcare industry.
HCIP 6070Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6104Health and Disease (3)
HCIP 6134Quality and Outcomes Management in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6146Information Resources Management (3)
HCIP 6150Health Law and Ethics (3)
HCIP 6162Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
HCIP 6163Data Warehousing (3)
HCIP 6260Analytic Epidemiology (3)
HCIP 6330Medical Practice Management (3)
HCIP 6393Advanced Health Data Integration with Lab (3)
HCIP 6070 Current Issues in Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6100 Introduction to US Health Care System (3)
HCIP 6104 Health and Disease (3)
HCIP 6134 Quality & Outcomes Management in Health Care (3)
HCIP 6146 Information Resources Management (3)
HCIP 6150 Health Law and Ethics (3)
HCIP 6260 Analytic Epidemiology (3)
HCIP 6330 Medical Practice Management (3)
HCIP 6385 Health Communication and Leadership (3)
A course cannot be used to satisfy both a Foundation and a Concentration Trackany two requirements toward the degree.
Other concentration focus areas may be possible with the approval of the Graduate Program Director. In addition, the Graduate Program Director may approve substitution of courses within approved concentration areas. Students may submit a Special Request to the Program or Faculty Director to substitute relevant HLTH, HADM, ITIS, ITCS or MBADDSBA courses in a given trackconcentration.
Capstone Project/Internship
In line with the practice-based nature of the program, all students must complete an approved Capstone Project/Internship experience from one of the following:
HCIP 6198 IT Internship Project (3)
HCIP 6400 Internship (3)
Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information Technology INFORMATICS
The Graduate Certificate in Health Informatics (HI) Healthcare Information Technology (HIT) is designed to train introduce individuals to the core concepts of data management and analysis in healthcare in the management of health and medical information and its secure exchange between consumers and providers. The certificate requires twelve (12) credit-hours of coursework and a three (3) credit-hour internship, for a total of fifteen (15) graduate credit hours of coursework. The certificate may be pursued concurrently with a related graduate degree program at UNC Charlotte. Students may apply all of the credits earned in the HIT Certificate towards the Health Informatics PSMM.S. in Health Informatics.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the general Graduate School requirements for admission to Graduate Certificate programs. Applications must include all of the materials listed by the Graduate School as typical for Graduate Certificate application submissions. In addition to the general requirements for admission to the Graduate School, the following are required for study toward the Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Information TechnologyHealth Informatics.
- A bachelor’s degree in a related field, including, but not limited to, a life science, health science, health administration, business administration, or computing discipline.
- Knowledge of applications of information technology, including an understanding of computers, database management, and basic programming skills. The adequacy of a student’s background is determined by the Graduate Program Director.
Program Requirements
Foundation Courses
Students with an adequate informatics background will take the “Foundations in Health” course sequence. Similarly, students with an adequate healthcare background will take the “Foundations in Informatics” course sequence. In all cases a minimum of 3 credit hours of Foundations courses are required.
Foundation in Health
HCIP 5370 Health Vocabularies and Classification Systems (3)
Foundation in Informatics
HCIP 5375 Computer Vocabularies and Programming Systems (3)
The adequacy of a student’s background is determined by the Graduate Program Director. Students who are determined by the Graduate Program Director to lack an adequate background in informatics as well as health will be required to take courses from both Foundation sequences (Foundation General) for a maximum of up to 6 hours.
Core Courses
All students complete three required Core courses (9 hours) that provide a strong general background in health informatics.
HCIP 6380 Introduction to Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6108 Decision Analysis in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6102 Health Care Data Analysis (3)
Core Elective
Students must take 3 credit hours of Core elective coursework from the following set, complementary to the student’s base Foundation coursework.
HCIP 5376 Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6100 Introduction to the US Healthcare System (3)
One of these two equivalent courses:
•o HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy, and Legal Issues (3)
•o ITIS HCIP 6200 Principles of Information Security and Privacy (3)
This Graduate Certificate represents the first part of the HIPSM program, thus allowing students who want to continue their studies a smooth transition into HIPSM.The following two courses comprise the required core:
HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy, and Legal Issues (3)
HCIP 6100 Introduction to the US Healthcare System (3)
One additional informatics course from the following list of electives is required:
HCIP 5160 Applied Database (3)
HCIP 5166 Network-Based Application Development (3)
HCIP 5375 Computer Vocabularies and Programming Systems (3)
HCIP 5376 Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics (3)
HCIP 6160 Database Systems (3)
HCIP 6163 Data Warehousing (3)
HCIP 6162 Knowledge Discovery in Databases (3)
HCIP 6350 Principles of Human-Computer Interaction (3)
HCIP 6410 Personalization and Recommender Systems (3)
One additional health administration course from the following list of electives is required:
HCIP 5370 Health Vocabularies and Classification Systems (3)
HCIP 6104 Health and Disease (3)
HCIP 6108 Decision Analysis in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6134 Quality and Outcomes Management in Healthcare (3)
HCIP 6146 Information Resources Management (3)
HCIP 6150 Health Law and Ethics (3)
HCIP 6380 Introduction to Health Informatics (3)
Students must complete an internship after the completion of all required coursework from one of the following courses:
HCIP 6198 IT Internship Project (3)
HCIP 6400 Internship (3)
Transfer credits cannot be applied to this certificate program.
Courses In Health Informatics (HCIP)
HCIP 5121. Information Visualization. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 5121. Prerequisite: Full graduate standing and enrollment in Health Informatics Masters or Graduate Certificate program. Information visualization concepts, theories, design principles, popular techniques, evaluation methods, and information visualization applications. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 5122. Visual Analytics. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 5122. Prerequisite: STAT 1220, STAT 1221, STAT 1222, STAT 2122, STAT 2223, or approval of the instructor, full graduate standing and enrollment in Health Informatics Masters or Graduate Certificate program. Introduces the new field of visual analytics, which integrates interactive analytical methods and visualization.. Topics include: critical thinking, visual reasoning, perception/cognition, statistical and other analysis techniques, principles of interaction, and applications. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 5123. Applied Statistics I. (3) Cross-listed as STAT 5123. Prerequisites: MATH 2164 with a grade of C or above and junior standing, or permission of department, and enrollment in Health Informatics Masters or Graduate Certificate program. Review of stochastic variables and probability distributions, methods of estimating a parameter, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, contingency tables. Linear and multiple regression, time series analysis. (Fall)
HCIP 5160. Applied Databases. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5160. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HI Graduate Certificate in HIT and full graduate standing required.. Identification of business database needs; requirements specification; relational database model; SQL; E-R modeling; database design, implementation, and verification; distributed databases; databases replication; object-oriented databases; data warehouses; OLAP; data mining; security of databases; vendor selection; DBMS product comparison; database project management; tools for database development, integration, and transaction control. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 5166. Network-Based Application Development. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5166. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HI Graduate Certificate in HIT and full graduate standing. Examines the issues related to network based application development. Topics include: introduction to computer networks, web technologies and standards, network based programming methodologies, languages, tools, and standards (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 5220. Vulnerability Assessment and System Assurance. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5220. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Discusses methodologies, tools, and technologies that are important for vulnerability assessment and systems assurance. Topics include: ethical hacking techniques, vulnerability assessment, risk assessment/management, finding new exploits, discovering vulnerabilities, penetrating network perimeters, bypassing auditing systems, and assured administration of systems, as well as evaluating systems assurance levels. Focus will be placed on: 1) understanding current penetration techniques for networks, operating systems, services and applications; 2) investigating mitigation and defense strategies; and 3) studying legal and ethical considerations. Based on case studies with a strong lab component. (On demand)
HCIP 5250. Computer Forensics. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 5250. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. The identification, extraction, documentation, interpretation, and preservation of computer media for evidentiary purposes and/or root cause analysis. Topics include: techniques for discovering digital evidence; responding to electronic incidents; tracking communications through networks; understanding electronic media, crypto-literacy, data hiding, hostile code, and Windows™ and UNIX™ system forensics; and the role of forensics in the digital environment. (On demand)
HCIP 5370. Health Vocabularies and Classification Systems. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Development of fundamental medical terminology, consisting of basic word structure (including word analysis, combining forms, suffixes, prefixes, and pronunciation) of descriptive medical terms pertaining to the body as a whole and to each body system. Clinical vocabularies, terminologies and coding systems, along with definitions are described in the context of caring and treating patients. Terms covered include: diseases, diagnoses, findings, operations, treatments, drugs, and administrative items as utilized to support recording and reporting a patient's care at varying levels of detail via an electronic medical record. Identifying appropriate representation elements, uses, and sources in order to apply them in the context of health information systems and communication. (Fall or Summer) (Evenings)
HCIP 5375. Computer Vocabularies and Programming Systems. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Study of the terminology and concepts used in Information Technology, Computer Science, and Information Systems. Topics include: computers and their components, system and application software, programming paradigms, databases and data warehouses, networks, Internet, Web, security, personal digital assistants, communications, data formats and media, data representations, computer games, and technology. Explores technological constraints introduced by the intricacies of varying application domains. (Fall or Summer) (Evenings)
HCIP 5376. Introduction to Programming for Health Informatics. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Foundational use of object-oriented programming and scripting techniques to solve common problems in health informatics. Topics include: data structures for electronic health records; developing basic electronic health record applications; relational database connectivity; and interfacing with industry standard health information systems. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6070. Current Issues in Health Informatics. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Current topics and issues related to Health Informatics, including health policy analysis and development, ethical issues, structure of health administrative and delivery systems, assessment of population health, models of healthcare delivery, access and quality of care issues. (On demand)
HCIP 6XXX. Overview of Analytics Tools in Healthcare (3) TBD
HCIP 6100. Big Data Analytics for Competitive Advantage (3) Cross-listed as MBAD 6100. TBD
HCIP 6100. Introduction to the U.S. Healthcare System. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6100. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Overview of healthcare delivery in the United States, including organizational structures, financing mechanisms and delivery systems, with particular attention to program formation. (Fall or SpringSummer) (Evenings)
HCIP 6102. Health Care Data Analysis (3) Prerequisites: enrollment in the Professional Science Masters in Health Informatics or the Graduate Certificate in HI. This course develops skills in the management, analysis, and reporting of health data using SAS, including introductory applied statistical analysis. Students use SAS in exercises to control costs, improve quality, adjust for risk, quantify access, target marketing, measure population health, and evaluate policies and programs. The course focuses on using base SAS and SAS STAT, and introduces SAS Maps, Enterprise Miner, and Visual Analytics to generate reports, develop clinical, financial, and operational recommendations for managerial action, and communicate with stakeholders. It also introduces SPSS, Stata, SQL, IML/R, qualitative methods, and managerial, legal, and ethical concepts in health care data analysis. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6103. Big Data Analytics for Competitive Advantage (3) Cross-listed as MBADDSBA 6100. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HI. This course provides an introduction to the use of big data as a strategic resource. A focus is placed on integrating the knowledge of analytics tools with an understanding of how companies leverage data analytics to gain strategic advantage. A case approach will be used to emphasize hands-on learning and real-world view of big data analytics. (Fall,).
HCIP 6104. Health and Disease. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6104. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Principles and methods of epidemiology, including definitions and models of health, illness, and disease; modes of transmission of clinically important infectious agents; risk factors and chronic diseases; and insights into existing studies and paradigms of health promotion and disease prevention. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6108. Decision Analysis in Healthcare. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6108. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Study of selected quantitative management tools useful in the analysis of managerial decisions, a review of basic descriptive and inferential statistics, applied probability distributions, forecasting methods, statistical process control, queuing, transportation and assignment modeling, and linear programming. Emphasis on applying quantitative decision making methods to the operational problems facing healthcare organizations. Familiarity with computers and computer software will be important for success in this course. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6112. Software System Design and Implementation. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6112 and ITIS 6112. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Introduction to the techniques involved in the planning and implementation of large software systems. Emphasis on applying quantitative decision making methods to the operational problems facing healthcare organizations. Familiarity with computers and computer software will be important for success in this course. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6134. Quality and Outcomes Management in Healthcare. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6134. Prerequisite: HCIP 5370, HCIP 6100, and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Examination of the concepts and practices of quality management, performance improvement, and assessment of outcomes in healthcare delivery settings. Designed to provide an in-depth understanding of basic concepts and frameworks and of their applicability and relevance in specific situations. Topics include: process reengineering, service improvement, continuous quality improvement, accreditation standards, patient satisfaction, outcome measurement, teamwork, and case management. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6146. Information Resources Management. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6146. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. A study of the use of information management to improve the delivery of healthcare. Information resource management includes methods and practices to acquire, disseminate, store, interpret and use information to provide healthcare in a more efficient, effective and economical manner. Emphasis is placed upon information as central to the ongoing operations and strategic decisions of healthcare organizations. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6150. Health Law and Ethics. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6150. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Analysis of ethical and bioethical problems confronting healthcare delivery systems. Selected legal principles and their application to the healthcare field, including corporate liability, malpractice, informed consent and governmental regulation of health personnel and health facilities. (Fall or Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)
HCIP 6156. Machine Learning. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6156. Prerequisite: ITCS 6150 or permission of department, and enrollment in Health Informatics Masters or Graduate Certificate program. Machine learning methods and techniques including: acquisition of declarative knowledge; organization of knowledge into new, more effective representations; development of new skills through instruction and practice; and discovery of new facts and theories through observation and experimentation. (Fall, Odd years)
HCIP 6160. Database Systems. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6160. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIT. The modeling, programming, and implementation of database systems. Focuses on relational database systems, but may also address non-relational databases or other advanced topics. Topics include: (1) modeling: conceptual data modeling, ER diagram, relational data model, schema design and refinement; (2) programming: relational algebra and calculus, SQL, constraints, triggers, views; (3) implementation: data storage, indexing, query execution, query optimization, and transaction management; and (4) advanced: semi-structured data model, XML, and other emerging topics. (Fall, Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6162. Knowledge Discovery in Databases. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6162 and ITIS 6162. Prerequisite: ITCS 6160 and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT . The entire knowledge discovery process is covered in this course. Topics include: setting up a problem, data preprocessing and warehousing, data mining in search for knowledge, knowledge evaluation, visualization and application in decision making. A broad range of systems, such as OLAP, LERS, DatalogicR+, C4.5, AQ15, Forty-Niner, CN2, QRAS, and discretization algorithms are covered. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 6163. Data Warehousing. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6163 and ITIS 6163. Prerequisite: ITCS 6160 or equivalent and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Topics include: use of data in discovery of knowledge and decision making; the limitations of relational databases and SQL queries; the warehouse data models: multidimensional, star, snowflake; architecture of a data warehouse and the process of warehouse construction; data consolidation from various sources; optimization; techniques for data transformation and knowledge extraction; relations with enterprise modeling. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6167. Network Security. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6167. Prerequisite: ITIS 6200 or equivalent and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Examines the issues related to network security. Topics include: network security background and motivation, network centric threats, network authentication and identification, network security protocols, firewall, IDS, security in wireless environments, email security, instant message security, network application security, and network based storage security. There are heavy lab based components in this course. (Fall) (Evenings)
HCIP 6198. IT Internship Project. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6198. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Complete a team-based project that is originated from an IT organization and approved by the department. (Fall, Spring, or Summer)
HCIP 6199. Principles of Computer Networks and Databases. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Computer concepts (hardware components, systems architectures, operating systems and languages, and software packages and tools); Communications technologies (networks—LANS, WANS, VPNs; data interchange standards— NIST, HL-7); Internet technologies (Intranet, web-based systems, standards – SGML, XML); Data, information and file structures (data administration, data definitions, data dictionary, data modeling, data structures, data warehousing, database management systems); Data storage and retrieval (storage media, query tools/applications, data mining, report design, search engines); Data security (protection methods—physical, technical, managerial, risk assessment, audit and control program, contingency planning, data recovery, Internet, web-based, and eHealth security). (On demand)
HCIP 6200. Principles of Information Security and Privacy. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6200. Prerequisite: Permission of department. Topics include: security concepts and mechanisms; security technologies; authentication mechanisms; mandatory and discretionary controls; basic cryptography and its applications; database security, intrusion detection and prevention; assurance requirement, assurance class, evaluation methods and assurance maintenance; anonymity and privacy issues for information systems. (Fall, Spring) (Evening)
HCIP 6201. Computer Security, Privacy, and Legal Issues. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Topics include: security concepts and mechanisms; security technologies; authentication mechanisms; mandatory and discretionary controls; basic cryptography and its applications; database security, intrusion detection and prevention; assurance requirement, assurance class, evaluation methods and assurance maintenance; anonymity and privacy issues for information systems. Students gain hands-on experience through lab exercises and case studies. (Fall, Summer) (Evening)
HCIP 6210. Access Control and Security Architecture. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6210. Prerequisite: ITIS 6200 and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Discusses objectives, formal models, and mechanisms for access control; and access control on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems. Examines the issues related to security architectures and technologies for authorization. Topics include: cryptographic infrastructure, distributed systems security architectures, database systems security architectures, Internet security architectures, network security architectures, and e-commerce security architectures. (Spring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6228. Medical Informatics. (3) Cross-listed as ITCS 6228. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT and graduate standing. Focuses on methods and techniques used in storage, communication, processing, analysis, integration, management, and distribution of medical information. Emphasizes the applications of telemedicine and intelligent computer-aided decision making systems in different medical and surgical systems. Discusses the computational methods to accept or reject a new drug or a new treatment for a given disease. (On demand)
HCIP 6230. Information Infrastructure Protection. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6230. Prerequisite: ITIS 6200 and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Discusses methodologies, tools, and technologies that are important for protecting information systems and information infrastructures. Topics include: techniques, processes and methodologies for information security risk assessment and management, tools and technologies for critical infrastructure protection, methodologies for continuous operation, and recovery from disasters. (On demand)
HCIP 6240. Applied Cryptography. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6240. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT and full graduate standing. Provides students with an understanding of modern cryptographic techniques, algorithms and protocols that are of fundamental importance to the design and implementation of security critical applications. Covers not only standard cryptographic techniques, but also exposes students to the latest advances in applied cryptography. Topics include: secret and public key ciphers, stream ciphers, one-way hashing algorithms, authentication and identification, digital signatures, key establishment and management, secret sharing and data recovery, public key infrastructures, and efficient implementation. (On demand)
HCIP 6260. Analytic Epidemiology. (3) Cross-listed as HLTH 6260, HSRD 8003, and PPOL 8665. Prerequisites: HLTH 6202 with a grade of B or above, and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Principles and methods of studying advanced epidemiology, with emphasis on the analytic approach. Advanced techniques in the establishment of disease causation in groups and communities. Topics include: risk assessment, environmental exposures, stratification and adjustment, and multivariate analysis in epidemiology. Emphasis also placed on quality assurance and control and communicating results of epidemiological studies in professional publications and settings. (Spring)
HCIP 6330. Medical Practice Management. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6210. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. A comprehensive study of medical practice management and the issues, tools, and techniques to resolve those issues. Provides the student with an understanding of the financial and regulatory issues that influence today’s medical practice with an insight into the cultural, human resource, and governance issues that make physician practices unique among healthcare organizations. (On demand)
HCIP 6342. Information Technology Project Management. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6342. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Introduces students to problems associated with managing information technology projects involving, particularly, integration of systems, development of client-specific solutions, and project justification. Moves beyond the classic techniques of project management and integrate communication software/systems, multi-site, multi-client facilities projects, cultural issues involved with managing interdisciplinary teams, and the effect of rapid technological obsolescence on project justification, funding and continuance. (Spring, Summer) (Evenings or Weekends)
HCIP 6350. Principles of Human-Computer Interaction. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6400. Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT and full graduate standing. Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction practice and research. Topics include: the perceptual, cognitive, and social characteristics of people, as well as methods for learning more about people and their use of computing systems. The process of interface design, methods of design, and ways to evaluate and improve a design. Also highlights a number of current and cutting-edge research topics in Human-Computer Interaction with a balance of design, sociological/psychological, and information systems elements. (Spring)
HCIP 6380. Introduction to Health Informatics. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Introduces the fundamental concepts and techniques in application data management for Health Informatics and in understanding reference terminologies, data mapping and conversion, and supporting data storage and formats. Topics include: internal and external policy issues governing data collection, storage, exchange, and compliance. Includes a detailed look at the Electronic Health Record and digitized Personal Health Record as used in current healthcare environments. Primarily covers AHIMA HIM competency I.A. (Fall, Spring) (Evenings or Weekends)
HCIP 6385. Healthcare Communication and Leadership. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Principles and useful techniques for effective oral presentations, poster presentations, scientific writing. Students critique and help revise each other’s presentations and learn how to enhance communications. Students learn how to properly organize and run a meeting. Also covers negotiation, conflict management, and influence. Students use several approaches evaluate their individual leadership style. Completes a management style assessment, and analyze leadership styles of prominent leaders in the eHealth environment, using contemporary leadership theory and principles. Primarily covers AHIMA HIM competency III.A. (On demandFall) (Evenings)
HCIP 6390. Advanced Programming for Health Informatics. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Examines advanced use of object-oriented programming and scripting techniques applied to case studies in health informatics development. Emphasizes programming techniques beyond the fundamentals, with emphasis on efficiency in speed, data structures and file size. Students learn how to optimize code and databases so that the demands of large-scale health information systems can be performed in acceptable amounts of time while minimizing hardware requirements. Topics include: algorithm optimization, optimization of database queries and development for software as a service. (On demand)
HCIP 6391. Architecting Health Information Systems. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Introduces planning, implementation, and maintenance of Health Information Systems for organizations. Students learn about the development of hardware and software requirements for system deployment, including: cost/benefit analysis, assessment of work-flow, interface, human resource factors, as well as capability assessment of regulatory requirements. Topics include: policy and procedure development for capability evaluation, regulatory compliance, system use, and data exchange. (On demand)
HCIP 6392. Enterprise Health Information Systems. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Practical case studies in the use of large scale Health Information Systems. Survey of industry standard software tools and best practices. Laboratory experience in management and analytics for Electronic Health Records and enterprise data. Evaluation and selection of clinical, administrative, and specialty information technology applications for health organization. (On demandSpring) (Evenings)
HCIP 6393. Advanced Health Data Integration. (3) Prerequisite: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT. Secondary data sources (registries and indexes; databases – such as MEDPAR, NPDB, HCUP); Healthcare data sets (such as OASIS, HEDIS, DEEDS, UHDDS, UACDS, NEDSS, NMMFS); National Healthcare Information Infrastructure (NHII); Standards and regulations for documentation (such as JCAHO, CARF, COP, AAAHC, AOA); Health information standards (such as HIPAA, ANSI, ASTM, LOINC, UMLS, MESH, Arden Syntax, HL-7); Healthcare taxonomies, clinical vocabularies, terminologies/nomenclatures (such as ICD-9-CM, ICD-10, CPT, SNOMED-CT, DSM-IV); Severity of illness systems ; Vital statistics ; Epidemiology ; Reimbursement Methodologies; Clinical data and reimbursement management; Compliance strategies and reporting (e.g. National Correct Coding Initiative); Charge-master management; Casemix management; Audit process such as compliance and reimbursement; Payment systems (such as PPS, DRGs, APCs, RBRVS, RUGs); Commercial, managed care, and federal insurance plans. (On demand)
HCIP 6400. Health Informatics Internship. (3) Cross-listed as HADM 6400. Prerequisites: HADM 6100; enrollment limited to students already holding or concurrently pursuing a MHA degree; instructor permission required. Offers administrative experience in a healthcare setting for students. The initial assumption is made that students participating in the internship experience have had limited hands-on exposure to healthcare administration. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis. (Fall, Spring, or Summer)
HCIP 6410. Personalization and Recommender Systems. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 6410 and ITIS 8410. Prerequisites: Enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT and full graduate standing. An introduction to the application of personalization and recommender systems techniques in information systems. Topics include: historical, individual and commercial perspectives; underlying approaches to content-based and collaborative recommendation techniques for building user models; acceptance issues; and case-studies drawn from research prototypes and commercially deployed systems. (On demand)
HCIP 6490. Industrial Internship. (0-6) Cross-listed as ITCS 6490. Prerequisites: Completion of six hours of graduate coursework and enrollment in the PSM in Health Informatics or Graduate Certificate in HIGraduate Certificate in HIT; full or part-time academic year internship in computer science areas complementary to the concentration area of studies and designed to allow theoretical and course-based practical learning to be applied in a supervised industrial experience. The supervising faculty, the academic advisor, and the graduate program director must approve each student’s internship program. A mid-term report and a final report to be evaluated by the supervising faculty are required. Graded on a Pass/Unsatisfactory basis by the supervising faculty in consultation with off-campus supervisor at the internship organization. The credit hours may not be part of the minimum 30 credit hours for graduation. May be repeated for credit hours, but no more than six hours may be applied toward PSM degree requirements. (On demand)
HCIP 6500. Complex Adaptive Systems. (3) Cross-listed as ITIS 8500 and ITCS 6500/8500. Prerequisite: Permission of instructor, and enrollment in Health Informatics Masters or Graduate Certificate program. Complex adaptive systems (CAS) are networked (agents/part interact with their neighbors and, occasionally, distant agents), nonlinear (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts), adaptive (the system learns to change with its environment), open (new resources are being introduced into the environment), dynamic (the change is a norm), emergent (new, unplanned features of the system get introduced through the interaction of its parts/agents), and self-organizing (the parts organize themselves into a hierarchy of subsystems of various complexity). Ant colonies, networks of neurons, the immune system, the Internet, social institutions, organization of cities, and the global economy are a few examples where the behavior of the whole is much more complex than the behavior of the parts. This course will cover those and similar topics in an interactive manner. Examples of our current research effort will be provided. Topics include: Self-organization; emergent properties; learning; agents; localization affect; adaptive systems; nonlinear behavior; chaos; complexity. (On demand)
HCIP 6520 Network Science. (3) TBD Cross-listed as ITIS 6520. Prerequisite: Full graduate standing or permission of department. Network Science helps students design faster, more resilient communication networks; revise infrastructure systems such as electrical power grids, telecommunications networks, and airline routes; model market dynamics; understand synchronization in biological systems; and analyze social interactions among people. It examines the various kinds of networks (regular, random, small-world, influence, scale-free, and social) and applies network processes and behaviors to emergence, epidemics, synchrony, and risk. This course integrates concepts across computer science, biology, physics, social network analysis, economics, and marketing. (On demand)
Other Computer Science Courses (ITCS)
See descriptions of ITCS courses under “Computer Science” in the College of Computing and Informatics section of this Catalog.
Other Health Administration Courses (HADM)
See descriptions of HADM courses under “Health Administration” in the College of Health and Human Services section of this Catalog.
Other Information Technology Courses (ITIS)
See descriptions of ITIS courses under “Information Technology” in the College of Computing and Informatics section of this Catalog.
New Catalog Copy: Dual MHA and HI PSM; Dual MSPH and HI PSM
Text Positioning
In MHA catalog text section: To be positioned immediately after the other dual MHA degrees (after the dual MBA, JD)
DUAL MHA AND HEALTH INFORMATICS
The Dual MHA and HI PSM Degree Program allows students to earn a Professional Science Masters’ in Health Informatics (HI PSM) and a Master of Health Administration (MHA) degree. The dual MHA and HI PSM program (outlined below) consists of 65 credit hours of course work, as opposed to the 86 required if pursuing these degrees separately.
Both programs’ admissions committees will review applicants to the dual program. Applicants might be offered admission into only the MHA or HI PSM instead of the dual program. Similarly, students admitted into the dual program may opt to matriculate into only the MHA or HI PSM program. Students having matriculated into either the MHA or HI PSM program desiring to add the dual degree must apply and gain admission to the dual degree no later than the end of their first semester of matriculation into either program.
MHA and HI PSM Dual Degree Program
HADM 6100 Intro to U.S. Healthcare System 3 hours
HADM 6104 Health and Disease 3 hours
HADM 6116 Accounting for Healthcare Management 3 hours
HADM 6120 Health Economics 3 hours
HADM 6124 Marketing in Healthcare 3 hours
HADM 6128 Human Resource Management 3 hours
HADM 6138 Health Care Finance 3 hours
HADM 6142 Health Policy Development 3 hours
HADM 6145 Organizational Behavior in Health Care 3 hours
HADM 6146 Information Resources 3 hours
HADM 6150 Health Law and Ethics 3 hours
HADM 6154 Strategic Management of Health Services 3 hours
HCIP 5375 Computer Vocabularies & Classification Sys 3 hours
HCIP 6108 Decision Analysis in HealthCare 3 hours
HCIP 6134 Quality and Outcomes in Healthcare 3 hours
GRAD 6002 Responsible Conduct of Research 2 hours
HCIP 6102 Healthcare Data Analysis 3 hours
HCIP 6380 Introduction to Health Informatics 3 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Concentration 3 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Concentration 3 hours
HCIP 6400 Health Internship Project 3 hours
One of the following two courses:
HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy and Legal Issues 3 hours
HCIP 6200 Principles of Information Security and Privacy 3 hours
MHA-HI PSM Dual Degree program Total 65 hours
Note: Under the MHA and HI PSM dual degree option, students must take a minimum of 10 HCIP courses (29 hours) and 12 HADM courses (36 hours). Additionally, the Graduate School considers any deviation from the approved plan of study as requiring a Special Request approval.
Text Positioning
In MSPH catalog text section: To be positioned immediately after the dual MSPH JD degree
DUAL MSPH AND HEALTH INFORMATICS
The Dual MSPH and HI PSM Degree Program allows students to earn a Professional Science Masters’ in Health Informatics (HI PSM) and a Master of Science in Public Health (MSPH) degree. The dual MSPH and HI PSM program (outlined below) consists of 60 credit hours of course work, as opposed to the 80 required if pursuing these degrees separately.
Both programs’ admissions committees will review applicants to the dual program. Applicants might be offered admission into only the MSPH or HI PSM instead of the dual program. Similarly, students admitted into the dual program may opt to matriculate into only the MSPH or HI PSM program. Students having matriculated into either the MSPH or HI PSM program desiring to add the dual degree must apply and gain admission to the dual degree no later than the end of their first semester of matriculation into either program.
MSPH and HI PSM Dual Degree Program
HLTH 6201 Social and Behavioral Foundations of PH 3 hours
HLTH 6202 Community Epidemiology 3 hours
HLTH 6203 Public Health Data Analysis 3 hours
HLTH 6204 Public Health Research Methods 3 hours
HLTH 6205 Environmental Health 3 hours
HLTH 6207 Program Planning and Evaluation 3 hours
HLTH 6220 Health Behavior Change 3 hours
HLTH 6221 Community Health 3 hours
HLTH 6222 Methods in Community Health 3 hours
HCIP 5375 Computer Vocabularies & Classification Systems 3 hours
HCIP 6102 Healthcare Data Analysis 3 hours
HCIP 6380 Introduction to Health Informatics 3 hours
HCIP 6385 Healthcare Communication and Leadership 3 hours
HCIP 6400 Health Internship Project 3 hours
One of the following three courses:
HCIP 5376 Introduction to Programming -Health Informatics 3 hours
HCIP 6201 Computer Security, Privacy and Legal Issues 3 hours
ITIS 6200 Principles of Information Security and Privacy 3 hours
And complete either the thesis or project option
Thesis Option
HLTH 6900 Research and Thesis in Public Health 6 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Concentration 3 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Track 3 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Concentration 3 hours
Project Option
HLTH 6901 Public Health Capstone Project 3 hours
HLTH Elective 3 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Concentration 3 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Concentration 3 hours
HCIP Restricted Elective- Data Science Concentration 3 hours
MSPH-HI PSM Dual Degree Program Total 60 hours
Note: Under the MSPH and HI PSM dual degree option, students must take a minimum of 9 HCIP courses (27 hours) and 11 HLTH courses (33 hours). Additionally, the Graduate School considers any deviation from the approved plan of study as requiring a Special Request approval.