The purpose of the degree is to provide students with a graduate education to advance careers as leaders and innovators in health informatics. The program combines healthcare, medical and information technology domains, and places particular emphasis on the interdisciplinary collaboration between these fields. We prepare health informatics professionals with knowledge of healthcare industry and technology solutions, in conjunction with practical skills needed in this dynamically evolving field. The program’s goal is to prepare graduates to be able to effectively analyze complex health data, manage evolving health information systems (ranging from evaluation of information needs to design, development, acquisition, implementation, operation and improvement) and support the increased adoption and use of electronic health records.

This 30-36 credit graduate degree program prepares students to become health information systems specialists, health data analysts, health care managers and consultants. Graduates of the program may be employed in health information technology firms, health care/service organizations and their business partners, as well as public health entities. Students learn about emerging technologies likely to impact delivery of health services in the future. The program provides a basis for students who wish to continue their education toward a doctoral degree in health informatics or a related field. The program consists of three concentrations: Health Data Analytics, Health Informatics Management and Population Health Informatics.

The MS in Health Informatics degree is offered via a regular on-campus or premium priced all-online delivery format. The curriculum in both programs is the same, but students must matriculate through only one pathway. Separate application processes are used for online and on-campus programs. Most courses in the on-campus program are taught in the evening at Mason’s Fairfax Campus, with some courses available in hybrid or online formats. On-campus students can complete their degree at their own pace provided that they do so within six years of starting the program. The online premium-priced program is offered in a flexible, compressed schedule online format. In the all-online program, courses are taken one at a time, in an accelerated 8-week format, and follow a prescribed sequence.

Concentrations

Health Data Analytics Concentration

The Health Data Analytics Concentration provides students with deep understanding of health data, analytic methods, and data mining, as well as data science skills applied to clinical, administrative and consumer-generated health data.

Health Informatics Management Concentration

The Health Information Management Concentration provides students with knowledge and skills needed to manage evolving health information systems (ranging from evaluation of information needs to design, development, acquisition, implementation, operation and improvement) and support the increased adoption and use of electronic health records.

Population Health Informatics Concentration

The Population Health Informatics Concentration provides students with knowledge and skills needed to collect, analyze and manage population-level data, as well as understanding of electronic tools used in population health. Managing the health of populations requires the involvement of both organizations and individuals within a community and is viewed as a promising model to not only improve health outcomes but also reduce cost. The concentration content starts by addressing traditional public health information needs and then moves on to sophisticated business analytics and data governance to support the goals of accountable care organizations, integrated care networks, and value-based purchasing programs.

Admissions

Requirements

Applicants must hold a BA or BS degree or equivalent from an institution of higher education accredited by a Mason-recognized U.S. institutional accrediting agency or international equivalent. Although the field or major is not a criterion for admission, the applicants are expected to have taken basic-level computer science/technology, mathematics, and statistics, and be familiar with these fields. Students who do not meet these requirements may be required to take additional prerequisite courses. Clinicians are encouraged to apply. An undergraduate grade point average of 3.25 (on a 4.0 scale) or above is preferred.

Applicants must meet the admission standards and application requirements specified in Graduate Admissions  and must apply using the online Application for Graduate Admission. The application process is competitive, and applications are considered for the fall and spring semesters. For application deadlines and detailed application requirements, refer to the CHHS Admissions website.

Furthermore, although experience is not required, applicants with at least 1 year of professional work experience in a medical or health-related organization OR 1 year of work experience in information technology in any sector are preferred.

Policies

For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

Transfer of Credit

Students may transfer a maximum of 12 credits from graduate courses taken at other institutions or taken at Mason in non-degree status. Transfer credit is subject to university and college policies and must be approved by the program director and the dean. Students who enroll initially through non-degree studies should seek course advising through the department and should submit their application to the MS program in their first semester of study.

Students with Undergraduate Program in Health Informatics

Students coming from Health Informatics undergraduate programs may request substitution of selected courses with more advanced courses if they received at least B+ in equivalent undergraduate courses.

Banner Code: HH-MS-HINF

Degree Requirements

Total credits: 30-36

Core Courses

HAP 618Computational Tools in Health Informatics 13
HAP 670Introduction to Health Informatics3
HAP 671Health Care Databases3
HAP 672Health Data: Vocabulary and Standards3
HAP 678Introduction to the U.S. Health System 23
Total Credits9-15

 Health Data Analytics Concentration (HDAN)

HAP 719Advanced Statistics in Health Services Research I3
HAP 780Data Mining in Health Care3
HAP 823Comparative Effectiveness Analysis using Observational Data3
Electives6
Select two of the following:
Computer Programming in Health Applications
Project in Health Data Analysis 1
Health Data Integration
Statistical Process Control in Healthcare
Health Care Decision Analysis
Medical Decision Making and Decision Support Systems
Artificial Intelligence in Health
Health Data Visualization
Advanced Statistics in Health Services Research II
Advanced Health Data Mining
Total Credits15

 Health Informatics Management Concentration (HINM)

HAP 602Statistics in Health Services Management3
HAP 713Project Management in Health Information Technology3
or SWE 625 Software Project Management
HAP 745Health Care Security Policy3
Electives6
Select two of the following:
E-Commerce and On-line Marketing for Health Services
Leadership and Organizational Behavior
Healthcare Information Systems Analysis and Design
Introduction to Health Services Research
Regulatory Requirements for Health Care Systems
Computer Programming in Health Applications
Contemporary Issues in Health Systems Management
Strategic Management and Marketing in Health Care
Health Economics
Statistical Process Control in Healthcare
Legal Issues in Health Administration
Medical Decision Making and Decision Support Systems
Total Credits15

 Population Health Concentration (HIP)

HAP 717Population Health Informatics3
HAP 718Consumer Health Informatics3
GCH 712Introduction to Epidemiology3
Electives6
Select two of the following:
Introduction to GIS Algorithms and Programming
Computer Programming in Health Applications
Health Care Decision Analysis
Artificial Intelligence in Health
Data Mining in Health Care
Total Credits15

Practicum or Thesis

After completing coursework, and with permission of advisor, students choose between the Capstone Practicum and Master's Thesis. Both options require two semesters to complete.

Select one option from the following:
Practicum Option
HAP 789Pre-Capstone Professional Development Seminar3
HAP 790Capstone Practicum in Health Systems Management3
Thesis Option
HAP 799Master's Thesis6
Total Credits6

Bachelor’s Degree (any)/Health Informatics, Accelerated MS

Overview

Highly-qualified undergraduates may be admitted to the bachelor's/accelerated master's program and obtain a bachelor's degree in any discipline and an MS in Health Informatics in an accelerated time-frame after satisfactory completion of a minimum of 141 credits.

See AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree for policies related to this program.

Students in an accelerated degree program must fulfill all university requirements for the master's degree. For policies governing all graduate degrees, see AP.6 Graduate Policies.

BAM Pathway Admission Requirements

Applicants to all graduate programs at George Mason University must meet the admission standards and application requirements for graduate study as specified in Graduate Admissions Policies and Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies. For information specific to this accelerated master's program, see department website.

Students will be considered for admission into the BAM Pathway after completion of a minimum of 60 credits and students must submit two letters of recommendation from a faculty member.

Students who are accepted into the BAM Pathway will be allowed to register for graduate level courses after successful completion of a minimum of 75 undergraduate credits and course-specific pre-requisites.

Accelerated Master’s Admission Requirements

Students already admitted in the BAM Pathway will be admitted to the MS program, if they have met the following criteria, as verified on the Bachelor’s/Accelerated Master’s Transition form:

3.25 overall GPA

3.50 GPA in major coursework

Successfully meeting Mason’s requirements for undergraduate degree conferral (graduation) and completing the application for graduation.

Accelerated Pathway Requirements

To maintain the integrity and quality of both the undergraduate and graduate degree programs, undergraduate students interested in taking graduate courses must choose from the following:

Advanced Standing Courses: (substitutes are possible for major-specific BS Health Administration degree required courses, or as a required CHHS elective)

HAP 670Introduction to Health Informatics 13
HAP 671Health Care Databases 23
HAP 672Health Data: Vocabulary and Standards 33
HAP 745Health Care Security Policy 43
HAP 713Project Management in Health Information Technology 53
Any 500, 600, or 700 level course listed in MSHI program. 6

Students can replace HAP 489 and HAP 498 with 7 credits of graduate courses approved by advisor if enrolled in the BS in Health Administration. Only 6 of the 7 credits are applied towards MS program.

Reserve credit courses:

Students may take 500, 600 and 700 level courses listed in MSHI program to be used for reserve credit with approval from their BAM advisor.

For more detailed information on coursework and timeline requirements, see AP.6.7 Bachelor's/Accelerated Master's Degree policies.