Program Overview
Learn the science, systems, and software behind emerging technologies and applications using health data to enhance delivery and drive innovation in healthcare with a Master of Science in Health Informatics (MHI) from Northern Kentucky University. The 100% online program offers flexibility to fit your schedule with multiple start dates and affordable tuition.
Gain the skills and knowledge to analyze, integrate, and improve healthcare information systems, healthcare processes, and the quality of care. Learn research methods, data analysis techniques, and information governance best practices to improve outcomes, support care coordination, and enable payment reform and population health. You will also learn about clinical informatics and how the integration and interoperability of healthcare systems are driving change and the move to value-based care.
In this online program, you will:
- Learn the fundamental terminology, practices, and procedures found in the interaction of clinical and business operations
- Explore approaches to systems development such as rapid application development (RAD), joint application development (JAD), and other techniques to create quality systems
- Apply the basics of empirical health informatics research and be provided with the conceptual framework to develop your own research projects
- Investigate all aspects of data modeling, database design, and implementation of relational, object-oriented, and semantic databases
Northern Kentucky University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC™) to award associate, baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral degrees.
Contact SACSCOC at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097 or call 404-679-4500 for questions about the accreditation of NKU.
Have questions or need more information about our online programs?
Also available:
Northern Kentucky University offers an M.S. in Health Science and a B.S. in Health Science online. Check out our other innovative online healthcare programs.
Tuition
The MHI online program offers the same affordable, pay-by-the-course tuition to in-state and out-of-state students. All fees are included in the total cost. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify.
Tuition breakdown:
| Program | Per Credit Hour (including fees) | Total With Fees |
|---|---|---|
| Master of Science in Health Informatics | $536 | $17,688 |
Contact your enrollment specialist for information on currently available tuition-saving offers. Offers cannot be combined. Tuition is subject to change at any time.
NKU has been ranked among “America’s Top Colleges” by Forbes magazine for 11 years in a row (2019).
Calendar
With six start dates a year, the MHI online course schedule is flexible and convenient. View the calendar to find the best start date for you and note your corresponding deadlines.
Now Enrolling:
| Session | Program Start Date | Application Deadline | Document Deadline | Registration Deadline | Tuition Deadline | Last Class Day |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring 1 | 01/11/21 | 01/04/21 | 01/06/21 | 01/08/21 | 01/11/21 | 02/26/21 |
| Spring 2 | 03/15/21 | 03/03/21 | 03/08/21 | 03/11/21 | 03/15/21 | 04/30/21 |
| Summer 1 | 05/10/21 | 04/28/21 | 05/03/21 | 05/06/21 | 05/10/21 | 06/25/21 |
Ready to take the next step toward earning your degree online from Northern Kentucky University?
Admissions
We've streamlined the admission process for the MHI online program so you can get started right away. Requirements for admission include:
View full admission requirements
MHI Online Admission Requirements
- Complete application for admission
- Pay the $40 application fee
- Official transcripts showing an earned baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.5 GPA for overall undergraduate credit
- Professional resume which includes relevant work experience, community service, leadership positions, and other professional activities
Official documents may be mailed or emailed to:
NKU Office of Graduate Education302 Lucas Administrative Center
Highland Heights, KY 41099
Have a question? Call us at 800-985-7215.
Courses
For the MHI online, the curriculum is comprised of 11 courses (33 credit hours), including seven core courses (21 credit hours), three elective courses (9 credit hours), and a capstone (3 credit hours).
Students must take the following courses:
MHI 600: Introduction to Healthcare Operations
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
In order to prepare students to be competent informatics practitioners within the healthcare industry, this course introduces students to the fundamental terminology, practices, and procedures found in the interaction of clinical and business operations.
MHI 601: Technical Foundations of Health Informatics
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This core course provides an introduction to concepts and trends in the health informatics field both locally and nationally. The course provides an overview of networks, software, and computers in healthcare with a particular focus on their use in interoperable systems. Applications include electronic health records, computerized physician order entry, and digital imaging.
MHI 625: IS in Healthcare Organizations
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course is an introduction to the core concepts and fundamental principles of information systems in the context of healthcare clinical and organizational decision-making. This will include a survey of the information systems discipline and an explanation of its importance in healthcare organizations. The key objective of the course is to give the student a good understanding of how managers can manage and exploit the potential of information technology for their own career and for the benefit of their organizations.
MBI 650: Information Technology Project Management
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course is an overview of information technology project management practices, software, contexts, and processes. Topics include project implementation methodologies; resource selection; project risks and failures: managing technical project personnel; project management tools and techniques, and issues related to project outsourcing.
MBI 630: Systems Analysis and Design
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course develops an understanding of tools, techniques, and methods for analysis, design and implementation of information systems. It uses theory and applied projects to build effective interpersonal and communication skills that are essential to interact with clients, users, and other team members involved with development, operation, and maintenance of information systems. Approaches to systems development such as rapid application development (RAD), joint application development (JAD), and other techniques to create quality systems are explored.
MBI 635: Database Management Systems
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
In-depth investigation of intelligent database management systems in support of business decision-making. This course includes an investigation of all aspects of data modeling; database design; and implementation of relational, object-oriented, and semantic databases.
MHI 650: Evidence-Based Healthcare Methods
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: 3
This course introduces students to quantitative and qualitative research methodologies within the health industry with an emphasis on evidence-based practices. Students will learn the basics of empirical health informatics research and will be provided with the conceptual framework to develop their own research projects. Topics include: research design, data collection, data analysis, data mining, and issues concerning privacy and the treatment of human subjects.
Duration: 7 weeks | Credit Hours: Variable
A total of 3 credits is required to meet these experiential learning requirement and may be accomplished in a range of 1 to 3 semesters depending upon the project and student and faculty preferences. Students work with a local healthcare institution or business to work on assigned projects with consultation by a faculty advisor, allowing students to integrate academic experience into real-world situations while developing skills and knowledge required in the field.
