Online Graduate Certificate Programs in Health Informatics

Boston University’s four-course certificate program ranked tenth among the nation’s “Best Online Graduate Computer Information Technology Programs” by U.S. News & World Report in 2020. All courses are taught by PhD-level full-time faculty and professionals with hands-on expertise in the industry. Academic credits earned toward the online graduate certificate in health informatics may be transferred to a master of science degree in computer information systems, with a concentration in health informatics.

Students who are considering this program must have earned a bachelor’s degree in any field of study from a regionally accredited college/university (or the international equivalent). Applicants are not required to have a degree in computer science for entry.

• Location: Boston, Massachusetts
• Accreditation: New England Commission on Higher Education
• Tuition: $28,427 per semester, plus fees
• Program length: 16 credits, eight months to a year

The University of Scranton offers a 100 percent online graduate certificate in health informatics. The 12-credit program offers instruction in four areas: an introduction to health informatics, the principles of computer science and software development, healthcare knowledge for health informatics, and information technology for health informatics. Notably, this program is offered in part through the Kania School of Management, which holds accreditation from AACSB International.

The school provides all courses in an asynchronous format that can be accessed anywhere through the Engage learning management system. This program is ideal for post-baccalaureate professionals interested in leadership roles in clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and other medical settings.

• Location: Scranton, Pennsylvania
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Tuition: $757 per credit
• Program length: 12 credits, less than a year

The University of New England’s graduate certificate in health informatics prepares students to enter this rapidly growing field. The program requires successful completion of 18 credits of required courses. All courses are graduate-level and taught in eight-week terms. Most students take two courses each semester along with other courses. The health informatics certificate is three semesters in length, which is the time equivalent of one full year; however, the program can be completed more quickly by taking more than one course in each eight-week term.

These credits can be applied to a master’s degree in a related field, such as a master of health informatics degree. Students can start this program in the summer, fall, or spring semesters. In order to be accepted into this graduate program, students must have a bachelor’s degree or higher degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.75.

• Location: Portland, Maine
• Accreditation: New England Commission on Higher Education (NECHE); the health informatics program is an Approved Education Partner (AEP) of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
• Tuition: $730 per credit, plus fees
• Program length: 18 credits, one year

USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine is the first medical school in the country to offer health informatics and healthcare analytics graduate programs 100 percent online.

U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks the University of South Florida as one of the top National and Regional universities in its America’s Best Colleges listing. USF also ranks among the U.S. News “Best Online Schools” and “Best Public Colleges and Universities (2020).” U.S. News also lists USF Health’s Morsani College of Medicine as one of 2020’s “Best Medical Schools.”

USF’s 100 percent online program offers the chance to earn graduate-level credit without committing to a full degree track. Students who want to continue and earn a degree can apply all 12 credits.

• Location: Tampa, Florida
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ Commission; the health informatics program is an Approved Education Partner (AEP) of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
• Tuition: $907 per credit, plus fees
• Program length: 12 credits

All required courses can be completed online, making this program perfect for students who are already working or have other commitments. The certificate may be earned independently or may qualify the student for admission to Temple’s master of science in health informatics program if the student maintains a cumulative GPA of 3.25 in their graduate certificate courses. This certificate satisfies four of the ten course requirements for the master’s degree.

Depending on the schedule, you could complete your master’s degree in just one additional year. The program can be completed entirely online on a part-time basis, finishing the 12 required credits in two years or less. Approximately 50 hours of training and assignments are conducted in an educational electronic health record (EHR) setting, providing the student with hands-on skills.

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Accreditation: Council on Education for Public Health
• Tuition: $975 per credit, plus fees
• Program length: 12 credits, two years or less

Many students complete this certificate program and then continue on with UMass Lowell’s master of science in health information management program. If students choose to do this, they can transfer credit into the master’s program for courses in which they earned a grade of 3.0 or higher. Students who complete the certificate program with a GPA of 3.2 or better are not required to complete the GRE to apply for admission into the master’s program.

Four courses are required: two core courses and two electives. Online courses meet throughout the year during the fall, spring, and summer semesters. Online students generally log into their online course website one or more times per week to retrieve lectures and assignments or to participate in a chat session. Online students should expect to spend six to 10 hours per week engaged in course-related activities for each course.

• Location: Lowell, Massachusetts
• Accreditation: New England Commission of Higher Education; the health informatics program is an Approved Education Partner (AEP) of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
• Tuition: $575 per credit, plus fees
• Program length: 12 credits, nine months to a year

KU’s health informatics program is open to students of all academic backgrounds. Healthcare experience is desired but not required. This certificate program consists of applied clinical informatics courses and requires 19 credits. All courses are offered online with the exception of the practicum, which can be done at the student’s home area. The practicum requires a total of three credits (200 clock-hours), which can be taken over one to three consecutive semesters at the conclusion of the program.

• Location: Kansas City, Kansas
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Tuition: $13,500 program cost, approximate
• Program length: 12 credits, nine months to a year

With start dates each quarter and a 100 percent online program, the University of Phoenix’s graduate certificate in health informatics is a smart choice for the working professional. Students can take one course at a time for either three to six weeks. Students will need to complete 10 credits to earn this certificate.

• Location: Phoenix, Arizona
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Tuition: $698 per credit
• Program length: 10 credits, five months

All undergraduate degrees are welcome in this online certificate program. The four required core courses are Introduction to Health Informatics, Database Management Systems, Healthcare Information Architecture & Security, and Decision Support & Electronic Health Records.

• Location: Knoxville, Tennesse
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges
• Tuition: $700 per credit plus fees; Tennessee residents; $775 per credit, non-residents
• Program length: 12 credits

Drexel’s 100 percent online health informatics post-baccalaureate certificate is organized into four 10-week quarters per year (as opposed to the traditional two-semester system) which means students can take more courses in a shorter time period. One semester credit is equivalent to 1.5 quarter credits. There is only one required course: Healthcare Informatics. Beyond that, students choose two elective courses from six options, for a total of nine credits.

• Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Accreditation: Middle States Commission on Higher Education
• Tuition: $1342 per credit, plus fees
• Program length: Nine credits

The University of Missouri graduate certificate in health informatics can be earned by itself or as an integrated certificate program for degree-seeking University of Missouri students who are enrolled in a graduate degree program.

All four courses may be applied toward the ultimate completion of the master of science in health informatics degree. This school’s program is online, with on-campus weekend meetings, or as a traditional, on-campus model. There is one required course, and students select three of 10 elective courses.

• Location: Columbia, Missouri
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission
• Tuition: $9,695.40, program cost, approximate
• Program length: 12 credits

Vanessa Salvia

Writer

Vanessa Salvia is an Oregon-based freelance writer and editor with a bachelor's degree in chemistry. As fun as rigorous studies in math and science were, Vanessa took an independent path and developed a prolific career covering lifestyle topics for magazines and newspapers, important industries such as concrete construction and building waterproofing, and even hard science. You can get in touch at www.sagemediaandmarketing.com.