Arizona State University Online Health Informatics MAS Program
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“At its core, health informatics isn’t about the tech; it’s about using technology to translate clinical knowledge into something useful at the point of care.”
Marcela Aliste, PhD, Program Director for the MAS Health Informatics Program, Arizona State University
The Arizona State University College of Health Solutions Department of Biomedical Informatics offers an online master of advanced studies (MAS) in health informatics. The degree combines the areas of computer science, information technology, and management of data to improve health. Professionals with or without a medical background can enhance their knowledge and skills in health informatics in order to positively impact healthcare settings. Graduates of the program earn the skills to develop innovative knowledge management methods, along with innovative uses of computer science and information technology to analyze, understand, and apply data to improve healthcare organizations and patient outcomes.
ASU is known for its innovation and unique approaches to solving problems. Faculty of the MAS in health informatics program remain active in the medical community, including some serving in leadership at the Mayo Clinic. Overall, the professors bring a wealth of skills and experiences to their teaching, including work in big data analysis, research on diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and groundbreaking studies on human communication. Employers may seek MAS in health informatics graduates for positions such as informatics analysts, clinical analysts, healthcare IT project managers, and clinical informatics managers, among other fields.
ASU has four campuses located in the Phoenix, AZ metropolitan area. Applicants to the online MAS in health informatics program must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related field such as nursing, biology, pharmacy, medicine, computer science, or public health.
| Arizona State University Health Informatics Programs | ||
|---|---|---|
| Program | Degree Type | Learn More |
| Health Informatics (MAS) | Master's Degree | Visit Site |
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Meet the Expert: Marcela Aliste, PhD
Dr. Marcela Aliste is an assistant teaching professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University and through ASU Online. She is also the program director for the master of advanced study in health informatics program. She holds a master’s degree in biomedical informatics and a PhD in chemical sciences and has been an educator at ASU since 2014.
In addition to her academic and program leadership, Dr. Aliste demonstrates a strong commitment to university service by serving as a university senator, representing her field and the College of Health Solutions. She is also secretary of the AMIA Academic Forum Board, reflecting her dedication to advancing education and professional collaboration in health informatics.
MHAOnline.com: What’s something you wish more people knew about health informatics?
Dr. Aliste: At its core, health informatics isn’t about the tech; it’s about using technology to translate clinical knowledge into something useful at the point of care.
The hardest part of the job is turning complex clinical realities, workflows, and imperfect data into systems that actually help providers and patients make better decisions. Fancy tools matter far less than understanding clinicians, patients, policy constraints, and organizational culture, and when that’s wrong, the technology fails, no matter how advanced it is.
MHAOnline.com: How would you characterize the evolution of health informatics over the last few years?
Dr. Aliste: The evolution of health informatics over the past several years has been marked by rapid technological advances, broader integration across healthcare systems, and a growing emphasis on data-driven decision-making. Despite this progress, there remains a noticeable gap between how healthcare systems look and feel compared to digital experiences in other industries.
Many healthcare technologies have not been designed with the end user in mind. Recently, I read that healthcare AI and digital health startups have struggled or failed, frequently due to limited involvement from clinical professionals and health informatics experts. This highlights that technology alone is not enough; it requires clinical and health informatics professionals who can bridge technology, clinical practice, and user-centered design to develop healthcare technology.
MHAOnline.com: Do you have any advice for aspiring health informatics specialists?
Dr. Aliste: For aspiring health informatics specialists, the most important advice is to focus on becoming effective bridges between technology and healthcare practice.
While technical skills are important, true impact comes from understanding clinical workflows, user needs, and the realities of healthcare organizations. Seek opportunities to work with interdisciplinary teams, engage with real-world healthcare settings, and develop strong communication skills.
Given the rapid pace of change across AI, analytics, and digital health, adaptability and continuous learning are essential. Professionals who combine technical literacy with domain knowledge and a user-centered mindset will be well-positioned to lead meaningful, sustainable innovation in healthcare.
Soft skills are essential for aspiring health informatics specialists, particularly strong verbal and written communication skills.
In health informatics, we often speak and write in highly technical language, but many stakeholders cannot easily follow it. A key skill is the ability to explain complex projects in plain English. When describing a project to stakeholders, it is important to communicate clearly and simply. I often ask my students whether they can explain what they do to a family member using everyday language.
In addition to communication, leadership, teamwork, active listening, and observational skills are critical. While a degree in health informatics provides the necessary technical knowledge and tools, soft skills are equally important for ensuring that technology is understood, adopted, and used effectively in real-world healthcare settings.
What to Expect from the Online Master of Advanced Studies in Health Informatics
Admission Requirements: Applicants must submit a graduate admission application and application fee, two letters of recommendation, official transcripts, a current resume or curriculum vitae, a statement of purpose, and proof of English language proficiency. TOEFL test scores are required for applicants whose native language is not English. Applicants must hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution in a related field such as computer science, nursing, biology, medicine, pharmacy, or public health.
Study Plan: The MAS in health informatics is an accelerated degree. Classes are completed in 7.5-week terms, and the degree consists of ten courses for a total of 30 credits. Most part-time students take one course per 7.5 week session, which equals five courses per year. Students can choose to attend full-time and take up to 18 credits in the spring and fall and up to seven credits in the summer. Start dates are offered in fall and spring.
Coursework: There are 12 core credits, 15 elective credits, and a three-credit culminating experience applied project required to complete the MAS in health informatics through ASU Online. Courses include the fundamentals of health informatics, population health management and analysis, health informatics database modeling and applications, current perspectives in health informatics, clinical decision support and evidence-based medicine, workflow analysis and redesign in health systems engineering, clinical decision support and evidence-based medicine, applied biostatistics in medicine and informatics, applied data mining, leadership and change in clinical environments, and more.
Online Experience: The ASU online experience is mostly asynchronous, which means that students can watch recorded classes when convenient and complete assignments as specified for each class. However, some courses or parts of courses may have synchronous components, which means that there are specific times students must log in for certain lectures, assignments, or activities. In addition, some tests and assignments may be available only for a limited time (e.g., 24 to 48 hours) for completion.
ASU online uses Blackboard for online courses and communication. Students must be familiar with computers and are expected to be able to send and receive information, communicate with others online, and do online research. As such, students must use a Mac or PC that has a headset, microphone, and webcam so that they have access to all multimedia resources and tools.
On-Site Requirements: There are no on-site requirements for the MAS in health informatics as the program is 100 percent online. Students are welcome to visit campus and are encouraged to participate in graduation on campus.
Paying for the Master of Advanced Studies in Health Informatics
ASU Online charges the tuition listed below for both residents of Arizona and non-residents for the MAS in health informatics program. Additional fees may include a technology fee and a financial aid fee. Customized tuition figures can be calculated in the ASU Tuition Estimator. With the frequency of changing tuition rates, prospective students are encouraged to contact the admissions department of the health informatics program for exact costs.
ASU Online offers financial aid in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, federal work study, and on-campus jobs. Applicants can also seek outside resources for help paying for their MAS degree. Some companies offer tuition reimbursement programs for employees seeking a master’s degree.
Arizona State University Health Informatics (MAS)
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- Learn to apply computer science, information technology, and knowledge management to improving healthcare
- Use your skills toward disease prevention, better patient care and safety, and better knowledge access
- Prepare for careers such as health informatics analyst, data scientist, EHR information systems analyst, and more
| Degree Level | Master's Degree |
| Program Start Dates | Fall, Spring |
| Credits Needed to Graduate | 30 |
| Time to Complete? | Designed to be complete in 1 to 1.5 years depending on start date, but can take up to 6 years. |
| 100% Online? | Yes |
| Program Accreditation | None |
| Level of Education Required? | Bachelor's degree or higher |
| GRE or GMAT Required? | No |
| Work Experience Required? | No, but it is desired as the program is designed for professionals |
| Credit Hours | 30 |
| Average Cost Per Credit | $1,045.00 |
| Estimated Program Tuition * | $31,350.00 |
Tuition is calculated based on credits, at the published tuition rate. For programs with variable tuition rates, we use the rates for part-time students. Tuition number represents the cost of tuition for the entire program, not per semester or year. Estimated total tuition does not include additional fees, unless otherwise specified. Please check here for any tuition updates.
