Online Master of Health Informatics
UC’s MHI students learn a wide variety of skills in health IT, business, project management, and data analytics.
What is Health Informatics?
As the field of informatics continues to expand, healthcare networks and professionals around the world are embracing innovation in health care and transitioning to more data-driven, technology-based roles. MHI graduates are highly skilled at managing complex projects and data systems and leveraging data to improve patient care delivery and population health.
Curious to learn more about health informatics? Read our blog “What Is Health Informatics? A Complete Guide”.
UC’s MHI program is offered fully online and available to students worldwide. Our unique, multi-disciplinary approach arms students with relevant, real-world skills and the opportunity to build or grow valuable professional networks. MHI faculty members include leading industry experts and award-winning professors from UC’s nationally-ranked Carl H. Lindner College of Business.
MHI Program Highlights
High Quality Education
- Low faculty-to-student ratio – personalized coaching and feedback
- Award-winning, well-rounded curriculum with real-world relevance
- Access to UC’s expansive healthcare network
- Professional networking opportunities and unique practicum experience
Flexibility
- Coursework is 100% online – no campus visits required
- Flexible scheduling – designed for busy, working professionals
- No GRE or GMAT requirement with minimum GPA
- No healthcare or IT background or experience required
- Affordable tuition with a significant return on investment
Support from Application through Graduation
At UC, you’ll have a full support team behind you:
Enrollment Services Advisor: Your go-to resource during the application process
Student Success Coordinator: Helping you prepare for classes and stay on track
Access to Resources: Access to university resources that will support you through your program including online learning expectations and resources, health and wellness resources, and academic support
The Master of Health Informatics (MHI) Degree Program totals 33 credit hours and can be completed in as little as 24 months. UC Online takes an interdisciplinary, multi-faceted approach with courses focused on healthcare, information technology, data analytics and leadership development.
Program faculty includes world-renowned professors from UC’s top-ranked Analytics Program at the Carl H. Lindner College of Business and award-winning, leading industry experts. This uniquely blended, well-balanced, relevant curriculum prepares students to take on a wide variety of high-paying roles within the healthcare, business and technology industries.
Students must complete the program with a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible to graduate. The program consists of 10 courses and 1 practicum, designed to provide valuable professional experience.
Health Information Security Certificate
Students enrolled in the Master of Health Informatics program will have the opportunity to earn the Health Information Security Certificate. To complete this additional certificate, students will take three of the required courses (HI 7001, HI 7010, HI 7030) as part of the master’s program, then three additional courses (IT 7020C) and two elective courses (not counted towards your master’s degree) that are required to earn the graduate certificate. Electives can be substituted if approved by the Program Director, Victoria Wangia-Anderson.
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| HI 7001 | Healthcare and Public Health Landscape This course focuses on U.S. healthcare and public health topics such as healthcare delivery, public health services, performance, organization, financing and technology. Key emerging global health topics are taught. The course introduces key public policy impacting health and healthcare,such as policy advocating for patient-centered care, efficiency, quality and safety. The course introduces the role of health information technology and electronic health information sharing. This course also introduces and compares key healthcare quality initiatives. |
3 |
| HI 7010 | Health Informatics, Information Systems and Technology This course introduces the discipline of health informatics and covers emerging trends. Various information systems, technologies and applications utilized in the context of health and healthcare are introduced. Their characteristics, strengths, challenges, purpose and impact are taught. Impact on patients, populations and healthcare providers is emphasized. Factors influencing adoption and use of various clinical and health information systems and technologies are taught. Key information technologies and systems such as electronic health records, health information exchanges, personal health records, public health information systems and mobile health technologies are introduced in this course. Topics such as telemedicine, interoperability and technical concepts are taught, and evaluation framework is introduced. |
3 |
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
| HI 7020 | Vocabularies, Terminology, Knowledge Discovery and Related Health IT Standards Students will be introduced to various electronic health information standards such as vocabulary, terminology and messaging standards. Students will apply knowledge and information discovery and extraction techniques for health and healthcare scenario. This course introduces standards for health and healthcare data communication, storage and representation, emphasizing new paradigms. |
3 |
| HI 7030 | Health Information Legislation, Privacy and Security This course introduces legislation relevant to electronic health information privacy and information security. Topics such as electronic health information privacy and security safeguards, risk assessment methodology and contingency planning are taught. Students learn how to mitigate risk to business continuity and plan for disaster recovery. |
3 |
| HI 7040 | Workflow Process Analysis, System Development, Human Factors and Usability This course teaches best practices for workflow process mapping, analysis, and process redesign in health settings. Students learn how to analyze workflow in the context of health information system and technology development and implementation. Students experience depicting workflow and system requirements using process modeling notation. The stages of health information system development are taught. Students are introduced to research on usability and human factors topics such as human computer interaction and user interface design in the context of workflow. Usability and human factors able to enhance quality, patient care, efficiency,performance, safety and satisfaction are emphasized. |
2 |
| HI 7050 | Project and Program Management This course applies project and program managementknowledge and frameworks to health and healthcare scenarios specifically focusing on health information technology projects and programs. The course focuses mostly on project management but introduces key knowledge and frameworks utilized by program managers. Topics such as professional communication, team building, project integration management, project risk management, project time management, and project quality management are covered. Students learn the characteristics of a successful project and program. Advanced principles of project scheduling and control are taught. This course is aligned to Project Management Institute's standards. |
3 |
| HI 7060 | Leadership and Strategic Management in Health Settings Students will learn the theories and best practices of leadership, understanding how to manage people and change in the context of health information technology implementation and use. Strategic management practices are covered in this course. Students are introduced to financial management and contract and vendor management. Students also learn best practices for managing the information technology consulting experience. |
2 |
| IS 7031 | Database Modeling and Design for Healthcare This course teaches students principles of data modeling and database design. Students gain hands-on experience data modeling, designing and developing a database for a health scenario. Students gain experience with a querying language such as structured query language (SQL). |
3 |
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
| HI 7071 | Introduction to Healthcare Data Science This course introduces the student to a variety of statistical methods, study design, and programming as essential skills in data science. Students practice techniques such as data cleaning, data wrangling, data exploration, analysis, visualization, and interpretation. Students use a variety of healthcare datasets in this course and are also prepared to discuss healthcare data standards and measures, best practices in data management, and trends in healthcare data science and management. |
2 |
| HI 7072 | Leveraging Analytics and Business Intelligence Tools for Healthcare This course will introduce students to a variety of cutting edge analytics and business intelligence tools applicable to health or healthcare data. Both structured and unstructured data will be introduced in this course. The coursewill also address topics related to data governance and data quality and various other topics relevant to health data management. This course is predominately hands-on and students willcomplete a project to demonstrate skills acquired.Students will learn how other industries have applied similar or the same tools. |
3 |
| BANA 7011 | Data Analysis Introduction to data analysis and statistical methods with focus on practical decisions using quantitative models in a spreadsheet environment. Topics include sources of data, descriptive and graphical statistical methods, probability, distributions, sampling and sampling distributions, estimation, confidence intervals, and hypothesis testing. This course may not be used as an elective course for Lindner College of Business Master's programs. |
2 |
| BANA 7015 | Advanced Health Care Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, and Reporting This course teaches the use of healthcare data to make decisions and transform healthcare delivery and the health of individuals and populations. The course concentrates on big and small data, and structured and unstructured data. Tools, applications and approaches for health data analytics are taught. This course covers topics such as statistical approaches; data, web and textmining; data visualization, simulation, modeling and forecasting. Key regulatory health and healthcare reporting requirements are taught. |
3 |
| Course | Title/Description | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| HI 7090 | Practicum Course In collaboration with the course instructor and a preceptor, students design an experience to facilitate the application of health informatics principles, techniques, tools and theories. Emphasis is on activities related to the project objectives that contribute to meeting program objectives. Students are challenged to select health informatics projects that are beneficial to the healthcare industry and that generate meaningful tangible deliverables, and to advance their leadership skills. Students complete an approved project during the duration of the practicum course. |
6 |
The Master of Health Informatics program does not require any healthcare or IT experience. Anyone with a minimum GPA of 3.0 may qualify and students with a GPA below 3.0 can still apply to be admitted on a conditional basis.
Prerequisites
- Bachelor’s degree in any field
- Submit all supplemental application materials (listed below) prior to the application deadline.
Complete the online application and submit the application fee.
Standard Application Fees:
- $65.00 for domestic applicants to most degree programs
- $70.00 for international applicants to most degree programs
- $20.00 for domestic applicants to Graduate Certificates
- $25.00 for international applicants to Graduate Certificates
- Application fees are waived for Summer 2026 applications submitted by March 1st, 2026
- Application fees are waived for Fall 2026 applications submitted by July 1st, 2026
- Fee waivers are automatically applied for applicants who:
- are currently serving in the US armed forces
- are veterans of the US armed forces
Automatic admission into the MS of Health Informatics program is available for students who completed a bachelor's degree from UC within the past five years.
Fast-Track Admission Requirements:
- Conferred 4-year undergraduate degree from UC earned within the past five years
- Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above (for courses completed at UC)
- Must complete the Online Graduate Application and select the "fast-track" option
- Students who meet the above requirements will be automatically admitted to the program
All applicants are required to upload unofficial transcripts during the application process, showing all undergraduate and graduate course work completed, including degrees granted and dates of conferral.
Official transcripts are not required until the student has received and accepted an offer of admission from the university. Once the offer has been confirmed, the student must submit official transcripts.
Students who have received degrees from the University of Cincinnati do not need to submit official paper copies of their UC transcripts.
Transcripts can be submitted electronically or by mail. To see if your transcript(s) can be ordered electronically, visit the links below and search for your previous school(s).
- Parchment
- Please select “University of Cincinnati – Main Campus” as the recipient of your transcript.
- National Student Clearinghouse
- Please have your transcript sent directly to admissions@uc.edu.
If you do not see your past school(s) listed on either site, please contact the school(s) directly. Then, mail your sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
Please mail sealed, unopened, official transcripts to:
University of Cincinnati
Office of Admissions
PO Box 210091
Cincinnati, Ohio 45221-0091
If you are considering transferring courses to the MHI graduate program, please inform the advisor you are working with.
Transfer Credit Policy for Graduate Courses (taken outside of UC)
1. A maximum of six credits can be awarded through advanced standing (transfers, for example).
2. Any graduate course credits, including those earned from previous degrees, are eligible as advanced standing credits.
3. Advanced standing is only offered for courses currently listed in e-curriculum. Contact the program for more detail.
4. Program faculty will evaluate graduate courses taken at a recognized institution for equivalence or comparability.
5. Credits will be awarded based on original credits earned; or credits as listed in e-curriculum (whichever is lower).
6. 1:1 course equivalency will be awarded based on the following criteria (when compared to UC course)*:
i. course was taken in the same field with the same title
ii. course had similar topics and learning outcomes
iii. course readings, assignment and assessment requirements were similar
*evaluation process will be fully documented for each case in which it is applied
7. Credit recommended by faculty requires final review and approval of Program Director and the Graduate School.
8. Students seeking to transfer graduate credits must complete a petition form (obtained from the program) and provide a syllabus for each requested course. Official transcripts must also be sent to the UC Graduate School. Only courses taken in the last five years with a final grade of “A” or “B” will be considered (up to a maximum of six credits).
Transfer Credit for Graduate Courses Taken at UC
1. All UC graduate credits taken as part of an incomplete degree program are eligible for transfer based on faculty evaluation of course equivalence and final program approval. This same policy also applies to incomplete graduate certificate programs.
2. When a non-matriculated student enters a graduate degree program at UC, credits are eligible for transfer if the coursework is listed in e-curriculum as part of the degree requirements (up to a maximum of six credits).
3. Students are required to upload unofficial transcripts from all college or universities attended; official transcripts are not required until an offer of admission has been accepted.
- Two-page (double-spaced) or one-page (single-spaced) narrative summarizing the following:
- What motivated you to pursue a graduate degree in Health Informatics?
- Why are you interested in applying to the UC’s MHI program?
- What are your short and long-term goals? How will this degree help you attain those goals?
Please treat this as a written interview – explain any inconsistencies in your resume, transcripts, etc.
- Please submit the full name and email address for each individual who will be completing this form on your behalf. Once they complete the official recommendation form (sent to them directly), it will become a part of your application. Recommendation letters submitted by the student will not be accepted.
- The letters must be on professional letterhead from someone who is, or has been, in a position to evaluate your work for at least one year in an academic or professional setting (i.e. current or former employers, supervisors/managers, professors, mentors, etc.). Personal recommendations will not be accepted.
- The letters should be thoughtful and substantive. They should speak specifically to personal knowledge of your academic potential, relevant qualities, intellectual ability, character, determination, professional and community achievement(s), and your potential contribution to the community with this degree.
- Education (incl. continuing education, professional development, etc.) and dates of attendance
- Employment/career experience, history and timeline
- Achievements including publications, honors, etc. including dates received
- Academic, community and/or professional involvement
- Program can be completed from abroad (no student visa for distance learning)
- Minimum score requirements for the following:
- Duolingo: 110
- PTE: 54
- TOEFL: 80 (waiver applies to certain English-speaking countries)
- IELTS: 6.5
- Submit transcripts for evaluation to an agency recognized by NACES
- Letter grade (A, B or C) and total credit hours for each course
- Students with a degree from a Chinese institution will receive further instruction
| Term | Application Deadline | Classes Start |
|---|---|---|
Spring 2026 | Second Half Summer 2026 | First Half Summer 2026 | Second Half Fall 2026 |
January 19, 2026 April 6, 2026 May 17, 2026 July 20, 2026 |
March 2, 2026 May 11, 2026 June 25, 2026 August 24, 2026 |
The University of Cincinnati's online course fees differ depending on the program. On average, students will accrue fewer fees than students attending on-campus classes.
The one fee applied across all UC Online programs is the distance learning fee. Students living outside the state of Ohio must also pay an additional “non-resident” fee to enroll in courses at UC Online. This fee is lower than the out-of-state fee for traditional on-campus programs.
To view tuition information and program costs, visit the Online Program Fees page.
The University of Cincinnati’s Master of Health Informatics program is proud to be recognized as an Approved Education Partner (AEP) by the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).
As a HIMSS Approved Education Partner, UC’s MHI program has met HIMSS’ rigorous standards for delivering a world-class program. UC joins an exclusive group of educators authorized to offer a HIMSS-approved degree program online.
- University of Cincinnati’s Master of Health Informatics (MHI) program is CAHIIM accredited and the first accredited MHI program in the state of Ohio.
The Health Informatics accreditor of University of Cincinnati is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Master degree in Health Informatics has been reaffirmed through 2029. All inquiries about the program’s accreditation status should be directed by mail to CAHIIM, 200 East Randolph Street, Suite 5100, Chicago, IL, 60601; by phone at (312) 235-3255; or by email at info@cahiim.org.
- Higher Learning Commission the University of Cincinnati (UC) and all regional campuses are accredited through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC).
Click here for a complete list of rankings and accreditations.
- Demonstrate knowledge in health, health information systems, and health data analytics in order to influence healthcare efficiency, quality, patient care, and population health
- Apply informatics techniques and tools, computational thinking, and data science methods to impact decision making, healthcare practice, the health of populations, and patients
- Demonstrate knowledge of major health policy, risk, and legal issues relevant to health informatics in order to articulate needed changes, mitigation strategy, and best practices
- Identify and apply evidence‐based framework to develop a valid and reliable basis for conclusions, to evaluate health informatics application, and to explain human behavior associated with technology adoption and use
- Exhibit ethical values, professionalism, and inter-professional collaboration while solving health informatics problems
- Demonstrate leadership and management knowledge, abilities, and skills to lead changes and manage innovation in healthcare or population health
- Demonstrate ability to effectively use knowledge and skills to complete a real-world health informatics project that impacts healthcare practice, research, or population health
- Graduation Rate 2024-2025: 40%
- Employment Rate 2024-2025: 85%
- Retention Rate 2024-2025: 93%
- In 2022-2023, the MHI program accepted 66 applicants and 40 (60%) of those accepted enrolled in the program.
- In 2023-2024, the MHI program accepted 97 applicants and 47 (47%) of those accepted enrolled in the program.
- In 2024-2025, the MHI program accepted 74 applicants and 49 (66%) of those accepted enrolled in the program.
- The average time to degree completion for the last two years was six to seven semesters (24-28 months).
- UC’s MHI program ranked #2 on Study.com’s list of “Best Online Master’s Degrees in Health Informatics” (2021)
- UC’s MHI program ranked in the Top 10 on College Consensus‘ list of “Best Online Master’s in Healthcare” (2021)
- MHI faculty includes professors from the “#1 Data Science School in the U.S.” Predictive Analytics Today (2020; 2021)*
- Ranked in the “Top 20 Globally” and “Top 10 Nationally” by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) (2020)**
*UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business; **UC’s Data Analytics Program
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“As a full- time, working, single parent, the MHI program allowed me to balance all of my responsibilities and provide me with the flexibility I needed to succeed. I was really excited that the curriculum aligned so well with my job role as a Clinical Application Analyst. Coming to work every day and being able to apply what I learned in my classes was very rewarding. If there are students interested in understanding the IT role and how it aligns with Healthcare, I believe this program will satisfy their needs. I was extremely pleased, and I look forward to all of the doors this accomplishment will open for me.”
Carelicha D. MHI Health Informatics
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