Master’s of Science in health informatics (MSHI) programs are available online that waive or don’t require the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) scores for admission.
With a diverse nature of the degree, focusing on improving patient care through data informatics analysis, the degree is a good fit for people with various backgrounds, from secure IT storage to data interpretation to patient advocacy.
The online MSHI programs are available to professionals with diverse knowledge and experience.
This degree supplements healthcare experience (but doesn’t require it) and prepares graduates for various IT administrative roles in healthcare.
Typically, applicants need to hold a bachelor’s degree with two to five years of clinical or administrative experience in healthcare.
Other backgrounds include computer science professionals and those who hold a bachelor’s degree and have experience in not IT- or healthcare-related disciplines.
With the increased demand for healthcare informatics professionals, universities are enhancing their online degree options.
In the 21st century, many changes happened in the US healthcare industry – the health insurance expansion through the Affordable Healthcare Act, digital patient records, and the increasing aging population.
These demographic and policy changes led to a 20% employment rate increase for medical and health service managers (by 2026).
This rate is much faster than the national average for all occupations in the country, according to the BLS.
With easier access to the Internet, students can enroll in online MSHI programs and complete them at their own pace when it suits their personal and professional schedules best.
The online format allows career-changers with bachelor’s degrees, healthcare professionals, and recent graduates to keep their jobs while earning an MSHI degree.
The degree can be completed on a part- or full-time schedule.
Online programs use web-based tools to convey the content of the programs and allow for the interaction between professors and students.
With online learning management platforms, class discussions are available in many forms: chat rooms, discussion boards, instructional videos, and live video-conferencing.
Some programs are designed in an asynchronous format where students can access class materials and complete the tasks at their own pace by the deadlines set by instructors.
Other programs have the elements of real-time, synchronous activities where students should be online at a certain time of the day or week.
The requirements and formats of MSHI programs vary, but they have some common features.
Besides the online coursework, many programs require the completion of a capstone project that incorporates an issue-based research project with real-time practicum experience.
When looking for an online degree, it’s essential to consider whether the program is hybrid or fully online.
Hybrid programs may require some face-to-face campus immersions for several days.
Fully online programs can have virtual residency options, so students can have similar face-to-face experience on off-site locations or even from their homes.
Most programs have a curriculum that combines core classes with elective courses, which allows students to specialize in a specific area in the health care informatics field.
The specialties can be beneficial for students, future employers, and patients since future healthcare informatics professionals will be able to accommodate their studies to the administrative needs of their healthcare organizations.
Some online degree programs are accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM).
Graduates from such programs can sit for certification examinations held by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).
This serves as an assurance for future employers that their employees have relevant skills and knowledge in the electronic health record (EHR) environment.
To simplify the admission process, many universities omitted the GRE scores requirement.
This trend in the admission process allows admission committees to assess the academic abilities of applicants more holistically.
Some programs offer GRE wavers with proof of excellent academic performance and experience recorded through degrees earned at accredited institutions.
Professional work experience, a high GPA, GRE scores older than five years, or a letter of support and validations from a professional superior or department head are also valid.
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Online MS in Health Informatics Programs That Waive or Do Not Require the GRE
Arizona State University – College of Health Solutions
College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University through the partnership with the University of South Wales in Sydney offers the master of international health management (MIHM).
This program is a good fit for professionals who look for a flexible way to study healthcare institutions with global awareness and cultural competence management.
This program is 100% online and comes with four tracks, which allow students to customize their study.
The tracks include hospital management, health economics, quality improvement in healthcare, and health informatics.
The program includes 30 credits and covers such topics as healthcare systems and design, clinical governance and risk management, process engineering, and more.
GRE or GMAT scores aren’t required.
Applicants are recommended to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a related health service area such as nutrition, pharmacy, social work, etc.
- Location: Tempe, Arizona.
- Estimated Tuition: $24,120.
- Expected Time to Completion: One year (full-time); two years (part-time).
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission.
University of Central Florida
The University of Central Florida has a fully online master’s of science in healthcare informatics, which includes 38 credits.
The program is accredited by CAHIIM and offers admission two times a year.
Its focus is on providing students with a thorough foundation in management, clinical, and business aspects of healthcare informatics.
The program is a good fit for bachelor’s degree-holders of any discipline as well as medical professionals who wish to change their career.
- Location: Orlando, FL.
- Program length: 24 months.
- Tuition: $772.69 per-credit-hour.
- Accreditation: CAHIIM & Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
University of Cincinnati
The University of Cincinnati has a fully online master’s in health informatics (MHI) that includes 36 credits.
The program can be completed in a part-time format within two years.
The faculty includes professors from the Lindner College of Business of the University of Cincinnati and leading experts in healthcare.
Coursework includes topics that prepare students for certification as well as an optional certificate in health information security, which is available through additional elective courses of nine credit hours.
- Location: Cincinnati, OH.
- Program length: 24 months.
- Tuition: $747 per credit.
- Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission.
University of Illinois at Chicago
At the University of Illinois at Chicago, a fully online master’s degree in health informatics program is available.
It prepares future health professionals to apply technology to improve patient outcomes and care.
The program is designed for students with various professional and educational backgrounds.
It aims at providing students with knowledge and skills to deliver medical information to healthcare providers efficiently and help drive data-informed decisions in the industry.
A concentration in health data science is also available, which is optional.
- Location: Chicago, IL.
- Program length: 24 months.
- Tuition: $750 per credit.
- Accreditation: CAHIIM and Higher Learning Commission.
Liberty University Online Programs
Liberty University offers a fully online master’s degree with 36 credits to help future healthcare administrators promote the management and use of the healthcare information of the patient.
The curriculum is designed to train students in top-notch technology.
The graduates are prepared to provide a high-quality experience for every patient in a healthcare facility.
Students can access a wide range of resources for their graduate-level study through the online portal of the university.
- Location: Lynchburg, VA.
- Program length: 18 to 24 months.
- Tuition: $565 per credit.
- Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
George Mason University
George Mason University offers a master’s of science in health informatics, fully online and accredited by CAHIIM.
The program is a good fit for a wide range of students, including current administrative and clinical healthcare professionals.
Information or data science professionals wanting to specialize in healthcare, students who are new or experienced in the field of healthcare informatics, as well as career-changers with no previous experience in IT or healthcare can benefit from this program as well.
The curriculum is evidence-based and student-centered.
It is routinely evaluated and adjusted to meet the demands of constantly changing healthcare and technology industries.
- Location: Fairfax, VA.
- Program length: 28 months.
- Tuition: $581 per credit.
- Accreditation: CAHIIM and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
