MS Healthcare Informatics

Additional Information

Program Overview

 

"Health Informatics is an evolving discipline at the intersection of data science, health information technology, health information management, and data analytics focused on improving health and healthcare by bringing theory into practice through enabling technologies."

The MSN in Health Informatics program builds on a foundation of undergraduate nursing education and practical experience. The nursing graduates gain advanced knowledge and skills to function in leadership and management roles in the constantly evolving health informatics environment. The aim of the health informaticists is to translate the current vast amount of patient-centered digital data to applicable information, usable knowledge and ultimate wisdom. This process promotes improved healthcare practices through technology such as the electronic health record (EHR) and associated clinical decision support systems, for example.

This program provides the nursing graduate with a background to:

  1. Enable a successful career in nursing health informatics as a team member, team manager, team leader, and/or director of key personnel brought together to improve technology-based patient care and provider experiences during patient care delivery.
  2. Apply course content-based knowledge and skills to a workplace environment inclusive of technology and innovation-oriented nursing informatics theory, research, data analytics, workflow redesign, artificial intelligence-based care, and clinical decision system support. This nursing informatics role also addresses related ethics, policy formation, security/confidentiality/privacy, and financial support.
  3. Support knowledge requirements of students qualified to apply for national certification exams in Nursing Informatics, Health Information Management Systems Society, and other such specialties.
  4. Academic progression to doctoral PhD or DNP programs
  5. Prepare to sit for one of the following certifications:
    1. Informatics Nursing Certification (RN-BC®) - American Nurses Credentialing Center
    2. Certified Professional in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CPHIMS) – HIMSS
    3. Certified Associate in Healthcare Information and Management Systems (CAHIMS) – HIMSS. Please note, individual agencies have different practice and discipline requirements.

Job Opportunities

The four specialty courses and the practicum are taught by renowned professors and industry experts prepare students for the field of health informatics in several ways, including boosting their marketability and opening doors to professional advancement and opportunities. In addition, throughout each of the four courses, students will be supported in career planning, informatics-oriented resume, business cards, and portfolio creation.

Students will be strong candidates for leadership positions in the following career fields:

  • Clinical informatics
  • Health informatics
  • EHR documentation optimization
  • Data governance and quality management
  • Health outcomes strategic planning
  • Population health strategic planning
  • Social determinants of health strategic planning
  • Health equity and global research management

….just to name a few!

MSN-HI Courses

See course list here.

Admissions Requirements

  • Basic admission requirements must be met before a student can be accepted*. Prospective students must apply to the university through the Office of Admissions, pay the application fee, and submit official transcripts to the UT Arlington’s Graduate Admission’s Office. The Graduate Admission’s Office is also responsible for calculating the admission GPA. All steps necessary to complete an application (i.e. submitting transcripts, paying fees) must be completed prior to progressing in the application process.
  • Prospective students should review of the College of Nursing and Health Innovation (CONHI) graduate program specific requirements. A CONHI Graduate Academic Advisor will review the application file for nursing specific requirements. Specific program requirements can be found in the University Catalog - Nursing, Graduate Programs.
  • If accepted, applicants will receive an acceptance form that must be signed and returned. If an applicant is denied, the option to appeal the decision is available.
  • Once the acceptance form has been completed and returned, an official email notification will be sent from the University to the student’s personal email. Accepted students with transfer credit should submit the transfer request form to the CONHI Academic Advisor during this time. 
  • An additional welcome email from an Academic Advisor will be sent with more information about the program orientation and next steps.

Resources

Policies

While University faculty and staff members give students academic advice and assistance, each student is expected to take responsibility for his or her education and personal development. The student must know and abide by the academic and disciplinary policies given in the catalog and MSN handbook, including rules governing quantity of work, the standard of work required to continue in the University, scholastic probation and dismissal, and enforced withdrawal.

Students will not be relieved of their responsibility to know the policies, deadlines and rules of the University on the grounds that they were not told. If students have questions regarding policies, it is the University’s expectation that the student will consult his/her academic advisor for guidance and resolution.

All students are expected to be familiar with the following sources of information.

Course Load

Graduate nursing education requires students to have dedicated time to devote to studying, completing assignments, preparing for, and completing clinicals and other course work. Students are encouraged to consider their work schedules and commitments considering the demands of the MSN/PMC program and adjust accordingly. Commitments which compete with graduate study may result in suboptimal academic performance and place the student in academic jeopardy. 

Study Time Recommendations

It is recommended that a student’s employment not exceed 16-20 hours per week in either regular or summer semesters. Students are encouraged to evaluate their energy level, familial and personal obligations, and school commitments before starting their degree program.

Student Success

Students in the MSN program are encouraged to meet with an advisor every semester. Once admitted to UT Arlington, students may enroll in their coursework using the degree plan provided by the academic advisor and proceed to registration. Students are encouraged to contact their advisor with any questions. Learn more about Graduate Nursing Advising.

UTA's Department of Graduate Nursing is unique among many comparable universities for the remarkable amount of resources dedicated to student success. Learn more about our offerings on help with courses and writing/speaking.

Prospective