New joint master’s degree program streamlines study in health information management and informatics
Introduction
Beginning in fall 2026, AHS will offer a new joint degree program combining the Master of Science in Health Information Management and the Master of Science in Health Informatics. Graduate students who complete the three-year program will earn both degrees for 56 total credit hours, rather than the 77 hours required to complete the two programs separately.
The new degree pathway, which is conducted fully online, builds on the joint Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management/Master of Science in Health Informatics program that was opened up to students in fall 2025, extending the same model of shared coursework to the graduate level. The BSHIM/MSHI is designed for high-performing undergraduates who want to move directly into a master's program, while the MSHIM/MSHI is built for students who are entering a graduate degree program and want to add a complimentary credential.
Historically, the two master’s programs have drawn students with different focuses. The MSHIM, launched in 2020, has been the best option for those interested in the legal and ethical implications of healthcare information, especially those who wish to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator exam. The MSHI, which began as a certificate program in 1992 and became a full master’s degree in 2002, has attracted students more interested in the technology and computer science side of healthcare. The joint degree is designed to bring those two tracks together.
“Health information management and health informatics increasingly overlap, but they remain distinct disciplines,” said Lois Hitchcock, clinical assistant professor and MSHIM program director. “MSHI students gain strong preparation in information systems, analytics, database design and technology implementation, while the MSHIM curriculum adds focus in health data governance, privacy and compliance, reimbursement and revenue cycle management, health record management, leadership, regulatory requirements and the academic preparation needed for the RHIA.”
Students pursing the new MSHIM/MSHI will complete 19 credit hours specific to the MSHIM, 19 credit hours specific to the MSHI and 18 credit hours of shared coursework covering health information systems, IT and regulatory topics. That shared block allows students to shave 21 hours off the total needed to earn both degrees separately, saving time and tuition dollars.
Unlike the BSHIM/MSHI, which students apply for in their senior year of undergraduate study, the MSHIM/MSHI requires applicants to decide on the joint pathway before they matriculate into either graduate program. Applicants must meet the admission requirements of both programs and apply to each separately before submitting a joint-degree application.
The new program will offer students a streamlined combination of health information management expertise and advanced informatics training.
Lois end quote
The joint degree is unique because it prepares graduates to understand both the technical infrastructure of health information systems and the regulatory, operational, financial and governance requirements surrounding healthcare data. Graduates should be better positioned for roles that require collaboration across HIM, information technology, analytics, compliance, clinical operations and organizational leadership.
| Clinical assistant professor and MSHIM program director