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Health Information Management2023-03-02T09:11:28-06:00

The Health Information Management (HIM) program is currently under review and admissions are paused through the end of 2024. The HIM Program retains its CAHIIM accreditation during this pause. Current students who complete their course of study by December 2024 will be able to sit for the RHIA exam.

If Health Information Management is your declared major and you are interested in pursuing a different degree, please contact the Student Success & Academic Advising Center directly at (816) 271-5991 or advisor@missouriwestern.edu. Please visit the College of Science and Health website for a complete list of Health Professions programs. A full listing of degree programs is available in the Missouri Western catalog.

If you have any questions, please contact Dean Harris at crharris@missouriwestern.edu or Professor McKinney at mmckinney5@missouriwestern.edu.

B.S. in Health Information Management (HIM)

Join healthcare professionals in providing quality patient care in this growing career field through education in data analysis, science, administration, and health information application and governance. Missouri Western’s Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management is your pathway.

Health Information Management prepares confident, innovative professionals who can apply information resources and technologies across the healthcare industry in settings that span the continuum of care. The HIM graduate serves as a pivotal team member in the planning, design, implementation, management, use and evaluation of electronic health records and other electronic information systems.

What is special about HIM?
HIM professionals are critical to the success of information governance and data analytics in the emerging health related topics such as population health management. HIM professionals actively lead, engage, participate in, and contribute to decisions that affect the well-being of patients by drawing on the perspectives, values, and experiences of those involved in patient care decisions.

Promising Job Market
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Health Services Managers with a baccalaureate degree, which includes HIM RHIA-credentialed professionals, has an expected job growth of 32% in the years spanning to 2029.

HIM is STEM
As of 2022, health information-related job roles are recognized as STEM job roles.
See O*net for information regarding STEM-recognized job roles in health information professions, including clinical data managers, health informatics specialists, health information technologists, medical registrars, medical and health service managers, and medical records specialists.
This article describes the benefits of STEM careers, including

  • High salaries. STEM graduates earn among the highest initial salaries.
  • Growing career field
  • Diversity

Program Accreditation

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management logo

The Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management program at Missouri Western State University is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) cahiim.org. CAHIIM is the accrediting organization for degree-granting programs in health informatics and information management. CAHIIM serves the public interest by establishing quality standards for the educational preparation of future health information management professionals. When a program is accredited by CAHIIM, it means that it has voluntarily undergone a rigorous review process and has been determined to meet or exceed the accreditation standards.

Graduates from CAHIIM accredited baccalaureate degree programs can take the Registered Health Information Administration exam.

The Health Information Management accreditor of Missouri Western State University is the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). The College’s accreditation for the Baccalaureate degree in Health Information Management has been reaffirmed through 2025-2026. 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.

Request More Information

The Health Information Management (HIM) program is currently under review and admissions are paused through the end of 2024. The HIM program retains its CAHIM accreditation during this pause. Current students who complete their course of study by December 2024 will be able to sit for the RHIA exam.

General Studies
42
Major Requirements
HIF 132Pharmacology2
HIF 200Health Care Delivery Systems3
HIF 300Health Data Management3
HIF 310Clinical Classification Systems3
HIF 320Information Technology and Systems3
HIF 330Legal and Ethical Aspects of Healthcare Management3
HIF 350Quality Management3
HIF 371Professional Management Experience I2
HIF 379Revenue Cycle and Reimbursement Management3
HIF 410Human Resources and Operations Management3
HIF 420Clinical Data Management3
HIF 430Applied Health Informatics3
HIF 440Financial and Resource Management3
HIF 460Applied Research3
HIF 465Professional Management Experience II3
HIF 470Senior Seminar1
ACC 201Introductory Financial Accounting3
ACT 201Microcomputer Applications3
ACT 301Applied Database Systems3
ALH 106Medical Terminology2
BIO 101Principles of Biology4
BIO 250Anatomy and Physiology5
BIO 375Pathophysiology4
MGT 350Organizational Behavior3
NUR 314Quantitative Analysis for Health Care Research3
or PSY 300 Introductory Psychological Statistics

Program Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a grade of C or higher in all major coursework.
  2. Earn an overall GPA of at least 2.5 and a major GPA of at least 2.0.

University Graduation Requirements 

  1. Earn a minimum of 120 credit hours (100 level and higher, maximum of 6 CED credit hours applicable).
  2. Earn a minimum of 30 credit hours in upper-division courses.  Lower-division transfer courses accepted as meeting upper-division departmental course requirements cannot be used to fulfill this requirement.
  3. Earn 30 of the last 45 credit hours at MWSU in institutional coursework (exclusive of credit by examination).
  4. Participate in required departmental and campus wide assessments. 
  5. Fulfill the Missouri Constitution requirement.
  6. Successfully pass the Missouri Higher Education Civics Achievement exam. 

Are you ready to declare the major?  Download and submit this form to Health Information Management, Murphy 309, 4525 Downs Dr., St. Joseph, MO  64507 or email to him@missouriwestern.edu.

Mapping your degree plan is important. Consult with your academic advisor to create a plan and monitor it regularly.

Working on a laptop in a hospital setting
Is the program online?2020-05-19T15:56:34-05:00

All of the professional classes and general studies are available online. Professional Practice Experiences (PPEs) are completed at a location arranged with the program PPE Coordinator.

What are the admission requirements for the program?2020-05-19T15:45:49-05:00

The admission requirements are the same as the institution’s requirements. 

How should I prepare for a Health Information Management degree?2020-05-19T15:52:46-05:00

Professional information about the Health Information Management field can be found by visiting physician offices, hospitals, and other healthcare settings and conducting interviews with the Director of Health Information services. Also please see http://www.ahima.org or http://www.hicareers.com. 

How does the program work around my busy schedule?2020-05-19T15:47:50-05:00

One of the biggest advantages of the program is that students receive individualized attention regarding classes and schedules. The program is available for either full-time or part-time students. All of the professional classes and general studies are available online. Professional Practice Experience (PPE) are completed at a location arranged with the program PPE Coordinator. 

Is the program accredited and why is it important?2020-05-19T15:52:18-05:00

The B.S. HIM degree is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management (CAHIIM).

Why is it important that a program be accredited? National accreditation is one way to ensure the quality of the program you choose. The organizations providing accreditation ensure the program meets certain standards of quality. The certification exams (RHIT and RHIA) can only be taken by graduates of a program accredited by CAHIIM. 

How do students work together with faculty?2020-05-19T15:49:12-05:00

Students and faculty members work together in many ways, for example, planning activities for Health Information Professionals week. Students also serve on the Ad-visory Committee to help evaluate curriculum and program effectiveness. Faculty members work closely with students to determine the best sites to complete their professional practice experiences.

What special facilities does the program have?2020-05-19T15:49:42-05:00

The computer lab has many pieces of specialized software. The program also uses an academic electronic health record, EHRgo to help students integrate their learning regarding electronic health records. 

Gainful Employment Disclosures – 20192021-04-12T15:37:40-05:00

Program Name: Health Information Technology Certificate

This program is designed to be completed in 2 Years (34 Credit Hours).

This program will cost $10,120.88 if completed within normal time for in-state students and $17,986.10 for out-of-state students. There may be additional costs for living expenses. These costs were accurate at the time of posting, but may have changed. 

Of the students who completed this program within normal time, the typical graduate leaves with NA of debt.  Fewer than 10 students completed this program within normal time. Average debt has been withheld to preserve the confidentiality of these students.

The following States do not have licensure requirements for this profession: Missouri, Kansas, Iowa

For more information about graduation rates, loan repayment rates, and post-enrollment earnings about this institution and other postsecondary institutions please click here: https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/

Last Updated June 20, 2019

Degree at a Glance

100% ONLINE


Number of Credits
120
Transfer up to 90 credits


RHIT-to-RHIA
Bachelor’s Degree-Completion Program


Griffon Rate Waiver
Undergraduate students from some states qualify.
Learn More