Health Information Management, BS

Return to: School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Admission Requirements

Students are admitted into the health information management program after successful completion of a minimum of 60 credits, including the following prerequisite courses:

• General Biology - 3 Credits
• Communication/Public Speaking - 3 Credits
• Information Science/Computer Science (must include a programming course) - 9 Credits
• General Writing - 6 Credits
• Mathematics* - 2-3 Credits
• General Psychology - 3 Credits
• Statistics* - 3-4 Credits
• Humanities/Social Sciences - 6 Credits

*A combination of 6 credits of math and statistics is required.

Other admission criteria include minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50 (based on 4.00), and minimum of a C- grade in all courses designated as prerequisite (C required for credit transfer from other institutions); volunteer or paid work experience in the field of health information management is recommended.

Pitt Students (including regional campuses)

Complete the SHRS ApplyYourself online application. 

Transfer Students

Transfer students must apply to the University of Pittsburgh by completing the Office of Admission and Financial Aid’s Transfer Application and selecting Health Information Management as their intended field of study. International transfer students click here.

All applicants must:

• Submit a personal essay-a brief statement discussing why you are interested in the Undergraduate Program in Health Information Management, your professional goals including how and when you became interested in this field of study. You may also include other areas of interest, extra-curricular activities and leadership experiences;
• Submit one letter of recommendation. Recommendation from a college instructor/professor, recent supervisor, or academic advisor preferred;
• Submit official transcripts from all colleges and universities attended;
• Applications can be submitted when course requirements are in progress.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Part-Time Study

Students may pursue this program on a part-time basis. A meeting with the appropriate advisor is recommended.

Progression for the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT)

Provision for transfer of credits may be made for those students who have satisfactorily completed a junior college health information technology program accredited by the Commission on Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). In addition, the HIM department has an articulation agreement with the Health Information Technology Program at the Community College of Allegheny County, enabling qualified graduates of the HIT program to matriculate into the HIM program at the University of Pittsburgh as juniors.

Clinical Education

Health Information Management undergraduate students participate in four different clinical education (CE) internships that facilitate a deeper understanding of the professional practice aspects of health information and related health-care areas. The overall goal of the clinical education is to provide students with practical experiences to apply their knowledge and skills that they develop as they progress through the HIM curriculum. Each internship experience provides the HIM student with a different focus, and the opportunity for the student to interact with HIM professionals as well as other professionals in the health care field.

The HIM department has affiliation agreements with approximately 200+ clinical sites for student internships. The following list provides a sample of these sites: 

• Adelphoi Village (behavioral health)
• Allegheny Valley Hospital
• Center for Connected Medicine
• Country Meadows Nursing Home
• creehan & company
• Diskriter, Inc.
• Geisinger Health System
• Heritage Valley Health Center
• Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City, UT
• Jameson Health System
• M*Modal
• MedAllies
• PA Department of Corrections
• The Innovation Center of UPMC
• Trinity Health System
• UCLA Medical Center
• University of Pittsburgh Dental Informatics
• University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (Hillman Cancer Center)
• UPMC Health Plan
• UPMC Health System
• UPMC Physician Services Division 
• Wheeling Hospital
• WVU Healthcare

Prerequisites for Clinical Education:

Students must complete certain requirements to be eligible to participate in clinical education. The HIM Clinical Education Coordinator will provide detailed information and time guidelines for completion of these requirements once the student matriculates into the HIM program.

• Physical examination including proof or completion of specific immunizations
• TB test, 2-step
• Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
• FBI Background Check (includes fingerprinting)
• HIPAA Training and Certification
• Bloodborne Pathogen Training and Certification
• Students must carry personal health insurance while participating in clinical education
• Students must carry professional student liability insurance coverage while participating in clinical education. This coverage is provided by the SHRS group insurance plan and will appear as a charge on the students’ tuition bill.
• Some sites may have additional requirements (i.e. drug screen, influenza vaccine, or orientation programs specific to their organization).
• Clinical Education sites may not allow a student to participate in an internship at their site if the background check reports that they have been convicted of a misdemeanor; a felony; or a felonious or illegal act associated with alcohol and/or substance abuse.
• Current year Flu Shot

Additional Information:

• Travel to clinical education sites is the responsibility of the student. Students are expected to have a car or to provide their own transportation to all remote sites; no exceptions will be made. Not all sites are accessible by public transportation.
• All expenses for transportation, parking, meals, and costs of prerequisites associated with clinical education are the responsibility of the student.
• Approximate cost for clearances is $100 annually, and costs for physical exam and immunization status are dependent on health insurance coverage and provider costs.
• Approximate cost for drug screen is $40.

For more information on Clinical Education, email Patti Anania Firouzan, HIM Clinical Education Coordinator: patti@pitt.edu.

The Pitt Freshman Guarantee

All incoming Pitt freshmen choosing the Pre-Health Information Management major will be granted guaranteed admission for the Master of Science in Health and Rehabilitation Sciences with a concentration in Health Information Management (at regional Pitt campuses, choose corresponding codes).