Health Informatics, BS

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Admission Requirements

SHRS is updating our General Education requirements. Students entering the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2021 as first-year students, and students currently enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and external transfer students entering the upper-level programs offered at SHRS in Fall 2023, must complete the new general education requirements before graduating. Our General Education Requirements are included in our upper-level program prerequisites and curriculum requirements; therefore, changes will be reflected in prerequisites and curriculum requirements.

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

Prerequisite Courses

Requirements for students who entered the University of Pittsburgh as first-year students prior to Fall 2021 applying for Fall 2022 admission:

• Natural Science (Any Biology, Chemistry or Physics course) - 3 Credits
• Communication (Public Speaking Preferred)  - 3 Credits
• Computer Programming - 3 Credits
• Composition/General Writing, 6 Credits
• Mathematics* - 2-3 Credits
• Psychology (Any) - 3 Credits
• Statistics* - 3-4 Credits
• Humanities/Social Sciences - 6 Credits

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

Requirements for students entering the University of Pittsburgh in Fall 2021 as first-year students, and students currently enrolled at the University of Pittsburgh and external transfer students entering the upper-level programs offered at SHRS in Fall 2023:

• Computer Programming, 1 course
• Seminar in Composition*, 1 course
• Writing Intensive, 1 course.
• Oral Communication, 1 course. COMMRC 0520 preferred; 0500, 0510, 0530 acceptable.
• Six credits of math and statistics are required:
  • College Algebra, 1 course. MATH 0031 or higher math required. Exemption not accepted.
  • Statistics, 1 course. STAT 0200 or STAT 1000 preferred.
• Diversity*, 1 course
• Literature*, The Arts*, Creative Work* or Philosophical Thinking and Ethics*, 1 course
• Social Sciences*, 1 course
• Biology, Chemistry or Physics, 1 course
• Cross-Cultural Awareness*, Global Issues*, or Specific Geographic Region*, 1 course

*See the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences General Education Course Catalog.

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)

SHRS is moving to a new application platform. Please visit the SHRS website to access information about applying to enter our programs.

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. Transfer students must also submit application materials directly to SHRS.

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. Pitt students do not have to provide transcripts they have already provided to Pitt;
• 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).

Clinical Internship

Health Information Management undergraduate students are required to complete a 3 credits internship (minimum of 120 hours) to facilitate a deeper  understanding of the professional practice aspects of health information and health informatics. The overall goal of the internship is to provide students with practical experiences to apply their knowledge and skills that they develop as they progress through the HIM/HI curriculum.

The HIM department has affiliation agreements with approximately 120+ sites for student internships. The following list provides a sample of these sites:

• Adelphoi Village (behavioral health)
• Country Meadows Nursing Home
• Geisinger Health System
• goShadow
• Heritage Valley Health Center
• Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City, UT
• 3M/M*Modal MedAllies
• PA Department of Corrections
• Pitt CTSI
• 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

Prerequisites for Internship:

If a student chooses to complete their internship at a site that is under contract with the HIM department (or any other site where a contract is required), the items listed below are required.   If a contract is not required, the student must sign a waiver.  The student’s advisor will provide  detailed information and time guidelines for completion of the requirements once the student matriculates into the graduate program.

• Physical examination including immunization status
• TB test
• Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check
• Pennsylvania Child Abuse Clearance
• Recognizing and Reporting Child Abuse Training
• 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 an internship at a site where contracts are required. The University provides liability insurance for internships covered by clinical affiliation contracts.

• Some sites may have additional requirements (i.e. drug screen, Covid-19 vaccine, influenza vaccine, or orientation programs specific to their organization).
• Internship 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.

Additional Information:

• Travel to the Intership is the responsibility of the student. Students are expected to have a car or to provide their own transportation to all sites.
• All expenses for transportation, parking, meals, and costs of prerequisites associated with the Internship are the responsibility of the student.
• The HI Department utilizes an outside document management vendor, EXXAT, to collect and track student compliance with internship requirements.  Cost for creating an Exxat account is $25/student.  Approximate cost for clearances is $125 annually, and costs for physical exam and immunization status are dependent on health insurance coverage and provider costs.
• Approximate cost for drug screen is $60.

For more information on the Clinical Internship, 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).