Health Informatics
Kent State’s Health Informatics Certificate program offers a focused study on health information management and technology. This online certificate prepares students to handle electronic health records, data analytics, and healthcare IT systems, making them valuable assets in healthcare organizations. The program is ideal for those looking to support patient care and operational efficiency through effective information management.
Program Overview
The Health Informatics graduate certificate prepares graduates to assume entry level, mid-career or senior level positions within healthcare systems. Based on the students’ experience, the certificate is customizable to their interests and career goals within health informatics venues.
Program Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the program will be able to:
- Reconcile the needs of clinical and non-clinical users of health information systems utilizing workflow analysis, systems analysis and project-management principles.
- Analyze collected data of health information systems, utilizing principles of data mining, statistics and clinical analytics.
- Manage the implementation of health information systems in multiple health care venues using principles of organizational dynamics and change management.
- Facilitate communication between clinical and non-clinical users of health information systems.
- Successfully obtain the credential of Certified Associate in Health Information Systems.
Your analytic skills and commitment to quality healthcare can earn you rich rewards in the fast-growing, well-paid field of health informatics (HI).
Gain essential interdisciplinary knowledge in this healthcare specialty that is revolutionizing all aspects of healthcare delivery with our targeted skills development courses. Make professional connections with the world-renowned Northeast Ohio healthcare system that will help you advance your career.
Our health informatics online certificate program:
- Is open to people with bachelor’s degrees
- Offers asynchronous online flexibility
- Has a part-time workload with focused, 7-week courses
Earning your health informatics certificate online could be just the beginning of your professional education. You can transfer 12 credits from Kent State’s online certificate in health informatics to the Master of Health Informatics (MSHI) degree when you decide to continue.
Our admissions process focuses on your work and goals, not test scores. You only need to tell us about your education and your plans for the future. Then document your work with transcripts and references in our straightforward application process. An Admissions Outreach Advisor will be happy to help you with your application.
Kent State Is a Top-Ranked Military Friendly® School
Kent State has been helping students realize their dreams since 1910, and we launched our first online course almost 20 years ago. We’re committed to helping you reach your goals, and that shows in our accreditation and rankings. We’re proud to be recognized with the Military Friendly® gold designation.
Make Time for Your Future
Between work and family obligations, making time for graduate-level classes can be challenging. We understand that and have designed our programs to accommodate you. Earn your online certificate in health informatics from Kent State in as little as one year. Our flexible, 100% online courses make it easy to schedule your studies around your life.
Professionally Connected Faculty
Professionally connected innovators and thought leaders, our health informatics online certificate faculty are widely published and have developed courses on a range of digital health and health informatics topics. Collectively, they have led research projects for hospitals, universities, businesses, non-profit organizations and the National Science Foundation. They’re active in industry associations, including:
- Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS)
- Society for Imaging Informatics in Medicine
- Dublin Core Metadata Initiative (DCMI)
- LeadingAge Center for Healthcare Technologies (CAST)
- Human Factors and Ergonomic Society (HFES)
- American Medical Informatics Association (AMI
Integrating Disciplines
Our faculty integrate real-world experiences and case studies from the field, blending theory and practice within the program’s curriculum. The field of health informatics draws from several domains, including the social and behavioral sciences, healthcare, technology and information sciences. The courses in our curriculum reflect the diversity of influences.
Core courses for the health informatics online certificate synthesize information about diverse aspects of health information systems and informatics management, providing a solid conceptual grounding for further study on subjects tailored to your needs and professional interests.
Is a Health Informatics Certificate Worth It?
The graduate certificate in health informatics is a wise investment for many reasons. Because Kent State is a public research university, our low tuition rates make the health informatics certificate cost very affordable. The certificate carries the same prestige as a credential earned on campus while saving you time and money. You don’t have to relocate, commute or even attend classes at a set time. And you can apply most of your credits to a future Kent State master’s in health informatics. So if you want to be part of the evolution of healthcare management, the health informatics online certificate is definitely worth it.
Skills You Will Develop
Our online certificate in health informatics can help you thrive professionally in patient care, services administration or systems design and implementation. In as little as one year, you’ll be ready to manage healthcare records, support clinical decisions, and conduct clinical analytics.
After completing the two core classes that give you a comprehensive introduction to the field, you can customize the coursework to focus on a range of topics, including:
- Clinical decision support systems
- Clinical analytics
- Knowledge management
- Semantic analysis
- Information architecture
- Project management
- Business process management
You may also pursue individual investigation of health informatics subjects that interest you.
Opportunities in Many Sectors
Our health informatics online certificate can help you optimize digital healthcare technology and data management to improve health outcomes. Leverage your skill set at the individual, systems or population level across economic sectors, including:
- Healthcare
- Educational services
- Scientific/other professional services
- Technology
- Government
Sample Job Titles
A few more typical health informatics job titles are:
- Pharmacy Informatics Coordinator
- Clinical Informatics Specialist
- System Analyst
- Medical And Health Services Manager
- Information Systems Manager
Learn more about potential careers in health informatics.
Program Courses
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate Requirements | ||
| HI 60401 | HEALTH INFORMATICS MANAGEMENT | 3 |
| HI 60403 | HEALTH INFORMATION SYSTEMS | 3 |
| Certificate Electives, choose from the following: | 12 | |
| HI 60402 | LEGAL ISSUES IN HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 60410 | HEALTH RECORDS MANAGEMENT | |
| HI 60411 | CLINICAL ANALYTICS | |
| HI 60412 | CLINICAL DECISION SUPPORT | |
| HI 60413 | CHANGE MANAGEMENT IN HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 60414 | HUMAN FACTORS AND USABILITY IN HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 60416 | HEALTH INFORMATICS ISSUES: POLICY, POLITICS AND ETHICS | |
| HI 60417 | PUBLIC HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 60418 | CLINICAL ANALYTICS II | |
| HI 60419 | CONSUMER HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 60636 | STANDARDIZED TERMINOLOGIES IN HEALTHCARE | |
| HI 60691 | SEMINAR IN HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 60792 | ELECTIVE INTERNSHIP IN HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 61095 | SPECIAL TOPICS IN HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| HI 61096 | INDIVIDUAL INVESTIGATION IN HEALTH INFORMATICS | |
| Advisor-Approved College of Communication and Information courses | ||
| Minimum Total Credit Hours: | 18 | |
Graduation Requirements
| Minimum Certificate GPA | Minimum Overall GPA |
|---|---|
| 3.000 | 3.000 |
- Students enrolled in the certificate can apply for admission to the master’s degree and apply a maximum of 12 credit hours taken for the certificate program toward the master’s program requirements.
The online Postbaccalaureate Certificate in Health Informatics consists of 18 credits.
| Ohio Residents | Out of State | |
| Per Credit Hour | $829 | $839 |
| Approximate Program Cost | $14,900 | $15,100 |
An additional distance learning fee for all students enrolled in a distance learning course is $15 per credit hour. Program tuition and costs are estimated and subject to change. For a complete listing of tuition rates for approved online programs, please contact Kent State’s Financial, Billing & Enrollment Center at 330-672-6000 or via our website Contact Us link.
We recognize that pursuing a graduate degree is a significant investment. Your Admissions Outreach Advisor can answer your questions on program costs, discuss how a Kent State degree compares to others and connect you with financial aid representatives when you are ready to discuss your financial options.
Please contact an Admissions Outreach Advisor for more information on tuition and fees by email at online@kent.edu.
- Completed online application
- Complete bachelor’s degree, with a GPA of 2.75 or higher (on a 4.0 scale), from an accredited university
- Three letters of recommendation from professors and/or employers
- Application fee: $45
- Official transcripts
- Statement of purpose
- Resume/CV
- No GRE required for admission
Our Admissions Outreach Advisors are available to answer your questions regarding admissions requirements for the program. If you have questions, please email us at online@kent.edu or call us 330-672-8671
Application FAQs
I am a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
If you are a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required application materials should be sent to the Division of Graduate Studies at gradapps@kent.edu or by mail to:
Division of Graduate Studies
Kent State University
Cartwright Hall
P.O. Box 5190
Kent, OH 44242
Please be sure to include your full name and Kent State ID (9-digit number starting with 8) on all submitted documents. For questions, contact Graduate Admissions at +1 330-672-2661 or gradapps@kent.edu.
I am not a U.S. citizen. Where should I send my application materials?
If you are not a U.S. citizen or permanent U.S. resident, all required documents should be submitted to the Office of Global Education at intladm@kent.edu or by mail to:
Office of Global Education
Kent State University
106 Van Campen Hall
625 Loop Rd.
Kent, OH 44242
USA
For questions, contact International Admissions at +1 330-672-7970 or intladm@kent.edu.
Explore the Online Classroom
Meet Our Faculty
View Career Info
Careers
- 15.4% much faster than the average
- 32,700 number of jobs
- $126,830 potential earnings
- 5.7% faster than the average
- 431,100 number of jobs
- $92,870 potential earnings
- 7.9% faster than the average
- 59,400 number of jobs
- $51,840 potential earnings
- 9.7% much faster than the average
- 132,500 number of jobs
- $98,860 potential earnings
Notice: Career Information Source
* Source of occupation titles and labor data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook. Data comprises projected percent change in employment over the next 10 years; nation-wide employment numbers; and the yearly median wage at which half of the workers in the occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less.
Related Reading from the Kent State Online Blog
Sources
1. Retrieved on July 9, 2022, from onetonline.org/link/summary/15-2051.02
2. Retrieved on July 9, 2022, from onetonline.org/link/summary/15-1211.01
3. Retrieved on July 9, 2022, from onetonline.org/link/summary/11-3012.00
Admissions Requirements
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale.
- Official transcript(s)
- Résumé
- Goal statement
- Three letters of recommendation (starting with spring 2026 admission term, two letters of recommendation will be required)
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
- Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
- Minimum 65 PTE score
- Minimum 120 DET score
1International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.
For more information about graduate admissions, visit the graduate admission website. For more information on international admissions, visit the international admission website.
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum 2.75 undergraduate GPA on a 4.000-point scale.
- Official transcript(s)
- Résumé
- Goal statement
- Three letters of recommendation
- English language proficiency - all international students must provide proof of English language proficiency (unless they meet specific exceptions to waive) by earning one of the following:1
- Minimum 94 TOEFL iBT score
- Minimum 7.0 IELTS score
- Minimum 65 PTE score
- Minimum 120 DET score
- 1
International applicants who do not meet the above test scores will not be considered for admission.