Skip to content

Health Information Management Online Courses

Curriculum Details

At USC Upstate, you can earn a health information management degree online in as few as four years with accelerated eight-week courses. To graduate, you will complete 122 credit hours, including seven HIM-specific courses and two elective courses. In your final semester, you will have the opportunity to use your new skills and build a professional network during your in-person practicum at a health care organization.

At the end of this CAHIIM-accredited online program, you will earn a respected bachelor’s degree and the qualifications to pursue several rewarding career pathways. Plus, curriculum prepares you to sit for the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) and the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exams.

Core

Credits

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) coding, integrating HCPCS Level II, ICD-10-CM and PCS medical coding procedures at an advanced level. Emphasis is on the application and assignment of procedural codes by specialty and body systems. Subject matter includes common coding terminologies, nomenclatures and classification systems used in health care delivery, electronic health records, reporting and management, such as International Classification of Diseases (ICD), Healthcare Common Procedures Coding Systems (HCPCS), Current Procedural Terminology (CPT), Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine Clinical Terms (SNOMED), Procedure Coding System (PCS), and Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) and Logical Observation Identifiers Names and Codes (LOINC).

Introduction to origins and evolution of current health care delivery systems and organizational structures, health care terminology and language structures, common usage, acronyms, and basic uses of information in a variety of health care settings. Topics also include introduction to levels of information users and information needs within a variety of health care organizations.

Coding principles and practices on the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM). Topics include historical development of the ICD classification system, coding of diagnosis records from a variety of medical specialties and use of official coding code lines.

Management, communication, and problem-solving, as they relate to human resources, quality assurance, finance, budgeting and reimbursement in a health care setting.

Introduction to health care information systems to include management and administration information systems, clinical information systems, business information systems, decision support, critical care applications, information systems in education, and emergent system applications. Particular emphasis is placed on automation required for the emerging “paperless” environment and computer-based records.

Data, knowledge, and information structures, terminological control, index language functions, regulatory determinants of data collected/stored (ex. JCAHO/HIPAA, etc.), including study of language development in health care systems evolution.

Selected ethical issues, confidentiality, preservation and conservation of sensitive data, data maintenance and integrity preservation.

Network configurations and functions including the latest developments and applications in electronic health records (EHR) and the implementation of the EHR in the health care industry.

Issues in information management as they relate to the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium’s 10 security domains. The role of the security domains in the context of design, implementation, and maintenance of systems to include the legal and ethical aspects of privacy and security. Case studies covering these roles are included.
Current and future trends in health information systems (HIS) and health information technology (HIT) and their impact on public policy, career success in HIS management, health informatics, data analytics, public policy and public health research.

Fundamentals of financial management and accounting concepts in the health care environment with specific application to the health informatics or health information management professional’s everyday roles and responsibilities. Topics include revenue management, cost management, variance management, and contracting.

Supervised professional practice involving information management in a health care organization.

Capstone experience integrating knowledge of health information systems, health information management, and health informatics (the combination of health and information technology) and investing current innovations in these technologies in a health care setting with emphasis on research, written, and oral presentations.

Concentration

Credits

Needs, uses and consequences of information in organizational contexts, information technology platforms, architectures and infrastructures, functional areas and processes, information-based products and services, the use of and redefining role of information technology, sociotechnical structures, and the rise and transformation of information-based industries.
Basic concepts of computer networks, data telecommunication and distributed applications, including network topology, hardware, software protocol, security, and the implications of network technologies on the deployment and implementation of networked systems.
Basic architecture, structures, and query languages. Topics include design and implementation of RDBMS, relational data models, conceptual modeling, data independence, specification of data requirements, normalization, recovery and security.
Data warehousing, online analytical processing, and decision support systems. Topics include design and architectural issues, cost effectiveness, management concerns, data integrity, deployment, and maintenance issues.
Concepts, fundamentals, and historical evolution of artificial intelligence (AI) and cognitive system technologies including machine learning, conversational natural language interfaces, large language models, and generative pre-trained transformers (GPT).Topics include the social, cultural, ethical, and commercial impacts of advancements in AI.

Breakdown, estimation, leadership of a diverse team, and the use of tools to ensure the completion of deliverables within budget and on schedule. Students taking the health informatics minor focus on applications in the health care settings.

Issues and challenges facing IT executives including IT alignment and governance, consensus, executive leadership, oversight, return-on-investment analysis, project management, and risk management. Students taking the health informatics minor focus on applications in the health care settings.

Elective, Foundation Writing (Choose one)

Credits

Developing communication skills for the successful professional. Students reflect and apply principles of appropriate content, style and format for memos, letters, reports, resumes, interviews and presentations.
Practice in professional writing for community and commercial internet audiences, including building websites and social media resources with content management systems, designing for user experience and accessibility, and search engine optimization.
The writing of informative text and techniques for presenting it in appropriate formats. Particular emphasis is placed on creating concise texts which use pictures, charts, graphs, and other visuals to convey information to readers in fields such as computer science, engineering, medicine, industrial technology, and other professions.

Supporting Courses

Credits

Survey of anatomical terminology, cell structure, and function, tissues, and integumentary, skeletal, muscular, and nervous systems. The conceptual framework, factual knowledge and critical skills reviewed are needed to pursue a career in health information management (HIM). Not for Biology major credit.
Survey of the endocrine, lymphatic, cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and urinary systems with some coverage of human development, human genetics, and immunology. The conceptual framework, factual knowledge, and critical skills reviewed are needed to pursue a career in health information management (HIM). Not for Biology major credit.
Introduction to medically oriented terminology, including roots, prefixes, suffixes, combining forms, and common abbreviations. Emphasis on using terminology related to anatomy, physiology, pathology, diagnoses, medical procedures, pharmacology, and instrumentation. Not for major credit.
Disease etiology and organ system involvement, including physical signs and symptoms, prognoses, and common complications and their treatment. Topics include fundamental principles of disease and pharmacology. The course is restricted to Health Information Management (HIM) majors.

Request More Information

Complete this form to receive information about coursework, admissions, tuition and more.