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Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management


Health information management (HIM) is a diverse yet evolving field that incorporates medicine, management, finance, information technology, and law into one dynamic career path.  The Baccalaureate Degree can be completed online. 

The HIM program at WKU is recognized as a Program of Distinction by our accrediting body, the Commission on Accreditation of Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM). See the following link for more information on CAHIIM Programs of Distinction: https://www.cahiim.org/programs/programs-of-distinction/.

Graduates of the program are eligible to take the Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) exam through the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA). 

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Health Information Management, Bachelor of Science (529P, 529)


  • Undergraduate
  • Bachelor of Science
  • Health and Human Services
  • Public Health

Overview

The Health Information Management bachelor degree program is accredited by Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM)*. Graduates of the program are eligible to take the American Health Information Management Association’s (AHIMA)** certification examination for the designation of Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA).

The major in health information management is designed to prepare the graduate HIM professional with skills and competencies in health data management, data analytics and informatics, information governance, privacy and security, compliance, clinical documentation improvement, revenue cycle management, medical coding, health information technology management and administrative and clinical work flow. Students will focus on operations management essential to ensuring an accurate and complete medical record and cost effective information processing.

A student's application to the baccalaureate degree program will be considered following:

  • Admission to WKU;
  • Earning grade of C or higher in introductory course, HIM 100: Health Data Content and Structure (or equivalent course or departmental exam) OR following successful completion of an associate degree in Health Information Management or Health Information Technology;
  • Submitting a criminal background check; and
  • Earning an overall GPA of 2.0.

Students are required to have professional liability insurance coverage prior to accessing health information and / or professional practice experience. Prior to participating in any professional practice experience (PPE) students are also required to provide a recent criminal background check, current immunization records and results of a current drug screen. At selected health care institutions, there may be additional certifications, training seminars, or other requirements that a student must meet in order to be eligible for training at the chosen facility. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that all institutional requirements are met prior to participation in the PPE. Students may be responsible in part or in full for any costs incurred to meet such requirements. Policies, standards and requirements should be obtained directly from the program office or at http://www.wku.edu/healthinformationmanagement.

Program Requirements (61-64 hours)

A baccalaureate degree requires a minimum of 120 unduplicated semester hours. More information can be found at www.wku.edu/registrar/degree_certification.php.

Students who began WKU in the Fall 2014 and thereafter should review the Colonnade requirements located at: https://www.wku.edu/colonnade/colonnaderequirements.php.

This program requires a minimum of 120 hours and includes 61-64 hours for the HIM major; Colonnade courses must be completed in consultation with advisor and HIM courses completed with a grade of “C” or higher. Courses for transfer students and graduates from HIM and HIT programs will be accepted as substitutions for equivalent HIM courses.  Departmental examinations are available for the following courses: HIM 100, HIM 230, HIM 250, HIM 251, HIM 252, AH 290/HIM 290, HIM 291, and HIM 292.

Students not achieving a satisfactory score (70% or above) on the department examination(s) must complete the corresponding course(s). National specialty certifications and / or training may be considered as evidence of mastery of course content in specific courses.

Course List
HIM 100Health Data Content and Structure4
HIM 225Legal Issues in Health Information Management2
HIM 230Computer Systems and Applications in Health Information Management3
HIM 252Healthcare Payment Systems3
AH/HIM 290Medical Terminology2
HIM 291Advanced Medical Terminolgy2
HIM 292Pharmacology and Laboratory Diagnostics2
HIM 330Electronic Health Record Systems3
HIM 350Health Informatics Research3
HIM 353Management of Clinical Classification Systems3
HIM 421Health Information Leadership and Management3
HIM 422Clinical Evaluation and Outcomes3
HIM 430Health Data Management and Analytics3
HIM 450Application & Analysis of HIM Theory3
HIM 495Capstone Professional Practice Experience3-6
PH 383Biostatistics in the Health Sciences3
or MATH 183 Introductory Statistics
or SOCL 300 Social Statistics
BDAN 305Data Modeling and Analysis3
BIOL 131Human Anatomy and Physiology4
BDAN 250Introduction to Analytics3
Select 6 credit hours of the following:6
BDAN 310
Business Data Analytics
BDAN 320
Web Analytics
BDAN 330
Structured Data Analysis
BDAN 350
Data Management
BDAN 410
DSS Analysis and Design
BDAN 420
Predictive Modeling
BDAN 430
Data Visualization
BDAN 440
Special Topics - Analytics & Information Systems
DATA 301
Big Data with its Applications
CIS 320
Personal Technologies with Artificial Intelligence
CIS 321
Emerging Technologies with Artificial Intelligence
Total Hours61-64

*CAHIIM                        
233 North Michigan Avenue, 21st Floor        
Chicago, IL 60601-5800                
info@CAHIIM.org                
https:// www.cahiim.org                                                            

**AHIMA
233 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60601-5800
(312) 233-1100
https://www. ahima.org

Finish in Four Plans

Finish in Four Plan

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours
ENG 1003COMM 1453
HIM 1004ENG 2003
HIM 290 or AH 2902HIST 101 or HIST 1023
Colonnade - Quantitative Reasoning3HIM 2912
General Elective3BIOL 1314
 15 15
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIM 2252HIM 2303
HIM 2922HIM 2523
Colonnade - Arts & Humanities 3Colonnade - Natural & Physical Science3
BDAN 3053PH 383, MATH 183, or SOCL 3003
Colonnade - Social & Behavioral3General Elective3
 13 15
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIM 3303HIM 4213
HIM 3533HIM 4223
HIM 3503General Elective3
BDAN 2503Restricted Elective (BDAN 310, BDAN 320, BDAN 330, BDAN 350, BDAN 410, BDAN 420, BDAN 430, BDAN 440, CIS 320, CIS 321, DATA 301)3
Connections - Systems3ENG 3003
 Connections - Local to Global3
 15 18
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours
HIM 4303HIM 4953-6
HIM 4503General Elective3
Connections - Social & Cultural3General Elective3
General Elective3General Elective3
Restricted Elective (BDAN 310, BDAN 320, BDAN 330, BDAN 350, BDAN 410, BDAN 420, BDAN 430, BDAN 440, CIS 320, CIS 321, DATA 301)3General Elective3
 15 15-18
Total Hours 121-124

 

 

Transfer Students

Health Information Management

Since acceptance of transfer credit for a particular major is subject to approval by the appropriate academic department, the HIM program director is responsible for the determination of transfer credit for HIM courses.  For students transferring from CAHIIM Accredited programs, as appropriate, HIM courses will be accepted as equivalent to WKU HIM program courses within the same course level (lower levels: 100-200 and upper level: 300-400) courses.  HIT/HIM courses from regionally accredited schools that are non-CAHIIM accredited may be accepted as equivalent to WKU HIM program courses within the same course level (lower levels: 100-200 and upper level: 300-400) courses.  Articulation agreements are in place between WKU and many universities and colleges.  All others will be reviewed for course equivalency on a case-by-case basis.  

A student can petition for acceptance of credit from HIT/HIM courses from non-regionally accredited schools by completing the Petition for Acceptance of Credit form.  If the program was a CAHIIM Accredited Program, please contact jan.hunt-shepherd@wku.edu.    

A student may be required to provide a description and syllabus for each course; the transferring institution may be contacted for additional information.  Credit may be given for each approved equivalent course if the University minimum residence requirement for the baccalaureate degree is maintained.

 


 

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Accreditations/Certifications achieved within the School of Health and Social Services

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) - Early Childhood Education Associate Degree

Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) - Bachelor and Master of Social Work Degrees

Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) - Bachelor of Science and Master of Public Health Degrees

Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM) - Bachelor of Science in Health Information Management

National Environmental Health Science & Protection Accreditation Council (EHAC) - Bachelor of Science and Master of Environmental & Occupational Health Science Degrees

Board of Certified Safety Professionals Qualified Academic Program (BCSP QAP) - Bachelor of Science and Master of Environmental & Occupational Health Science Degrees

National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB) HSE Accreditation - Bachelor of Science in Health Care Administration with Long-Term Care Certificate Degree


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 Last Modified 7/14/26